Customer Reviews

Best of American Tai Chi [VHS]

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This is a great idea for a video. 20 T'ai-chi teachers got together and demonstrated their forms, push hands, sword play, self defense applications and even a lion dance. The video begins with an introduction to T'ai-chi explaining what it is and the differences between the various exercises, as well as self defense principles. Then you see the teachers giving their demonstrations. As an example, for the Yang form, several teachers give about a minute each of their form and each is blended into the next, so it seems like a seamless form. Yet you can see the variations in approach of each teacher. This is also true for the push hands, some more flowing, some more aggressive. A voice over explains what you are seeing and each teacher's name appears as he or she is shown. It is a fascinating video to watch as the teachers are many of the most well known in the T'ai-chi field. It was taped at Jou Tsung-Hwa's T'ai-chi Farm in New York State. (The farm is now gone, unfortunately, so this video is a sort of collector's item).

Personally I think this was not the best investment of my taichi education funds. Sitting on the grass on a sunny day at Taichi Farm this stuff is fun to watch. But for videos I find a recording of a master's form to be much more valuable to watch over and over and absorb their spirit and technique. A video that is all Dr. Yang or Master Liang or people of their calibre is a much better investment.