About the Book
Mastering Taijiquan in the Modern Age offers a transformative new way to understand, practice, and investigate Taijiquan (Tai Chi) in the twenty-first century. Combining the insight of a fifty-year practitioner with the clarity of modern scientific thinking, this first edition presents Taijiquan as a living discipline—observable, testable, and applicable far beyond its traditional boundaries.
Drawing on his background in economics, statistics, computing, and philosophy, Mingdong Xu demystifies foundational concepts such as Yi (intent), Jin (refined power), and Relaxation. He explains them through concrete, observable mechanisms rather than metaphor or mysticism. New concepts—including Integration, Synchronization, Counter-Movement, and Holding-Power—provide a modern vocabulary that reveals how Taijiquan truly works inside the body and mind.
A central aim of this book is to address a long-standing challenge: most practitioners cannot learn Taijiquan the way they learn other disciplines, through a clear, logically grounded framework. This work fills that gap by redefining Taijiquan as a modern discipline—well structured, internally consistent, and capable of systematic study and inquiry.
Inside this edition, readers will find:
• A concise historical and cultural context for Kung Fu, Taijiquan, and their philosophical foundations
• Clear explanations of Forms, Push-Hands, Standing, Yi, Jin, Relaxation, and other core mechanisms
• A scientific reinterpretation of Taijiquan’s principles grounded in logic and experiential observation
• A practical training progression from imitation to advanced application
• Insight into the mental processes behind movement, internal power, and whole-body coordination
• Real-world applications in health, rehabilitation, conflict management, and daily living
• A unified glossary that clarifies both traditional terms and newly defined concepts
Organized across eight parts and thirty-three chapters, this book serves a wide range of readers:
• Traditional practitioners seeking clarity
• Martial artists exploring internal power
• Researchers pursuing reliable, firsthand experimentation
• Health professionals integrating movement and awareness
• Lifelong learners interested in the unity of body, mind, and philosophy
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced practitioner, Mastering Taijiquan in the Modern Age invites you to explore Taijiquan not just as a set of forms, but as an evolving discipline rooted in evidence, insight, and human potential.
Taijiquan Framework 