Reviews (11)

A great book
A very usefull book for students of TCM. Should be read by any serious student who starts his journey to discover the TCM.

Dicey CA State Board Book
Maciocia's work has been quite influential in the U.S. despite the fact that some of his information is from the classics, while other parts are his own creation.He does not always differentiate between the two, nor does he always cite his sources.

For example, the idea that the outer back shu points are effective for the treatment of emotions... not from the Classic sources, according to Philippe Sionneau.So where did it come from?Who made it up?

However, we still have to know everything in his books for the CA state board.His zang-fu herbalized-style point functions, 5 phase type, three jiao patterns, etc. are unique to this book.

In its defense, it does have a lot of important basic info, and it's written by a native English speaker... but it's a vastly different look at Chinese Medicine from say The Practical Dictionary of Chinese Medicine by Nigel Wiseman.

Good start for the new student... but neither the last word, nor infallible.

Reviews (36)

Great book and mentally stimulating.
Before I say anything else I will say this: I LOVED THIS BOOK! Of course, much of its contents should be taken with a grain of salt. I first read this book when I was thirteen, and I bought into the whole story with childlike confidence. I am a slow reader, and usually it takes me about a week to get through a book of this length, but this book so possessed my attention that I finished it in a couple of days. I can't say I ever had more fun in my life. No, that's not sad, this book is great.
Now, concerning the degree of credence this book deserves, the eyewitness accounts that Danaos gives really are not that fantastic. John Chang pressed a chopstick through an inch-thick-board; well, Joe Greensein (the Mighty Atom) drove a spike through a thick layer of metal and two inches of wood. Is it all-right that John be just a little stronger than that guy. John performed a seance; well, we have those in the west too. John discharges energy into other people; well, the science is built on experience, and does its experience of flesh and bone in the human person prove that energy isn't involved as well. To accept John Chang as real requires us to accept three things: 1.the full capabilities of the human person are realized in most indidviduals 2.the spiritual world can affect physical phenomena 3.the metaphysics behind physical phenomena are not so completely and accurately defined as to disprove certain new phenamena. Concerning the first, no one has a right to be complacent. Concerning the second, every religious person should agree to this. Concerning the third, science only comes up with theories such as the atomic theory to make phenomena easy to work with. We cannot prove empirically anything beyond the phenomena that we see. Science cannot prove that energy cannot be cultivated within the body, but, get this, we can prove that it can be cultivated. Oh, we can expose frauds, of course, but a million exposed frauds do nothing to disprove one genuine. So, John Chang is possible. The trick is to find someone to prove that these abilities exist. I've read other, more believable, accounts than this one that nonchalantly declare that these people do exist and can be found anyone willing to look hard enough.
Still, none of that justifies the questionable history this book relies on. For starters, it claims that Chang San Feng, who was a Taoist, studied at the Shaolin (Buddhist) temple before reaching the seventy-second level of a system that belonged to neither school. The impression I'm given is that Danaos was using familiar people to name drop in order to give his story flavor. That bothers me. I can accept that he saw what he saw, but when he starts drawing elaborate connections between different aspects of his knowledge I worry that his system is just a little too air-tight for him to have simply researched it all. The more air-tight it becomes the more likely it is he made it up. One more thing John Chang seems to contradict himself when he says that someone five levels more or less than himelf could injure him (pg. 91) and that his power doubles at every level (pg. 107). Five levels more would give x32 his power to a person, such could injure John, but five less? 1/32nd? Not a chance. If anyone out there knows alot about chinese history and can verify Danaos' system, please read this book and write a review. If anyone can clear the clouds for my later doubt, please write one, and more so. This is a great book and I loved believing it either in part or entirely. This book, however, is really only worth it if it makes sense. Its value can be determined by its credibility.

What the....have we learned nothing from Houdini?
This book is complete fiction and is insulting to the educated reader who is not willing to believe you can buy the Brooklyn Bridge. Perhaps the author Danaos, (AKA Dervenis), should have studied up on Taoism before writing a book, it would have helped a great deal with the content, the facts and the non-fictionality of it all. For example, most of the "masters" mentioned in this book are Buddhist, not Taoist. It seems that one studying so "deeply" should know the difference. Most importantly, any magician worth their salt could perform these tricks...where is Harry Houdini when you need him?

Don't waste you money on this book. Buy "Magic the Gathering" cards if you want to stock up on your Mana. At least they will be worth something when you are tired of looking at them.

If you want a book on Taoism, seek it elsewhere.

Puhhhlease.

Reviews (5)

A book for Cultivation of Sexual Energy and Much More
Erick Yudelove has been a student of Mantak Chia.He has put together a manual for practice that encompasses the information that could be found in Mantak Chia's books, but is further enhanced, clarified and perhaps simplified by Yudelove's own discoveries.

The book covers some basic practices from Taoist Alchemy such as Six Healing Sounds, Microcosmic Orbit, Inner Smile and some forms of breathing before proceeding with sexual practices.The book also includes the practices related to the Fusion of the Five Elements, Bone Marrow and Standing Chi Kung.

VERY DETAILED - Excellent Descriptions
Yudelove did a great job bringing this info to the West.There is so much info and history and understanding in this book, that I can confidently recommend it to any of my Nei Gung or Nei Jia friends or students.Presented more like a workbook than a book makes this book a great training tool.No need to say more.

Very Well Done- 5 Stars!

VERY DETAILED - Excellent Descriptions
Yudelove did a great job bringing this info to the West.There is so much info and history and understanding in this book, that I can confidently recommend it to any of my Nei Gung or Nei Jia friends or students.Presented more like a workbook than a book makes this book a great training tool.No need to say more.

Reviews (12)

Pieces of Gold, interspersed with Psychological Angst
Pieces of Gold, interspersed with Lowenthal's Psychological Angst
All of the preceding reviewers points of view are mostly true, this book has some great gems and insights into Professor Cheng Man-ch'ings Mastery of Tai Chi. Unfortunatly much of the book is like wading through a "bad" Woody Allen movie, full of Upper middle class, eastern U.S., psycho-babble and Angst.

Lowenthal would have written a much much better book if he had stayed with Tai Chi Chuan and left his tortured/guilt ridden pysche & memories out of the book. What Lowental's memories of Professor add to the text,his personal commentaries about his own past, psychological "insights" etc. take away.

If I had a very limited amount of money to spend, and I wanted to maximize my reading on Tai Chi, I would go for those books written by Prof Cheng, like His Thirteen Treatises, or the Essence of Tai Chi by Lo/Inn and save Lowenthal's books for when I am interested in much lighter fare.

Relax, Live Pure, Train Hard
This is an easy to read book that is part one man's insights (Wolfe Lowenthal) into a legendary Tai Chi master, and part revelation of those pearls of wisdom for the Tai Chi practitioner that are so valuable.I finished this book in an hour it's so easy, and gleaned much about Master Cheng as Tai
Chi Master, as person.In some ways it was a nice story because
he had human failings just like the rest of us, despite his obvious ability to impress those he met with his Tai Chi skill.

The pearls are essentially to relax, relax some more, relax some more.Build root.Live Tai Chi, both in terms of training and in terms of philosophy and perspective.Have faith in relaxation, and submerge any ego to gaining sensitivity and gentleness.This will ultimately bring unrealized prowess.
I liked how Mr. Lowenthal unpretentiously stated this, and gave examples.But I was a little disappointed when he talked up how arduous it was for him to finally understand how to project power while his arms were completely relaxed, but then never even attempted to describe his epiphany, leaving me wondering, at least until I figure it out for myself.

A nice little book.A nice little tribute to Master Cheng.

An extraordinary book!
A must-read for the serious tai chi students. What is so special about this book? This is a book written for tai chi students from a student's perspective. As the title says "There Are No Secrets", the author used plain English, instead of mystical words commonly found in other tai chi books,to write the principles of tai-chi. Please note that the book tells how to apply the tai chi principles to do the tai-chi form and push-hand. Therefore, do not expect to learn movement of each tai-chi form from the book.

As a tai-chi student, I found this book is inspiring, too. According to the author, Master Cheng Man-Ch'ing once said there are three ingredients for progress in the study of tai-chi: natural talent,perseverance and correct teaching. Natural talent is the least important. A gifted student has certain obvious advantages, but the untalented need only work hard and it will come.

Reviews (19)

A Fantastic book by a FANTASTIC Teacher
I have had the privilege of studying under Sifu Bracy a number of times in the 1990s. The man is a storehouse of knowledge in BOTH Bagua AND Hsing-I. His Hebei Hsing-I IS as smooth and flawless as his Baguazhang.To those who have written snippy little comments about this fine man, and about his wonderful treatise on this fascinating subject, I say: Shame On YOU!

It is very safe to make snide comments about someone you have never laid eyes on in real life, and that shows the low level of attainment you have reached thusfar in life. The content of the manual is just a minor glimpse into the wider scope of things in the wide world of Baguazhang and internal martial arts.

One cannot hope to catch the entire sum of the teaching in a short tome such as this one; but one can gather the beginnings
of greatness, and can aspire to reach the level of mastery that John Bracy has achieved in his personal quest.

I highly recommend this book to anyone, novice or expert, as this book provides a nice amount of content for a small price.

I hope that Sifu Bracy will grace the reading public with a meatier volume in the near future, and I also hope that the next volume will prvide a deeper insight into the [ractice and application of his life's work.I sincerely thank him for his efforts thus far, and welcome the day that I hear he has produced another fine manual for all the martial arts world to enjoy.

Education in the art of the martial.
This book is ok, but it lacks the theory and applications that are present in most other books.

Although, this book seems to be a the top of the list, other books carry way more weight in the area of education, counselling, and knowledge.

This is probably why people may dislike these comments.But it is the truth.If you want to look at other books, look at the martial arts list in my about me area.

An addition:

Now, I know for many the area of teaching martial arts is a hard one.The ability to keep students for a business is very hard.So, Try just having another avenue for cash while the teaching of the martial art remains . . . just teaching martial arts.Charging students is not necessary.Instead, think like the old martial artists in China did.TRADE.Offer instruction in exchange for clothes, food, entertainment or custodial duties.This is the simple way.


-Calvin Newman

Reduce internal friction, thats what everyone says.....
I have to agree with Victor K. Lin on this one.
I see people going 'oh yah' this is great, quite a few in fact.
Popularity is not an importance when it comes to real information.
I had the chance to read it at the book store, and it had information you could find anywhere. What people often dont tell you is that Bagua has many levels. If it is just elementary knowledge you seek, get this book.
Overview: I thought the book was really great at first, but then when I started skimming for the real information, or deeper information, I didnt find any. Basically the concept that was re-emphasised within the book was when moving or making transition reduce internal friction, or learn how to by practice.

I am sure glad I didn't waste money on it.

If you really want more information on pa kua chang, or bagua zhang, find a teacher or go to china.
Sometimes it is best to go to the roots of ba gua to learn more.
Bagua was created by Dong Hai-chuan and combined internal elements of taijiquan (tai chi), hsing-i, and taoist circle walking.

Do research on these:

Reviews (20)

Great book
I found this book at a garage sale. It was heavily stained and worn out. I bought it because it was priced at 50 cents. It turned out that it's one of the best books about Nei Gung I have ever read. It's at the interface between martial applications and energy cultivation. I tried to find a new copy at Amazon but, regrettably it's out of print. Too bad.

I gave it 3 stars because of the old master.
Since there aren't many books about Xing Yi most people buy this like myself. This book seriously falls short. Yes, there is some good Qi gong in it. Unless you totally love the Qi gong I would not recommend this book. There are better books out there. Get Dr Yang Jwing-Ming and Shou yu liang's book on Xing Yi it is awesome, it is all you need.

Reviews (16)

PERFECT INTRODUCTION!!!
i have been practising for about 4 months, the first part of the book which consists of learning to feel(kinesthetically) energy(chi) moving thru my body. if u practise about 15 min a day for a few months u will definetly become more sensitve to your body. i have had a lot of stress in my life and as a result i used to get mouth ulcers all the time(like 3 or 4 at once) these would last 2-3 weeks before the would disapear and this is using every conventional medicine under the sun. with my nei gung practise they disappear overnight or even the same day. + i can get rid of headaches real quick. i have also noticed parts of my body opening up and then close up again. i now believe as bkf says that eventually my whole body will open up and stay open and that i will b able to feel different organs in my body and the state they r in, and direct energy to them if need b and hence solve problems b4 they become more problematic. this is so simple to practise)(read the instuctions carefully) no guru is needed if u do this. incredibly simple, amazingly effective!!!!

I am not jumping for joy
Seems like you need a qualified master to show you how to do almost everything mentioned in this book.As for the core exercises, they are simple and nothing better than what would be found in other chi gung books.I am not a practicing martial artist or anything like that.If you don't have or plan on having a master to supervise your performance and progress, then you'll be interested in other chi gung books that don't constantly taunt you with this.

Interesting overview
Kumar Frantzis is a very good writer, but this is not my favorite book by him.Readers are better off buying the first volume of his water meditation series.This book covers basic dissolving ideas, some interesting stretches/exercises, and a zillion points throughout our qi body to direct our dissolving efforts.It's a nice, simple introduction.But only experts are going to memorize every point, and Mantak Chia does a better job at going through the points and explaining WHY.The stretches and exercises are interesting, good for the beginner, but more directed at physical relaxation in a way than energy development.That's not exactly accurate, but it's the best way I can think of to describe what I feel when trying them.Perhaps I'm just not advanced enough to understand.But for pure energy/biomechanics, which is what I'm into, this book didn't really strike me as useful.

Reviews (7)

A Textbook for the Internal Arts
One of the best meditation and internal books I own.It goes through the process on how to stand and use the Outer-dissolving process.It also helps to develop your practice with regards to breathing which I have noticed many people have problems with.Although it is always better to have a teacher to teach you things like this; you could, with the Companion CD, practice these things with little problems.

The Real Thing !!!!!
This is an excellent addition to the Taoist literature available in the West today. Within you will find a blending of the philosophical roots of Taoism and the foundational practices for directly experiencing "yourself" in Tao. Useful and clear information about Taoist Breating, Meditation, and Dissolving Pratices. Written by a Taoist Lineage Master who is one of few qualified to teach "Living" Taoism in the West.
Overall it is a potent distilation of a "mysterious" subject into an helpful, enjoyable, clarifying and powerful read. A Must read for anyone(beginners to advanced) looking to delve deeper into Tao.

Reviews (4)

deep insights of taoist water meditation.
if i would not have been to one of his seminars i really couldn`t give a valuable feedback of this nowhere else found (as far my knowledge of the western literature and teachers goes) material about the main method of taoist meditation (in the water tradition). for sure mr. frantzis tackles on the most difficult subject to write about : meditation. if you have no practical experience in this field at all, dont try to confuse yourself with "hard-to-belief" stories, how some readers mentioned. its a living tradition and thats why this book can only serve you as companion or introduction to the "A, B, C" of these meditation practices. you have to find a real teacher if you are serious about the subject. and thats what mr. frantzis is.

Not as good as Vol. 1
I really enjoyed his first volume of the Water Meditation Series, fiding it practical, well-written, and entertaining.So I looked forward to reading Vol. 2.

I was disappointed.Whereas Vol. 1 was focused essentially on breathing and mediation, and gave nice descriptions, as well as step-by-step exercises to better master and understand this form of meditation, Vol.2 was scattered.Frantzis, is an eloquent writer, so I was never bored or confused, and his stories/analogies are always amusing, albeit sometimes difficult to completely believe.

However his treatment of Ba Gua Circle Walking is far too basic.Follow these footsteps and breath like in Vol. 1 is essentially what it comes down to.At least Vol. 1 really got into what Frantzis viewed as appropriate steps in the Water Meditation process-- starting from the very basic, and getting to the somewhat advanced.In Vol.2, Frantzis covers a broad range of topics superficially.

I agree that including sexual techniques was a bit misplaced.Chia, at least, has the sense to write separate volumes when distinguishing between martial meditative and sexual qigong approaches.How to improve your sexual sensitivity by fingering tofu--?Come on, Kumar!

Vol.2 also began expounding somewhat on the esoteric, that is difficult to confirm.Reliable friends of mine have attended Kumar's seminars-- he basically asks how many attendees are qigong instructors, then trashes and humiliates them in front of everyone else.Not very classy.According to my friends, he never proves his own abilities, either, merely plays mindgames.My friends agree that Kumar has some skill and knowledge, but his arrogance shows up in his books, and this trait apparently manifests profoundly at least at the two seminars I've heard about.

This book is more in this vein.He claims a lot of things, and tells a lot of stories and makes a lot of anecdotes about wonderful spiritual achievements, but these things are so "advanced" that I cannot confirm them, and wonder if I ever will.I do think I've experienced some of the more esoteric things Frantzis talks about in Vol. 1, so you never know... This may be a book I re-read in a few years and see if I get anything more out of it.

Real or Not!
The origins of these practices are very difficult if not impossible to verify.BK Frantzis must know this, so he does not have the burden of having to prove the validity of his statements.He can make up outrageous stories and quotes and people often just believe him without any proof.There are just too many "from time immemorial" and "since the beginning of time" references, to take this person seriously at all.

Also, don't ask him why he is a lineage master; you'll get more hyperbole than a politician.The certificates that are in his books are acknowledgments from his teachers.There is nothing there that says he is a master of the material or that he is carrying on any tradition.

Each time you read about him he has supposedly spent more and more time in the Far East studying.If you add up all the years he supposedly has spent studying, his age is 102.

Most of the material that is presented in his two books is material that you can learn or extrapolate from any beginning meditation texts.There is also some confusion between his reference to Buddhist material and so-called Taoist material.

Ask a real Taoist priest about these topics if you are sincerely interested.

Reviews (6)

A book that makes you to work as well as to think
That's really a good book.
Good for absolutely beginner as well as for experts. It explains theory (without any mystics) and how to develop skills. Very deep, simple and consistently step-by-step approach. It tells you how a joint (just to give an example) should be used and how to work to consistently achieve that skill. The best think I appreciate of this book is about "how to do" and "how to develop" sensitivity (with clear examples and the work to do) on both your body, the external environment, rooting, push hands .......
You can use this book as beginner to just start your journey on Internal Martial Arts as well as to get insight from it on improving your study and to help your pupils advancement with the exposed exercises.
I read this book some years ago and I have to admit it greatly influenced my practice, knowledge and skills.
I highly recommend this book (as well as the other Diepersloot's book) it absolutely will not a waste of money.
I really have to thanks Jan for writing these books and to apologize for waiting so much to review them.

120 Over 74
At the age of thirty-one I was told I had borderline high blood pressure of 140/90.I was also told this was not a good omen, to be thirty-one with that b.p.I tried yoga, meditation, eating fruits and vegetables, supplements like Carnitine and Co-Q10.Bupkus.A friend who studies tai chi told me about this book.I've done some tai chi and was open to reading the material which, though not tai chi, concerns exercises for cultivating and regulating internal energy.Particularly since tai chi is supposed to lower blood pressure, it made sense to check it out.After two months of doing no other form of exercise but the standing exercise in this book--but doing it daily for up to thirty minutes at a time--my blood pressure dropped to 120/74.My stress test rated the medical equivalent of an A+.That was four years ago.When I stop exercising from laziness, the b.p. creeps up.When I go back to the book, it goes down and stays down, my energy goes up and stays up.The cardiologist said "I don't know what you're doing but keep doing it."In short, I strongly recommend this book.

Some good tips in here...
Dipersloot has been practicing various forms of the 'soft' martial arts for quite a long time.This volume covers his discovery of the importance of Qigong standing meditation from three masters.He then discusses some finer points of Taiqi's 'Grasp Bird Tail' which is the only moving form now practiced by the senior master he trained under.

Dipersloot has quite a lot of good tips for standing meditation which is great since too many authors seem to imply there is nothing to it.It is true that, like sitting, you just need to stand _but_ it does help to have some pointers.That is, if you start standing meditation then eventually your body will find the correct Qi position but this could take a long long time for many.

His points about the correct posture and breathing from the Dantien are communicated quite clearly.So are the guidelines from Master Cai about the energy points and general alignment.There is a great section, taken from one of Master Cai's discussions, that very succinctly covers the important aspects of meditation in general and standing meditation in particular.

The real weakness here are the very crude computer-modified "photos".Diepersloot apologizes at the beginning about the quality of the photos (he was busy writing down everything the masters said) but that is not an excuse for what is used in the book.Spending some extra time with some volunteers to get quality photos would help the give the book the image of quality it requires; they would also help make some points much more clearly.

Reviews (10)

A few comments

As a student and teacher of both Chinese and Japanese martial arts for many years I found this book useful and interesting, although I agree that the author could have spent more time discussing how to achieve and cultivate internal energy in addition to the discussion of the more ethereal spiritual aspects of the art. In that regard I agree with Quinn that Yi Quan's superior combative aspect is what has created its increasing popularity, and the author could have delved more into that, but then there are also a lot of other books out there, such as those by Robert W. Smith and others, that already show the physical and mechanical aspects of the art. Obviously the author's intention was to produce a more advanced book discussing the philosophical principles as well, and I think he deserves some credit for that.

Overall, then, a good book, especially in regard to Yi Quan's history and its many technical, philosophical aspects, but if you want more of a how-to book you'll need to look elsewhere, or better yet, get some of the excellent videos that are now available on the internal boxing styles.

Very helpfull whatever your level is
I can only copy here what I already wrote about the other Diepersloot's book.
That's really a good book.
Good for absolutely beginner as well as for experts. It explains theory (without any mystics) and how to develop skills. Very deep, simple and consistently step-by-step approach. It tells you how a joint (just to give an example) should be used and how to work to consistently achieve that skill. The best think I appreciate of this book is about "how to do" and "how to develop" sensitivity (with clear examples and the work to do) on both your body, the external environment, rooting, push hands .......
You can use this book as beginner to just start your journey on I just can copy what I already wrote for the other Internal Martial Arts as well as to get insight from it on improving your study and to help your pupils advancement with the exposed exercises.
I read this book some years ago and I have to admit it greatly influenced my practice, knowledge and skills.
I highly recommend this book (as well as the other Diepersloot's book) it absolutely will not a waste of money.
I really have to thanks Jan for writing these books and to apologize for waiting so much to review them.

Jim
I do not read the book in detail, but I like the old pictures that the book contained. I will suggested that if there will be a updated edition, more old pictures will be entertained. Especially the old pictures for Master Han Sing Won when he teach in Europe and North America.

Reviews (43)

good for a overview for beginners ...
I just finished reading this book and it really indulges a keen interest in the internal arts.

The author's extensive martial arts style started of with karate and progressed to years of training in all of the major internal arts and a lot of external \ internal kung fu styles and his extensive knowledge of this very complex subject matter is very impressive.

To put it in a nutshell if you're looking at studying an internal art this gives you a good reference as to which one might suit you best. It's dry at times and sometimes too personalised but no doubt a very good book to get things underway.

Big ups to author ... his second book ... Opening the energy gates of you body is next on my list ...

Excellent book but not for the beginner
It's interesting to note all the negative reviews here of this book, most of them anonymous or by "A reader," who probably wrote all of them since they all have the same style and tone. I also note that there's almost always someone from Taiwan or China or Japan who posts a negative review of any American martial arts book, I guess because they don't want to admit that there are good masters over here too who are perfectly qualified to write such a book.

Mr. Frantzis is also fluent in both Japanese and Chinese, and that opened doors for him and allowed him to communicate with various masters who didn't speak English (as many of the older instructors didn't).

If you're looking for specific techniques or applications, this book isn't for you, since the book isn't so much about specific combat techniques (despite the subtitle), as it is more of a high-level conceptual survey. If you're a knowledgeable martial artist with some previous background in the internal arts and/or kung fu and enjoy exploring the similarities and differences between the different internal styles and kung fu, and even the external styles, I think you'll enjoy this book. The descriptions of obscure arts such as the 8 Drunken Immortals was very interesting and reminded me of a similar drunken style that one of my kung fu teachers knew and that I studied briefly. But that's only one of a dozen or so different styles that Frantzis compares. The comparisons between the various internal and kung fu styles I found very accurate (based on my own 42 years of experience in various external and internal styles) and enjoyable to read.

There is so much material and detail here that it's hard to summarize, but the following will give you a pretty good idea of the book's contents:

1. Detailed descriptions of the three main internal boxing methods (Hsing I, Ba Gua, and Tai Chi), as well as many substyles.

2. In-depth comparisons and analyses of the different arts in regard to their methods of movement, principles and philosophies, use of force and energy, body mechanics, and some practical applications.

3. "Personal Odyssey" sections where Mr. Frantzis recounts many of his interesting encounters with famous martial arts masters. This feature recalls Robert W. Smith's Chinese Boxing: Masters and Methods, from a previous generation of martial arts books.

4. Several sections or chapters discussing special topics such as the use of speed and power in the different arts.

5. There are five appendices covering the different styles of tai chi (such as Yang, Chen, Wu, Tung, Hou, and Sun), a history of Ba Gua, energy anatomy of the human body, a summary of Mr. Frantzis's training and lineage, a chapter on Chinese terminology and transliteration, and an extensive glossary.

I also appreciated Frantzis's honesty and frankness. He admits that although a Tai Chi technique like rollback will enable a smaller, weaker person to overcome a larger, stronger opponent, that simply studying Tai Chi does not guarantee that capability, and that if one does develop such abilities, it will probably take 10 or more years to do that since that requires considerable skill.

Overall a very well written, enjoyable and detailed book analyzing and discussing the similarities and differences between dozens of internal and external arts.

Reviews (14)

Only for Xing Yi Quan pratictioners
I am not questioning the validity of this book to Xing Yi Quan pratictioners. Other reviewers, who are experts in the field, tell that it is excellent and I take their word for it. From the uninitiated's perspective this book is not very interesting in that it doesn't present techniques nor it talks about the ideas behind this art. It presents flash notes on specific techniques, and it shows photographs of cornerstone positions.

Best (& only?) English translation of Sun's work on Xing Yi!
This book is the golden standard by which Xing Yi Books in English should be judged by. To be sure there is a wealth of books in Chinese on this powerful, and most external of the 4 major Internal arts, the others being Bagua Zhang, Taiji and Liu Ho Ba Fa. However, there is a literal dearth of information in English when it comes to this fine martial arts system. I have had the pleasure and privilege of being a student of dan Miller over the years, and he has done a superb job in making this

classic document available to us here in the West.

The other fine book I would recommend would be Hsing Yi Chuan: Theory and Applications (Chinese Internal Martial Art) by Liang Shou Yu and Yang Jwing Ming. While this book is good, it still cannot match the superlative wisdom of the hand of Sun Lu Tang,
who died in the previous millenium, and was considered the greatest of Internal Martial Artists of his time. So skilled was he, that he was chosen as a personal bodyguard of Sun Yat Sen; and his daughter was alive and teaching until her very recent demise, in the past few years I beleive (Between 1999 and 2004).

So, get up off your futons, put on your fu shoes, and get this book right away! Do it! NOW!!!!!!

Editorial Review

Reviews (1)

Reviews (5)

It has it all
It contains practical detox recipes and instructions, muscle testing guidelines and easy to read charts. It goes into alternative therapies and yet, thankfully in my case, skips gem therapy.

Expected More
The book did cover Clinical Kinesiology and related areas, but not at the depth that I had expected based on the other reviews of the book.The authors presented "real" examples, but failed to follow up with corrective solutions for the "lay person".Most of the solutions were "your muscle tested weak, see a professional for help".I didn't expect the level of detail that is contained in the six Beardall books, but some corrective examples (like in the Touch For Health books) would have been appropriate.Enough said, it was interesting reading.

Reviews (11)

A word to the sane (would give zero stars if I could)
The world is divided into various types of people with regards to applied kinesiology:

The sceptical: Any sceptic worth their salt who spends five minutes investigating this field will become a non-believer. I have nothing to say to you.

The avid believer: You can't argue with a sick mind. I have nothing to say to you.

The con-artist: Anyone who perpetuates the myth for personal gain. I have nothing to say to you.

The flexible: Those who may have an opinion (either way) but are still open to persuasion - all I can say to you is; do a bit of surfing for applied kinesiology first and try including the words "scam" or "sceptic". When I first heard about it I thought it was a joke until a friend of mine actually paid good money for a session. Then I heard about applied kinesiology by proxy and I was incredulous that anybody, even the homeopathic faction, could take that seriously. The bottom line is this: It doesn't work. Don't waste your money on a book sold by someone who is either a con artist or a gullible fool.

My favourite quote by a chiropractor (often advocates of A.K.):
"You see, that is why we never do double-blind testing anymore. It never works!"

This book perpetuates the bad thinking, lack of rigorous investigation and downright lies that enables opportunisticmoney making out of those who are quite often ill or unhappy.

By the way, I am not querying things like white sugar being bad for you or cows milk causing allergies in some people, but you don't need to buy this book to find out those kind of things.

Essential reading
This is the first of Dr. Diamond's books that I read, and it's easy to see why it became a best-seller.Dr. Diamond looks in detail at some of the aspects of our lives that affect us negatively, and gives simple, effective ways of overcoming these stresses.I have incorporated Dr. Diamond's suggestions in my normal working day for many years now, and I have found them to be enormously beneficial.

Reviews (124)

Unexpectedly insightful
I don't know anything about Kinesiology or the validity of the claims in this book. Never tried it. However, some of the passages were highly insightful as to simple steps toward awakening and experiencing the deeper "spiritual" levels of awareness that have been very enriching to my experience. Just as one can develop a deeper appreciation for fine food or wine, or a greater sense of exquisite music or art, the way one actively percieves the world can be enriched and refined, sometimes to an immeasurable degree that takes one far far from the ordinary. Dr. Hawkins books are of value to those seeking enlightenment.

Nonduality "Light" with a Side Order of Questionable Science
I bought a copy of David Hawkins' "Power vs. Force" at the recommendation of a good friend and fellow spiritual seeker who has been quoting Hawkins at me for a couple of years. I am certainly glad to have read this book, and will add that I found it intriguing enough to order the two subsequent books in Hawkins' trilogy. At the same time, I have rather mixed feelings about what I read-- which is reflected in this review.

Whereas I tend to keep an open mind, I have considerable skepticism of any teacher, mystic or expert who claims to have "THE answer." Although he'd like us to think he has the "definitive answer," what Dr. Hawkins has-- and offers readers-- is a PERSPECTIVE, much the same as most other Teachers. And whereas it may be an intriguing and possibly life-altering perspective for some, it is none-the-less still just that: a perspective. Since the majority of the reviews written so far seem to be offering largely *opinions* I'll start by trying to explain what this book is actually ABOUT.

This is mostly a spiritual book, masquerading under a facade of questionable science. Loosely speaking, Hawkins pokes at the fringes of Nonduality, vaguely drawing on traditions of Teachers ranging from Sri Ramana Maharshi to Eckhart Tolle. Yet, at the heart of Hawkins' theories about life, and "How Things Work" is the "science" of Applied Kinesiology (AK). AK is not exactly new, having first gained some attention in the 1960s. It is basically a kind of "muscle testing" which posits that we simply "know" whether something is truth or not-truth, regardless of intellect, training, experience or anything else. Thus if something is "bad," "untrue" or "evil," our muscles will be "weak" in its presence. Conversely, if something is "good," "truthful" or "benevolent," we will be "strong" in its presence.

The basic process of this muscle testing *appears* straightforward enough. The test involves two people-- one who holds out his/her arm to the side, parallel to the ground, and one who asks a simple yes/no question about an object, person or idea. Depending on how the object "calibrates" the person holding their arm out will either test "strong" or "weak." What is NOT straightforward are the particular conditions and limitations Hawkins claims must be met to make muscle testing viable and accurate. And herein lies one of my (and many other reviewers') hesitation with the concept: There's a distinct tone of "We have this fabulous and 100% accurate method, but almost nobody is qualified to execute it, and it's almost impossible to create the environment in which it is completely accurate."

It's tempting to dismiss AK as "complete quackery" since there is very little scientific evidence to support it. At the same time, there may be more to it than meets the eye-- a "version" of it has been used by several large "canned music" providers to select music that makes people "test weak" to be played as background music in retail environments; the implication being that you'll be "weak" with your wallet. For my money, it amounts to "Strange Theory" which Hawkins presents in a highly "scientific-sounding" style, perhaps in the hope that readers will be convinced that "if it SOUNDS like science, it must BE science."

According to Hawkins we, as humans, live at vastly different "levels" of consciousness. All these levels, along with the "truth level" of ANY true/false style inquiry, can be tested for truth and numerically "calibrated" through muscle testing, on a logarithmic scale of 1-1000. According to Hawkins, any person, concept, thought or object that calibrates at 200 (The level of Integrity) or above is positive ("power"); anything below 200 is negative ("force"). So far, so good. Hawkins' "map of the levels of human consciousness" is highly consistent with most spiritual teachings, running the range from Shame (lowest) to Enlightenment (highest). Hawkins' descriptions of the levels are accurate; his coverage personal growth, positive energy and similar concepts are spiritually sound.

The book is a "mixed bag" that is both fascinating and may certainly be eye-opening, if not enlightening, to many people-- while some individuals (especially those of a scientific bent) will probably find it distressing that the work presented appears to be based on some "dicey math" and some philosophical "leaps of faith" that don't necessarily hold water in double-blind tests in a controlled environment. To which I feel compelled to reiterate that-- HOWever it may be presented, and WHATever he may want us to believe-- Hawkins' work is really more "spiritual" than "scientific." My point? The spirituality is predominantly sound; the science is.... dubious.

On the first read, this book annoyed me-- possibly because I had expected to be "wow'ed" to a greater degree than I was. However, once I got comfortable with the idea that I was being offered another "puzzle piece" on my spiritual journey (as opposed to "the Truth"), I found it a reasonably enjoyable and interesting read. I was disturbed by a number of (mostly trivial) contradictions that brought into question how the material in the book could ostensibly calibrate at 800+ (level of enlightenment). For example, Hawkins states that it is unlikely that a person's level of consciousness will rise enough to calibrate more than a few points higher in their lifetime-- yet the mere process of "being exposed" to the material in the book can raise consciousness by 30 calibration points. Huh? Likewise, I take issue with Hawkins' persistent undertone that unless you're highly intelligent, well educated (and basically from the "priviliged classes") you have very little hope of reaching enlightenment. Whereas I can recognize this thinking as a reflection of Hawkins' own neo-conservative life philosophy (which is entirely HIS business, I don't care), its INCLUSION here detracts from the integrity of the work. However, if you can overlook such nitpicks, there are some very sound spiritual and self-development principles presented throughout the book-- largely following path of Non-duality.

Final thoughts: Recommended (7 out of 10 possible bookmarks), with some reservations. Some interesting premises, but probably not for the "lightweight" spiritual seeker-- better suited to the intermediate to advanced student. Gets a bit repetitive and subtly self-congratulatory at times; Hawkins could probably have said everything needed in 100 fewer pages. DON'T buy it for the "science," buy it for the spiritual angle.

Thanks for reading!

--Peter

Reviews (1)

Reviews (145)

Everything is interconnected
This is a great introduction to the core concepts of quantum mechanics, string theory, and occult truth.I recommend this book to everyone, and it excels in the capacity of a gift, 'cause it really blows "normals" minds!Difficult concepts are presented clearly.This book is a breeze to read, and can be easily understood even by those with no scientific background.What is real?No-one knows for sure -- physicists, astronomers, and microbiologists surely don't!The more we "learn" about the universe, the more puzzling things become.Why does the new data fail to make sense?Perhaps science has been wrong all along?It would seem that we reside in a multidimensional world, of which we are only partially aware -- walking around "blind", if you will.So much is constantly going on around us that the human eye cannot percieve -- and many things that it can percieve the brain fails to comprehend.The world is an illusion!Stop trying to over-analyze everything and just relax . . . it's all-good.

A thought-provoking book
My favorite Talbot book!I was so sad to hear he'd passed, and I miss him greatly.Granted, for someone of a sceptical bent, several parts of this book read like a hodgepodge of fantasy mixed with a layman's physics science (my favorite was the noodles falling out of mid-air into his lap), but it still contains a great deal of engaging ideas even for those who don't necessarily believe everything they read, but enjoy being entertained by an author's style.Open-minded only need apply.