Oriental martial arts – The Bell Bookshop

Born Fighter

Emma — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0000

**WINNER TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR 2021**
**SHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR PRIZE 2020**

‘I was captivated by this book from start to finish, I couldn’t put it down. A very real and relatable story that will have you weeping, smiling and cheering along’ Christine Ohuruogo
Ruqsana Begum’s account of how she rose to become a Muay Thai world champion is only a small part of why her story is such an inspirational one for anyone who has ever followed their dream.

Ever since she went to school in Bethnal Green, part of a large local Bangladeshi community, Ruqsana Begum stood apart from her friends because she was so keen on sport. At home, she wore the clothes her mother wanted her to wear and behaved like a dutiful Muslim daughter, but at heart she wanted something different. And when she went to college and saw an advert for a Muay Thai club, she knew what that would be. But she also knew that her parents would never allow her to fight – even if they could have afforded the costs. So she fought in secret, and soon discovered that she was a natural. But when her parents arranged her marriage, her new world collapsed and she found herself unable to cope, until she broke free again, and worked her way to the top.

Ruqsana’s story is a tale of empowerment that will inspire anyone who has ever had to battle against the odds and against all the opposition to achieve their goal.

Teach Yourself Find Peace With Tai Chi

Emma — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Is this the right book for me?

This is the perfect introduction for beginners who want to learn the essential principles behind Tai Chi without overcomplicated instructions or confusing detail. You will learn the basic ideas and get into the Tai Chi way of thinking before picking up the ‘form’ and exercises through a series of simple illustrations designed for all abilities, leaving you with the perfect antidote to the stresses of 21st-century life.

Find Peace with Tai Chi includes:

Chapter 1: Background
What does ‘tai chi’ mean?
The tai chi form
Origins of tai chi
How long does it take to learn?
What are the benefits?
The nature of ch’i
Atmospheric ch’i

Chapter 2: Gently does it
How fast? How slow?
Breathing made visible
Practice
Getting started

Chapter 3: Tips and suggestions
Dos and don’ts
Posture
Basic stances
Getting about

Chapter 4: The form – part one
Step-by-step instructions

Chapter 5: The form – part two
Step-by-step instructions

Chapter 6: In depth
Additional notes on the movement
Test your knowledge
Chapter 7: Tai chi and health
Circulation
Breathing
Lymph
Nerves, sensations and thoughts
Food and how to deal with it
Bones
Muscles
Glands
Urinary and reproductive systems
Sex
Staying healthy

Chapter 8: Tai chi – the learning experience
Questions in class
Letters and correspondence

Chapter 9: Body, mind and spirit
Finding a teacher
Between heaven and earth
Ch’i kung
The five elements: pathways between body and mind
Taoism

Learn effortlessly with a new easy-to-read page design and interactive features:

Not got much time?
One, five and ten-minute introductions to key principles to get you started.

Author insights
Lots of instant help with common problems and quick tips for success, based on the author’s many years of experience.

Test yourself
Tests in the book and online to keep track of your progress.

Extend your knowledge
Extra online articles to give you a richer understanding of the subject.

Five things to remember
Quick refreshers to help you remember the key facts.

Try this
Innovative exercises illustrate what you’ve learnt and how to use it.

Opening The Energy Gates Of Your Body

Emma — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 +0000

Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body explains the practice of chi gung (qigong), the 3000-year-old self-healing exercise system from China. Originally published in 1993, this book has become a classic that has inspired tens of thousands of Westerners to learn to activate their chi-life-force energy-to improve their health, reduce stress and reverse the effects of aging. This fully revised edition has more than 100 pages of new material, including Longevity Breathing methods; how cross-training in chi gung can enhance other exercises such as yoga, golf and weight training; and nei gung techniques for advanced practitioners. Chi gung exercises utilize a system of energy channels in the body that are similar to an electrical circuit. Frantzis’ thorough knowledge of energy arts and the Chinese language allow him to peel away the secrecy and metaphors. He presents this 300-page edition in easy to understand terms to suit beginners, with enough meaty detail and depth for the advanced martial artist, healer or meditator. Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body includes a comprehensive guide to chi gung theory and a systematic lesson plan with more than 100 illustrations. These low-impact exercises are suitable for almost any age or fitness level. They provide the foundation for learning any other chi practice, such as tai chi, martial arts, meditation or TAO Yoga. Frantzis explains not only how these inner aerobics are done, but why. Going beyond mere body movement, he teaches from the inside out, linking the biomechanics and anatomy of the physical body with the subtleties of chi. This book provides practical methods to help people become balanced, relaxed and joyful. Frantzis trained for more than a decade in China, became a Taoist Lineage Master-quite a rare occurrence-and came back to the West to teach. “My hope is that chi gung and tai chi can become mainstream exercises in the West,” says Frantzis. “We have a major health crisis looming; practicing chi gung or tai chi is one of the most effective ways people can reclaim control of their health and well-being.”