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Tai Chi Ball Qigong: For Health and Martial Arts
Tai chi ball qigong training is an important component of proper tai chi chuan practice
Once kept secret in martial arts societies, Tai Chi Ball training has the potential to help develop internal strength, whole body connections, yielding and neutralizing skills, and promotes abundant qi flow.
For decades, this training was widely unknown. Dr. Yang has taken the original 24 patterns and extended them to 48 patterns in order to expand the health benefits and to target the needs of martial artists.
For martial artists , tai chi ball qigong training can strengthen the torso, condition the muscles, and increase physical power by using the mind to lead the qi. It can be a major training tool to enhance pushing hands ability.
As a health exercise , tai chi ball qigong training will improve movement of the spine, increase energy through various breathing techniques, and aid in moving many joints of your body properly, and at different angles.
" In all my years of teaching, I believe that Tai Chi Ball Qigong is one of the most powerful exercises I have ever seen to rebuild the entire body's health. "—Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming
This book includes
Once kept secret in martial arts societies, Tai Chi Ball training has the potential to help develop internal strength, whole body connections, yielding and neutralizing skills, and promotes abundant qi flow.
For decades, this training was widely unknown. Dr. Yang has taken the original 24 patterns and extended them to 48 patterns in order to expand the health benefits and to target the needs of martial artists.
For martial artists , tai chi ball qigong training can strengthen the torso, condition the muscles, and increase physical power by using the mind to lead the qi. It can be a major training tool to enhance pushing hands ability.
As a health exercise , tai chi ball qigong training will improve movement of the spine, increase energy through various breathing techniques, and aid in moving many joints of your body properly, and at different angles.
" In all my years of teaching, I believe that Tai Chi Ball Qigong is one of the most powerful exercises I have ever seen to rebuild the entire body's health. "—Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming
This book includes
- GenresMartial Arts
315 pages, Paperback
First published November 16, 2010
10 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 12, 2014
This book has been part of my Tai Chi library for the past 4 years. It begins with general Qigong theory and procedures. It then introduces the Tai Chi Ball Qigong and theory. And then it moves on to training and applications. I find the illustrations helpful especially when used along with the DVD’s which can be purchased separately. A person experienced in Tai chi and Qigong would have no problem practicing with this book. A beginner would find this book a little difficult to use. I integrate the Tai Chi Ball and Qigong in my Yang Style practice every day. I can’t imagine going a day without doing this. Thank you, Dr. Yang and Mr. Grantham.
Brenda L. Gerber – Instructor and student in both Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong
Brenda L. Gerber – Instructor and student in both Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong
February 5, 2018
No question. This Tai Chi Ball Qigong Book is a home run with 5 stars.
This book, by Dr. Yang Jwing Ming and David Grantham, is full of information I didn’t anticipate. I never could have imagined how much theory there is behind “Taiji Ball Qigong”, which is a mixture between internal qigong and external qigong. This book not only details how to sensitize your mind to your internal feelings, but how to regulate the body, the breathing and lead the qi. It talks about how to manifest them into external actions using a Taiji ball which is quite a fascinating process and training for the body, mind and spirit.
The book is so well written, with movements described in detail and pictured exceptionally well (if you haven’t also bought the DVD to accompany the book).
The “how to” practice the Taiji ball qigong is contained in the last half of the book while the first half is dedicated to explaining the history of the Taiji Ball along with the theory you need to learn and understand prior to doing it.
Who knew something that looks so easy could be so complex in its history, theory and movements. Reading it through one time just won't be enough. I can’t wait to read it 10 times through so I can try to discern what secrets lie within each word, each chapter. Its going to be fun. I can just tell.
Tai Chi Ball Qigong: For Health and Martial Arts
This book, by Dr. Yang Jwing Ming and David Grantham, is full of information I didn’t anticipate. I never could have imagined how much theory there is behind “Taiji Ball Qigong”, which is a mixture between internal qigong and external qigong. This book not only details how to sensitize your mind to your internal feelings, but how to regulate the body, the breathing and lead the qi. It talks about how to manifest them into external actions using a Taiji ball which is quite a fascinating process and training for the body, mind and spirit.
The book is so well written, with movements described in detail and pictured exceptionally well (if you haven’t also bought the DVD to accompany the book).
The “how to” practice the Taiji ball qigong is contained in the last half of the book while the first half is dedicated to explaining the history of the Taiji Ball along with the theory you need to learn and understand prior to doing it.
Who knew something that looks so easy could be so complex in its history, theory and movements. Reading it through one time just won't be enough. I can’t wait to read it 10 times through so I can try to discern what secrets lie within each word, each chapter. Its going to be fun. I can just tell.
Tai Chi Ball Qigong: For Health and Martial Arts
June 13, 2024
Yet another great training resource for those wanting to develop and enhance their skill in Tai Chi and Qigong. I recommend pairing it with the DVDs as fully understanding the exercises is difficult at best if you only have the book.
January 11, 2011
This book has two sections: the theoretical material at the beginning, and the exercises. If you are familiar with Dr. Yang's qigong dvd series, the material in the beginning will look familiar. It's a nice summary of his introductory qigong theory. The second half, however, is what I find most intriguing. I do Yang Tai Chi, and what I see in Tai Chi Ball Qigong is a way of training familiar movements but with a slightly different twist. The ball makes the connection between the hands and the circularity of the techniques much more immediate.
The ball also adds a little weight to the movements. As a middle-aged woman, I lift light weights to stave off bone loss. The Western way of lifting weights, a way that "isolates" muscles, has never made sense to me. We don't use muscles in isolation in daily life, why isolate them in our exercise? Tai Chi ball allows me to use a light weight (the ball) in a way that is integrative and whole-body. It gives me a little bit or resistance while also training balance, fluidity, and flexibility.
One word of caution, however: If you wish to actually do these exercises (as opposed to reading about them from a theoretical or "tourist" perspective), assume you will also need to purchase both the book and the DVD. The photos are clear and good-quality, but I find myself unable to decipher the more complex movements from just photos with drawn-in arrows.
With that one proviso, I highly recommend the book to anyone wishing to add a new dimension to their Tai Chi practice.
The ball also adds a little weight to the movements. As a middle-aged woman, I lift light weights to stave off bone loss. The Western way of lifting weights, a way that "isolates" muscles, has never made sense to me. We don't use muscles in isolation in daily life, why isolate them in our exercise? Tai Chi ball allows me to use a light weight (the ball) in a way that is integrative and whole-body. It gives me a little bit or resistance while also training balance, fluidity, and flexibility.
One word of caution, however: If you wish to actually do these exercises (as opposed to reading about them from a theoretical or "tourist" perspective), assume you will also need to purchase both the book and the DVD. The photos are clear and good-quality, but I find myself unable to decipher the more complex movements from just photos with drawn-in arrows.
With that one proviso, I highly recommend the book to anyone wishing to add a new dimension to their Tai Chi practice.
November 16, 2014
Each of Dr. Yang’s books reveal more about tai chi, qigong, and overall health.
This book, Tai Chi Ball Qigong, delves into much more detail than some of his other books I’ve reviewed, including:
General qigong theory
Qigong training theory and procedures
A general introduction to tai chi ball qigong
Theory of tai chi ball qigong
Even with all of this information, however, the bulk of the book includes pictures and a detailed guide on how to do tai chi ball qigong.
As if the book isn’t enough, one of the accompanying DVDs runs over three hours and helps fill in the “in between” movements the pictures in the book can’t demonstrate.
If you’re looking at furthering your understanding of tai chi and qigong, check out this book.
This book, Tai Chi Ball Qigong, delves into much more detail than some of his other books I’ve reviewed, including:
General qigong theory
Qigong training theory and procedures
A general introduction to tai chi ball qigong
Theory of tai chi ball qigong
Even with all of this information, however, the bulk of the book includes pictures and a detailed guide on how to do tai chi ball qigong.
As if the book isn’t enough, one of the accompanying DVDs runs over three hours and helps fill in the “in between” movements the pictures in the book can’t demonstrate.
If you’re looking at furthering your understanding of tai chi and qigong, check out this book.
July 7, 2012
This is the basic DVD and he has another one that builds on this one. I might get the next one after I absorb what I can from this one. I like Four Gates Breathing.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews