DVD: Wudang Taijiquan

Learn the Mysterious Art of Wudang Taiji

Beautiful Wudang Mountain is the world's largest Daoist center. Dating back 2,000 years, it spans 321 square kilometers with 72 peaks, dozens of architectural masterpieces, many lakes, rivers, and a forest which still sustains over 600 known medicinal herbs. Daoism is an ancient Chinese philosophy that teaches its practitioners to live a peaceful, refined life in harmony with nature. Centuries ago, Daoist philosophy, such as yin/yang theory, was adopted into the martial arts trained by the monks of the Wudang monasteries, and Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) was created.

Taijiquan, or 'Grand Ultimate Fist', combines the internal skills of yang sheng (life nourishing) with ancient fighting techniques. Practiced slowly, Taijiquan is a set of gentle, flowing movements which promotes exceptional health and well-being. Taijiquan emphasizes the development of a strong root, proper body alignment, efficient movement, and a calm and relaxed mind and body. The application of Taijiquan reveals it is an effective martial art specializing in using softness to overcome hardness, uprooting the opponent, redirecting incoming force, and striking vital points.

This program discusses the history of Wudang Taijiquan, offers a Warm Up section, and teaches the essential skill of Zhan-Zhuang, or standing meditation, which develops the Qi (energy) throughout your body. The complete 108-posture Wudang Taijiquan sequence is demonstrated, and each posture is instructed separately with martial applications. Each technique is taught and demonstrated in detail, making it easy for the viewer to learn. The ancient art of Wudang Taijiquan has much wisdom to offer beginners and experienced Tai Chi practitioners of all styles.

Features performances by senior YMAA Instructors Nicholas C. Yang and Adison Martin.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Choice of Mandarin Chinese Narration with English Subtitles, or English Narration • Interactive Catalog with Previews of All YMAA Titles

YMAA PRODUCTION • ZHOU, XUAN-YUN • WUDANG TAIJIQUAN • WRITTEN BY ZHOU, XUAN-YUN WITH JULIE BAECKER & DAVID SILVER • PERFORMED BY ZHOU, XUAN-YUN, WITH NICHOLAS C. YANG & ADISON MARTIN • EDITING & DVD AUTHORING BY OCEAN SILVER • PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY DAVID SILVER

AUTHOR(S)

Daoist monk Zhou Xuan Yun (Mysterious Cloud), grew up in a temple on Wudang Mountain, China where he was a student and later an instructor of Taiji and Kung Fu. He belongs to the Orthodox Unity sect of Daoism, and is trained in ritual arts, chanting, divination, and internal alchemy. He is formally recognized as a disciple of Li Guang Fu 李光富 Head Daoist monk on Wudang Mountain (武当山道教协会会长), and he is dedicated to teaching the traditional arts in classes around the world

REVIEWS

5 of 5 stars, Amazing, comprehensive instructional DVD, By Jayson Moss, January 2009

The Wudang YMAA Taijiquan DVD is one of the best releases ever by the YMAA. The YMAA always produces superior quality books and dvds for martial arts both internal and external- and the Wudang Taijiquan DVD is a shining example. When I first learned that Zhou Xuan Yun of Daoistgate.com was creating a Taijiquan DVD, I immediately pre-ordered a copy. When I recieved it in the mail I found that was a personal lesson with a world-class Gongfu Taijiquan Master. Xuan Yun is simply amazing, and his instruction is absolutely phenomenal. I was especially excited about the DVD because I love Wudang Gongfu, and there is very little published educational material available about it. The instruction and demonstration is of the highest quality, and the Taijiquan sequence is both comprehensive and beautiful. Anyone, whether beginner or master will immediately fall in love with this release.

As a dedicated Martial Artist, I feel very blessed to live in an era where such sacred tradition and teqhnique are freely and openly taught. Zhou Xuan Yun is a wonderful teacher, and I strongly reccomend this DVD to everyone.

I was very excited to hear about the release of this DVD. Wudang Mountain has always been known as a Taoist and Martial Arts center, and Zhou, Xuan-Yun is a fine representative of the high level of martial arts that have come out of Wudang Mountain. I've seen other martial artists demonstrating various Wudang styles and have been impressed by the effective techniques present in those styles for dealing with violent situations.

The coincidence of this release for me is my re-reading of Chronicles of the Tao, written by Deng Ming-Dao. The book chronicles the life of Kwan Saihung, who, in similar fashion to the writer and performer of this DVD, Zhou, Xuan-Yun, trained in a Daoist monastery and later left to travel around China to meet and interact with other martial artists.

Zhou is obviously a very skilled martial artist. His enthusiasm, knowledge and expertise are very evident in this DVD. Zhou does not hold back and freely explains and demonstrates the various applications for the postures in the form. His presentation of the Wudang Taijiquan set looks similar to Chen Style and Yang Style Taijiquan. It is very direct and focused and is obviously a fighting art.

The DVD provides the following:

• History and background of Zhou, Xuan-Yun
• History of Wudang martial arts
• Excellent presentation of standing Qigong, Zhan-Zhuang and reasons as to the importance of making this part of your Taijiquan routine
• Demonstration of the full Wudang Taijiquan 108 set
• Applications for all of the postures

The warm up section offers some great tips, such as using various postures and transitions within the form as a short type of warm up. Zhou spends a necessary amount of time on stressing the importance and usefulness of warming up through the use of Taijiquan movement and postures. However, his demonstration of rolling the neck in a complete circle is considered by some to be ill advised. It is acceptable to roll the neck front to left and right ninety degrees, but rolling the neck completely around in a circle can cause problems to the vertebrae.

Many of the postures in the Wudang Taijiquan form are similar to the Yang style of Taijiquan, but have different names for the postures. Chen style postures are also evident. In the applications section, numerous applications for each posture are shown. Zhou stresses that a practitioner should choose those applications that fit their body type and martial arts skill level. Nicholas Yang, the son of Master Yang, Jwing Ming, helps Zhou demonstrate the various applications.

Zhou's demonstration of the various applications shows an understanding and practical application of the basic tenets of Taijiquan; that being yield, neutralize/dissolve, strike. Zhou demonstrates various applications from the left and right sides, allowing one to see all parts of the techniques.

Zhou has some unique takes on applications for postures such as Needle at the Bottom of the Sea, which he demonstrates as a flowing of one Qin Na application to another. Zhou capably demonstrates how the applications should flow and change as the opponent/adversary reacts and deals with the applications. Zhou also demonstrates how to respond to experienced martial artists who might try neutralizing techniques on the applications. Regardless of how the opponent reacts to the original application, Zhou shows that there is always a linked application that will handle any response.

Bottom line, it's a great DVD and excellent demonstration of both the form and the various possible applications of Wudang Taijiquan.