Circling the Square: Observations on the Dynamics of Tai Chi Chuan

Christopher Dow has practiced tai chi chuan and chi kung since 1979, and his articles on these subjects have appeared in Tai Chi Magazine, Inside Kung Fu, and Yoga Journal. In addition, he has written on a variety of topics for numerous local, regional, and national publications. From 1986 to 1990, he produced a historically significant documentary series on the first nationally sanctioned kung fu tournament in the United States: the U.S. National Chinese Martial Arts Competition. He is the author of several novels, collections of short fiction and essays, and four volumes of poetry. His other books on of tai chi and chi kung are The Wellspring: An Inquiry into the Nature of Chi, and Alchemy of Breath: An Introduction to Chi Kung.

Tai chi chuan is many things: a martial art, a superlative exercise, a mode of meditation, and a method to build internal vitality, strength, and power and to improve health. But what exactly is tai chi? How does it function? What makes it work? In Circling the Square, Christopher Dow draws on a variety of fields to examine this fascinating movement art, beginning with an analysis of is basic physical structure. From there, he delves into how chi, the energy behind tai chi's legendary power, is generated and then manifested through the movements of the tai chi form to create a gestalt that is greater than the sum of its parts. Along the way, he evaluates the distinct characteristics of the Thirteen Postures, breathing techniques, the concept and physiology of the tai chi bow, power emission, and a number of other topics of interest to the serious student of tai chi. The lessons of Circling the Square can apply to any tai chi style, and the book will appeal to anyone-beginner and more experienced practitioner alike-who wishes to deepen their understanding of this fascinating and timeless martial art.