Search - Tai-chi-Chuan Kung-fu DVD on DVD

Tai-chi as a martial art.

David Young | 05/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is rare to see a DVD showing Tai-chi as a martial art. This program teaches a 60 movement "Yang short form" showing the form from two different angles, with instructions of weight distribution and breathing. It gives some basic exercises and even teaches the "push hands" training at the end of the DVD. The most interesting part of the program takes up most of it. This is the step by step instructions with students. With each movement, there is not only instruction but the self defense applications of that movement as well. You see the small teacher tossing the larger and obviously stronger students around the room. I especially like that the applications are not staged and are obviously real."

Bringing realism to the rating

wombat | 08/23/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I feel the need to write a review to balance the reviews that are all 5 stars. I think the people reviewing must know the instructor personally and have taken lessons from him. At least that is a possible explanation of their high ratings. At any rate, here is my review: The physical DVD was almost completely unusable. There was a loud hum in the background that quite often was louder than the instruction. The instruction was incomplete, for a beginer in Tai Chi, at least. It looked more like a demonstration DVD than instructional. In fact I have since thrown the DVD away out of frustration with it. I should add that even though I am new to Chinese Tai Chi I have studied three versions of Japanese and Okinawan karate, and two Korean versions of Karate as well as Aikido. (Obviously I have not taken a course on how to write.)"