Tai Chi for Health: Yang Long Form

Although Terry Dunn is very pleasant to watch, it was impossible for me to follow his video instructions. Except for the warm up exercises, which he explained in a very step-by-step manner. After the warm-ups, he lost me . . . demonstrating movement after movement nonstop . . . whoa! Also I kept getting my left and right mixed up. sigh.

I saw this video a few years ago. I found it excellent in explanation of movement, balance and concentration, but could only do the warm-ups and follow the instructions for a few of the first forms. Since then I have studied with one of the "Old Chinese Masters" (as he calls himself) and have in turn become a Shifu of Yang Long Form. As a reference and reminder for practise, this video is excellent. It is best used as a reinforcement to personal instruction, as the narrator of Terry Dunn's video says. Next best would be use of a taijiquan manual such as Fu Zhongwen's "Mastering Yang Styles Taijiquan", along with this video to keep the correct North, South, East, West directions for turning in the forms. This video is a most excellent resource for any serious student of Taijiquan.

Terry Dunn did a tremendous job of presenting the
form. I have viewed others and found them to be not as
exact as the long form or the short form.

I bought this video based on other reviews, I am sorry that I did. He is very confusing. He is constantly saying step with right leg turn 45 degrees. But when you watch the video it looks as if he turns half way around. Everything is mirror image and you need a lot of space for the movements. I think the beginning part is okay but the second is more frustrating than relaxing. I have not moved on to the third part as I get frustrated with the second and turn it off. The camera angles are terrible and he should maybe do things opposite so that we at home do not have to keep reminding ourselves..opposite, Opposite!!!! (I am a mom of 4 and have limited workout time and I can not spare the time for this frustrating video) I bought another at the same time by Dominic Stefano and it is alot better. I will look for more of his videos and avoid Mr. Terence Dunn's work. Perhaps when I retire and have time I will take a class.

[....] There are a couple mistakes in regards to left-right positioning (which are quickly rectified through continual practice) and the whole ‘mirror-movement’ is challenging—-at first. But for someone serious about learning the basics of Tai Chi Ch’uan, you really cannot go wrong here. You just need three things: enough space to practice (10’ by ’10 is optimum), enthusiasm, and patience.

Tai Chi Ch’uan, translated as ‘supreme ultimate boxing’, is an ancient Chinese exercise designed to maintain flexibility, increase mental awareness, and cultivate ‘Chi’, i.e. lifeforce. Practice of this martial art strengthens the muscles of the entire body, limbers the joints, teaches one correct posture, balance and breathing, and gives the practitioner a calm ‘natural high’ far more subtle and rewarding than the usual methods (caffeine, sugar, alcohol). There are three ways to learn the art: through a certified instructor (the best), off a video such as this (also recommended), or from a book (not recommended at all). And among the video selection, Terry Dunn’s T’ai Chi for Health is among the very best.

The video begins with Terry practicing the Yang Long Form at dawn on a beach while a relaxed angle-American voice explains the basic concepts of Taoist philosophy and extols the benefits of long-term Tai Chi practice. Very classy. The meat of the video is in three sections: 1) the basic postures and warm-up stretches (30 minutes), 2) instruction of the 108 Yang Long Form movements (60 minutes), 3) additional exercises (15 minutes). A long conclusion showpiece has Terry practicing the entire form in a dimly lit studio.

The production and presentation of this video are top-notch. Terry Dunn is a calm and graceful teacher with a mellow, easy-on-the-ears voice; the atmospheric music by Vangelis compliments the forms very well. The philosophical concepts are presented in an understandable way for those not acquainted with Eastern thought. Though there are a few neglected areas, including the history of Tai Chi’s development (it originally begun as Dim-Mak, or ‘death-point striking’) and its sword forms, for those interested in increasing their health in a graceful, gentle way, I highly recommend this tape. I’ve been using it for five years and am _fully_ satisfied with the results.