The Power of Internal Martial Arts: Combat Secrets of Ba Gua, Tai Chi and Hsing-I

As a book giving general comparisons on the internal martial arts it's fine. As a book relating Mr. Frantzis' martial arts c.v. it's fine. But, buyer beware, There Are No Secrets !!!


waffle from a master   December 18, 2005
8 out of 11 found this review helpful

I've no doubt about the authors credentials, however I didn't really enjoy the book. Anyone with no understanding of internal martial arts may find it interesting. It falls into a category in which it is neither of any practical use, nor is it a gripping read. If I'd gone around training with different masters and I wanted to impress people by having done so without giving anything away of what I'd actually learnt, this is the type of book I would write. There are too many people writing martial arts books of only moderate quality. This is one of them. Unfortunately I'm sure the author could have written something better if he'd have known the purpose for writing at the start.


very informative and a must buy!   July 14, 2004
8 out of 10 found this review helpful

For anyone looking to learn more about the internal arts then this is the best place to start. Frantzis' experiences are well documented here and his style of writing serves to further increase the reader's interest. Not a bad thing! While some people would prefer step by step instructions on the internal arts I feel this would almost certaily spoil the book and would be better off elsewhere. As an interesting read in its own right as well as an informative guide as to the benefits of various internal systems such as hsing-i and ba-gua, this book is excellent. A must read for any martial arts and health and fitness enthusiasts.


Worth Buying   October 18, 2003
8 out of 9 found this review helpful

I bought this book about three years ago, and have read it through a number of times, and I can honestly say that it has been of good value to me within my own tai chi journey and training.
Kumar's personal journey as he dips and fully immerses himself into different arts with different teachers is both entertaining and fascinating, and for my money more accessible than Robert Smith's book. The difficulty inherant within it is that whilst Kumar goes into great detail - none of it is specific enough to be of immediate use to anyone who has less than years of study and practice with good teachers behind them. That said, I have frequently and spontaneously remembered many snippets of principles and guidance from this book during training that have helped me develop in a balanced way.
Not surprisingly the author has his share of worshipers and detractors within the field, and for my part I do not feel qualified to judge. All said and done however, there are very few accessible books on the internal martial arts, and this is as good as any I have read. Without its inspiration and guidance I would not be studying with my current teacher, and for that alone I am very thankful.