New Books and DVDs

William C.C. Chen's approach to taiji focuses on practical aspects of movement. Practical Body Mechanics of T'ai Chi Ch'uan is the title of his new DVD, an overview of his teaching system. This particular DVD gives a taste of his "three nails" principle for the foot, a look at the use of hand dynamics, gathering of qi, use of the kua, push hands, and more. Chen's presentation is very personable with a good dose of humor; the sound and other production values are quite good, including a fun "Pink Panther-like" introduction. The DVD is available only through Chen's association.
William C.C. Chen teaches in New York City and has a wide following around the world; he was a student of Cheng Man-ch'ing in Taiwan.

Massage is Good! Scientific Proof

Why and how does massage work? Researchers have explored this at McMaster University in Ontario.
"Massage's healing touch may have more to do with DNA than with good hands. A new study has revealed for the first time how kneading eases sore muscles—by turning off genes associated with inflammation and turning on genes that help muscles heal. The discovery contradicts popular claims that massage squeezes lactic acid or waste products out of tired muscles and could bring new medical credibility to the practice." Read the article at Science Magazine.

Yoga Practice Caveats and Lessons

When is a good thing too much? When it creates problems. That's the case for some yoga practitioners, as described in this New York Times Magazine article. According to yoga instructor Glenn Black,

...a number of factors have converged to heighten the risk of practicing yoga. The biggest is the demographic shift in those who study it. Indian practitioners of yoga typically squatted and sat cross-legged in daily life, and yoga poses, or asanas, were an outgrowth of these postures. Now urbanites who sit in chairs all day walk into a studio a couple of times a week and strain to twist themselves into ever-more-difficult postures despite their lack of flexibility and other physical problems. Many come to yoga as a gentle alternative to vigorous sports or for rehabilitation for injuries. But yoga’s exploding popularity — the number of Americans doing yoga has risen from about 4 million in 2001 to what some estimate to be as many as 20 million in 2011 — means that there is now an abundance of studios where many teachers lack the deeper training necessary to recognize when students are headed toward injury. “Today many schools of yoga are just about pushing people,” Black said. “You can’t believe what’s going on — teachers jumping on people, pushing and pulling and saying, ‘You should be able to do this by now.’ It has to do with their egos.”

While tai chi practice seldom leads to injury, the lessons of yoga practitioners--students and teachers alike--should give pause for thought. How far does one push oneself? How does one work out safely?

Books: History of Chinese Martial Arts

Chinese Martial Arts: From Antiquity to the Twenty-First Century, by Peter Lorge (Cambridge University Press, $ 29.00, 340 pages)
Publisher's description: "In the global world of the twenty-first century, martial arts are practiced for self-defense and sporting purposes only. However, for thousands of years, they were a central feature of military practice in China and essential for the smooth functioning of society. Individuals who were adept in using weapons were highly regarded, not simply as warriors but also as tacticians and performers. This book, which opens with an intriguing account of the very first female martial artist, charts the history of combat and fighting techniques in China from the Bronze Age to the present. This broad panorama affords fascinating glimpses into the transformation of martial skills, techniques, and weaponry against the background of Chinese history, the rise and fall of empires, their governments, and their armies. Quotations from literature and poetry, and the stories of individual warriors, infuse the narrative, offering personal reflections on prowess in the battlefield and techniques of engagement. This is an engaging and readable introduction to the authentic history of Chinese martial arts."

Arthritis and Exercise

Exercise is the way to deal with arthritis, experts say. "Three years ago, federal health officials recommended that people with arthritis exercise moderately every day for about 20 minutes. But that's not what's happening. A recent study at Northwestern University looked at activity among 1,000 adults, between 49 and 84 years old, who had osteoarthritis of the knee. Ninety percent of the people were not exercising, according to lead scientist Dorothy Dunlop....Even more alarming, 40 percent of men and nearly 60 percent of women were total couch potatoes, Dunlop says." Read the entire article at NPR.
Tai chi, of course, is widely practiced for arthritis.

China to Build First Tai Chi Theme Park

"China will build a theme park showcasing the traditional martial art of Tai Chi in Wudang Mountains area, legendary home of the marital art and a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned as a center of Taoism," reports Xinhua News Agency in China.

This is to be a joint venture with the American company Landmark Entertainment, and is aimed at increasing tourism. Hollywood-directed performances of tai chi will be featured along with the Daoist (Taoist) heritage of the mountains.

New Movie "Man of Tai Chi" to Feature Keanu Reeves

Actor Keanu Reeves will make his directorial debut with "Man of Tai Chi," a martial arts film that will have at least forty minutes of fighting! "I want to make a good, solid kung fu movie. Good story, good plot — but let's get some good kung fu going!" He was interviewed on MTV.