I was not able to put this book down. It covered all essentials aspects of Chen Style Tai Chi. Starting with a very detailed history. Following it up with the three development stage, details about Silk Reeling, Zhan Zhuang, Pushing Hands as well as discussing various weapon forms. Overall a very good read for beginners but also for advanced Tai Chi practitioner.

 

Here is a much more detailed, content-level summary of
The Essence of Taijiquan – David Gaffney & Davidine Siaw-Voon Sim, written to reflect what the book is really trying to teach, not just what it’s “about”.

1. What this book is really trying to do

This is not a “how-to form” book and not a health-only Tai Chi guide.

Its core purpose is to explain what Taijiquan actually is, according to traditional Chen-family understanding, and to correct common Western misunderstandings — especially the idea that Tai Chi is:

  • only slow movement

  • only meditation

  • disconnected from martial training

The authors aim to answer:

“What makes Taijiquan Taijiquan — and why do so many people miss its essence?”

2. Historical foundation: why Chen style matters

Chen Taijiquan as the root

The book begins by grounding Taijiquan in Chenjiagou (Chen Village) and Chen Wangting, emphasizing that:

  • All modern styles (Yang, Wu, Sun, etc.) originate from Chen style

  • Chen Taijiquan was always:

    • a martial art

    • a body method

    • a cultivation practice

The authors stress that removing any one of these breaks the system.

Myth-busting history

They carefully dismantle romantic myths:

  • Taijiquan was not created purely by Daoist monks

  • It did not originate as a health dance

  • “Softness” was always paired with explicit fighting skill

This section sets up the book’s main argument:

Taijiquan only makes sense when understood as a complete system.

3. What “internal” really means (and what it does NOT mean)

One of the strongest sections of the book.

Internal ≠ mystical

The authors are very clear:

  • “Internal” does not mean magical qi powers

  • It does not mean relaxed weakness

  • It does not mean abandoning physical conditioning

Instead, “internal” refers to:

  • Integrated body mechanics

  • Whole-body power

  • Intent-driven movement

  • Connection through the fascia and structure

Qi explained practically

Qi is described in functional terms, not fantasy:

  • Breath

  • Nervous system regulation

  • Pressure, elasticity, and transmission of force

  • Coordinated intention (yi)

This makes the book especially valuable for Western practitioners who want clarity without mysticism.

4. Core Taijiquan principles (the heart of the book)

This is where the book really shines.

The Six Harmonies

The authors explain external and internal harmonies:

  • Body alignment

  • Joint coordination

  • Intent leading movement

  • Power arriving as one unit

Rather than listing them abstractly, they explain how they show up in practice.

Song (松) – relaxation with structure

“Song” is explained as:

  • Active release, not collapse

  • Relaxed joints with maintained alignment

  • A prerequisite for issuing power (fajin)

They emphasize:

Without structure, relaxation is useless.
Without relaxation, structure is dead.

Silk Reeling (Chan Si Jin)

Silk reeling is presented as:

  • The engine of Chen Taijiquan

  • Continuous spiraling force through the body

  • The method that links:

    • slow form

    • fast form

    • applications

    • weapons

This section clarifies why silk-reeling drills are not optional exercises but the DNA of the system.

5. Taijiquan as a martial art (no shortcuts)

The authors are very direct here.

Form alone is insufficient

They state plainly:

  • Practicing forms without:

    • applications

    • partner work

    • push hands

    • testing
      → results in empty choreography

Push hands is not a game

Push hands is framed as:

  • A laboratory for testing structure, timing, sensitivity

  • Not a cooperative dance

  • Not about winning

  • Not about brute force

Done correctly, it develops:

  • Listening skill (ting jin)

  • Neutralization

  • Issuing power at close range

Fajin demystified

Explosive power is explained as:

  • Stored elastic energy

  • Released through coordinated structure

  • Driven by intent, not muscle tension

The book stresses that fajin:

  • Is trained progressively

  • Comes from correct basics

  • Cannot be faked by speed or stiffness

6. Mindset, attitude, and long-term training

This section feels almost like advice from a traditional teacher.

Correct training attitude

The authors emphasize:

  • Patience over novelty

  • Depth over variety

  • Daily basics over constant new material

They critique modern trends such as:

  • Collecting styles

  • Chasing secrets

  • Skipping fundamentals

Teacher–student relationship

They explain why:

  • Transmission matters

  • Body correction matters

  • Books and videos have limits

This is not elitist — it’s practical:

Taijiquan is a felt skill, not an intellectual one.

7. Voices from Chen family masters

The interviews reinforce the themes already introduced:

  • Consistency of principles across generations

  • Emphasis on basics

  • Rejection of shortcuts

  • Martial reality beneath the softness

These sections validate that the authors are not presenting a personal theory, but a faithful reflection of Chen-family teaching.