Jane Garton

This unique book should become the basic family fitness guide of the 1980s.

For centuries, the Chinese have been acknowedged as the masters of understanding the mind-body relationship and the fitness of the body as a whole. Wushu! has been encouraged and developed by the People's government to promote national fitness.

Wushu! (literally 'martial artist') is not the aggressive kung fu of the movies. Traditionally consisting of two schools-the 'external,' whose forms are hard and vigorous, involving leaping, kicking and somersaulting; and the 'internal,' emphasizing soft, graceful, fluid movements that resemble dancing rather than exercising-the wushu in this book has evolved from its ancient origins to its present form as a series of simple physical exercises practiced to promote health and firness. In this process, it has also acquired a sense of joy. It is really is fun to perform.

Profusely illustrated with over 1,000 original two-color how-to-drawings, Wushu! includes the classic 24 exercises of Taijiquan-a Chinese version of isometrics; a series of exercises for babies (aided by their parents) and children; gentle forms of shadowboxing and sword play perfect for the elderly and sedentary; and a section of special exercises to improve health, relieve pain and prevent disease. Now available in the West for the first time, the exercises in Wushu! are fun and a rewarding fitness program for everyone in the family which will enable them to strengthen and relax their bodies as millions of Chinese do every day.

Contents

Introduction
I External Forms of exercise
Principles
Silk exercises
First-year exercises
Playground exercises
Farmers' exercises
Coffee break exercises
Animal play
II Internal forms of exedrcise
Principles
Taiji shadow boxing
Taiji swordplay
Taiji swordplay
The taiji duet
III Exercises to prevent certain diseases
Principles
The 18 therapies
Breathing exercises
Eye exercises
Self-massage
Baths
Table of exercises… (plus d'informations)