Ken Gullette spent more than 30 years and thousands of dollars seeking out good instruction in Tai Chi, Baguazhang and Xingyiquan. He wanted to write the book that he needed when he started in the internal arts back in 1987. The result is "Internal Body Mechanics for Tai Chi, Bagua an Xingyi."

Regardless of your style or your teacher, you will learn something from this book that will boost your insight and understanding of the body mechanics that differentiate "internal" martial arts from "external" arts. It will help raise the quality of your gongfu.

The book includes 178 pages of plain English, explaining the six most important body mechanics that you need, and the easy-to-understand writing is illustrated by more than 250 images and photos thathelp Ken explain the concepts and principles.

Ken has studied with some of the world's top internal masters. He is a tournament champion and has thousands of students worldwide who have studied through his DVDs and his online school at www.internalfightingarts.com.

Ken writes and teaches in a straightfoward way, ithout the mystical mumbo jumbo that, in his opinion, misdirects people and causes them to misinterpret the internal arts, especially Tai Chi, with too many focused on "cultivating chi" rather than good body mechanics and martial applications.

The true "intent" of the internal arts is self-defense. This book builds on each of the six crucial body mechanics that are required to achieve high-quality internal structure and movement. From here, all other skill is developed.

"These skills are physical, not metaphysical," Ken says. "I wish I had this book when I began studying Tai Chi, Xingyi and Bagua back in the 80s. It would have saved me a lot of time and money. And that is my goal for the reader."

The six body mechanics include:

** Establishing and maintaining the ground path at all times.

** Establishing and maintaining peng jin at all times.

** Whole-body movement (surprisingly few internal artists do this)

** Silk-Reeling, spiraling movement through the body that gives more power to movement and techniques.

** Dantien rotation.

** Opening and closing the kua.

Without these body mechanics, your internal arts are empty. If one of them is missing, your art is incomplete. If any of these sound unfamiliar to you, then you need this book!

There is no other book on the market with this information.

Along the way, Ken tears down some of the myths that give the internal arts a bad and "soft" reputation. From the explosive nature of Xingyi to the relaxed power of Bagua and Tai Chi, there is nothing "soft" about the internal arts of Chinese gongfu. And it all starts here.

Cost of the book is ONLY $24.99.

FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the United States! Money-back guarantee if not satisfied. Unfortunately, due to the high cost of international shipping, buyers outside of the U.S. must go through Amazon or your local bookstore.

U.S. Buyers Click Here for Secure Order Form

UK Buyers Please Check Out the Book Page on Amazon UK

Canadian Buyers Please Check Out the Book Page on Amazon Canada

European Buyers Please Check Out the Book Page on Amazon Europe

Australian Buyers Please Check Out the Book Page on Amazon Australia

Reviews of the Book

"Internal Body Mechanics for Tai Chi, Bagua and Xingyi is unlike most books that are available on the internal arts, in that not only does it present usable information on the basics of the internal martial arts, but it also strips away the mysticism and complex TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) theories that so often muddy the waters for most of us. The author, Ken Gullette, is a knowledgeable and respected instructor who practices what he preaches, approaches the arts with a scientific, evidence-based mind, and discounts what he refers to as "woo woo" theories related to Chi-flow and the "energies" so often discussed in the arts. He describes the methods of Tai Chi and other styles not as actual energies as they are often presented, but as concrete, physical body methods of dealing with force and generating power. He is focused on the use of the internal arts as a complete martial system that is primarily a self-defense practice, and not solely on the health and healing aspects of Tai Chi.

In this book, Sifu Gullette describes six key body mechanics that are needed to develop real skill with internal martial arts, and that when understood and practiced, leads the way to developing the storied "Iron Wrapped in Cotton" ability of advanced practitioners. Without these key mechanics, tai chi is a physical practice only, relying on brute strength and unrefined movement. Each of the mechanics is presented with exercises, some solo but most with a partner, which can help you test yourself and learn these methods.

Sifu Gullette presents this information in straight-forward, clear language, with a healthy dose of humor peppered throughout.

If you live in an area that doesn't offer quality instruction in Tai Chi or the other internal arts, or if you feel that your current practice may be missing something, I highly recommend picking up this book." --Dana Fizer

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Well written. Got some good pointers out of it. Ken does a great job explaining body mechanics for internal art form practitioners. Worth adding to my collection." --Peter Beswerchij, Wu style Taiji practitioner

Also check out Ken's Silk-Reeling DVD and his Internal Strength DVD.