Step-By-Step Tai Chi

Master Lam Kam Chuen is a recognized master of the arts of Tai Chi and Chi Kung, and a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine. He was born in Hong Kong shortly after World War II and at a very early age began training in Chinese martial arts. Studying under masters such as Lung Tse Chung and Yim Sheung Mo (both of whom were disciples of Ku Yue Chang, known throughout China as “The King of Iron Palm”), he was trained in Choy Lee Fut, Northern Shaolin Kung Fu and Iron Palm, as well as Tai Chi. He then studied Chinese medicine, becoming a qualified bonesetter and herbalist, and opened a school and clinic in Hong Kong. He also undertook the study of Chi Kung, a system for the cultivation of internal energy in the body. Using his medical skills and his knowledge of Chi Kung he began to develop a new form of Tai Chi, now known as Lam Style Tai Chi. Master Lam came to the West in 1976 when he became the first Tai Chi instructor appointed to teach in the Inner London Education Authority. In 1987 he gave the first European demonstration of the art of Zhan Zhuang Chi Kung, which he studied in Beijing under Professor Yu Yong Nian, the world's leading authority. He now teaches and practices medicine at The Lam Clinic in London's Chinatown. Following the widely acclaimed BBC series, The Way of the Warrior, Master Lam was invited to act as consultant to the sequel publication, The Way of Harmony. This was followed by his ground-breaking work published by Gaia Books, The Way of Energy, introducing the Zhan Zhuang system of “Standing Like a Tree”.

Like massage and yoga, the practice of Tai Chi enhances health and fitness and helps to reduce stress. This easy-to-use manual takes readers through four levels of techniques. Detailed drawings and clear text describe the progression from gentle fundamental movements to advanced exercises.

CONTENTSAUTHOR'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSABOUT THE AUTHORA LIFETIME'S STUDYINTRODUCTION: MOVING HARMONYPART 1 TAI CHI FOUNDATIONSCHAPTER ONE FUNDAMENTAL MOVEMENTSEXERCISE 1: RELAXING THE NECKEXERCISE 2: LOWERING THE SHOULDERSEXERCISE 3: SHAKING THE HANDSEXERCISE 4: PAINTING THE WALLEXERCISE 5: TWO FULL MOONSEXERCISE 6: BRUSHING THE AIREXERCISE 7: PLAYING THE ACCORDIONEXERCISE 8: SWIMMING ON LANDEXERCISE 9: HIP CIRCLESEXERCISE 10: BENDING FORWARDEXERCISE 11: BENDING BACKWARDEXERCISE 12: BENDING TO THE SIDEEXERCISE 13: LOOKING BACK AT THE MOONEXERCISE 14: KNEE CIRCLESEXERCISE 15: ANKLE CIRCLESEXERCISE 16: SITTING DOWNEXERCISE 17: RISING ON YOUR TOESEXERCISE 18: LIFTING THE KNEESEXERCISE ROUTINESCHAPTER TWO STRENGTH AND MOTIONEXERCISE 19: STANDING IN THE WU CHI POSITIONEXERCISE 20: POLISHING THE DESKEXERCISE 21: ROLLING THE BALLOONEXERCISE 22: TURNING THE BALLOONEXERCISE 23: OPENING THE CURTAINEXERCISE 24: WAVING HANDS LIKE CLOUDSEXERCISE 25: SWIMMING IN DEEP WATEREXERCISE 26: SWEEPING FROM SIDE TO SIDEEXERCISE 27: BLOCKING TO THE DIAGONALEXERCISE 28: EAGLE SPREADS ITS WINGSEXERCISE 29: BENDING FORWARD AND STRETCHING BACKEXERCISE 30: THE MARE PARTS ITS MANEEXERCISE 31: WORKING THE OAREXERCISE 32: PUSHING THE WALLEXERCISE 33: SHOWING YOUR PALMS AND SOLESEXERCISE 34: SINGLE WHIP DOWNEXERCISE 35: MONKEY HOLDS THE WORLDEXERCISE 36: STRETCHING LIKE A CATEXERCISE ROUTINESCHAPTER THREE BALANCE AND MOVEMENTEXERCISE 37: HORSE RIDING STANCEEXERCISE 38: SOFT STEPEXERCISE 39: STORK STEPEXERCISE 40: BOW STEPEXERCISE 41: COCKEREL STEPEXERCISE 42: SIDE STEPEXERCISE 43: TAI CHI WALKEXERCISE 44: DUCK WALKEXERCISE ROUTINESCHAPTER FOUR WORKING WITH A PARTNEREXERCISE 45: ROWING THE BOATEXERCISE 46: SAWING WOODEXERCISE 47: POLISHING THE WINDOWEXERCISE 48: MOVING LIKE A WINDMILLEXERCISE ROUTINESPART 2 THE SMALL CIRCLE FORMCHAPTER FIVE THE FORMTAI CHI STARTINGHOLD THE BALL (RIGHT)WARD OFF (LEFT)ROLL BACK (LEFT)PRESS (LEFT)PUSH (LEFT)HOLD THE BALL (LEFT)WARD OFF (RIGHT)ROLL BACK (RIGHT)PRESS (RIGHT)PUSH (RIGHT)SINGLE WHIP (LEFT)SINGLE WHIP (RIGHT)BRING THE TIGER AND RETURN TO THE MOUNTAINTAI CHI CLOSINGLEARNING THE SMALL CIRCLE FORMTHE MAIN MOVEMENTSCHAPTER SIX ONE STROKE OF THE BRUSHCONNECTING THE MOVEMENTSSTANDING STILL AND RELAXINGBREATHINGPOSTURE AND GESTUREYOUR MIND AND ENERGYRESOURCES AND FURTHER READING