David W. Grantham – författare

Gold Winner - 2011 IP's Living Now Awards Honorable Mention - 2011 Eric Hoffer Award WHAT IS TAI CHI BALL? Tai Chi Ball training used to be common practice in both external and internal martial arts. Unfortunately, due to its secrecy, fewer and fewer people have learned it. Today the art of Tai Chi Ball Qigong is almost forgotten. HOW CAN I USE IT? Fortunately, this book (and the companion DVDs) allows interested students to practice this effective training and incorporate it into their general exercise routine, or martial arts regimen. HOW WILL TAI CHI BALL TRAINING BENEFIT ME? For martial artists, Tai Chi Ball Qigong training can strengthen the torso, condition the muscles, and increase physical power by using the mind to lead the qi. It can be a major training tool to enhance pushing hands ability. For general exercise, Tai Chi Ball Qigong training helps those who might overly focus on 'core body exercises' to strengthen their hips, knees, and ankles. You will learn to move the vertebrae of the spine, increase energy through various breathing techniques, and learn to move many joints properly at different angles.

Push Hands is the “other” part of tai chi that makes your practice a true living artTai chi push hands practice is a necessary next step for tai chi practitioners who wish to make their art come alive. Push hands practice requires two people to engage in a variety of “light touch” moving and walking routines. By practicing these movements, practitioners begin to develop tai chi’s sensing, listening, and yielding skills. Combined, these skills are the first step for developing your tai chi as a martial art.The Dao De Jing classic reminds us that knowing others (an opponent) is important for knowing ourselves. By develop tai chi push hand skills, one begins to obtain a profound sense of feeling of your own body and mind. This ability aids greatly in regulating and controlling body, balance, health, perseverance, compassion, and overall spirit.It is no mistake that tai chi offers a lifetime of continued learning and progress; the goal is a deep understanding of yourself and your role in nature.In this book, you will learnThe theory of tai chi pushing handsTai chi qigong foundation practiceTai chi jing (power) practiceTwo-person stationary push hands practiceTwo-person moving push hands practiceTai chi rollback and press push hands practiceInternational standard push hands routineTwo-person free style push handsMartial art applications in tai chi push hands practiceDr. Yang reminds us “tai chi chuan was created based on the martial applications which were used for self-defense. Every movement of tai chi chuan has its unique martial purpose. Without this martial root, tai chi chuan practice will limited to a dance, lacking a deeper meaning or a deeper feeling.”This book is complemented by two companion videos sold separately.Tai Chi Pushing Hands 1 - Yang Style Single and Double Pushing HandsTai Chi Pushing Hands 2 - Yang Style Single and Double Pushing HandsAvailable wherever DVD and Streaming videos are sold.

Tai chi ball qigong training is an important component of proper tai chi chuan practiceOnce kept secret in martial arts societies, Tai Chi Ball training has the potential to help develop internal strength, whole body connections, yielding and neutralizing skills, and promotes abundant qi flow.For decades, this training was widely unknown. Dr. Yang has taken the original 24 patterns and extended them to 48 patterns in order to expand the health benefits and to target the needs of martial artists.For martial artists, tai chi ball qigong training can strengthen the torso, condition the muscles, and increase physical power by using the mind to lead the qi. It can be a major training tool to enhance pushing hands ability.As a health exercise, tai chi ball qigong training will improve movement of the spine, increase energy through various breathing techniques, and aid in moving many joints of your body properly, and at different angles."In all my years of teaching, I believe that Tai Chi Ball Qigong is one of the most powerful exercises I have ever seen to rebuild the entire body's health."—Dr. Yang, Jwing-MingThis book includesHistory of tai chi ballTheory of tai chi ball qigongTai chi ball warm-upsTai chi ball fundamentalsTai chi ball breathingTai chi ball exercisesTai chi ball partner exercisesTai chi ball advanced practice