Bagua Swimming Body Palms

This book, like the Wang Shu Jin's Bagua Linked palms is an important book amongst the Bagua classics and Kent Howard and Chen Hsiao Yen are to be commended for bringing it to publication. At 88 pages the book is not long, an indeed the a criticism might be made that given its brevity and the fact that several sections are the same as Bagua Linked palms (such as Chapter 3 - Bagua Hand Forms and Chapter 5 Bagua post standing methods) that it is overpriced. There is also less "history" and background information in this book as much has been elaborated in the Bagua Linked palms.However that would be to do the book a diservice as the authors have spent a considerable amount of time trying to translate the materials into English that is understandable to someone who is not well versed in the system. (This is a art in itself, as I can attest from personal experience!) The sections on the nine palaces and secrets are good reminders to even advanced practitioners of the basic principles of Bagua and internal arts in general. The additional commentary by Darius Elder also helps place the different practices set out in the book in their proper context and explains what one hopes to achieve with such exercises. Like the earlier book the authors also add additional commentary to flesh out how the forms should be practiced in terms of order and expression.The authors admit that Wang Shu Jin's "laconic" style leaves much to be desired, and does not deal with martial applications. They are in the midst of preparing a third book on training methods, martial applications and weapons forms. As a reader I would have preferred that they combine the two books, as I always find it easier to learn forms if one knows the application and it would have been even better had they included a supporting DVD, which seems to be a fixture of many martial arts books issued here in Asia.

All A Large Like. Cheers Joseph

Generally a good book for people with a foundation in Tai Chi, and some understanding of Bagwa.

Sometimes we get stuck at something simple. Other times at something huge and complecated. If you are studying this style, make sure you have been through stages before buying and reading this book. It is not to play with.

Can't really beat it for the price!

Poorly written

Questo testo è stato originariamente scritto dal Gran Maestro Wang Shujin per essere divulgato all'interno delle scuole ed università di Taiwan. Rappresenta quindi un'introduzione alla seconda serie di palmi del Bagua della scuola Cheng Ming. Come praticante ed insegnante della scuola fondata proprio da Wang Shujin considero questo testo fondamentale per una corretta pratica, lo consiglio vivamente a tutti i praticanti dello stile Cheng Ming e lo ritengo utile anche per coloro che praticano il Bagua con altri maestri. Dal mio personale modo di vedere gli insegnamenti dei grandi maestri non ho apprezzato pienamente la contaminazione da parte del commentatore Kent Howard su alcune parti del testo originale che ritengo azzardate, ma sincere.

this arrived very quickly and in great shape. I enjoy the excellent prose and the authentic pictures. i learned a lot from this book and the descriptions in it.

英文ばかりで遊身の参考になりません。すごく写真が少ないんです。Shujin Wangとは王樹金さんのことですが、英語を読める方にとっても、あまり遊身の参考にならないと思えるくらいです。