The Tai Chi Union for Great Britain

The Tai Chi For You
With Ronnie Robinson Reviewed by Margo Hay
£15.99

This book might be dismissed as merely a high quality coffee table book but this would be an opportunity missed and an underestimation of all that the book has to offer. Any Tai Chi student, from beginner to experienced, will gain new insights into the postures of the Cheng Man Ching Tai Chi Form from the detailed step by step analysis of moves and the clear photographs of the (attractive) models which the large format allows. The photographs have been presented in a deceptively simple format, with monochrome background and colours limited to two or three. The resulting effect is that the reader can clearly distinguish arm, foot and body position. This is a welcome tool. We have all struggled with videos, DVDs and small scales drawings and pictures in which it is difficult to see elements clearly. This is a book we can prop up and copy.

Ronnie Robinson's has been practising and teaching Tai Chi for over twenty years and students attend his classes because they know they will receive inspiration and direction - sometimes to very exacting standards! They will also be given a vital 'drip-feed' of the philosophy and history which lies behind Tai Chi - and of course the Robinson humour! The fact that students return year after year conveys that this is a successful mix and the book reflects this. The message of the book is effectively conveyed: it is only by adopting a holistic approach that we can hope to come near the 'listening energy' of Tai Chi.

Perhaps the most significant aspect of Ronnie's teaching is the fact that he remains as enthusiastic about Tai Chi as when he started and this again is reflected in the tone of the book. He is continually pushing his own Tai Chi forward, observing, exploring and learning. He has traveled in China and spoken with many eminent figures in Tai Chi. The material in the book reflects his own sense that an understanding of the origins of Tai Chi and the relationship between Chi and Tai Chi must inform and influence the practice of the form: 'With so many styles - and versions of styles - in Tai Chi, it is becoming increasingly important that both teachers and practitioners adhere to the original principles of the art.'

The large format allows a pleasing amount of illustrated information to be presented per page, and within each page the material is divided into subsections. This has been done with the clear intention of making the absorption of information a pleasure rather than a chore. The book has a broad remit and deals fully with warm up, partner work and meditation. Last but not least is the self assessment chart in the final chapter which will prove a salutary lesson to those of us whose Tai Chi has become sloppy! The book will satisfy all the needs of those who want to teach themselves Ta Chi at home, but it will also be welcomed by those of us ten years or more down the line.