The Power of Internal Martial Arts and Chi: Combat and Energy Secrets of Ba Gua, Tai Chi and Hsing-I

Not for someone who wants a "how to" book rather than a thinking person's intro to the internal martial arts. Perfect but risky for a martial arts newbie since it lays an historical and philosophical foundation for a lifetime of martial arts practice, whetting the appetite for what lies ahead but perhaps producing premature preoccupation with issues beyone one's current grasp. Well-written, not sensationalist, at times humorous and self-depricatory. I found my first copy, of the first publication, at a local used book store but wanted this, second publication, because of its expanded nature. Glad I did. Good reading.

As a meditator and Urantia Book reader who has been interested since some time ago in the development of 12 senses as suggested in:"The average special physical-sense endowment of human beings is twelve, though the special senses of the three-brained mortals are extended slightly beyond those of the one- and two-brained types; they can see and hear considerably more than the Urantia races." The Urantia Book[49:4.3]It was a real surprise for me to find in this most profound book by Bruce Frantzis that:"In Eastern thought, humans have two different kinds of senses -external and internal...However, most people are unware of the more subtle capacities of their correspondent internal or psychic sense, those that enable them to access and use chi's most subtle qualities"pag319In fact before reading this excellent book I already had envisioned these 10 senses, I had called the Cosmic sense, and additionally I had already envisioned the "spiritual essence of the Who I Am", as a sense, the sense of the Being... and that sense that permitted Ancient Taoists envisioned unity in duality, represented in their yin-yang symbol, the dialogic sense, making them the 12 senses described in UB.Another thing that has liked me the most in this book is the use of synergy instead of entropy in manipulating the inner energy, something that explains why in the West there is a great need of a paradigm schift that include not only the outer senses, but also the inner senses to make a better approach to Eastern Inner science.I highly recommend this book!!!

Finally another Master says the things I have been teaching for years. Living Martial Arts don't just make fancy moves. They understand and pass on the practical application of their movements and the feelings one should have when practicing. "Fast and Flashy" are pretty to see in the demonstrations but useless in the real world. Understanding the applications of the movement is what separates the Master Martial Artist from a "stylized dancer" or "karate / fitness instructor".

This guy knows what he is talking about. Bruce Frantzis is the first author i have found that has truely experienced internal martial arts thouroghly and deeply enough to write this book. I found this book very inspiring and helpful in my training and i cant wait to check out his other books.

This is a good book for overview and good for beginners to martial arts. But you will not find any practical hints. On the other hand although I found only one sentence useful in the book, it is worth to buy and read this book for this only sentence.

The author shows photos, facts and trivia martial arts, an updated and rather plain, great for martial arts teachers, simple language but with deep and rich nuances book. Loved it.

I have always been fascinated by the martial arts and energy. A physical class should be required for anyone who is interested in physics, quantum physics, medicine and quantum, medicine.

This is an essential book that expand and gather important information related to it.I recommend it. It is one book that explain about internal martial arts very well.

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Das Buch an sich ist nicht schelcht, aber es beinhaltet zu viel "was" und zu wenig "wie". D.h. Bruce sagt und wiederholt, was man mit den Techniken des Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Ba Gua und Hsing I erreichen kann, aber er sagt nie, wie man es tut. Das ist für mich ziemlich enttäuschend.Nur das neue, letzte Kapitel über spirituelle Kampfkünste ist wirklich schön zu lesen. Ich finde, das ist genau das, was viele Leute, auch professionelle Kampfkünstler, und darunter auch mein Lehrer, nicht verstanden haben. Ich habe so viele Persönen gehört, die sich komplett verweigern, sich auf dem beschriebenen Weg zu begeben. Allerdings finde ich, dass das eigentlich das endgültige Ziel und Zweck des ganzen Kampfkunsttraining und des Leben selber ist.

A book by a well known Qigong + Martial Arts master. Very comprehensive, detailed overview of internal martial arts. A must have for everyone interested in internal Martial arts in depth.

Lots of reference to his personel acievements, which seem to repeat themselves. Some how it did nothing to inspire me. I lost my way after the first chapter and ended up flicking through for something to follow and then try myself.Maybe I was after an idiots guide, step by step instruction.

Jusqu'à la, je ne l'ai pas terminer ce livre est très intéressant. Ce Monsieur a plusieurs années d'expérience dans les arts martiaux en général.