presentation is important
Added 11/14/2009
Learning the basics of Tai Chi movement is complicted, so the presentation is very important. The info communicated in this DVD is essentially good, however, the method of presentation could be improved. While the student needs to see details, these might be better shown by inserted views rather than fading to different viewpoints which can be disorienting. Having one stationary view with inserts would allow one to see the overall movement and the detail at the same time. An additional possibility might be a stationary overhead view to show direction and extent of movement. This could be diagramatic rather than a photographic image. DVDs are capable of multiple viewpoints which could be used at the discretion of the viewer. Yes, this might not communicate the overall feeling of Tai Chi, but, for the learning segments, this would be helpful.
The breakdown into segments which may be repeatedly looped is good. The choice of being able to mirror the movements may work for some people and not for others. Switching mirroring on and off is disorienting. A DVD player capable of slo mo would probably be helpful. Additional audio tracks with varing extent of instruction would allow the user to gradually reduce the detailed instuction as learning progressed.
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The person I gave this to said they loved it and it was just the right video not to hard to use.
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Very Disappointing...The filming switches views too often making it very hard to follow!
Added 10/9/2009
Okay, I thought...a Yang-style form Tai Chi DVD by the daughter of the well know William C. C. Chen, that should be good...refresher up on what I had learned a few years ago...so I bought it...popped it in the DVD...Mmmm...very disappointing...not the instruction...the filming....it was too artsy making it too hard to follow...the cover you see with the beautiful southwestern mountains...it's not just the cover...its the live background for the entire DVD...beautiful however...a little distracting....but anyways the main thing that made the film a wash...the view switches way too often...just as I'm trying to follow the move from one angle...Bam! The camera angle switches...so then all of a sudden you are thrown off trying to catch up again where your body relates then to the new angle...and then Bam! Again! The camera angle switches....or starts into a rotating panorama which also adds to the confusion! No one learns like this in real life...I mean...granted it is a nice idea trying to have the multi- angles...but most of us learn from a face front view...or a back view...not angled views that keep switching...so unfortunately even though I had high hopes...the camera angle switching ruined it.... :(
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Advanced Tai-Chi Forms even for beginners
Added 8/26/2009
Although instructions are detailed, they require lots of repetition before they could be mastered, especially for beginners like me. If one is truly determined, disciplined and devoted plus has the time to learn it all, then this is where you can get all 60 very difficult Tai Chi Forms. DVD quality is somewhat wanting and DVD menu is a bit difficult to navigate esp since one may need to keep stopping, rewinding, pausing or do frame by frame. Try to recruit an assistant to handle the remote while you try for the movements.
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So stressful to follow...
Added 5/28/2009
With the spinning camera angles, it is impossible to follow the movments throughout a complete range of motion -- and I am a certified fitness instructor with ten years of experience. Simply put, this DVD is not well direcrted and is extremely difficult to follow. For an activity that is supposed to be relaxing, the inability to follow along created much mental stress. Auditory directions came VERY fast and the camera angles switched from front to back to side in rapid pace. The monotone narration ripped so quickly, "Shift your weight in the left side, relax in the right hip, spin the palms open and use the energy to turn and press, softening up the arms and use the ground you have to push out the fingers to energize...use your positive leg to energize..." the voice over was more of a distraction than an aid to comprehension. Dizzying camera shifts and rapid, non-specific narration means neither visual learners nor auditory learners can follow along. So disappointing.
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