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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finally an applications DVD, March 25, 2004
This DVD serves as the animated companion to Rodell's Chinese Swordsmanship: the Yang Family Tradition. In it he goes through the applications for the eight basic cuts of taiji jian (t'ai chi double bladed straight sword), as they are manifested in different parts of the Michuan (Hidden Tradition) of Yang Family Taiji jian. Rodell explains selected applications in the order that they appear in the form. He first gives a thorough, but not long winded, explanation of the important details of each application. The emphasis is upon allowing the demonstrations (filmed at a variety of different angles, at different speeds repeatedly) speak for themselves. The critical message here is that the form and the applications go hand in hand, like yin and yang. To practice one and not the other is to nurture serious deficiencies in your art. Most students focus more on perfecting the form. The road to perfection lies in a thorough understanding of the applications. This DVD fills a critical lacuna in the libraries of taiji jian practitioners, who may have many on form, but little or nothing on application. To find a DVD that puts a "why" behind the "how" of a form is rare and much needed. Because most wooden swords sold are rather flimsy for applications practice, viewer might be envious of the substantial wooden swords seen in the video. Fear not. One can contact Rodell through www.grtc,org to find out how to get one. The DVD does not go through each and every application of the form. To do so would be, as Rodell says, "Mind numbing." We can only hope for a sequel.
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by Scott M. Rodell
by Zhang Yun
by Chen Wei-Ming
DVD ~ Jwing-Ming;senior students Dr. Yang
