DVDs: WuDang Boxing

WuDang is almost as famous throughout the world as Shaolin. A mountainous region which has boasted over 100 temples, WuDang is a pivot point in the Taoist universe. A long and eventful history has made WuDang a major contributor both to Taoist and martial practices. As a general rule its WuShu is soft where Shaolin is hard, yielding where it is firm. While Shaolin is based on the "foreign" religion of Buddhism (and therefore "external"), native Taoist (an "internal" belief) is the origin and inspiration for WuDang. Among their famous practitioners WuDang people are particularly proud of their association with the legendary creator of Taiji—Chang San Feng—and there are many styles claiming to be "San Feng" forms related to their homeboy. A word of caution, WuDang embodies the attributes of Taoism. Practitioners can be talented but also mischievous, claiming lineages that are mostly legendary, performing arts that are mostly diversionary. When you play cards with Coyote, expect some bluffing.

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Some of these are also available in less, expensive, Chinese only editions.
Learn something about Lu Shan mountain

This representative short weapon is suitable for middle aged practice and group practice. This DVD shows all basic stances including some specialties like Backward stepping, lower wing stance and others. Definitely one of the better fan sets that we offer. Indisputably martial this form shows a wide variety of movements with interesting and varied steps, postures, strikes, hidden movements and stances. The form is broken down well but will require some skill to learn. Though the introductory remarks say that this is suitable for middle aged and elder practitioners martial experience will help. A good set of applications are shown some of them less probable than others with an emphasis on point striking.

50 Minutes Mandarin/ English Subtitles  

The stick length is from floor to armpit thus qualifying as short stick. It comes from Taoist monks who traveled to the Western regions in China and learned some of the western staff techniques. Mr. Jia gives a good, fast, vitalized performance of this particular stick length. Its peculiarities include lots of back slashing and flip strikes with the butt end of the stick. Turning and tight whipping actions are perfectly coordinated. Besides the breakdowns, and this one should be easy to learn if you have some training in the weapon, applications are given against the broadsword, a bit unusual. Overall a very clear presentation.

50 Minutes Mandarin/ English Subtitles       

A WuDang Bagua like art. This WuDong Swimming Body style combines three aspects of WuDang art: Nine Palace, Five Elements and Threading. It works through the pattern of visiting the Nine Palace, a magic square based form of movement. It’s movement resemble a combination of Tai Chi, Xing YI and Bagua Zhang. Basics are shown first with some unusual ones such as the Dragon Riding Stance, Low Wing stance, Hanging stance and others. The hand formation is much like the orchid hand of Bagua but includes crane hands and other formations. Applications complete with grappling skills and shuai jiao style throws are shown with an emphasis on body projection techniques.

51 Minutes Mandarin/ English Subtitles       

As many martial artists are aware, Staff comes from Shaolin, Sword comes from WuDang. This WuDang method incorporates Three Levels, Nine Strikes and Twelve Leaves. The movements resemble a fish swimming in water. This method comes from the ninth generation inheritor of the styles and emphasizes four major skills: Meet, Withdraw, Return and Follow the Sword. Quick, Upward, Walk and Erect Force. This form is fluid and agile. Applications are shown using the sword blade, butt and body as weapons including the use of the sword in the reversed position. NOTE: Some of Mr. Jia’s counter movements are so tight they look like he is getting cut himself. This is pretty typical of jian shu techniques, the two swords often being in contact throughout the application: sticky swords.

62 Minutes Mandarin/ English Subtitles  

This one REALLY lives up to its name. One of the fanciest and most challenging of the BaGua straight sword sets we've seen. Much twisting, fast footwork, back bends, reverse hand work. They left out the kitchen sink because they didn't have enough room. The demonstrator is skilled and the moves clear but definitely not an easy one to "pick up" from a disk. Very true to the sinuous spirit of Bagua—something we definitely cannot say for all Bagua sword sets. If you have a good eye this one might be worth the effort.
Double DVD.

No relation to the famous Yang style sword. This is a Wu Dang 13 method sword. A double handed weapon in this case the straight sword is extra-long though it could be performed with a normal sized weapon. Much movement, fluid, spinning. We think that, in general, Wu Dang excels at straight sword more than any other weapon. Wang Ping is very lively and spontaneous with his use of the sword so don't expect the restrained version normally associated with Tai Chi Jian, this is a workout!
This is a Double DVD.

Here is a relatively straight forward rendition of Xing Yi Five Elements boxing in the general Hebei style. Wang Ping is the 26th generation of Lu Shan Wu Dang Chang San Feng Ziran Pai. Though there are some slightly different angles this version of the linking form should be understandable to anyone with Xing Yi experience. Though there are no applications shown the break down of the movement is straight forward and clear. The Wu Dan” aspect is evidenced more in the instructions about intent and movement of the qi. Wang's actions are lively and direct with a good deal of training in this form. Not a weak version of this famous form, in fact the nicest thing about this presentation is that all of Wang Ping's sets give a consistent feeling of how WuDang performs these arts.

#12069   Wudang Qigong
This DVD shows a series of seemingly very simple but actually quite specific and powerful Taoist Qigong (Chi Kung) exercises. There are about six standing meditations and over a dozen movements. The English section of the instruction (which can be advanced just by hitting the skip function, if you buy the DVD) tells the medical benefits and gives details on where the mind should reside during practice. Instruction is accompanied by two views of the entire sequence, interview questions asked of Teacher Liu, Supplemental Exercises and instruction in either Mandarin or English. ..

"WuDang has a very long history. Its history is several hundred years old. My teacher was Master Pei Xirong. He learned from a Taoist monk named Xu Benshan. He learned WuDang Qigong in addition to other Wudang Martial Arts styles. Wudang Qigong concentrates on exercising the main 14 acupuncture meridians. Chinese Qigong is divided into two main categories of practice. The first is sitting or still Qigong. The second is moving Qigong. Wudang Qigong has both of these in its practice.

The main focus of Wudang Qigong, in addition to many other styles of Qigong, is to relax and focus the mind. Qigong is an exercise for the relaxation of the mind. With all of the daily stresses of work and life, the mind needs rest. Qigong is greatly helpful in this regard. - Sifu Liu Xiao Ling. English  

#14006 Dao of Dragon Chi Kung
Jiang JianYe

A good series of Chi Kung exercises from other than WuDang Daoism (WuDang is not the only center of Daoism in China). This video contains many dragon based exercises including some Swimming Dragon moves. The movements require a certain limberness. They include some squatting and twisting. The theme of the entire series is dragon motions. No relation to the following tape.

#14008 Dragon Door Chi Kung
Jiang JianYe

NEW!DVD#18084  Taoist Starting Technique
Pan Shao Zu (Taoist name: Xuan Tongzi)
Chinese (Mandarin) with English Subtitles

#DVD 14011 Wu Dang/Qing Dao Tour

A survey tape that is worth it. First is a brief tour, with students, of the WuDang moutains with the Xuan Wu sect (see our other VCDs). Some nice QiGong is taught and forms are shown of this branch of Taoist BaGua, Tai Chi, Staff and saber work and much more. There is a meeting with the oldest woman in China at 130 years. Then Jiang visits his LiuHeBaFa teacher, Zhuo YongFu who was also a student of Chen FaKe. The entire LiuHeBaFa is demonstrated along with Feng Mo Palms, Ape plucks Peach (Mantis), Tai Chi stick, BaGua Elk Horn knives, Push Hands, Tai Yi Palms, and more. Later, in a public park there is also a rendition of the Blue Dragon Double swords, Tai Chi sword and Yang Short Stick. Some parts, such as the Zhuo Yong Fu sections, are quite interesting and good quality.

120- Minutes, English    

#10204 Wu Dang T'ai Chi
Chinese (Mandarin) with English Subtitles

This version of WuDang Tai Chi is more complex than the 18 posture form. Definite traces of Yang and Chen movements appear. The entire set is performed on a wonderful "BaGua' dais in the middle of woods, an inspired and inspiring setting. Recognizable movements of Tai Chi such as Press, Push and Single Whip are blended together in a fluid and soft routine.

60+ Minutes Mandarin/ English Subtitles       

#11120 Wu Dang 18 Postures
Chinese (Mandarin) with English Subtitles

This set was created by Wu Yue. It is a very controlled and rather interesting Wu Dang form showing the shape of Wu Dang movements and the slowness and precision of Tai Chi like movements. Difficult moves with much leg control. Each of the sections is shown as an application. It is said to partake of elements of classic Taoist arts; Xiao Yao Palm, Chun Yang Palm, Taiyi 5 Elements Fist, Zi Ran Men, Tai Chi, Zhi Chui Quan, 8 Step Dragon Heart Palm, Great Harmony Palm, & Zhao Bao Tai Chi Chuan.

60+ Minutes Mandarin/ English Subtitles