Tai Chi: The Supreme Ultimate

by Lawrence Galante

Book Overview

A comprehensive text that includes a study of the origins and history of Tai Chi; a detailed analysis of its relationship to Western philosophy, the I Ching, Tao te Ching, yoga, and Zen. The author... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0877284970
• Release Date: May 1983
• Publisher: Weiser Books
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.9" x 0.7" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

A comprehensive study!

For many years now I have run across second hand copies of this book and never really thought much of the content until recently. On closer inspection I found that Mr Galante has attempted (quite successfully) to cover a great deal of important elements in a comparative study, which covers Philosophy, Mysticism, Science, Spirituality, Occult including a comparative look at Zen and Yoga in relation to Taijiquan.Mr Galante to my delight even bothers to draw the readers attention to the subject of Ceremonial Magick! for which I must wholeheartedly congratulate him as this is very much an angle at which I myself approach Taijiquan, both in the Martial sense and health and healing. There are virtually no works on Taijiquan which contain such a pleasing Renaissance approach to the subject. We look at various studies on Qi and healing within this work and are briefly introduced to its research and implications regarding health. As if this were not enough we then get into the form itself which for my money (and this is the reason I bought this book) contains the clearest pictorial guidelines for learning the Martial applications of any Taijiquan book I have ever seen. I own other books which have pictorials showing Martial Apps of TJQ but none have been so easy on the eye as those within this book. He has done a brilliant job with this work and he leaves a weighty bibliography for those wishing to read more about this great art. Well worth the money and a solid companion to other works in my M.A library, this book see's allot of referencing from me and I recommend it to all.

A Godsent

My Tai Chi college teacher assigned this book to us, and I just love it, top to bottom, it's great. I especially love the text, and Martial art applications of each move.

Wonderful and Complete

This is the only book I have ever seen that teaches the whole form, all the applications, all the proper breathing in one form Section with hundreds of photos. In other sections it's the only book that explains the spiritual aspects of this wonderful art. Galante is truely a master who really understands how to bridge the Western mind with the Eastern mentality. This book is a must for any library on Tai Chi Chuan.

effective/easy to read/ great step by step instructions

This is book is by far the best Tai Chi reference I have ever read. The easy to follow pictures, applications, and detailed background of Tai Chi and its history make this book a must for any Tai Chi player as a commonly used reference! DLK

The Best! Large photos, clear diagrams and instructions!

This is a truly comprehensive treatment of the subject. A very useful introduction covers the history and philosophy of Tai Chi. Accompanying the many large photos are the names of each move, clear descriptions, diagrams of foot positions, breathing instructions and photos of the practical martial applications of each move.