the little dojo

Tai Chi for Geniuses

Sifu Gene Burnett has written a refreshing book on the study and practice of T’ai Chi Chuan. This book is written with a deep and abiding respect of the reader and of the Art and Process of T’ai Chi to which he has dedicated much of the past 20 years. Gene trained for 10 years with Sifu Andy Dale in Seattle, Washington and was close with David Harris.

This book brings T’ai Chi to life and makes the process engaging, even the tougher first stages are given dignity.

T’AI-CHI FOR GENIUSES is a practice companion, not an instructional training manual. Rather than presuming that the reader is a “dummy” or “complete idiot,” author Gene Burnett asserts that there is an inner “genius” within everyone. This genius is a wellspring of intuitive knowledge vastly more intelligent than our conscious minds. Burnett encourages the reader to listen to this inner genius while he breaks down the often confusing and mysterious T’ai-Chi training into four levels of work: Bone, Muscle, Energy and Spirit. Applying these levels of work to solo form training, partner work, weapons training, and daily life, Burnett shows how you can improve the quality and clarity of your practice, eventually becoming your own teacher and student.

T’ai-Chi for Geniuses: A Practice Companion for the Genius in Everyone