Customer Reviews

David Carradine's Tai Chi Workout [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

To start with I have taken martial art classes, not many, but a few months at a time several times in my life. I also took Tai Chi while in my massage school for three semesters. I was looking for a refresher & to keep going & learn the final moves on the Yang short form. I was also looking to learn any other forms, the philosophy behind it & all the details possible that I might not have gotten in class.

I rented this at my local library. I'm SOO glad I didn't buy it. Almost ALL the students INCLUDING David had bad form. There was maybe one african-american guy in the back who was decent, but even he couldn't stand with one foot up for cat pose for a few seconds before wobbling.

That may not seem important to the layman person, but proper form includes proper posture, use of muscles & grounding & balance & relaxation while executing powerful moves all while seeming graceful. This is what you want to emulate... You never want to learn the first time the WRONG way.

First David leads & shows the basic stances, they at least tell you where to put the weight, but not as much detail as I got in class.

Then they teach you some Qi Gong exercises & stretches. Again David is leading & it's very poor form. Most look like they are lost why they are circling their arms INCLUDING David. There was no awareness of body & the breathing was barely mentioned as an afterthought. There was no telling you not to extend the arms so far that your arms locked. Horrible.

Then the Tai Chi was taught finally by David's Master. His microphone could have been louder over the music. It wasn't too bad, but he has a nice soft voice. They don't tell you the name or why you do it or what it's symbolism is. He teaches in regular speed, no slowing down & the camera keeps going to David & the other students who's form is STILL bad instead of to the SIFU. The camera angles at least sometimes changes so you can understand & see better exactly what angle to move your hands in, but needs to be better. The moves are repeated over & over & over again so you get it, then suddenly you start a new one since you're not told it's a new one.

At the end, the Sifu demonstrates it in real time very beautifully, but too fast to follow along with David narrating more about how water is strong but fluid, etc.

With bad camera angles, focusing too much on students with bad form, no explanations, very little on teaching which way to move, no slowing down. Not even a once over SLOWLY of ALL the moves together, I hated this VHS. It could have been so much better.

The Sifu did move beautifully & has a lot of talent, too bad everything else was bad.

I'm surprised more beginners don't injure their knees doing one or two of the moves. Carradine's voice is stiff, the camera focuses too often on the students behind him who look look like they're doing it for the first time and confused, instead of on the person demonstrating the move. I got this years ago when this was the only Tai Chi tape around. Now that there are many good Tai Chi tapes and DVDs you should get one of those.

I liked the video but would not recommend it for people who have never practiced Tai Chi before. I would say it is a video for the intermediate Beginner. I like that it shows the individual movements as well as the complete form.

what is with all the "nay sayers" above! I dig this video and would recommend it to anybody... the negative is the shots of the "students" doing the moves when we should be watching the Sifu, and David (who's been doing it for over 12 years) instead...

I've used this tape weekly for three years. The difference in my energy, health and flexability are unbelievable. After 20 years of lower back pain, T'ai Chi is the only thing I've found that works for me. Personally I don't mind if the costumes are a little (or a lot) strange, don't care if the music is bad (haven't listened to the tape in years) what I care about is that T'ai Chi works. If your lower back is extremely unstable I would not recomend this tape. If you want to play soccer with the kids in your old age, go for it.

Check out the review by "quickhappy" dated 15th September 2000.
We can all make mistakes but it is best to get your facts right if you are going to mock, sneer and belittle.
I am referring the the mocking comments that he makes when he misquotes David Carradines narration thus:
" you should become fluid and supple like seafood", and then goes on to make fun of the above quote.
I feel I must point out that David Carradine says "SIFU", he does not say "SEAFOOD".
Sifu of course being Carradines personal Teacher/Master/Sifu who was demonstrating the moves at the time.
I am sure that there is a deep eastern philisophical lesson to be learned there somewhere.
Anyway, I give four points instead of five because it is true to say that it is safer to warm up before you start the stretches and not use stretching as a warm up in itself. Also the title is misleading as it should have been called something like "An Introduction To Tai Chi" and the word "Workout" should not really have been used as people expect a fitness workout, when it is more of a mind, coordination, balance, suppleness and skill workout.
To summarise, I find this a very benificial, usefull, enjoyable and easy to follow video, dispite the slightly misleading title.

T'ai Chi is difficult to learn by video, and I've viewed several other T'ai Chi workout videos, but this is the only one that has performed the Chen style movements slowly and continuously enough for me to follow. In less than one month, I was able to learn all nine movements well and put them together in a continuous flow for an enjoyable and relaxing workout. For correct form, Arnold E. Tayam's demonstration (which appears later in the tape) was invaluable (his credentials are also impressive). Since it's so difficult to find books and videos on the Chen style, this one is priceless. I wish Carradine (who I always enjoy watching) would consider doing another video which incorporates more Chen style into a longer workout--perhaps a short form. The same format should be used with the same people demonstrating slow, correct movement. I'd also like to see the same beautiful nature photography and music of John Serrie. END

A strange tai chi tape. Presentation is too polished and costumes remind one of Star Trek. After seeing the Carradine reruns, one would think that the video would be simplistic and relaxing. Would not buy again.

This video also offers Chi Kung exercises which, when done after the Tia Chi exercises give you a calming to your mind and body. It has increased my strength yet helps keep me calm and relaxed. I do moderate exercise with weights but feel Chi Kung has increased my strength more than weights. If you just do the exercises you will be very thankful for this video! I am 49 years old and never go to the doctor. My body cures it self.

This video also offers Chi Kung exercises which, when done after the Tia Chi exercises give you a calming to your mind and body. It has increased my strength yet helps keep me calm and relaxed. I do moderate exercise with weights but feel Chi Kung has increased my strength more than weights. If you just do the exercises you will be very thankful for this video! I am 49 years old and never go to the doctor. My body cures it self.