| Taiji or Tai Chi is practiced around the world for | | | | applications and he wants you to analyze the |
| its health benefits. In fact, many who study and | | | | forms yourself to master the forms and |
| teach this ancient Chinese art only practice and | | | | techniques. This portion of the program is about |
| teach for health and longevity reasons. For some, | | | | eighty-six minutes long. |
| this is fine, however they are missing the roots of | | | | Part two of the Taijiquan martial applications |
| the art, which were based on martial applications. | | | | comes next. Dr. Yang continues his instruction of |
| The motions that help cultivate "chi" are rooted in | | | | applications using students to illustrate his teaching |
| self-defense. According to Dr. Yang, real Taijiquan | | | | for the second part of the Taijiquan form. This |
| is knowing the martial art applications. This video | | | | section takes about thirty-six minutes. |
| program focuses on such applications to the | | | | Tajiquan Martial Applications - Part Three |
| forms. | | | | continues with additional instruction on the third |
| "Taiji 37 Postures Martial Applications" with Dr. | | | | part of the form. Like the previous sections, Dr. |
| Yang, Jwing-Ming states on the front cover, | | | | Yang shows the movement and then applications |
| "Learn the Self-Defense Moves Hidden In Every | | | | on his students, along with commentary and |
| Tai Chi Posture" The program actually offers | | | | explanations. This section is about thirty-three |
| much more than that. | | | | minutes long including the form at the end. Dr. |
| The DVD starts with a lecture by Dr. Yang at a | | | | Yang again says this DVD only gives you an idea |
| white board explaining his view on training for | | | | so you can learn to analyze the forms and |
| health and for martial arts. (He does bring in a | | | | discover applications yourself. He also takes time |
| student to help illustrate and explain a couple of | | | | to thank his students and daughter. The form is |
| concepts) Dr. Yang is an expert in both, and his | | | | then shown again being demonstrated by Dr. |
| insights are revealing and educational. This lecture | | | | Yang and Kathy Yang. |
| is thirty-six minutes long and covers some very | | | | The DVD has excellent menus allowing the viewer |
| important Chinese and martial concepts. | | | | to go right to the section of the program he or |
| Next there is a Taijiquan form demonstration. Dr. | | | | she wishes to review. The picture and lighting are |
| Yang and his daughter, Kathy, perform the form | | | | well done and over all is a very well produced |
| with subtitles across the bottom of the screen | | | | instructional DVD. Additionally, there are the |
| labeling the movements. This takes just under | | | | YMAA extras that include information about |
| five minutes. | | | | YMAA, their catalog, and previews of many other |
| The third part of the DVD is Taijiquan Martial | | | | titles. |
| Applications - Part One. One thing I liked, right at | | | | There really is a lot of information on this disk. |
| the beginning of the section, was Dr. Yang's | | | | Besides the applications and encouragement to |
| explanation of why his Taiji today is different | | | | analyze the forms yourself, Dr. Yang provides so |
| from what he was doing in his first video back in | | | | many little tips and additional information to make |
| 1984. In this section, the martial applications from | | | | you a better martial artist. I believe this DVD is a |
| various moves in the form are illustrated by Dr. | | | | must for anyone who wants to better |
| Yang with his students. The instruction is clear, but | | | | understand Taiji and the martial applications found |
| there are also subtitles across the bottom. Dr. | | | | within the forms. |
| Yang points out that this DVD just shows some | | | | |