Customer Reviews:
for the none martial.......2007-03-24
lam shows some detail in this dvd but sadly it isnt any good for anyone wanting to get into internal kung fu[which taiji is].
beginner or not this is watered down for the masses and i doupt there would be any great health benefits from this if any atall.
a good dvd for people only interested in winding down but the health or martial benefits will be in the head alone.....
taiji is taiji not yoga or pilates but many mix them up.
Very effective for learning Tai Chi.......2006-09-03
Based on my experience I can confidently state that one can learn Tai Chi from this DVD.
I have tried books and two other DVDs but this is the best DVD to start with.
Very effective from day 1.
Dr Lam has loads of information at his website and there is a very friendly and helpful forum where you can ask questions. Dr Lam or another expert will answer you.
I was adviced to use this DVD before progressing on to more advanced DVDs. It is best to try and perfect few movements than to learn many.
"Welcome to Tai Chi".......2006-05-14
I think that would be an apt way of looking at this DVD. It's a very good DVD, and is taught very well. I bought it to learn, and learn I did. Dr. Lam, although not talking in his mother tongue, explains the movements very well, and even uses some of his pupils.
If there was one thing I would fault the DVD on, it's that it's ever so slightly fast. I would personally prefer it slightly slower (but maybe that's a personal thing). On the other hand, Dr. Lam can take his time whilst you're stuck in a pose.
Other than these personal niggles, the DVD is very good and well worth buying to learn a few basic movements to start with. The next logical step is the 24 movements (which Dr. Lam has also made a DVD of).
Very Good for Beginners.......2005-07-28
Very good DVD, with the instructor showing a move himself, then having 1 of his students show the move from various angles, al the time telling you precisely where your arms and feet are supposed to be. By the end of the DVD I could do all the moves in a 12 step move (whatever you call it).
The only thing missing would have been more information on breathing, as this is left out, but I guess the DVD is focused on beginners so the aim is to teach you the moves.
I think people with injuries or elderly people who aren't that fit or flexible would find this very helpful, as the Dr goes very slow and very gently explains how not to over-exercise yourself.
All in all great for someone like me who's never done this to learn the basics of Tai Chi. But most certainly a Beginners DVD.
Highly Professional DVD and Top Tai Chi Style for Health.......2005-03-28
This is a Tai Chi DVD for complete beginners, but it doesnt get bogged down with lots of theory and background to Tai Chi.
Dr Lam is a family Doctor as well as top Tai Chi Master. So he has blended his knowledge of the Human body and Health with Tai Chi to create powerful Tai Chi for all body types, ages and physical abilities. He has loads of other dvds out there, but this is the best one to start with.
It begins with easy to learn warm-ups and cool downs and QuiGong Breathing etc. It ends with a 6 form routine which contains a lot of health benefits and many basic Tai Chi movements.
The production values are very high with side, front, back demos and relaxing background music.
All in all I really rate this DVD as it does what it says on the tin. I personally didnt want to get too heavily into the whole Tai Chi philosophy thing. Dr Lam does go through some core principles and so on, but not at great length which means we can get on with the Tai Chi.
Customer Reviews:
Tai Chi For The Mind & Body........2007-07-17
If I remember correctly this is a late 90s production that was once sold on Amazon.com in region 1 VHS format and was titled " David Carradines Tai Chi For The Mind & Body" and received mostly impressive reviews. This long awaited UK DVD version has the added bonus of some nice stuff in the extras menu and also the advantage of being able to choose either the AM (mind) or the PM (body) routine at the push of a button and without any old fashioned fast forewarding.
It is a shame they never kept the Mind & Body title but that does not take away the fact that this is very simple and highly enjoyable and beneficial couple of Tai Chi workouts
The first session is the AM (mind) Tai Chi and fine for any time of day. However if you are looking for a easy and gentle Tai Chi routine to practice before work then this is the perfect choice beacause it does not try to get you to put the individual movements together, which means that you do not need to waste precious time pausing and rewinding and trying to master complete form. The movements are practiced in such a way that you should feel more relaxed without the need to work on the continous form.
This said contrary to other reveiws the complete form is demonstrated by Master Arnolde Tayham over the credits at the end of the PM workout, so the form is there even though there is no pressure put upon you to study it.
The second session is the PM (body) workout which teaches a slightly more energetic form. Dispite what is said in some earlier reviews the complete form is not only demonstrated but the viewer is also shown how to put the movements together into the complete form whilst Carradines narration (and demonstration) explains exactly which way to turn etc.
You are taken through the form perhaps a little too quickly and without enough repeats to be able to go through non stop. Thats OK, that is the idea of having the DVD and being able to use the pause and rewind button but don't expext to finish this second PM session in a relaxed state because for a while at least you will only be feeling the fraustration of failing to keep up with the people demonstrating, but you will finish up with the satisfaction of knowing that you are getting a little better each time you practice.
I would say for learning some Tai Chi and Chi Kung in an unrushed but highly informative yet relaxing manner you really should get "David Carradines Chi Energy Workout". But this PM workout makes an excellent addition even though it is slightly rushed in comparison.
The AM session of this DVD should not be missed either for its simplicity and relaxing tone but I would reccomend buying the "Chi Energy Workout" first and supplimenting it with this DVD at a later date.
It should be noted that Carradines expertise as well as his production methods have come on in leaps and bounds compared with his terrible 80s production titled "David Carradines Introduction To Kung Fu & Tai Chi".
The end.
Amazing.......2007-06-20
I agree with the previous reviewer, I have recently purchased this DVD and wanted to do some form of Tai Chi/Chi Kung without going to classes or trying to learn something that took ages to master. This fits the bill perfectly, everytime I use the AM workout in particular I find it really relaxing and far easy to learn than the complete form, the forms shown are easy to master and really relax the mind and body. Thoroughly recommended.
Its not in the title.......2007-02-28
Was not quite sure about this dvd as there was no synopsis, AM/PM Tai Chi, what the heck is that I thought?
Well I was plesantly suprised.
This is not a dvd that will teach you tai chi long or short form, it is a series of exercises based on the individual forms of tai chi. Each exercise is performed separately from each other not continuously as in Tai Chi. Don't let that put you off though.
If you are looking for pure Tai Chi form then this will not fit the bill but if you are looking for something that uses the beauty and fluidity of Tai Chi to improve your fitness with out devoting years to learning the form then this does it rather well.
I have practiced Tai Chi for many years, but have lapsed in my practice so was looking for a guide to get me back into it. My son has never expressed any interest in the form particularly but he was transfixed by this dvd and was loving following the exercises. His comment was, 'I like doing this, it is not to hard to follow'. So I think that sort of says it all :)
Quality of filming is good and set pleasant to look at, warm up and cool down sections as well. I would recomend this dvd to someone not looking for the pure form.
Customer Reviews:
Dated but a good guide at the start.......2007-12-15
If you are new to Tai Chi, then I think this has some of the ground work you will want to learn. I agree that the styling for the video is somewhat dated and eighties looking, but I personally find this charming and it does not distract from the core values in the video. There are some excellent workouts and if you take the time to really learn the tai chi form demonstrated, you will find the benefits from it can come into your life.
It is not as well crafted as his later videos, but does contain some really good instruction and will get you on the road to health and flexibility. All in all a good 'introduction for beginners' as it is called. The meditation section is also nice and has some valuable lessons.
Style isn't everything!
Not at all recommended.......2005-07-04
To start with i found this dvd very hard to take seriously. The people are dressed like they are from the 70's hair styles and all. It is very confusing because the exercise routine cannot be done by you mirroring the dvd as they use the same left and right as you, so you are doing the opposite. The other exercises seem to do everything at a different pace to the teacher so i didn't know which to follow and the camera is not on the actual leader for long enough. The tai chi sequences are almost impossible to follow. On top of this the narration is muffled. The only good thing about this dvd is the beginning stretching, which does leave you feeling more supple. Overall i wouldn't recommend buying this, there are other much better exercise dvds in the shops.
Customer Reviews:
i wish I had read the public reviews :(.......2004-06-04
I just cannot follow this at all.
Yes, she does explain everything, hands to toes, sadly she does it in parts and putting them all together is resulting a near-impossible task for me.
I've only tried twice and given up. I guess I'll have to try again.
Still, I would recommend everybody out there to try other titles with better reviews (I've already bought a different one, but I haven't received it yet).
Luck with it anyway!
I never want to see Lin again........2004-05-04
After ordering and following Tai Chi for beginners by dr.P.Lam I wanted to try the Tai Chi for beginners-24 forms by Lin Williams because Amazon suggested that this would be an good addition.This however turned out to be a big mistake.The Lin Williams DVD might show you the 24 forms but definitely will NOT teach you the 24 forms of Tai Chi.It will probably eliminate your desire to increase your knowledge of Tai Chi.
Not likely to induce a state of calm.......2004-03-23
If you want to feel hopelessly unco-ordinated and frustrated then this is the DVD for you. I bought this DVD in order to refresh my memory on the sequence of the 24 forms which I learnt at a class a few years ago but failed to keep up. I could not follow the DVD at all and given than I have a fair recollection of the movements anyway I think this is fairly damning.
It is difficult to actually see what Lynn Wiliams is doing in each movement because there is only one shot of her doing the movement in full screen. The rest of the time you only see her feet or hands and as each movement is only a few seconds there is not time to watch the movement as a whole.
Her grim set facial expression and droning monotonal voice do nothing to assist the process.
After several failed attempts I was reduced to a state of jaw clenched, cursing frustration as I yet again went back to the menu and played the sequence again.
I had been hoping for a DVD which would leave me feeling calm and rejuvenated but instead felt psychotic with rage.
Customer Reviews:
A must for Chen style(New Frame/ Xinjia) practioners..........2007-03-02
LimingYu has a wonderful approach to chen style taiji, and has since released titles possibly more suitable for absolute beginners, with better production and camerawork. However as a dvd covering the new frame (xinjia) first routine of Chen style I would have to say this is a superb reference, especially if one also obtains titles by Chen Zhenglei, Chen Xiaowang or Zhang Zhujin.
The form is completely covered from multiple angles (not just in front as per the earlier reviewer) and there are lots of demos of other chen hand and weapon forms at the end. Of particular interest is Liming Yu's repeat demonstrations of the full 83 form ; a slow one and one with many releases of power (His "White Crane Spreads Wings" with Fajing is beautiful.
Sure the production isn't that good but as far as Liming Yu's English instruction is concerned it's fine...unless you are expecting narration by Fred Dibnah or something (earlier reviewer take note and learn to listen!?Eckeethump?)
Of note there isn't really any useful application demonstrations but this dvd really just concentrates on getting the form right. (although the Chen Style authors David Gaffney and Davidine Sim appear with this guy which certainly counts for something). I still refer to this regularly and heartily recommend it, whether you have been fortunate to train with him in person or not.
Excellent DVD for beginners.......2005-03-15
I have found this to be an excellent DVD for beginners. It's a fine example of the art of Shen Style Tai chi. The master shows how graceful the various movements are meant to be and what one could attain eventually. It also takes the student through the warm up exercise & onto the sequences. The only problem I had was that the master faces you & I am used to following behing the teacher!
This was very well priced & for a beginner a very good introduction.
Not for beginners!.......2003-10-04
I would not advise bying this DVD if you are a beginner. The narrator's English is quiet and difficult to follow. I have found that very clear and explicit instructons are needed at the beginning of Tai Chi and these are not to be found on this DVD. It may be more suited to those of an intermediate level who only require someone to follow rather than someone to explain all the movements to them. The camera work is ammature at best with much wobbling and shaking which is another uneeded distraction.
"Great Teacher....Pitty about the camera man".......2002-10-26
Obviously I bought this DVD to learn Tai-Chi as I lead quite a stressful life and wanted to find something to do to chill out. The teacher is Great, fluid and able to control his body enough to allow the pupil to understand and obtain each movement. It is also a comprehensive DVD in that it has apart from the lessons a number of varied demonstrations from Tai Chi village, one with a Grand master.
Just watching the DVD through helps you to gain a greater understanding of the various movements.
The only parts of the DVD that I can pick apart are the equiptment used, the quality isn't great, for instance on a 28" Sony television the colouring of his hands bled thus commiting me to move closer to the television to try and see what they were up too. Secondly On a Couple of occasions the camera man messes up, and to my best knowledge was an amateur....however the DVD does what it was intended and is a great way to either practise at home or learn from scratch. At least it's not some cheesy american teacher...this guy really moves.
True master at work.......2001-12-15
This dvd shows a true master, the way he moves is really really tai chi, nice, good explanation, it's difficult to learn but that makes it only more interesting. Get going with chen style tai chi and start with this dvd !
UK DVD:
- Tai Chi For Beginners [2002]
- Tai Chi Fundamentals [2003] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- The Best Disco in Town: Live 2003 at Wembley Arena, London [2006] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- The Essential Guide To Massage
- The Essential Guide To Yoga
- The Firm: Body Sculpting System - Body Sculpt [2002] (NTSC)
- The Firm: Upper Body Sculpt [2003]
- The Fountain [2007] [HD DVD] [US Import]
- The Living Edens: The Lost World - Venezuela's Ancient Tepuis [2003] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- The Method - Complete Pilates
UK DVD List
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