Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #38369 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-09-22
• Rating: Exempt
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 60 minutes

Synopsis
Featuring techniques and movements from Yang and Chan styles of Tai Chi.

Customer Reviews

Superb! But...
I have always been interested in doing Tai Chi but thought that prancing about in a silk suit like a fairy a bit daft. I had heard of the combat type of Tai Chi and Master Wong has delivered for me. I can learn Tai Chi but now there is a serious combat application for it. Master Wong has introduced me to Tai Chi - in all its forms - in a big way.

This DVD is huge value for money with the Yang and Chen forms of Tai Chi Combat and also the bonus Chi Kung 'meditation-breathing' part. I have now other Tai Chi DVD's in the Wushu style but I prefer Master Wong's version as it is more simple and involves more stretching for making you strong. Although the Wushu versions are handy in order to tune-up Wong's style. This is a tailor-made DVD with menu access to all the sections, it is no warmed over video.

BUT... Master Wong can be very hard to follow. While the DVD is well produced, sometimes it is over-produced and the camera switches from one to another when you want to see what he is doing yet you get a side shot close up of him talking. Also he will start a move and then say: "I'll start again." Which is quite annoying as you stand there mid pose waiting for him to catch up.

I wanted to give this DVD 4 out of 5 due to the above point, but I can't, it is too good for that. Say 5 minus a tiny bit. It is a superb DVD and has a huge amount of material to work through.

Tai Chi Combat
I have read some of the negative reviews which are staggering in their lack of understanding, particularly by Dr David Hemlock and 'semargle'. Undoubtedly, true masters are often maligned or misunderstood because of the absolute mastery of their art/s.

Master Wong's DVD is both comprehensive, nowledgeable and real.
There are reviews commenting "its only a movie" "his students are just rolling around" etc. Of course, its easy to be an armchair martial artist no matter what title they hold, but I can say from personal experience and an in-depth knowledge of Master Wong that what you see on this DVD is 100% real. Viewers will not be aware that all fighting partners in the DVD are wearing full body armour underneath their clothing and the contact that is made is full on. This can be seen very clearly when slowing down the action as the force goes through the student, all of whom know what it feels like to be struck with this sort of power. The armour is not just for fun, its for real protection.

Yes, Master Wong can sometimes come across with an aggressive style, but what you see is what you get. He really is the real deal and this is well explained at considerable length in Tai Chi Combat.

Such mastery will always attract contrary views, I know many very senior masters who are the subject to the same sort of inane criticism, mainly from people who have no idea what is the real purpose behind what they are studying. Do they really think all this empty hands stuff was designed for relaxing in the park ? Get real.

If these armchair artists want to see a proper review and acknowledgement of the mastery of Michael Wong, look at Master Chen's.

I have been practising karate for 34 years and some consider I am reasonably capable, but compared to Master Wong I am but an infant. I had the privilege of sparring with him once and two things happened; one an elbow strike to the side of my chest which I felt travel across to the other side, and also being lifted off the ground and moved backwards (vertically I might add) about two metres. When I asked how this could be he explained it was a Tai Chi move that he had incorporated in a nano second into his sparring.

This efficacy is illustrated in this and his other DVDs.

Trevor Gilbert Shihan, 6th dan.

Tai Chi Combat
As master Wong states different people bring different styles - Lu Chan changed the Chen style, Cheng Fu changed the Yang style they all changed the original Wudang Kung Fu. An excellent DVD in which master Wong demonstrates both Chen and Yang styles done in his own style. The soft-hard technique is explained and there is a bit of chi kung as well. It's value for money.