Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Simplified Tai Chi Chuan: Simplified 24 Postures with Applications and Standard 48 Postures - Review
"Simplified Tai Chi Chuan: Simplified 24 Postures with Applications and Standard 48 Postures" with Master Liang, Shou-Yu is an excellent DVD by YMAA for anyone who wishes to learn or better understand Tai Chi Chuan. Out of many Tai Chi instructional DVDs to choose from, this is a wise choice.
The DVD starts out acknowledging there is a companion book that explains some aspects in greater detail. Then there is a short introduction that shares the philosophy and benefits of practicing Tai Chi Chuan. As the narrator explains, you see video of Master Liang performing Tai Chi Chuan movements and other scenes that compliment the narration.
Next there is a brief history of Tai Chi Chuan section that was interesting, and a little blurb regarding how to learn the forms. From there, the DVD goes into the 24 Posture (Simplified) Tai Chi Chuan Postures. Master Liang first demonstrates the entire form, with subtitles appearing below him to name each of the 24 postures. This is a great preview of what is about to be taught, and a good reference as to what doing the completed form should be like. The DVD then shows the completed form from the front without the subtitles, and then the rear. Please note, you will be into the video a bit over 25 minutes at this point. (It is a long DVD, which I've found to be a trademark of YMAA, they like to pack as much into their products as possible which as a consumer I really appreciate.)
The form is then performed again, with subtitles at the bottom providing breathing instructions. The subtitles tell you when to inhale and when to exhale with the movements. This is actually a very important aspect of Tai Chi Chuan, and all martial arts, and I liked that it was included. It will be a good tool for people to practice their breathing as they do the form, something that should be done each time.
Next comes the 24 Posture From with Applications. This section shows each of the 24 postures done solo and then the self-defense application performed on an attacker in slow motion and then regular speed. Multiple applications are shown for some postures. There is not "instruction" during this section, only illustration or demonstration. (For me, instruction is when an instructor actually teaches you by talking, explaining, and demonstrating all together. Of course this is for video, in person the instructor also assists, corrects mistakes, etc.)
The DVD then goes into more detail for each posture. This is done with the illustration, or demonstration of the postures and applications by Master Liang with a voice over explaining the movements. I prefer DVDs where the instructor actually talks you through things rather than a voice over. I feel that is more like the instructor teaching. However, the voice over on this DVD is done well and if the viewer does what is said and follows along with Master Liang, the form can be learned. This portion of the program is the "meat" as far as teaching the 24 postures.
Now that the 24 Posture form has been completed, the program goes into the history of the 48 Posture Tai Chi Chaun. There is a younger female, Kelly Maclean, demonstrating the form as the brief history is told. Then she performs the entire 48 Posture form with subtitles for the posture names. As with the earlier 24 posture form, it is repeated without the subtitles.
The program does not show the rear view next, but rather goes right to the details of the 48 Postures portion. They don't repeat the instructions for the movements that are also contained in the 24 Posture form. Like earlier, the instruction comes from a voice over while Maclean performs the movements. This section does not contain the martial applications. After the closing posture, the programs ends and goes straight to the credits.
The DVD also contains a slide show of the postures, which is basically photographs of the postures as you would find in a book, with the posture names to the side with pleasing music playing. I liked the music, but I don't know if these slides help with the instruction, since moving video illustrates them much better than stills. (that is why having this DVD as a companion to the book is ideal) Regardless, it was an interesting extra feature.
The production quality it top notch as I've found with all of the YMAA DVDs I've viewed. There are over 100 chapter selections to assist you with the portions of the DVD you wish to study. However, I wished the menu would have been broken down a bit more. For instance, under the 24 postures detail section, you start at the beginning. If you want posture 15, you have to hit the skip button to pass through all the others to get there. This is easy enough to do, but it would have been great to have each posture listed in the menu. (Would have been a huge menu though) Like other YMAA DVDs, this one contains the YMAA catalog and video previews of other products.
There are a lot of Tai Chi videos out there. Some are good and others are terrible. This is definitely one of the good ones. There is a lot of information presented in a clear format. If you practice or want to practice Tai Chi Chuan, this DVD is a great resource to compliment what you are learning in a class, or if you are unfortunate enough not to have an instructor, this DVD will help your home study and you can definitely learn a lot from it if you also put in the time practicing what the DVD teaches.
The DVD starts out acknowledging there is a companion book that explains some aspects in greater detail. Then there is a short introduction that shares the philosophy and benefits of practicing Tai Chi Chuan. As the narrator explains, you see video of Master Liang performing Tai Chi Chuan movements and other scenes that compliment the narration.
Next there is a brief history of Tai Chi Chuan section that was interesting, and a little blurb regarding how to learn the forms. From there, the DVD goes into the 24 Posture (Simplified) Tai Chi Chuan Postures. Master Liang first demonstrates the entire form, with subtitles appearing below him to name each of the 24 postures. This is a great preview of what is about to be taught, and a good reference as to what doing the completed form should be like. The DVD then shows the completed form from the front without the subtitles, and then the rear. Please note, you will be into the video a bit over 25 minutes at this point. (It is a long DVD, which I've found to be a trademark of YMAA, they like to pack as much into their products as possible which as a consumer I really appreciate.)
The form is then performed again, with subtitles at the bottom providing breathing instructions. The subtitles tell you when to inhale and when to exhale with the movements. This is actually a very important aspect of Tai Chi Chuan, and all martial arts, and I liked that it was included. It will be a good tool for people to practice their breathing as they do the form, something that should be done each time.
Next comes the 24 Posture From with Applications. This section shows each of the 24 postures done solo and then the self-defense application performed on an attacker in slow motion and then regular speed. Multiple applications are shown for some postures. There is not "instruction" during this section, only illustration or demonstration. (For me, instruction is when an instructor actually teaches you by talking, explaining, and demonstrating all together. Of course this is for video, in person the instructor also assists, corrects mistakes, etc.)
The DVD then goes into more detail for each posture. This is done with the illustration, or demonstration of the postures and applications by Master Liang with a voice over explaining the movements. I prefer DVDs where the instructor actually talks you through things rather than a voice over. I feel that is more like the instructor teaching. However, the voice over on this DVD is done well and if the viewer does what is said and follows along with Master Liang, the form can be learned. This portion of the program is the "meat" as far as teaching the 24 postures.
Now that the 24 Posture form has been completed, the program goes into the history of the 48 Posture Tai Chi Chaun. There is a younger female, Kelly Maclean, demonstrating the form as the brief history is told. Then she performs the entire 48 Posture form with subtitles for the posture names. As with the earlier 24 posture form, it is repeated without the subtitles.
The program does not show the rear view next, but rather goes right to the details of the 48 Postures portion. They don't repeat the instructions for the movements that are also contained in the 24 Posture form. Like earlier, the instruction comes from a voice over while Maclean performs the movements. This section does not contain the martial applications. After the closing posture, the programs ends and goes straight to the credits.
The DVD also contains a slide show of the postures, which is basically photographs of the postures as you would find in a book, with the posture names to the side with pleasing music playing. I liked the music, but I don't know if these slides help with the instruction, since moving video illustrates them much better than stills. (that is why having this DVD as a companion to the book is ideal) Regardless, it was an interesting extra feature.
The production quality it top notch as I've found with all of the YMAA DVDs I've viewed. There are over 100 chapter selections to assist you with the portions of the DVD you wish to study. However, I wished the menu would have been broken down a bit more. For instance, under the 24 postures detail section, you start at the beginning. If you want posture 15, you have to hit the skip button to pass through all the others to get there. This is easy enough to do, but it would have been great to have each posture listed in the menu. (Would have been a huge menu though) Like other YMAA DVDs, this one contains the YMAA catalog and video previews of other products.
There are a lot of Tai Chi videos out there. Some are good and others are terrible. This is definitely one of the good ones. There is a lot of information presented in a clear format. If you practice or want to practice Tai Chi Chuan, this DVD is a great resource to compliment what you are learning in a class, or if you are unfortunate enough not to have an instructor, this DVD will help your home study and you can definitely learn a lot from it if you also put in the time practicing what the DVD teaches.
# posted by Alain @ 12:32 PM 
