Having owned the videotape of this offering from Dr. Yang, I was a little apprehensive about spending money to buy the DVD.   I was very satisfied with the information offered on the VHS tape, but having already owned the material, it didn't make sense to purchase a DVD unless there was something added to the material.  Generally, when a company releases a DVD of a previously released VHS tape, there is very little added to the DVD release.    Fortunately, in line with the high quality of YMAA publications, this DVD has approximately two hours of material that was not on the original VHS.   Combine this with the ease of access that a DVD offers and the Taijiquan, Classical Yang Style DVD becomes even more of a bargain.

The video offers material and instruction for the following:

• The Taijiquan Thirteen Postures
• The Fundamental 8 Stances
• Taiji Qigong, with stretching and three sets taught
• The Yang Style Taijiquan sequence (The long form)

The video also has an extensive lecture on Taijiquan Theory by Dr. Yang as well as a demonstration of Fa Jing and a list of all the movements of the long form.

The lecture is vital to anyone who wants to learn Taijiquan.   Merely imitating the postures and movements, which sadly is how many people practice Taijiquan, without an understanding of the philosophy from which Taijiquan developed, would severely limit one's experience.

Dr. Yang discusses how Taiji is between Wuji (nothingness) and yin and yang.  This concept is extremely important and vital to the performance and practice of Taijiquan.    When you begin the form, you should stand in a beginning posture which represents Wuji, or nothingness/emptiness, during which you settle the body, relax the breath and bring all the parts of your body and mind into this Wuji state.

Then the thought/intention is born in the mind and the Taiji (which came from the Wuji) splits into the yin and yang.   The dead hands and body, maximum yin, become alive and slowly inflate and expand to a balance between maximum yin and maximum yang, along with the whole body.   Now the form begins.    I see many practitioners walk up, stand still for one second and leap into the form without any understanding of where yin and yang spring from.   The transition from Wuji to Taiji to the interplay of yin and yang is one of the more fulfilling and engaging aspects of Taijiquan.

Dr. Yang points out that Taiji, the theory of which is explained so well in this video, has been around for approximately four thousand years, whereas Taijiquan has been around for perhaps a thousand years.    The use of this theory in Daoism is also explained by Dr. Yang.    The link between Taijiquan and Daoism  through their mutual use of the philosophy of Taiji was one of the initial reasons for my interest in learning Taijiquan.

Dr. Yang goes on to illustrate through the use of scientific formulas the relationship of Taijiquan and the laws of physics.   This lecture is just the preparation to begin to use the other parts of the video.   Too many times tapes are presented by martial artists with little thought for tying it all together and explaining the meaning of what is offered.   This video is extremely well thought out and presents the viewer with a strategic approach that will enable them to go far in their quest to learn Taijiquan.

Throughout the video there are visual clues as to when to inhale and when to exhale while doing the form or the Taijiquan Qigong.    The demonstration of the long form offers detailed instructions when you click on the yin-yang symbol.    

I would have to write a ten page review to give justice to all the material presented on this DVD.   A wonderful addition to Dr. Yang's presentations and a worthwhile purchase even if you already own the VHS version of this video.

Copyright 2007 Patrick H. Dickson • All Rights Reserved