Beginning T'ai Chi. Tri Thong Dang

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      BEGINNING

      T'ai Chi

      I very much appreciate the advise of my friend and editorial consultant Dr. Jonathan Pearce in the preparation of this book.

      Disclaimer: Please note that the publisher and author(s) of this instructional book are NOT RESPONSIBLE in any manner whatsoever for any injury that may result from practicing the techniques and/or following the instructions given within. Martial Arts training can be dangerous—both to you and to others—if not practiced safely. If you’re in doubt as to how to proceed or whether your practice is safe, consult with a trained martial arts teacher before beginning. Since the physical activities described herein may be too strenuous in nature for some readers, it is also essential that a physician be consulted prior to training.

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      Copyright © 1994 Tri Thong Dang

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher.

      Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 9460562

      ISBN: 978-1-4629-0757-1 (ebook)

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      The Tuttle Story:

       Books to Span the East and West

      Most people are surprised when they learn that the world’s largest publisher of books on Asia had its beginnings in the tiny American state of Vermont. The company’s founder, Charles Tuttle, came from a New England family steeped in publishing, and his first love was books—especially old and rare editions.

      Tuttle’s father was a noted antiquarian dealer in Rutland, Vermont. Young Charles honed his knowledge of the trade working in the family bookstore, and later in the rare books section of Columbia University Library. His passion for beautiful books—old and new—never wavered through his long career as a bookseller and publisher.

      After graduating from Harvard, Tuttle enlisted in the military and in 1945 was sent to Tokyo to work on General Douglas MacArthur’s staff. He was tasked with helping to revive the Japanese publishing industry, which had been utterly devastated by the war. After his tour of duty was completed, he left the military, married a talented and beautiful singer, Reiko Chiba, and in 1948 began several successful business ventures.

      To his astonishment, Tuttle discovered that postwar Tokyo was actually a book-lover’s paradise. He befriended dealers in the Kanda district and began supplying rare Japanese editions to American libraries. He also imported American books to sell to the thousands of GIs stationed in Japan. By 1949, Tuttle’s business was thriving, and he opened Tokyo’s very first English-language bookstore in the Takashimaya Department Store in Ginza, to great success. Two years later, he began publishing books to fulfill the growing interest of foreigners in all things Asian.

      Though a westerner, Charles Tuttle was hugely instrumental in bringing knowledge of Japan and Asia to a world hungry for information about the East. By the time of his death in 1993, he had published over 6,000 books on Asian culture, history and art—a legacy honored by Emperor Hirohito in 1983 with the “Order of the Sacred Treasure,” the highest honor Japan bestows upon non-Japanese.

      The Tuttle company today maintains an active backlist of some 1,500 titles, many of which have been continuously in print since the 1950s and 1960s—a great testament to Charles Tuttle’s skill as a publisher. More than 60 years after its founding, Tuttle Publishing is as active today as at any time in its history, still inspired by Charles’ core mission—to publish fine books to span the East and West and provide a greater understanding of each.

Table of Contents

       Acknowledgments 7

      An Introduction to the World of T' ai Chi 9

      Why T'ai Chi? 9

      A Glimpse into the History of T'ai Chi 10

      Why This Form for the Beginner? 11

      The Basic Movements 11

      About Learning from a Book 11

      The Simplified T'ai Chi Form 13

      FORM ONE: Commencing 14

      FORM TWO: Part the Horse's Mane (Both Sides) 16

      FORM THREE: White Crane Spreads Its Wings 20

      FORM FOUR: Brush Knee (Both Sides) 21

      FORM FIVE: Hands Strum the Lute 26

      FORM SIX: Step Back and Roll Arms (Both Sides) 26

      FORM SEVEN: Grasp the Bird's Tail (Left Side) 30

      FORM EIGHT: Grasp the Bird's Tail (Right Side) 34

      FORM NINE: Single Whip 38

      FORM TEN: Wave Hands Like Clouds (Left Side) 40

      FORM ELEVEN: Single Whip 45

      FORM TWELVE: High Pat the Horse 46

      FORM THIRTEEN: Kick with the Right Heel 47

      FORM FOURTEEN: Strike the Opponent's Ears with Both Fists 49

      FORM FIFTEEN: Turn and Kick with the Left Heel 50

      FORM