Tai Chi Touchstones: Yang Family Secret Transmissions

Like all books that have to do with "internal" anything; Zen, Taoism, Tai Chi Chuan, the level of the practitioner will determine just what you get from the manual. 30 years ago as a beginner in Tai Chi I probably would have gotten nothing from this incredible book, now it is an indispensable gem giving revelation after revelation, with deeper import yet to be fathomed. The Classics all have this inner essence, something the new books on Tai Chi Chuan lack entirely as they come across more like cook books done by mediocre chefs. One can only hope that this book will be brought back into print and left in print forever as the tai chi community really needs it. So for intermediate Tai Chi Chuan student's I highly recommend this book.

This book has apparently become obsolete, with no further printings expected. For this reason, students and practitioners of this style, who work with the very few masters and adepts still teaching it, are willing to pay exorbitant amounts of money for the few copies still in circulation. This is a problem. I personally did so, because once I took a gander at my fellow practitioner's copy, I knew for sure that I wanted to own it myself, in order to be able to refer to it for the duration of my practice and learning, which I intend to be in place for the rest of my life. The price shifted upward - so radically and so suddenly - that it has left our heads spinning. Still, I have it now and I am thrilled! It is a fresh, new looking book, and the internal teachings found within are priceless! I am especially enjoying the last third.I suspect that I will continue finding areas and aspects of the book more or less interesting, depending on where I am in my tai chi journey and development. So glad I found it! Cheaper here than on ebay. Good luck folks!

My Tai Chi instructor recommended this book. It was pricey but I understand that copies are hard to find. Small volume but distilled wisdom and principles. Came in safely packaged and on time.

I can't believe this book in used form is sell for the high prices asked on Amazon. I paid a fairly high price for this book and it isn't worth it unless you are a collector of old Tai Chi books. All the secrets in this book are well known now. The book was published in 1983 and at that time many of ideas were considered secrets. Not now! Every modern Tai Chi book has all the "secrets" given in this book. At the time Douglas Wile wrote this book it was probably very useful. Now, at most, it is of historical interest. If you are really interested in learning Tai Chi, buy a modern book. Better yet, find a good instructor. Tai Chi is almost impossible to learn from a book. If you want a book, I would recommend books by Bruce Frantzis. If you are interested in books about the history of Tai Chi then buy books about the Tai Chi (also known as Taijiquan) classics, but realize you are not going to discover any unknown secrets!

This book is pricey, but contains a ton of knowledge for serious Tai Chi people. The disappointing part is that the photos of Yang Ch'eng Fu in the postures are small, making it hard to see the details.

I have been practicing Tai Chi regularly for about a decade now and one of my fellow "players" recommended this book to me. It feels like a more direct path to the original teachings of the form rather than just listening to other people interpret it for you.

As I had read that other book of Douglas Wile, "Lost classics of taijiquan", which is one of history, I was expecting that this book, "Yang family secret transmissions" had also an historical approach of the conditions of the transmission of Yang style taijiquan (family, sectarian, mass transmissions...). It turned out to be a compilation of translations of very classic texts of taijiquan.As these texts are all classicals, then there is nothing dealing with secret transmissions anyway.

NICE TRANSLATION GOOD INFO. ONE OF THE BEST. UNBELIEVABLE, MUST READ you must judge for yourself, but I highly recommend it. one two three four five six seven eight. nine!!

I did not find this book as interesting as other books that I have purchased on the subject as it deals mainly with the history of Tai-chi and less with the physical aspect which I find more interesting. Having said that my Tai-chi teacher that recommended it to me does find it both useful and interesting.

Great one to own for students of tai chi and those interested in the roots of the art, good for the collection

Arrived in time and a great book to read and quality is good

Full of interesting information.wide range of subjects. Good for reference on lots of aspects of tai chi chuan practice and techniques

Brilliant. Like a bible for (Yang style) for Taiji