DVD: Tai Chi Energy Patterns

Taijiquan Solo & Partner Exercises for Health & Martial Arts

In this unique 6-hour 2-DVD mind/body program, master-teacher Ramel Rones instructs essential movements and training exercises, with a focus on four popular Tai Chi Patterns: Ward Off, Rollback, Press, and Push (Peng, Lu, Ji, An). You will learn to develop and utilize the internal (Qi) energy that can be found within all Tai Chi movements. The energy circulation, mental visualizations, extensive breathing techniques, and physical skills taught in this program can be applied to all Tai Chi styles. The principles taught in Tai Chi Energy Patterns, whether practiced during your Tai Chi exercise or throughout your daily activities, will help you to feel a deeper mind/body connection, and boost your immune system for excellent health and vitality.

Practice of the internal energy exercises in this program will help you to develop and circulate abundant energy in the two main energy centers and throughout your entire body. Once your energetic circulation is strong and flowing smoothly, you may then utilize this energy to achieve your goals - to improve your health, or enhance your martial art abilities.

Energy exchange exercises for 2-person partner training are included, with comprehensive instruction of their health and martial art applications.

Captured in High-Definition in the beautiful Harvard Arboretum, this 2-DVD Set offers unparalleled quality and extensive navigation. Detailed computer animations of the energy circulating in the body make the once-secret skills of internal cultivation easier to understand and learn. You may study the instructional segment in a formal classroom setting, or follow along as each movement is demonstrated. This advanced DVD also offers viewing choices of a 30 Minute Workout, Sitting Workout, or a Partner Workout.

Whether you are just starting your Tai Chi practice, or have already learned a Tai Chi form, Ramel's teaching offers deep insight into the physical structure and internal energetic aspects of Tai Chi, including several additional Yang style Tai Chi postures: Pick Up Needle from the Sea Bottom, Brush Knee and Step, Repulse Monkey, and Fan Back.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Includes many sitting and standing meditation (Yi Chuan) exercises.
• Over 6.5 hours of content on 2 DVDs, captured in High Definition.
• Detailed visual animation of energy moving in the body.
• Advanced Qigong breathing instruction.
• Resource Center with recent scientific studies of the health benefits of Tai Chi and Qigong.

YMAA PRODUCTION • RAMEL RONES • “TAI CHI ENERGY PATTERNS” • WRITTEN BY RAMEL RONES AND DAVID SILVER • PERFORMED BY RAMEL RONES, AXIE BREEN, KEN CRAGGS, & KEITH NORRIS • EDITED BY DAVID SILVER AND MEDIAMANIC • VIDEO PRODUCTION SUPERVISION BY DAVID SILVER • DVD PRODUCTION BY MEDIAMANIC • DIRECTED BY DAVID SILVER

AUTHOR(S)

A senior disciple of renowned teacher & author Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, PhD in Boston, MA, Ramel is a Gold medalist in Internal and External Martial Arts: Three-Time Gold Medalist in Shanghai China, for Tai Chi, External & Internal Weapons (Grand National Championship 1994) & Gold Medalist for Tai Chi & Kung Fu Sword, 1994. From 1991-1993, Ramel earned Gold Medals for Tai Chi, Pushing Hands and Tai Chi Sword in the International North American Chinese Martial Arts Competition.

David Silver has had a lifelong interest in meditation, and began training Gojū Ryu Karate at age 11. He studied Taijiquan, Qigong, and Yoga in his 20's, and became certified to teach Qigong by Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming in 2006. David works as a writer, producer, and director of instructional martial arts and health books and DVDs. He is the co-writer of the books and DVDs Sunrise Tai Chi, Tai Chi Energy Patterns, and Sunset Tai Chi. David lives on Cape Cod, MA.

REVIEWS

Miriam E Nelson, PH.D
School of Nutrition Science & Policy Tufts University
Author of the best-selling book: STRONG WOMEN STAY YOUNG

“Across the broad spectrum of health, Ramel’s understanding & teaching of Tai Chi & mind/body/spirit exercises makes an important contribution to humanity.”

Taijiquan.com, Patrick Dickson, 2006

I looked forward to the release of this video, having been very satisfied with the previous effort by Ramel Rones in Sunrise Tai Chi. I remember being somewhat skeptical when I first reviewed Sunrise Tai Chi. I thought it would be something akin to the light versions of Taijiquan that seem to be the latest flavor of the day. It turned out to be a very well produced and thought out study of Taijiquan, with some excellent demonstrations of issuing power using the techniques and applications of Taijiquan.

The latest effort by Ramel Rones, with the addition of David Silver's always present high production standards as well as his input in the writing of this DVD, has resulted in an excellent training guide for beginners and advanced students. Truly, the best offering of knowledge, through teaching or other methods, should be adaptable by both beginners and advanced students. If you are just beginning to learn Taijiquan. If you have been studying and practicing Taijiquan for many years. Then this DVD will provide very relevant and usable knowledge. The most advanced knowledge is always to be found close at hand, in the basics of the art.

The DVD comes with two disks.
DISK 1
SOLO DEMONSTRATION
Zen Mindv Baton/Bubble Breathing
Four Gates Sitting
Full Moon/Empty Moon /Buddhist - Taoist
Two Bows Breathing
Pulsing the Ligaments
Expanding the Breath
Embrace the Tree
Horizontal Circles
Lateral Circles
Vertical Circles
Ward Off Yi Chuan
Ward Off Stationary Exercise
Ward Off Moving Drills
Ward Off Jin
Rollback Yi Chuan
Rollback Stationary Exercise
Rollback Moving Drills
Rollback Jin
Rollback Energy
Press Yi Chuan
Press Stationary Exercise
Press Moving Drills
Press Jin
Ward Off, Rollback, Press
Push Yi Chuan
Push Stationary Exercise
Push Moving Drills
Push Jin
Ward Off, Rollback, Press, Push

Now when I look at this list of moves to practice, it looks like a lot of work. In reality, the DVD covers sitting and standing versions of the techniques, as well as various applications using postures from the form to demonstrate the use of these techniques. Every one one of these exercises come from Taijiquan movements. The four main energies, Ward Off, Rollback, Press and Push, are four of the original thirteen postures. These four postures also represent the cardinal directions. The other four directions, the diagonals, are represented by the moves Pull Down, Split, Elbow Stroke and Shoulder Stroke. Add the directions forward, backward, left, right and center and you have the original thirteen postures of Taijiquan.

From what I've read and understood, as well as noticed during practice of the styles, is that Yang style focuses on the four cardinal moves, Ward Off, Rollback, Press and Push, and Chen style focuses on the diagonals, Pull Down, Split, Elbow Stroke and Shoulder Stroke. Both styles use all of the thirteen, but their focus is on a different set of moves than the other.

The next Section is a Partner Demonstration, showing numerous techniques and methods for practicing the four energies of Yang Taijiquan. The use of large and small balls also comes into play, reminiscent of some of the teaching in Taiji Ball Qigong, a DVD by Dr. Yang, Jwing Ming. Ramel Rones, being one of Dr. Yang's senior students, has obviously grasped well the use of the Taiji Ball.

As this section uses two people, applications are more easily and freely demonstrated. The use of the four energies is demonstrated using the partners as they attempt techniques on various parts of the body. The energies or four postures are then demonstrated being used in combination with each other. The two person drills are excellent and help to make the learning of Taijiquan more interactive and enjoyable.

The totality of DISK 1 was shot outdoors with great scenery and natural sounds. At one point I thought I had a criticism of this DVD. During the demonstration of the movements in the grassy fields, it seemed like beginning students would have a difficult time to determine if Ramel was stepping to his heel, or toe, or flat footed. The long grass in the field made it difficult at times to see clearly the foot positions of Ramel as he demonstrated the movements. As the placing of one's feet and the root of the practitioner is such a vital part of correct Taijiquan, I was thinking this could be a problem. However, on DISK 2, when the moves are very clearly taught and broken down into their components, the setting is indoors and the feet positions and placement can be clearly discerned.

Now we are still on DISK 1 of this two disk set. DISK 1 then offers a choice of three different workouts to follow along with:
STANDING WORKOUT 33 MINUTES
SITTING WORKOUT 29 MINUTES
PARTNER WORKOUT 39 MINUTES

Do not dismiss the sitting workout, it is an excellent tool for learning how to move the upper body separate than the lower body. Many students have trouble separating the movement of the waist from the hips. Sitting down while doing these routines greatly speeds up the learning process for differentiating hip and waist movement. Sometimes they do move together, but to achieve the whip effect in Taijiquan, a supple and separate waist movement is essential.

DISK 2
This disk contains the classroom instruction for the techniques and exercises taught in the previous disk. The moves are well taught and teach learning to take pressure while practicing the move, using the wall as a training tool and using partner drills to hone in on the timing and working with another one's energy. The classroom section is well taught, as Ramel has a wonderful energy which comes through in his teaching of the skills presented on this DVD.

After working on all of the drills presented on the first disk, Ramel then presents the entire series as one continuous workout. The moves are first done slowly, and then the speed is increased until the issuing of power becomes manifest. Ramel gives precise breathing and energy location direction while doing these movements. The use of walls during the movements is clearly presented in a convincing manner. Ramel discusses how standing next to a wall while doing these techniques forces one to use the bows of the body to avoid having part of their anatomy being hindered in its movement by the pesky wall. When one uses bows in the arms, legs front of the trunk and rear of the trunk, movement becomes circular and spiral, allowing more movement in less space.

The final section on DISK 2 is a demonstration of martial applications for the moves. The wonderful part is that after demonstrating the techniques slowly, and then at fighting speed, the final demo at fighting speed usually involves Ramel taking the move a little further in intensity and adding some extra technique. For example, when using one technique that employed a head lock while standing, in the final fighting speed demo of the move Ramel followed the student as he fell and applied a tight head lock type of maneuver as they both fell to the ground.

I firmly believe that if a student is just beginning their study of Taijiquan, then study this DVD before learning the form. If you have been studying Taijiquan for years, then study this DVD for one heck of a refresher course. In reality, an experienced practitioner will learn much from this DVD. Kudos to Mr. Rones and Mr. Silver, as well as their teacher, Dr. Yang, Jwing Ming.