Slow Down, Get Fit: A Comprehensive Guide to Li Style Tai Chi

There are not many sources of good information on the Lee/LI style T’ai Chi form promoted by Chee Soo. Chee’s own book is the main one, but a lot has happened since this was last revised in 1984. Mark Popplewell’s new book is a very welcome addition to the literature and our knowledge. Mark provides a detailed guide to the moves and sequences of the whole Li style form. He also relates these to the eight energies and five steps that can be found at the heart of all the main T’ai chi styles. He gives useful guidance on some of the minor variations in the execution of moves that have arisen since Chee Soo passed. He also gives a good idea of what to expect in a class with warm up exercises and sticky hands. Mark’s treatment of the history of T’ai chi is also informed by the recent discoveries at Tang village and the Thousand Years Temple. Whilst these do not directly change the narrative history of Li style, they do set the narrative in a different context and I think encourage us to look for the authenticity of a style in the eight energies and five steps rather than just a link to one of the well-known Tai chi families. Any student seriously wanting to study and improve their Li style Tai chi form should get hold of Mark’s book. It is a bit like having your own personal instructor to hand at your desk.

I have been practicing Tai chi for nearly two years, Li style. I have been using chee Soo's book as well as attending formal weekly training sessions.This book is far more detailed and the drawings and extremely useful.

Mark Popplewell’s new book on Li Style Tai Chi is a fabulous resource of knowledge, written in a very readable way. The illustrations are perfect - more understandable than photos, and often showing more than one view of the stance for easier understanding.The book includes not only an invaluable and comprehensive guide to the Form, and a fascinating updated history of the art, but many gems such as ‘Moving the Tai Chi Way’, ‘Body Landmarks’ and ‘What the Short Form can teach us’. We are lucky that this information has been documented by someone as knowledgeable as Mark Popplewell for future generations.As a Tai Chi teacher, this is a book I now refer to every week for inspiration for my classes.Julie Jones

This is an excellent book. It covers many aspects of the Li Style Tai Chi and goes into the moves and sequences of the Tai Chi Form in great detail There is something in here for all practitioners of these arts no matter which of the 4 levels of expertise you have reached ( buy the book and go to page 307)