China's Living Treasures: A fine series of VHS tapes, many by George Xu, set up as "lessons" with progressive sections of important forms of the Xing Yi, Tai Chi, Bagua and others styles. Most of these have been filmed over the lasty fifteen years. Quality is mostly good, with a lot of top notch information... Here's a list of all our China's Living Treasures series..

SPECIAL OFFER!! Normally US $49.95 each... Now PLUM 30% discount for VHS: $34.95
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CHING WU ASSOCIATION
48 minutes , NTSC copy guarded

The Shanghai Ching Wu Association was the first martial arts academy established in China in 1909. Twelve contemporary wu shu and eleven traditional styles are demonstrated by men, women, and children, whose ages range from eight to eighty one. Some of the wu shu forms demonstrated are double knives, long fist, broad sword, double edged sword, and two person sets. Traditional forms, such as, nine section whip, Eagle Claw, the Lost Track system, the Black Tiger form, and the Drunken style double edged sword form are also performed. Ching Wu has been the subject of many films including "The Chinese Connection" with Bruce Lee and "Fists of Legend" with Jet Li. It had branches throughout the world and was a key organization in the furtherance of Chinese martial practice.

Be advised that this tape is a compilation from others so, for instance, if you buy the WEAPONS tape from this series you already have half of the presentations on this video.

Here is a list of the performances:

Weapons Forms Demonstration at Chin Woo
44 minutes , NTSC copy guarded

This tape shows traditional and contemporary wushu practitioners demonstrating twenty single and multiple person weapon forms. There are 6 double edged sword sets, 3 broad sword, 2 nine section whip sets, double knives, long spear, staff , and 4 multiple weapon sets. Performers range from members of the Beijing Wushu Team, Shanghai Ching Wu Association, and well known masters of traditional systems.

Be advised that this tape is a compilation from others so, for instance, if you buy the CHING WU ASSOCIATIONS tape from this series you already have half of the presentations on this video.

Here is a list of the performances:

CANNON FIST Form
87 minutes, NTSC copy guarded, See our Plum Special Price

Master George Xu of Shanghai teaches the second form of this system. The tape is divided into 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 videos 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 knowlege. 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.

CHAN SSU CHIN exercises See our Plum Special Price

This tape features Master Zhang Xue Xin of Beijing, China teaching rare Chan Ssu Chin exercises. Zhang is a senior indoor student of Fong Zhi-Chiang, president of the BeiJing Tai Chi Association. He has studied martial arts since age nine and has worked with the most famous Chen style teachers in China.

These Chang Ssu Chin (Silk Reeling) exercises are designed to loosen the eighteen moveable joints of the body. They are suitable for all ages and extremely beneficial to health. This tape is divided into three parts.

Part One is a brief biographical section on Master Zhang and the history of the exercises.
Part Two: he teaches 25 joint loosening exercises from head and ending to feet.
Part Three: two of the martial art applications of the exercises are demonstrated.

CHIN NAH in Tai Chi See our Plum Special Price
87 minutes, NTSC copy guarded,

This tape is Part Eight of One Hand videos Chen Tai Chi series. It is a self-contained video on the Chin Na techniques embedded in the first Chen Tai Chi form - Lao Jia. The Chen style is especially known for its "chin na" (grabbing and joint locking). Master George Xu of Shanghai teaches these techniques. He does so by showing multiple variations of each technique with a very strong emphasis on the Reeling Silk and its relationship to applications. This is not one of those over simplified versions where the Chin Na would only work on someone who is cooperating. Xu is a fine martial artist and his movements have a depth and intensity often lacking in much "usage" videos. He also never dumbs anything down. You will have to use your eyes and you will have to personally try this movements to understand their complexity and technical fine points.

See reader review.

Ye XiaoLong: YANG TAI CHI
Volume #1: 70 minutes, vol.#2: 61 minutes,
NTSC copy guarded,

This tape features 67 year old Master Ye Xiao Long of Shanghai. He began the study of martial arts, when he was 10 years old. As a recognized master in Shanghai, he has studied with the famous Yang stylist Fu Zhong Wen (in our opinion one of the greatest Yang stylists of the 20th century), and practiced Tai Chi Chuan for over 30 years. Additionally, he has also practiced push hands, two man training, and free form fighting with his kung fu brother Hou Bing Quan, the famous free style fighting coach of Shanghai,who was a student of the legendary Chen tai chi stylist, Chen ZhaoKuei. Master Ye demonstrates the form, basics, and form repetition of each half of the 108 movements.

NOTE: Colleagues of ours have attended Master Ye's seminars in the US and say he is an exceptional martial artist. His emphasis, as you can see in the tapes, is on spinal integrity and correct motion. A student for many years of Lan Shou, his is an approach infused with martial knowledge. His Yang style is relaxed but with firmness and strength at the core. This series requires BOTH TAPES to cover the entire Yang set.

TAI CHI Fundamental Training
with George Xu See our Plum Special Price
87 minutes, NTSC ,

"In order to maximize the benefit of Taiji 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.

Volume 32 no longer available in VHS.

Taiji practice is composed of external and internal training: the physical elements of the form combined with the 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."

In these tapes George Xu, a fine practitioner, shows the kind of exercises that teachers love and might not come across to the less experienced. Soft, standing exercises show Xu's typical depth of understanding and quite practical attitude to his art. Unfortunately these brilliant series look almost exactly like the superficial silliness so many Qi Gong "masters" peddle. If you buy these tapes; you will have to pay attention.
To recap:

• #1 contains standing and relaxation postures which develop into "power stretching" and "spiral training"
• #2 Shows Standing Postures (always a core practice) and Tai Ji Qi gong
• #3 Uses Peng Energy as a starting point to show multiple exercises for all eight of Tai Ji's energies. This tape is more about stand alone exercises showing the Jins.

TAI CHI FUNDAMENTAL TRAINING See our Plum Special Price
Part Three: Peng Jin (Warding Energy)
77 minutes, NTSC copy guarded,

"In order to maximize the benefit of Taiji 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...

Taiji practice is composed of external and internal training: the physical elements of the form combined with the 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."

In tape 33 George Xu, a true expert, gives something of a hands-on seminar about the energies or Jins of Tai Chi. Basing everything, as he should, on the first and most fundamental practice, that of Peng Jin, Xu then goes through all the other seven Jins with different versions of how they might be practiced separately and refined in more depth. This tape STANDS ALONE from the other two in the "fundamental series" and can be explored completely for its own content. This is not an applications tape but the practice of the separate energies is, to our mind, essential in truly understanding Tai Chi.

To recap:

#1 contains standing and relaxation postures which develop into "power stretching" and "spiral training"

#2 Shows Standing Postures (always a core practice) and Tai Ji Qi gong

#3 Uses Peng Energy as a starting point to show multiple exercises for all eight of Tai Ji's energies

Wild Goose (Dayan) Qigong - Part 1
See our Plum Special Price
Series special deduct another 10% for a svings of $74.00 ($126.00 total for all 4 tapes)
59 minutes, NTSC copy guarded,

Part One: Master Lu Gui Rong's journey of the internal martial arts has spanned over 50 years. He is a master of Wu (Hao) taijiquan, Yang taijiquan, and Dayan (Wild Goose) qigong. The first 64 Movement form deals primarily with the "post natal body" and addresses illnesses or injuries that have developed as a result of everyday life. It focuses on the 12 primary channels or meridians, the collaterals, and emphasizes the Ren, Du, Chong, and Dai channels of the body. Dayan Qigong is one of the most popular styles of qigong practised in China due to its accessibility to all ages. Master Zhang Yu of Shanghai was master Lu's teacher , as well as, a senior student of Grandmaster Yang Meijun of Beijing, 27th inheritor of of Kunlun Taoist Dayan Qigong

Part Two continues with the second half of the form. The form repetition segment is divided into five groupings of movements repeated four times each. The entire form is repeated at the begining and end of the tiltle. The movements 34 to 64 are also performed continuously at the begining and end of the form repetition segments.

Part Three deals primarily with the "pre natal body" and addresses problems you were born with or genetically inherited from your parents. Having dredged the channels in the first form, the 2nd 64 Movement form is designed to clear the channels to absorb qi, expel turbid qi. and restore organ balance. The twisting, stretching, and pressing produce stronger qi fields and intensify the circulation of the 8 collaterals. It is recommended that you practice the 1st 64 Movement form for at least 3 months before adding this form. The form repetition is divided into 5 groups, which are repeated 4 times each. There are also two repetitions of the movements 1 to 42, as well as, the entire form.

Part Four continues with the second half of the form. The form repetition segment is divided into four groupings of movements repeated four times each. There are also two repetitions of the movements 42 to 64, as well as, the entire form. The Internal 5 Elements Form is a short static form, which uses patting of the accupuncture points to join internal and external qi. This should be done at he conclusion of the two forms when performed sequentially. It is designed to remove qi blockages and restore balance the channels, collaterals, and hollow and solid organs..

George Xu
CHEN TAI CHI
(The Inner Door Version)
70 minutes per tape,

CHEN TAI CHI INNER DOOR FORM Volume #1

SECTIONS ONE and TWO (Continuous)
SECTION ONE (Form Repetition)
SECTIONS ONE (Continuous)
SECTION TWO (Form Repetition)
SECTION ONE (Form Repetition)

CHEN TAI CHI INNER DOOR FORM Volume #2
SECTION THREE (Continuous)
SECTION THREE (Form Repetition)
SECTIONS ONE (Continuous)
SECTION FOUR (Form Repetition)

THE ENTIRE FORM

George Xu, an advanced practitioner, performs a Chen Tai Chi Lao Jia set that is subtle and powerful. His unique skills shows that George is progressing while others have stood still. His powerful actions, effortless heavy and light stepping, tight and controlled Reeling Silk Energy make him a practitoner of unusual fascination. He shows his complete set broken down into these two tapes.There are some really small movements, quick changes and extreme reversals that show some connection, at least conceptually, to the last form of Chen every created Hu Lei Jia or the Thunder Style. This series is definitely NOT for the beginner. You should know an entire Chen set before even glancing this way. On the other hand it is inspirational and very insightful. For the right person at the right place in his evolution worth every penny. George Xu is attaining freedom within his art.