Step-By-Step Tai Chi

by Lam Kam Chuen

Tone your body, relax your mind.

Whatever your level of fitness, Step-by-Step Tai Chi offers a simple but effective program of exercise and stress reduction, based on the ancient Chinese art of Tai Chi. In addition to learning the fundamentals of Tai Chi through his carefully designed four-level program, Master Lam Kam Chuen will introduce you to Small Circle Form Tai Chi, an original method he has developed—based on classical Tai Chi styles—requiring a minimum of time and space.

Step-by-Step Tai Chi

* Detailed and easy-to-follow instruction for the basic movements of Tai Chi, plus Small Circle Form, complete with color illustrations that will guide you through every movement

* Specially selected exercises to help you build up strength, flexibility, and stamina in the muscles and joints of your upper and lower body

* Simple routines that you can perform in half an hour or less, with no previous experience, special clothing, or equipment required

* An ideal foundation if you wish to study advanced forms of Tai Chi

Whether you are looking for a way to reduce stress or a new way to exercise, Step-by-Step Tai Chi will keep you fit—inside and out.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 1994

Reviews

[Helga Cohen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to learn Tai Chi for a simple but effective program of exercise and stress reduction. This book is good to use while learning Tai Chi in a class. It helps reinforce the steps while learning this ancient Chinese art.

[Stewart Home · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great if you want to learn Lam Tai Chi, the book teaches a small circle form that has been slightly revised since the book came out. The book works well for those starting out in tai chi alongside a few lessons from a Lam teacher. The form might also interest those with experience although they will master it quickly. The form is short, so only takes about 90 seconds to complete and even if repeated 3 times as suggested still takes less than 5 minutes. For someone without a tai chi or martial arts background the form may still take months to master. If you're just started out learning a different form of tai chi this book won't be for you. Lam style is not that widely practiced but there are a few teachers in London (UK) and elsewhere. If you're planning on taking classes make sure you can find a Lam teacher before using this book, otherwise get a book on the style of tai chi your instructor teaches. If you want video support it's hard to find for Lam style. There are private videos online for students to use while classes aren't possible due to Covid but basically those teaching Lam style believe you should learn from an instructor. That said, if you want to learn simple tai chi from a book without taking classes or video support then this book will work for you. There are many styles of tai chi but until you try one you'll have no way of judging what is best for you. Lam Tai Chi is a good place to start.

[K.V. Johansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of Tai Chi books I've looked at are really difficult to follow. This one is clear, simple, and ideal for those looking for straightforward instruction on Tai Chi as exercise without a lot of mysticism. I found the simple drawings much easier to follow than many fancier books illustrated with photographs. It's also an approach to Tai Chi that's very good for small spaces.

[John Burns · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty boring. It's more for people interested in the health aspects of tai chi. The writer gets you to spend loads of time doing preparatory exercises and then the form at the end of the book is a poxy little abbreviated form which is a lot shorter and simpler than even fairly simplified styles like the standard 24 form. If you are looking for a very gentle form of exercise and nothing more then this would be a good book for you.
I can't really explain why i got into tai chi in the first place, but it certainly wasn't for the health benefits. It was probably because it seemed cool. And this book is very uncool. In fact, it's super lame. I worked my way through the preparatory exercises for a few months, not really acknowledging just how bored i was becoming until one day i said "pff, man, I didn't sign up for this" and switched over to just learning the standard 24 form instead.

[Elizabeth Grieve · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm afraid this was not for me. As a beginner to Tai Chi, I found it rather confusing. Most things I read about the subject talk about 24 forms, 8 forms or whatever, but this book seems to have 15 which puzzled me. I did not see any mention about the different routines and as there is no index I could not find further information. I can't stress enough the importance of a book like this having an index! So, not for me, although the (many) warm up exercises seem useful.

[Tina Ambury · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good refresher. Very clear instead and diagrams.