Easy to read and follow, Beginning T'ai Chi will give you the power to enrich your life both physically and spiritually. You'll be amazed at how this simplified method of a martial art form that is more than 800 years old can augment your sense of well-being, bring you inner peace and strength, and revitalize your energies. Practiced by millions, T'ai Chi is among the most rapidly growing martial arts today. It teaches you how to relax, cope, and get in touch with yoour inner self. In this useful book for newcomers to the martial art, Tri Thong Dang has successfully trimmed traditional t'ai chi's more than 80 movements which ordinarily demand years of practice-to a succinct 24 movement forms which can be easily mastered. Accompanying each of these forms are clearly drawn, step-by-step illustrations that make it impossible to misinterpret the text. Beginning T'ai Chi will guide you toward recaliming and recharging your life.

Contents Acknowledgments An introduction to the world of t'ai chi Why t'ai chi? A glimpse into the history of t'ai chi Why this form for the beginner? The basic movements About learning from a book The simplified t'ai chi form Form One: Commencing Form Two: Part the horse's mane (both sides) Form Three: White crane spreads its wings Form Four: Brush knee (both sides) Form Five: Hands strum the lute Form Six: Step back and roll arms (both sides) Form Seven: Grasp the bird's tail (left side) Form Eight: Grasp the bird's tail (right side) Form Nine: Single whip Form Ten: Wave hands like clouds (left side) Form Eleven: Single whip Form Twelve: High pat the horse Form Thirteen: Kick with the right heel Form Fourteen: Strike the opponent's ears with both fists Form Fifteen: Turn and kick with the left heel Form Sixteen: Push down and stand on one leg (left side) Form Seventeen: Push down and stand on one leg (right side) Form Eighteen: Work at shuttles (both sides) Form Nineteen: Needle at the bottom of the sea Form Twenty: Flash arm Form Twenty-one: Turn and deflect downward, parry, and punch Form Twenty-two: Apparent close Form Twenty-three: Cross hands Form Twenty-four: Closing form Conclusion