Simplified Tai Chi for Learners: Study the 24 Kind a 6 Minute Routine

Buy the iPad or Android app instead, so you can watch it more easily
Don’t buy the DVD unless you have a convenient DVD player handy. I bought this and tried to use Handbrake to convert it to a portable digital file, but the DVD is conversion-locked so now I’m stuck with a DVD that is massively inconvenient to use (none of my laptops have DVD players anymore – you too, right?).Fortunately YMAA offers an app which can be “unlocked” for $9.99 and it contains the same materials. Note that the app is free to download, but if you don’t purchase the “unlock” as an in-app purchase for the aforesaid $9.99, the app will be totally useless. It’s not exactly a scam, they are apparently afraid if they tell you up front the app really costs $9.99, no one will buy it.So don’t do what I did and buy the DVD, then later have to buy the app anyway. Go straight to the app! (Which doesn’t run on Fire tablets, btw).In terms of content, I much prefer the Kung Fu Tai Chi magazine rendition of the 24 Form (the national standardized form) by Sifu Zou Yunjian on YouTube as uploaded by kungfumagazine dot com on May 16, 2013 (there is also a rear view by the same professor but the moves aren’t as beautiful). BUT I can’t download YouTube videos and carry them around, and there is no breakdown of the separate moves to help me catch the details. There is no doubt that Helen Liang is terrific and I think this (the YMMA app or the old-tech DVD) is the best reference for the 24.You probably can’t learn the form on your own if you are new to tai chi unless you attend a class. You CAN learn if you have some prior experience. And if you are attending a class in the 24, this is a perfect supplement.

Good reputations
I bought the dvd for a young friend who has done Tai Chi but due to a job change, can no longer make it to a class. I hoped she could use the dvd at home. She is thrilled to have the dvd and will wake up early to use it. I base my rating stars on the fact that my friend recognized the people in the video and talked of YMAA. My stars are not about the dvd content (I have no expertise) but rather the fact that the people are known and YMAA is a significant name to those who love to do Tai Chi. As with my own personal Amazon purchases, I find comfort in being able to purchase recognized name brands (people or products) on Amazon. So this convenience adds to my rating. And it means I am more likely to buy gifts for others from Amazon. Amazon is a good market for YMAA. Jeannie

Wealth of information, many ways to learn
After using David-Dorian Ross’s Tai Chi Fit “To Go,” “Flow,” and “Strength” DVDs, I wanted to try learning the simple 24 Form. This DVD, with Helen Liang, was just about perfect. On this DVD, she first performs the Form without commentary, then she performs it while narrating each move, then she presents a number of general guidelines. Next she instructs each move in detail, demonstrating a number of times and, when necessary, breaking it down into hand and foot work. She also explains the transition from one move to another very carefully. The presentation of each move includes a demonstration of the martial application. On the last track, another expert demonstrates the form from the back without commentary.She states at the beginning that the form will take some weeks or months to learn, and I found that to be the case, even having learned many of the moves from David-Dorian Ross’s DVDs. I did learn it, however, and now I can run through it whenever I take a break from whatever I’m doing. It’s a great way to unkink the back after sitting or driving.It takes patience and perseverance, but if you can’t get to a live teacher this DVD works. The menu is efficient and easy to navigate.

Je pensais que cela correspondait bien à ce que je fais en cours mais pas vraiment. Il manque des commentaires et la visibilité des mouvements est moyenne. Mais bon, on peut quand même l’utiliser lorsqu’on a acquis un peu d’expérience surtout pour le rythme.

I’ve had this and four or five other DVDs on tai chi for over a year. Helen’s DVD is by far the very best amongst them all. While, none of them are bad it is this one that I use almost exclusively. It’s very user-friendly and yet there’s a great deal of background in my new instructions to help a student develop. The entire 24 form program is shown from the front, and then later in the DVD shown from behind. I have found following from behind has made it so much easier as I don’t have to remember to transpose her moving left to my moving right. It’s well laid out so one can read a minimum level of instruction, or a great depth of instruction. At the same time you can access the daily the front or rearview six minutes. After over a year and a half of use, there’s no question in my mind as to the best instruction DVD..