Product Details

• Actors: Jwing-Ming Yang
• Directors: David Silver
• Format: Audiobook, NTSC
• Region: All Regions
• Number of discs: 1
• Studio: YMAA Publication Center
• DVD Release Date: December 1, 2011
• Run Time: 180 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 1594390436
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,136 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

About the Actor

Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, is a renowned author and teacher of Chinese martial arts and Qigong. Born in Taiwan, he has trained and taught Taijiquan, Qigong and Chinese martial arts for over forty-five years. He is the author of over thirty books, and was elected by Inside Kung Fu magazine as one of the 10 people who has "made the greatest impact on martial arts in the past 100 years." Dr. Yang lives in Northern California.

Product Description

Essential Shaolin Kung Fu Foundations Drawing from his extensive knowledge of Long Fist and White Crane Kung Fu (Gongfu), Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming explains and instructs the basic training techniques of Shaolin Kung Fu. In Course 1, Dr. Yang teaches Stretching, Fundamental Stances, and extensive Hand Drills. In Course 2, Walking, Hopping, Jumping, Sense of Distance training, and extensive Kicking techniques are taught. Dr. Yang instructs proper alignment and posture, explains the martial applications of the techniques, and shows corrections for common mistakes, as students demonstrate. Stretching Routines Fundamental Stances Proper Alignment and Posture Extensive Punching & Kicking Drills Martial Applications This DVD teaches the essential foundation of YMAA Shaolin training, and provides excellent additional training for all martial artists, especially those interested in tracing back the root of Asian martial arts. SPECIAL FEATURES: Over 100 Scene Selections Narration: English, French - Multi Language Menus & Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish - Interactive YMAA Product Catalog with Previews of all YMAA Videos, and more... -

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! If this is the 'basic training'.., December 5, 2005

By 

John D "John D" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

Kung Fu means 'Time / Energy'. Literally, something which takes time and energy to achieve.

In this video, Dr. Yang teaches the necessary body conditioning for Shaolin Kung Fu, starting with stretching for the entire body, both standing and sitting. Some of it is very intense, difficult stuff which needs to be patiently trained for 6 months.

During the fundamental stances Master Yang explains some of the applications, and really corrects the posture of his students demonstrating. He teaches with a great sense of humor, with a very humble manner, but offers so much information for each technique.

The Punches are shown in a classroom situation, with corrections and applications, and are also shown by students hitting a heavy bag. There is a great variety of techniques, which give an excellent foundation for further study.

Very fun and serious video!

Thank you Master Yang for keeping the classical martial arts of Shaolin Temple alive and well. This fundamental training is rigorous and gives a lot of insight into other, more 'modern' styles. Very practical, powerful techniques.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE VERY WELL DONE AND WORTH EVERY DOLLAR I PAID!, March 19, 2006

By 

Chris Walker - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This dvd is loaded with information. I suspect I will be learning, refering to and benefitting from its contents for years to come.Dr Yang appears as a very learned Sifu and as I have recently begun the practice of Kung Fu at a school in Michigan (TCMA/ Berkley) this was bought as a tool to use at home. I am totally pleased and am glad I own this. Thanks to Sifu Yang for taking the time to do what he does which is pass on valuable and rare kung fu knowledge. I do feel that a beginner buying this DVD would be able to increase his/her awareness and make progress in kung fu even if there was not a school to attend though it is reccommended. I am looking forward to it all.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent program on the fundamentals of Shaolin Kung Fu, October 2, 2010

By 

Alain B. Burrese "Author, Speaker, Mediator, ... (Missoula, MT) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

I have a tremendous amount of respect for Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming. Both as a martial artist and an instructor, which includes being a good man. This DVD, "Shaolin Kung Fu: Fundamental Training" illustrates just why I hold him in such high regard. For starters, the program contains three hours of instruction. Additionally, this is one of the programs where Dr. Yang teaches to the camera, rather that demonstrating with a voice over. Anyone who has read my reviews knows that I favor instruction to the camera by the instructor, over demonstrations and voice overs.

In this program, Dr. Yang draws from his knowledge of Long Fist and White Crane Kung Fu to explain and instruct on the basic training techniques that form the essential foundation of YMAA Shaolin Kung Fu training. Besides being a must take home resource for anyone studying Shaolin Kung Fu, I found a lot of information that will assist martial artists from other styles become better martial artists.

The instructional format of the DVD is that of Dr. Yang teaching to the camera with a group of students. It is like the viewer is right there in a class or seminar with Dr. Yang. The only drawback is when watching the DVD you can't ask questions.

The DVD is divided into two programs. Course 1 includes three segments. Stretching Routines, Fundamental Stances, and Hand Drills. The stretching portion takes about 19 minutes and includes a wide variety of stretches, including some that require a support to place your foot up on while standing. The stances covered are those such as horse stance, climbing mountain stance, four-six stance, tame the tiger stance, and others. Stances are fundamental to proper martial execution and applications, and because this is a fundamental training program, these are essential ingredients to Shaolin Kung Fu. At the thirty minute mark of the program, hand drills begin. Over 20 hand strikes are taught through the remainder of Course 1 that concludes at around 75 minutes.

Course 2 is 90 minutes long and contains instruction on walking, hopping, jumping, empty door, kicking, and a sense of distance. Walking, hopping and jumping all focus on movement within the Shaolin Kung Fu system. Dr. Yang explains what the movements and steps are used for as well as having his students demonstrate correct steps and movement. These three segments take up the first 20 minutes of Course 2. The empty door chapter also focuses on footwork with a quick jumping movement. The kicking section includes 32 different kicks, beginner to advanced, and starts at the 25 minute mark of Course 2 and continues through to the 83 minute mark. I liked the last kick, the double kick, where Dr. Yang makes a point to say it is for training. He then says some people say it is for showing off, and he says that's true, because not everyone can do it. The final segment on sense of distance is about a very important concept and Dr. Yang does a good job of introducing the concept and its importance. Dr. Yang concludes with a few comments about how important the basics are and how you must train in the basics to become a competent martial artist.

This is an excellent program on the fundamentals of Shaolin Kung Fu. There is a lot of information, and a lot to practice on this DVD. It is a fantastic reference for those that study this style, but it is also a good reference for other martial artists because many of the concepts and techniques have application in many martial arts, and therefor can make anyone a better martial artist.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks and the dvds: Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking Essentials series and articles including a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer. Alain Also wrote a series of articles called Lessons From The Apprentice.