THOMAS LUPICH is a retired electrical designer from Princeton University's Plasma Physics Laboratory. He is a taiji instructor with an interest in science and in health.

Many of the teaching in this book are novel since they relate to aspects of science not normally discussed in most taiji schools.

Taiji, in the most succinct terms, is a way of holistically and optimally interacting with every aspect of life. In the martial arts context, taiji is simply an ideal way by which the player finds comfort while efficiently propagating and delivering energy to an opponent, while simultaneously gathering intelligence regarding his opponent's every move, using his force and energy against him. It's a way to harmonize every aspect of your being - mind, spirit, body - into a unified flow, so that everything you do and think will be done more effectively, rapidly and comfortably.

To accomplish all of the above, there is a major prerequisite: one has to be quietly relaxed. Being relaxed is the main quality that taiji requires. And how does one become more relaxed? By learning how to not interfere with one's self. The more relaxed one becomes, the more effective, soft, and powerful he becomes. Taiji is a way of life: a never-ending perfection process.