Taijiquan, Classical Yang Style DVD (YMAA Tai Chi) Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming (Region 0) [NTSC]

It starts right at the very basics for beginners and gives you an excellent overview of the art of Tai Chi. The setting is a formal training studio. The video contains all the things you would learn in a Tai Chi Class from the basic stances and fundamental postures, to the entire form instructed and performed in complete detail by Dr. Yang.

There is an enhanced content button you can click on at any time to get the detailed analysis and instruction of every one of the movements. He even demonstrates some Chin Na grappling hidden in the postures of the form.

Not only is the entire thing subtitled, which is really helpful, but there are additional content subtitles, between the narration, in case you're interested in knowing more. It is over four hours long, including an excerpt of a Tai Chi Theory lecture by Dr. Yang, where he clearly explains the roots of Taiji Philosophy and Tai Chi as a martial art. This lecture alone makes the DVD worth getting.

There are also additional sections which explain Taiji Qigong (Chi Kung) internal energy training, and Taiji Fa Jin, which is the 'emission of internal power.'

The music is beautiful Classical Chinese and suits Master Yang nicely. I see this DVD as a very important document for transmitting the true essence of Taiji, both in its Classical form, and as a living, modern art.

Periodic long-distance moves have since interrupted my study several times, but these have also required me to study with teachers of quite a few T'ai Chi styles and levels of expertise. Some were more fun, some more "practical," some much more "martial" in approach, and some were sadly "lightweight."

Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming's video is truly "the real deal." From the first frame of his performance of the entire Form, I was instantly transported back to my first Teacher's class: not only is the sequence of postures and connecting movements EXACTLY the same as where I began, but the "spirit" and "feel" of T'ai Chi is also the same as it was then. With the wide range of styles and emphases in my classes since, I'd nearly forgotten how "pure" and powerful the classical Yang form truly is!

Other reviews here have accurately described and appropriately praised the comprehensive contents and unsurpassed structure of this wonderful video that is at once a marvelous teaching tool and a true archival record of this ancient art.

I'll summarize my opinion this way:

If you EVER outgrow this DVD, please produce one of your own, so we can all study with you!

There is a great wealth of information on this DVD. There is a short lecture on theory, a number of loosening up and warming up exercises, Taiji Qigong exercises, and of course the full Yang style long form. Everything has chapter stops and you can skip to the section you want quickly and easily from the DVD menu.

The long form doesn't dwell excessively on any individual movement which allows you to practice along with it, but if you want more detail on how a movement is performed, you can hit 'Enter' on your DVD remote when the yin yang symbol is on the screen to get in depth instruction on the current movement being demonstrated. In that way it manages to offer the best of both worlds.

All in all this DVD stands well above any other Tai Chi instructional video I've seen.