YANG TAI CHI PUSH HANDS

These disks include applications and other ways to learn the self defense aspects of Tai Chi through proper Push Hands practice.

NOTE: In this case of most of these disks we are recommending the DVDs over the less expensive, but Chinese only, DVDs. There are a lot of explanations here and the English is helpful. Click if interested in the VCD versions of these disks.

Click pictures to see larger versions.

DVD #12076
Internal Damage
Advanced Tai Chi for Combat

Want to see Tai Chi applications done in the street and with a reality-based approach? Shihfu Glen Hairston has a no-nonsense feeling toward his art and plenty of experience and training to back it up. But this is more than a DVD of applications. Here is a well produced, modern, edgy piece filmed with graffiti background on a cracked court in the city. But it also has humor. The nice thing about this effort is that, at the center of the music, the jokes, the FX editing is Hairston who impresses us as a serious, honest and sincere practitioner with something to say about his view of the art. That's not to mention an assistant/student Eric Randolph who gets kudos for actually being able to take a punch and come back smiling and Ron Yuan for his narration with attitude. Glen doesn't explain every move of his applications but its pretty obvious to those who can see what he's doing. He even falls into the dedicated instructors trap and shows some skills that definitely require, well, some skill. But most of it is straight forward, clever and very workable. His hands are eloquent, trained, fast, accurate. This is at least one take on Tai Chi where the essence of fighting is completely open, honest and - thankfully - proud of its warrior background. Applause for this teacher and his efforts. Be warned, as the back cover says, "This ain't your grandma's Tai Chi."

$39.95

Volume #1

Volume #2

#12003/12004 RANDOM CIRCLE
by Jason Tsou
Each DVD 1 hour,
DVD One $34.50 DVD Two #34.50
Save 10% on both ($62.10)

The poem "Random Circle" dates back at least as far as Yang Ban-Hou, uncle of Yang Cheng Fu and the son of Yang Lu-Chan (founder of Yang T'ai Chi). Yang taught this poem to his students because he felt that in it lay the secrets of Push Hands for T'ai Chi including the four levels of training and strategies for energy manipulation regardless of style.

Jason Tsou has impressive credentials. He has been a martial artist for over 40 years. He has taught T'ai Chi and Kung Fu in both Taiwan and the United States; where had had been involved in the training of both military and law enforcement personnel. He has also founded a number of clubs on the East and West coasts. He studied Yang, Chen and Wu styles of T'ai Chi with Yang Bao-Chien, Chang Yu-Cheng, Su Yu-Chang and Adam Hsu. He also studied at the Wu Tang Center from GrandMaster Lu Yun-Chiao. He has also worked under Chang Deng-Shen in Taiwan. Besides T'ai Chi, Jason Tsou is proficient in Ba Gua and Xing Yi as well as other external martial arts.

Our opinion: These two tapes are invaluable. This is one of the most logical and sequential formats for training we have ever seen. Jason Tsou in tape One takes us through over a dozen Reeling Silk exercises that at first seem simple until you realize they encompass just about all the possibilities. In the second tape he applies these circling exercises to Push Hands in a new way that is far more "realistic" than the majority of methods. He not only shows the applications from these various circling's but from different styles. If for no one else, every teacher of T'ai Chi should own and study both these tapes. This is a curriculum in two tapes with unlimited potentials for practice.

DVD One shows over a dozen training techniques for Push Hands.

DVD Two shows many Push Hands applications from different styles of T'ai Chi and from various circling patterns.

#10257 Single Hand Push - Fixed Steps

Teacher: Li De Run, fourth generation disciple of Yang style Tai Chi. Chairman of ShenYang Research Center. Demonstrator: Zhu Chang Hai. Yang Jian Hou, son of Yang's creator Yang Lu Chan, taught Hu Xing Zhai who in turn taught Li De Run. This method is highly organized taking the practitioner no only through a series of steps but different angles and formations. Probably the most consistent and sequential of all presentations of Push Hands. Applications are shown but are somewhat secondary to the general plan of progressive steps.

Fixed in this case means "no stepping." This first disk gives the basics to the Push Hands structure. But Li demonstrates quite a number of methods. All are broken down and fit into the concept of the square in the circle or, as Li puts it, the Four Sides. This is one of the most systemized approaches to learning the different Push Hands patterns we have ever seen.

DVD Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $19.50

#10258 Double Hand Push- Fixed Steps

Simple horizontal, simple vertical, Full Four Hands, simultaneous Rolling Hands, Wheel Circling, Threading Shoulders: all are shown along with key points of verbal instruction. This is the natural outgrowth of the previous DVD. Some applications are shown but really secondary to the overall training of the patterns.

DVD Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $19.50

#10259 Double Hand Push- Free Steps

The next, third, DVD in this series is called Double Hand Push with Free steps or Live steps. Though true to the title, this one begins with Single Hand Push patterns also with "live" stepping. It then progresses to Double Hand (also known as Four Hand Operations) with set patterns of footwork. "Live" in this case does not mean random or arbitrary. The patterns cover variants such as Replacement, Circling, Back and Forth stepping and others.

DVD Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $19.50

#10256 Double Hand Push- Four Sides

"As the saying goes" Find the square in the circle and the circle in the square." This series of more advanced Push Hand, the fourth disk in the presentation, shows patterns with just this goal. Underarm grabs, plucking movements, high corner actions, all add a dimensionality of the Push Hands picture.

DVD Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $19.50

Demonstrator/Teacher: Chen Er Hu.
One of the best series we've seen on Chin Nah, especially from the Tai Chi point of view. Also Chen style sets demonstrated with a good level of expertise. Interesting and occasionally very clever Chin Nah applications with little explanation but very definitive applications. Much counter-grappling. A good DVD.

DVD Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $19.50

Demonstrator/Teacher: Shi Zhan.
Literally dozens of China Nah moves all with a Tai Chi flavor. Many classical and basic holds, locks and throws are demonstrated. There are also a number of excellent simple patterns such as elbow controlling to teach the student the method of avoiding being locked. Many of the movements are quite simple but done in a quick-catch and repulse manner. There are also a number of "chains", that is to say a movement, its counter and the counter to that. All Chin Nah relates to the basic energies such as Beng and Cai of Tai Chi training. There is a lot of information on this DVD so the English subtitles can be very helpful.

DVD Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $19.50

Demonstrator/Teacher: Shi Zhan.
A breakdown of push hands in reference to the elements of Tai Chi self defense. Some pattern play but mostly brief applications of Tai Chi's moves and energies from the single hand interception. Also the elements of two hand push hand operations with opposing and same legs forward. Some nice back and forth patterns and some pretty clear intermingling of single hand pushing and defensive applications from the forms. Though basically built on the Yang pattern the push hands principles apply to all Tai Chi. A lot of information on this DVD, so the English subtitles can be very helpful.

DVD Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $19.50

Demonstrator/Teacher: Shi Zhan.
A DVD chock full of applications and usage including drills for body conditioning. Many of the movements are simple Chin Nah and strikes but all are based on the Seven Stars (Head, Shoulder, Elbow, Hand, Hip, Knee and Foot) and the principles of Tai Chi (Beng, Lu, Chi, An, Tsai, Lieh, Chou, Kao). Quite a lot of movements; dozens. Some of the moves are less impressive than others, but we don't have many DVDs with this density of applications inch per inch. In this case the ENGLISH SUBTITLES are indeed useful.

DVD Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $19.50

#10260  Yang Tai Chi Push Hands

The creator of Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan was Yang Lu Chan. Yang had three sons one of which was Yang Jian Hou, a very famous practitioner. Yang Jian Hou taught a well known expert, Zhang Ce who combined his knowledge to create the style known as Tai Chi Wu Xing Tong Bei Quan (Grand Ultimate Five Elements Through-the-Back Boxing).
The interesting thing is how accurate and classical this "alternate" branch of Yang Tai Chi transmits the art of Push Hands. Zhang Ji Zong is a real martial teacher who shows a hands on approach to the Push Hands emphasizing the principles of the classics over robotic patterns. A feisty, practical attitude to the material with numerous pushes and a student trying to survive the taping. Single and Double Push Hands are shown with both fixed and free steps. The key ideas of sticking, following, the eight energies and fluid, loose movement are all demonstrated.

60+ Minutes Mandarin/ English Subtitles       $19.50