DVD: YMAA 25-Year Anniversary 2-Disc Set

Celebrate 25 Years of Excellence

Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming established Yang’s Martial Arts Association in 1982, and it has grown to 55 schools in 18 countries. Dr. Yang has written more than 30 books and 80 instructional videos, has taught thousands of seminars worldwide, and was voted by Inside Kung Fu magazine as “One of the ten people who have made the greatest impact on martial arts in the last 100 years.”

To celebrate these great accomplishments, YMAA Publication Center presents this tribute DVD, compiled from video footage and photographs of Dr. Yang, guests, and YMAA students from around the world. The program contains dozens of performances of solo and group Kung Fu and Taiji sequences, award-winning demonstrations, and interviews with Dr. Yang and senior YMAA students.

This comprehensive collection of rare archival footage includes Taijiquan, Baguazhang, Xingyiquan, Liuhebafa, Shaolin Long Fist, White Crane, and many weapons demonstrations. Special footage is included featuring Grandmaster Li, Mao-Ching, Grandmaster Liang Shou-Yu, Master Jou, Tsung-Hwa and Sifu Jeff Bolt.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Six Hours on Two DVDs • Detailed Biography and Interviews with Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming • Hundreds of Scene Selections • Interactive Catalog with Previews of All YMAA Titles

YMAA Publication Center, Inc. is an independently-owned company. A portion of the proceeds of your purchase will support the nonprofit YMAA CA Retreat Center.

AUTHOR(S)

Yang, Jwing-Ming Ph.D., is a renowned author and teacher of Chinese martial arts and Qigong. Born in Taiwan, he has trained and taught Taijiquan, Qigong and Chinese martial arts for over forty-five years. He is the author of over thirty books, and was elected by Inside Kung Fu magazine as one of the 10 people who has "made the greatest impact on martial arts in the past 100 years." Dr. Yang lives in Northern California.

REVIEWS

Martial Arts Publisher of the Year, 2008 NQA World Congress on Qigong and TCM
Inside Kung Fu Magazine - Man of the Year 1990, 2007
Black Belt Magazine - Kung Fu Artist of the Year 2003
May 2009, Patrick Dickson, Taijiquan.com

The 2-DVD set has a wealth of vintage video of students and masters demonstrating an astounding variety of martial arts forms. There are literally too many styles presented to mention. The DVD covers the period between 1983 and 2008.

The DVD also includes a review of the history of Yang, Jwing Ming, showing many vintage photos and videos of Master Yang. It is a very interesting section of the DVD. This is one of my favorite chapters on the DVD. Another favorite chapter is the interview with Master Yang during which he provides a heart felt explanation of why and how he came to dedicate his life to the dissemination of correct martial arts knowledge. I found it to be a very touching and illuminating interview.

Ramel Rones, one of Master Yang's top students, is seen in many of the clips demonstrating various styles and forms. Ramel Rones along with David Silver have produced a handful of excellent DVDs through YMAA Publications including Sunrise Tai Chi, Sunset Tai Chi and Tai Chi Energy Patterns, an exhaustive study of the four major postures of Yang Style Taijiquan, those being Ward Off, Roll Back, Press and Push.

One of the nice sections on this 25th Anniversary DVD is a documentary on the Boston YMAA School, in which the students are interviewed and filmed as they go about the daily business of learning forms, stretching, running drills and working with students.

The Master's demonstration section of the DVD is superb. Liang, Shou Yu, Master Yang, Li, Mao Ching, Jou, Tsung Hua and other Masters provide an excellent show of various styles. There is a superb demonstration of Qin Na techniques by Master Yang. As the demonstrations by the Masters were held over 25 years ago, the Masters are shown during a very spirited and young part of their lives. Their humility while demonstrating at such a high level is admirable. They are truly enjoyable performances.

During a daughter father theme during one of the infamous Taste of China shows, Master Yang and his daughter Kathy Yang demonstrate a two person internal sword set. As imagined, Master Yang and his daughter perform flawlessly together, proving the wisdom of the adage that the apple does not fall far from the tree.

At times some of the student demonstrators make minor mistakes or experience a slight loss of balance. Remember that these are live performances of very difficult and demanding forms. On occasion people walk in front of the camera and some of the video has degraded over the years, but the footage is invaluable and well worth suffering through a little "snow" or distractions on the screen once in a while.

I highly recommend this DVD Anniversary set for all Master Yang's fans as well as those new to the martial arts. In other words, if you are a martial artist, you are most likely a fan of Master Yang. The DVD is an excellent look back at the life of Master Yang, his students, YMAA and other teachers and masters.