Tai-Chi Chuan in Theory and Practice

Originally published before Kuo Lien-Ying left China and then again in 1966 soon after his arrival in the United States, Tai-Chi Chuan in Theory and Practice has now been edited and expanded by his widow and disciple, Simmone Kuo. Her version includes new material on the philosophical origins of Tai-Chi Chuan, particularly how it relates to the I Ching, the most ancient text of Chinese wisdom. The book also provides explanations of the meaning of this ancient and elegant martial art--its name and history--the keys to understanding the Thirteen Movements, archival photographs of Lien-Ying performing the movements, and other supplementary literature.

Kuo Lien-Ying was one of the most distinguished and revered martial artists of the twentieth century. He was born in Sanyuan City, in northern China in 1890, and began training as a boy. He went on to study, practice, and teach a great array of Chinese martial arts. Kuo Lien-Ying's life spanned the time of great upheaval and tranfition between the Ching dynasty and modern China. A great master of traditional art, he continued to practice and teach in San Francisco until his death in 1984.

Simmone Kuo has taught Chinese internal martial arts in San Francisco for the last two decades. She is familiar to Bay Area citizens and children from her many television and school appearances. She continues to lead classes at the academy which bears her family name and is a member of the Physical Education Department at San Francisco State University.