Exploring Tai Chi: Contemporary Views on an
Ancient Art
Review in Journal of Asian Martial Arts,
Summer 04
Reviewed by Sheila Turnage B.A.
In this, his second book on Taiji (romanized as Tai Chi on the
front and back cover, and T'ai Chi in the text), instructor John
Loupos offers readers a very personal perspective on this
martial art: "Tai Chi is, on the one hand, a tool for
personal development... On the other, it is a metaphor for
living life in the clearest, most efficient, and most deliberate
way."
By consciously expanding his beyond the practice studio door,
Loupos sends taiji's principles echoing through every part of
his life. He writes about practice habits, learning styles,
conflict resolution, meditation, training, trust, and surrender,
among many other things.
Some aspects of his inclusive approach will no doubt generate
controversy. For instance, he recommends Rolfing and
psychotherapy as valuable and sometimes necessary adjuncts to
taiji. He devotes pages to various meditation techniques,
including perineal breathing.
Diversity, one of the book's many strengths, sometimes proves to
be a double-edged sword for Loupos as a writer. While his
chapters work well separately, the book lacks overall cohesion,
probably because he shifts audiences with chapters.
Chapter 1 focuses on starting taiji study: choosing a teacher
and school, practice habits, training, etc.; and it primarily
addresses beginners.The chapter on fajing, which Loupos
defines as "the incredibly explosive power that can be
developed and expressed as a result of certain aspects of T'ai
Chi training," targets more advanced practitioners. Chapter
4, a brief section on maintaining taiji's integrity in a fickle
marketplace, often speaks directly to instructors.
As a result of these shifts in focus, reading the book is a
little like examining a hand-full of pearls, but finding no sure
thread to unite them. Individual pearls have value, however, and
the best solution may be to read the book as a collection of
essays. In this way, for example, the chapter "Dealing With
Injuries" will give you food for thought even though Loupos
admits taiji injuries are rare.
Loupos writes in an easy accessible voice tinged with humor.
While the final chapter's musings sometime seemed forced, his
practical advice should benefit most students.
His thoughts on rooting, dynamic structure, and training tips
are helpful and easy to understand. The chapter on fajing is intriguing, but harder to follow. His perspectives on
meditation are interesting, as is his notion of using taiji
principles to enhance life.
Would I recommend this book to others? Yes. Will readers agree
with the specific ways Loupos weaves his martial arts throughout
his world and his world into his martial art? Most readers will
find his perspectives and ideas worth considering, worth
discussing, and even, perhaps, worth arguing about.
Exploring
Tai Chi
Review from Taijiquan Journal Vol.5 #1, Winter
2004
Exploring Tai Chi is John Loupos's second book on taiji insights.
It is similar to his first book, Inside Tai Chi, in in its blend
of personal philosophy, practice tips and suggestions, not to mention a
similar cover design and layout.
Loupos begins by covering various aspects of getting started,
maintaining practice, and participating in classes. This includes the
student-teacher relationship, money handling, learning styles, and
helpful suggestions for gauging one's progress. Loupos goes on to
discuss the definition of mastery and makes sensible suggestions for
those seeking a credible teacher. Other topics are psychological blocks
to progress and the necessity of giving up preconceived ideas of how the
learning process is supposed to go. The author draws a delightful
parallel between the effects of taiji pushing hands and long-term deep
tissue massage: while both practices are painful in their own way, each
results in the body's ability to relax deeply and enjoy life more.
Loupos leaves this philosophical side behind in the middle of the book,
which deals with mechanics of solo form and push hands. Particularly
useful are the partner exercises to improve root and alignment. Loupos
focuses on transitions between stationary postures, something that is
often missing in taiji training manuals. As with his first book, Loupos
uses diagrams and photographs in a very useful manner.
A chapter on fajin (issuing force) represents a quantum leap
forward for the average taiji student, in that its subject is usually
reserved for those who have developed a serious advanced practice.
Loupos does a meticulous job of explaining its biomechanics. Even
beginners can grasp some of his instruction, such as the importance of
keeping the joints relaxed. Loupos's background in qigong and karate
leads him to add sphincter control to this level of taiji, a practice
that is not necessarily universal to taiji and which can add, rather
than decrease, muscle tension if done incorrectly.
A chapter on training tips makes useful suggestions helpful for various
stages of study. Beginners will appreciate his explanation of the
Bubbling Well point on the sole of the foot, suggestions on the correct
way to turn the back foot (turn the toe, not the heel), and a section on
"how not to bounce." More advanced students might find the author's
description of the physics of push hands interesting. Other sections
include the importance of stretching, and standards judged in
tournaments.
Any taiji teacher combine taiji instruction with some meditation
activities. Loupos explains his belief that meditation is a powerful aid
to reaching one's full potential, and presents various meditation
activities to that end. Material on perineal breathing can be an
interesting adjunct for taiji practice.
He offers useful information that can be applied to areas either within
or outside of traditional taiji practice. He offers suggestions for
dealing with injuries incurred during martial arts training (or during
any vigorous activity). Based in a realistic understanding that the
softness of taiji sometimes is forgotten in practice, he includes
mechanical, homeopathic, and other suggestions for healing the body.
Loupos makes a point that strongly reflects his message: "If you are
going to commit yourself to better living through Tai Chi, you may as
well try to remain congruent in other areas of your life." He outlines
how the principles of yielding and softness can be applied in
relationships at home and at work. Others have found similar effects
through other commitments, other practices. However, that lessons
learned in taiji practice can have a positive effect in all areas of
one's life is a strong argument, and Loupos makes suggestions that that
can help the dedicated individual get started in a positive direction.
As in his first book, Loupos finished by tying up loose ends with
lecture notes and humorous anecdotes. Some are directly related to taiji;
others are less so- Loupos's attempts to compose raps and other ditties
are not up to the level of the rest of the book.
Like Loupos's first book, Exploring Tai Chi is a broad
exploration both as a martial arts and as a lifestyle. As a martial
artist, Loupos has made and shared a detailed study of technical and
energetic details of taiji. Yet Loupos seems to be so eager to credit
taiji with personal growth that one has to be careful to differentiate
what is taiji and what is simply a sincere individual's personal
journey. That Loupos has achieved contentment through the lessons he has
learned form taiji and his willingness to share its benefits in evident
on every page.
Exploring Tai Chi by John Loupos
Amazon Customer Review September 23, 2003
Reviewer: Susan E. Suarez from MA United States
I am impressed with Mr. Loupus' ability to write in a way that makes you feel as if he is sitting in the room with you, just chatting you up about Tai Chi.
Much like the feeling I get on that rare occasion when sitting in church, listenting to a sermon that seems to specifically address me and my issues, Mr. Loupus is able to address what the student is experiencing by answering questions, making observations and statements, and offering reassurance.
The learnings from this book are unusual in that the author exposes himself and his own experiences, sometimes beyond martial arts, both as a student and teacher of Tai Chi and as a participant in life. This book would even help a potential student who wants to understand what they would be getting into -if he/she were to make the personal commitment to learn the art that does not seem to be describable (is that a word?).
For new students, the book is a must as it compliments class instruction with "narration." It progresses at the pace of the student, with new learnings in appropriate doses, as it is read. Additionally, some of those questions that are on you mind, "but you are afraid to ask", are answered in Mr. Loupus' work.
Further, the book is well-written - not too technical but informative and quite eloquent in its writing style.
Buy it. You'll like it.