One Hand Video: China's Living Treasures Series

It's been decades since it started. This series was one of the first high quality presentations of CMA in the video format. Often hidden among rip offs, the less-than-inspired efforts of Ohara and Unique, and other un-noteworthy efforts; the One Hand Video series lived up to its name by recording true "Living Treasures", onr of the foremost being the famous George Xu, a practitioner of truly superior quality. NOW they have started to convert their substantial stock to DVD FORMAT. These are what's available and, as times passes, we hope to expand our offering. Buy with confidence.

See more of George Xu's work ...

DVD#25009 6 Harmony & 10 Animal Hsing-I Chuan (Part 1)
Instruction - 60 min.  See a clip of this set.

"This tape focuses on the Six Harmony / Ten Animal Hsing-I Chuan martial art system of China. It features Master George Xu (Xu Guo Ming) of Shanghai. The particular form of this system taught on this tape is the Two and One Half Ba set. The tape is divided into five parts. It begins with the entire form and proceeds with sections on basic training exercises, form repetition (repeated slowly three times with teaching narration), applications of this particular form, and concludes with the complete form . The narration deals with theories and principles of this system."

DVD#25010 Chen Tai Chi: Lao Jiao Form (Part 1)
Instruction - 60 min.  See a clip of this set.

"This video focuses on Chen style, the original tai chi chuan system of China. Featuring Master George Xu of Shanghai teaching the first form of the Chen style. The program is divided into four parts: 1) the entire form (14 minutes), 2) basic training exercises, 3) the first two sections of the form repeated three times with narration. At the end of each section the individual section is repeated with the names of the movements, and 4) the entire form (all four sections)."

DVD#25011 Chen Tai Chi: Lao Jiao Form (Part 2)
Instruction - 87 min.  See a clip of this set.

"Part two continues with form instruction. The focus of the form taught on this title is the second half of the first set (Sections Three and Four). The title is divided into the same four sections as its companion tape Volume Ten"

DVD#25012 Dragon Pa Kua Chang   (Part 1)
Instruction - 51 min.  See a clip of this set.

This title focuses on the Dragon Pa Qua Chang martial art system of China. It features Master George Xu of Shanghai teaching the first half of the "Eight Linking Palm " form of the Dragon system. The title is divided into six parts. It begins with the entire form and proceeds with sections on footwork basics, hand movement exercises, form repetition with teaching narration, applications, and concludes with the complete form.

DVD#25013  Taoist Eight Immortals Sword
Instruction - 60 min.  See a clip of this set.

"This tape focuses on the "Eight Immortals" martial art system of China. It features Master George Xu of Shanghai. The particular form of this system taught is the double edged sword. The tape is divided into six parts. It begins with the entire form and proceeds with sections on basic training exercises, form repetition, applications, sword techniques and principles, and concludes with the complete form."

DVD#25014 Pao Chui-Cannon Fist Chen Taiji
Instruction - 87 min.  See a clip of this set.

George Xu of Shanghai teaches the second form of this system. Divided in three parts:
1) the entire form ,
2) sections on basic training exercises, and
3) the form repeated slowly three times with narration. At the end of each section, the individual section is repeated with the names of the movements.

In One Hand DVD grouping this is Part Three of their general Chen style videos. This is a self-contained, complete in itself tape on the Second Chen Tai Chi Form - Pao Chui or "Cannon Fist." As is typical of George Xu's work the Reeling Silk Energy here is very strong, the movements very lively. George may be one of the very few who has come to the Western world and yet increased his skill and knowledge. He is a top notch semiarian and brings great teachers to the West. His own Kung Fu is high and this Cannon Fist is typical of him.

DVD#25018 Chen Chin Na-Joint Locking (Chen Taiji part 6)
Instruction - 63 min.  See a clip of this set.

"The Chen styles is especially known for its "chin na" (grabbing and joint locking). Master George Xu of Shanghai teaches these techniques from the first solo form of the Chen style tai chi system...."

#25019 Bear and Eagle Fight  (Part 2)
Instruction - 60 min.  See a clip of this set.

#25021 Dragon Pa Kua Chang   (Part 2)
Instruction - 71 min.  See a clip of this set.

"This title focuses on the last four palms of the "Eight Linking Palm " set of the Dragon Pa Qua Chang system. The title is divided in- to six parts: 1) basic training 2-5) form repetition sections on the Tiger, Eagle, Unicorn and Chicken palms. In the form repetition, a group of movements is repeated from each palm sequence three times before continuing to the next group of movements. Master Xu performs the individual palm continuously at the beginning and ending of each animal, and 6) applications, This is the companion tape to Volume 12."

#25024 Push Hands   (Part 1)
Instruction - 51 min.  See a clip of this set.

"Master George Xu and a student demonstrate basic push hand principles. Master Ye Xiao Long and Master Xu then perform a variety of single and two handed push hand exercises emphasizing the "eight gates" of tai chi chuan: "peng" (ward off), "lu" (roll back), "chi" (press), "an" (push), "chou" (elbow), "lieh" (split), "tsai" (pull down), and "kao" (shoulder strike), as well as, the "Ta Lu" or four corners exercise." See 25030 for the second part of this series.

"On this title the training drills of Wu style tuishou (push hands) are presented. It begins with a brief introduction followed by the areas of study of the self practicing method, single hand operation with fixed steps, the double hand operations, the 13 basic manipulations, and concludes with a demonstration section with various partners. In the instruction segments of this title detailed close ups of the movements are included." See 25024 for part one of this series.

DVD#25031 Taiji Power Stretching, Spiral Training Fundamentals
Instruction - 72 min.  See a clip of this set.

"In order to maximize the benefit of tai chi practice you must develop the qualities of Taiji discussed in the Classics. These underlying principles of practice such as, open and close, empty and full, center equilibrium, apply universally to all styles of taijiquan. Master George Xu has divided the study of these qualities and others into five specific training drills. They can be practiced in their entirety, or customized to suit the individual practitioner's needs.

25031 focuses on Power Stretching and Spiral Training. In the Power Stretching section the drills emphasize, extending opposing parts of the body, to open the joints facilitating unobstructed flow of the qi. In the second section on spiraling, or silk reeling energy is addressed. The drills are intended to focus the practitioner on moving qi internally to open and close the different parts of the body, consistent with Chan Ssu Chin or silk reeling cocoon theory."

DVD#25032 Taiji Standing Postures, Qigong  Fundamentals
Instruction - 61 min.  See a clip of this set.

"This DVD continues with two sections on internal training, standing postures and taiji qigong. Practice of the standing postures in Section Three is used for internal endurance training focusing on structure, developing "rootedness" and filling the entire body with qi.

Taiji practice is composed of external and internal training: the physical elements of the form combined with the flow of qi in the body. The practice of the physical form addresses the external aspect containing elements, such as, structure, stance, correct movement, weight distribution. Taiji qigong in Section Four addresses the internal aspects, such as, qi flow, using the mind to move the energy, energy to move the body. Taiji practice should contain both aspects."

DVD#25033 Taiji Peng Jin Training  Fundamentals
Instruction - 58 min.  See a clip of this set.

"The following drills are for the purpose of developing Peng Jin. Peng is ward off. Jin is issuing power. In order to use taiji for self defense this teaching is essential. It teaches the practitioner how to issue power from the "Eight Gates" of tai chi, the four cardinal directions of the circle and four corners of the square of the tai chi form. Peng/ward off, Lu/roll back, Chi/press, An/push, Chou/elbow attack, Lieh/split, Tsai/pull down,, and Kao/shoulder strike. They can be practiced as a group or individually.

Generally this is referred to as peng jin training. Peng is also used to describe an internal spring like quality of taiji, and this title deals with jin or power issuing training of all eight gates not just peng or ward off. These drills isolate each of the eight jins for practicing. In addition to self defense, these exercises are very useful for push hand practice."

DVD#25050  Chen Tai Chi Broadsword
Instruction - 59 min. See a clip of this set.

"There are many different Chen broad sword forms. This particular one is from Chen Zhao Kui, son of Chen Fake, the famous Chen stylist. Master Xu learned this from Ma Hong, who studied with Chen Zhao Kui. It is composed of 23 movements. The beginning of the volume contains 10 basic exercises. Each drill is demonstrated, explained and repeated two times. The next section of form repetition is broken down into the 3 sections of the form. Each of the form repetition segments is bracketed by the specific section performed continuously at normal speed. The volume concludes with the entire form performed at normal practice speed with movement names."