CompleteMartialArts.com - Taiji Martial Applications (YMAA Tai Chi) 37-Postures
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List Price: $39.95
Our Price: $39.95
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: YMAA Publication Center
Starring: Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, Kathy Yang
Directed By: David Silver
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: DVD
EAN: 0822003002573
Format: NTSC
Label: YMAA Publication Center
Manufacturer: YMAA Publication Center
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: YMAA Publication Center
Region Code: 0
Release Date: 2008-04-15
Running Time: 198
Studio: YMAA Publication Center
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Editorial Reviews:
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Discover the Martial Art of Taijiquan Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) is an ancient internal Chinese martial art which has gained widespread popularity for its many health benefits. Today, most people practice taiji slowly to develop their balance, strength, and vitality, and the martial applications of the art are often ignored. Taijiquan, or 'Grand Ultimate Fist', is a highly effective form of combat specializing in short and middle-range fighting. This program offers practical martial applications for each of the 37-postures of traditional Taiji, based on the forms passed down by Yang, Ban-Hou. Once the viewer has a basic understanding of these universal principles, you may use them to devise further applications for every movement no matter which style of Taiji you practice. Learn the Basic Concepts of Taiji and Taijiquan. Understand the purpose of every Taiji movement. Over 50 effective applications for any Taijiquan style. SPECIAL FEATURES: Multi-Language Menus/Subtitles: English, French, Spanish Interactive YMAA Catalog with 50 additional minutes of Preview Trailers for All YMAA Videos Features senior YMAA students Pedro Rodrigues, Tony Chee, and Kathy Yang YMAA PRODUCTION DR. YANG, JWING-MING TAIJI 37-POSTURES MARTIAL APPLICATIONS WRITTEN & PERFORMED BY DR. YANG, JWING-MING, WITH TONY CHEE, PEDRO RODRIGUES & KATHY YANG EDITING & DVD AUTHORING BY MEDIAMANIC PRODUCED BY DAVID SILVER DIRECTED BY DR. YANG, JWING-MING AND DAVID SILVER
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: A DVD to Grow With
Comment: I heartily recommend this DVD for anyone in the beginner to high intermediate levels of learning taiji. In particular, it's best for those who are not rank beginners, who know a short form and are looking for more. This presentation:
* Offers a lecture-overview of the practical fundamentals of taiji
* Shows Dr. Yang doing a modified version of his Yang short form
* Shows Dr. Yang discussing each one of the 37 positions of the Yang short form and demonstrating its martial applications with a partner.
You will not get everything out of this DVD after one or even a handful of viewings. Rather, I got the sense that it is a DVD to return to often in different stages of your training because there are important concepts here that you will only be ready for as your knowledge and form progress.
I was getting back into taiji after a ten-year hiatus and a friend suggested I take a look at this DVD. Not only was it the perfect refresher that helped me fit right in to a level 2 taiji class at my gym, but as a former aikidoka I was pleasantly surprised to see martial applications that took me back to my aikido days; blocks, throws, joint locks and more lay behind the flowing motions. I had never guessed they were there because my former teachers had never talked about the martial applications... Now, I'm not at the level that I can use any of these applications yet, but just knowing that they're present reminds me to focus on my form and posture to avoid picking up bad habits in my training.
As I hinted before, there's a lot packed into the lectures and demonstrations that will help practitioners of different skill levels.
For beginners, the initial lecture is great because it gives you a sense that taiji really isn't just about waving your arms slowly as you move around; rather there is a discrete body of techniques that describe the foundation of the art. Too, the discussion of the adaptation of the style by various Yang family patriarchs teaches that the patterns you learn from your teachers are, first of all, not set in stone and, second, adaptable for practitioners of all sizes and shapes. The demonstrations are great--but don't worry about trying to figure out the martial applications now. Instead, Dr. Yang will draw attention to the part of the form where the actual "work" occurs. That is, he tells you exactly which movements are the most essential to execute correctly.
More intermediate practitioners who are more experienced will get more out of the applications. Furthermore, Dr. Yang notes which ones are particularly common and effective in push-hands.
The single most important thing that Dr. Yang tries to teach in this DVD, however, is not just technique or even specific applications themselves. His overarching purpose is to teach advanced students how to "read" a form, how to take a short or long form and to analyze it, visualize it, and understand the logic and theory that lie behind it.
Me--I'm nowhere near that level now and it will probably be years before I get there. However, there are a host of skills, techniques and tidbits packed into this presentation that I will be enjoying as I slowly work towards that point.
In summary, then, some quick pros and cons:
Pros:
* The DVD grows with you. Watch it once and you'll realize you need to watch it again (and again) to learn more.
* I love that you can jump to any of the 37 positions/applications. I'm learning the Beijing short form which is different from the classical Yang but this way I jump quickly to the position I'm looking for.
* It reinforces that taiji really is a martial art, not just a slow-moving exercise and thus form and execution matter!
Cons:
* The only regret I have about the DVD is that I didn't get the accompanying book too. In the lecture, Dr. Yang mentions some things (13 postures?) that he doesn't explain; the way he alludes to them, however, suggests that they are laid out in full in the book.
Overall, a great DVD!!
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Taiji 37 Postures Martial Applications
Comment: Dr. Yang's knowledge is excellent. The practice of Taiji (or Tai Chi) is known primarily for its health benefits. In this DVD, the martial aspects of this art is made clearer.
Customer Rating:
Summary: TAIJIQUAN APPLICATIONS THAT WORK
Comment: The DVD begins with an excellent lecture by Master Yang on basic concepts of martial arts applications in Taijiquan. As Master Yang points out, you can practice Taijiquan for health-purposes only and do this with very little instruction from a teacher.
However, to learn the martial side of Taijiquan requires a teacher along with hands-on practice of the applications, preferably with a variety of persons of various sizes, strengths and skills. The lecture covers familiar material as well as new concepts. The lecture is over thirty minutes long and every minute is enjoyable and informative.
Master Yang's style of Taijiquan originates with Yang Pan-hou, the second child of Yang, Lu Chan, the originator of Yang Style Taijiquan. Yang Pan-hou was second in skill only to his father, Yang, Lu Chan. Yang Pan-hou was known for teaching a very martial arts oriented version of the Yang style.
One of the aspects of this DVD that I love is the teaching of how to utilize coiling techniques in the applications. Usually, and I find this inaccurate, people say that Yang style does not use coiling. As Master Yang so capably demonstrates, coiling is an integral part of applying the techniques found in Chen Style as well as Yang Style Taijiquan. Even the Yin Yang diagram shows the pattern of coiling within the design.
Master Yang points out that as one develops a sense of enemy, Qi is more easily led in the body. What I've always found to be interesting is that some practitioners state their reluctance to learn any of the martial aspects of Taijiquan, as their interest is only for the health benefits. The irony being that if they learned the martial side of Taijiquan, then the benefits of health would increase. The movements become more balanced, integrated, powerful and effective when done with a sense of purpose (martial intent), as is displayed when one practices the movements with knowledge of the martial applications.
There are 37 unique postures (patterns) in the long set of Yang Style Taijiquan. The long form of Yang Taijiquan, whether counted as 88 or 108 movements, has many repeats of some of the 37 unique postures. Ward off, rollback, press and push are repeated seven times throughout the form. These four movements are the heart of the Yang Style of Taijiquan. They represent the cardinal directions and four of the movements from the original 13 movements of Taijiquan. Consequently Master Yang gives these four movements their due when demonstrating applications found within the four movements.
Many of the techniques found within the 37 postures have been covered in previous DVDs by Master Yang. Without viewing the DVD it might be assumed that this would be material already available on other DVDs. However, Master Yang, demonstrating a clear understanding of the techniques that are the foundation of the applications, is able to present new ways of employing the techniques found within the 37 postures of Taijiquan.
While watching the DVD I felt two seemingly opposite feelings; the feeling of recognition as he described various applications, as well as the feeling of learning new knowledge as Master Yang presented another view of how to use the postures of Taijiquan in a martial way. Remember, there are few techniques, and many applications that are manifested from the understanding and use of these techniques.
One of the points stressed throughout the DVD is the importance of the legs in the application of techniques. The legs are the foundation, the root and the origin of power in Taijiquan. In the classes I teach one of the things I stress is if you have trouble following the form, then just follow the leg movements. Without the foundation, the rest (upper body movement) is ineffective.
Bottom line, the DVD is excellent. Along with the many applications demonstrated throughout the DVD by Master Yang and his students, Master Yang and his daughter Kathy also demonstrate the Yang Style Taijiquan form. Master Yang and Kathy Yang look great together as they show the form.
This is a must-have DVD for the serious Taijiquan practitioner.
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