Tai Chi Chuan Martial Applications-Advanced Yang Style Tai Chi
Chuan
by Yang Jwing-Ming
YMAA ISBN 1-886969-44-2 

Note of the reviewer: When the name Yang appears in the title
of this book, and in some parts of the text, it is assumed makes
reference to the author of the book, or to his own taichi style,
and not to the reknown originator of the so called "Yang Style
Taichi".

The reason for this is that I cannot fully recognize the Yang
style in the form and applications shown in the book by Dr. Yang
Jwing Ming. Some of the techniques there illustrated I assume
have been added by the author along his many years of practice
and mastery. But they were not originated and passed on by Yang
Lu Chan. Some of those techniques are derivated from Qin Na and
Wu Shu but do not respect the basis of Taiji Quan as Yang Lu
Chan stated them, and as standarised in China quite a while ago.

This said, I also have to say I really enjoyed the book. I was a
little bit afraid when I started the book I would go through
another boring martial arts manual. But I was wrong. The writing
style of Dr. Yang is pretty straightforward and easy. The
explanations and descriptions are simple, short and I found them
to be quite effective from the trainee point of view. 

The book starts with a gentle introduction to taiji fighting,
its philosophy and some basics, to immediately follow with a
chapter completely devoted to explain the diverse martial
applications of taiji movements. Most of these, out of a total
of 38, are identical or resemble much some of the movements in
the standard Yang form (which is comprised of 37 postures). The
author divided the martial applications into 3 different
categories: Downing the enemy, Qin Na control and Cavity Strike.
There are some real gems in this chapter, awating to be digged
out by the avid reader, that surely will treasure them as much
as I will. I found some really original techniques mixed with
modern ones, some of which I am sure should be credited to Dr.
Yang. But again, there is a mixture of different martial arts
here.

Chapter 3 is another one to read carefully. I was well chuffed
to find a section dedicated to Push Hands training with ball.
This training technique has been neglected and forgotten along
many years. And though its training values are not that much, it
belongs the old tradition of taiji training and thus should not
be cast into oblivion. I really appreciate this contribution to
keep taiji tradition alive! The rest of the chapter analyses the
taiji pushing hands techniques and applications, and is followed
by a chapter completely dedicated to the taiji fighting set,
rules and principles. In this fourth chapter I found again very
specific techniques I have to credit to Dr. Yang.

But if there is a chapter you should pay special attention to,
that is chapter 5, about fighting strategies. Read it well!
There are many sensitive advices before you decide you get into
a fight. Dr. Yang fearless concludes that avoiding -or running
away from- fights is the most reasonable fighting strategy. Do
you agree? I do and hope all of you too.

In general, this book is an excellent handbook for the
multi-skilled martial artist. The mastery and experience of Dr
Yang are enclosed in it. Pay careful attention to the
illustrations but also be aware that there may be a mixture of
styles and martial arts in this taichi book. If you want to
learn how to fight this is an excellent reading, from a really
multi-faceted man, as Dr. Yang is.

To conclude this review, wether you are and advanced taiji
practitioner or not, or if you are keen on chinese martial arts,
or if you are looking to improve your taiji fighting skills,
this book is worth a reading. As I said before, I am sure every
reader will find some gems among its pages. But be careful if
what you are looking for is to improve your Yang style with some
fighting applications and training techniques. Look for the
assistance of a master well trained in Yang style that helps you
work out the original stuff in the book. In general, if you are
mainly intererested in combat techniques and martial arts as a
fighting mean, this book is great!

Thanks to Johanna Masse and YMAA.

Javier Velasco.

Spanish Version

Antes de comenzar, quiero realizar el siguiente apunte: cuando
el nombre Yang aparece en el título de la obra así como en
partes del cuerpo de la misma, asumo que hace referencia al
autor del libro oa as propio estilo de Taichi, y no al de sobra
conocido originador del estilo Yang de Taiji Quan.

La razón de esta advertencia es que en el libro del Dr. Yang no
se puede reconocer ciertamente, el estilo Yang en forma y
aplicaciones. Algunas de las técnicas que se ilustran he de
suponer que son cosecha del autor, a lo largo de muchos años de
práctica y maestría. Pero no son originales según las hemos
heredado de Yang Lu Chan. Puedo reconocer técnicas de Qin Na y
Wu Shu que ciertamente no respetan las bases del Taiji Quan
sentadas por Yang Lu Chan, y estandarizadas en China hace ya
algún tiempo.

Dicho esto, también he de decir que he disfrutado la lectura del
texto. Al principio temía que iba a leer otro aburrido manual de
artes marciales. Pero me equivocaba. El estilo literario del Dr
Yang es bastante directo y sencillo (incluso para la lectura
inglesa). Las explicaciones y descripciones son muy claras,
simples y bastante efectivas desde el punto de vista del alumno.

El libro comienza con una breve introducción a las técnicas de
lucha con taichi, su filosofía y puntos básicos, para continuar
con un capítulo completamente dedicado a exponer las diversas
aplicaciones marciales de las posturas del taichi. La mayoría de
estos, de un total de 38, corresponden o se parecen mucho a las
posturas originales en la forma Yang (que consta de 37
posturas). El autor ha dividido las aplicaciones en tres clases
diferentes: Derribar al enemigo, control Qin Na y golpes a
cavidades. En este capítulo se encuentran algunas chinas en
general, o bien estás buscando mejorar tus técnicas de lucha con
taichi, este libro merece la pena. Como dije anteriormente, cada
lectura mostrará nuevas joyas ocultas entre sus páginas. Y si el
objetivo es conocer o profundizar en el estilo Yang de lucha con
taichi yo recomendaría buscar la asistencia de un instructor
realmente versado en este estilo, que ayude a filtrar el
material original de los añadidos. No obstante, para el lector
interesado en técnicas generales de lucha, este es un gran
libro.

Gracias a Johanna Masse y a YMAA.

Javier Velasco.


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Javier Velasco
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