DVD: Chen Taijiquan

Change Your Energy

Master Ren GuangYi has worked tirelessly to bring Chen style Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) to the West since 1991. In this DVD, he beautifully demonstrates two fundamental Chen-style Taiji forms: the 75-movement long form, Lao Jia Yi Lu (Old Frame 1st Road), and the 49-movement Straight Sword form.

Captured in high-definition (HD) in New York's Central Park, each form is presented in a multiple-angle format, and showing the name of each movement. Each form is also shown in FlipperVision™, a slideshow comprised of nearly 2,000 photos by famed photographer Martin von Haselberg, so you may carefully study each of Master Ren's postures in detail.

A martial artist since the 1980's and a private student of Master Ren, artist/musician Lou Reed has experienced first-hand the health benefits and power of Master Ren's teaching, and he has done a great deal to help raise awareness of Chen Taiji worldwide, bringing Master Ren on tour to perform onstage in hundreds of shows across Europe and the US.

This program features an ambient electronic soundtrack and onscreen narration by Lou Reed.

"The music gives you energy." - Lou Reed

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• High Definition / 5.1 audio
• Two Chen Taijiquan Forms on one DVD
• Demonstration of Fa Jing, “emitting power”, a signature of Chen Taiji.
• Use the ‘Angle’ button on your DVD remote for Multi-Angle DVD playback.
• 'Rear View' of form, to follow-along as you would in class.
• Amazing ‘FlipperVision’ of each of the movements in extreme detail.
• Multi-Language Menus & Subtitles: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, & Italian.

Chen Style Taijiquan is a comprehensive form of exercise that promotes fitness, coordination and relaxation which remains true to its ancient martial arts origins. Chen Taijiquan is noted for its fluid, coiled movements, punctuated with quick bursts of energy, known as ‘Fa Jing”. Regular practice promotes wellness through a series of continuous, flowing movements, while providing powerful tools for self-defense.

A YMAA PRODUCTION • REN GUANGYI & LOU REED • "CHEN TAIJIQUAN DVD 1" • PERFORMED BY REN GUANGYI & LOU REED • NARRATION BY LOU REED • NARRATION RECORDING BY JOEL HAMILTON • MUSIC COMPOSED, PERFORMED & PRODUCED BY LOU REED • FLIPPERVISION™ PRODUCTION BY MARK MCGAULEY • DVD AUTHORING BY MEDIAMANIC • WRITTEN, PRODUCED, & DIRECTED BY DAVID SILVER

AUTHOR(S)

At age 16, Ren GuangYi moved to Chen Village, the origin of Chen Taijiquan, where he trained daily for 10 years. In 1991, Ren founded the International Chen Style Taijiquan Association to promote the teaching and practice of Taijiquan, offering group and private classes in America. He is the author of several videos and publications, and worked as the martial arts choreographer on the groundbreaking Darren Aronofsky film The Fountain (2006).

REVIEWS

5 of 5 stars, Tyr Shadowblade (Virginia Beach, VA) January 2008

Very nicely done

I was quite impressed after viewing "Chen Taijiquan" by Master Ren GuangYi. There are demonstrations of two forms: one with empty hands, and one with the flexiblt Tai Chi straight sword. Both forms ae shot multiple times: with subtitles to denote each move's name, and from multiple camera angles. A stop motion "flipper vision" option is also available.

One of the comments under another review asked "why should I be listening to Lou Reed music while practicing Tai Chi?" ... Mister Reed has distinquished himself by creating a choice of two New Age soundtracks for this video presentation: "Centering" and "Energy." You want to choose "Energy." Lou Reed narrates this video between sequences, is a private student of Master Ren, and has Master Ren demonstrate his form on stage prior to his concerts. It would see that Mister Reed has benefitted greatly from Master Ren's instruction as he appears to be clean & sober, centered, humble, and has probably gotten much healthier over the past decade of martial arts practice.

5 of 5 stars. The Real Deal, December 4, 2007
Reviewer: Lao T. Sue (Virginia)

I'm new to Chen style but have studied Yang for 25 years. While you can't really learn taiji from a video, this one is the best I've seen. Ren Guang-yi is obviously the real deal -- and still in his prime. This makes an enormous difference -- his form isn't just technically accurate -- it crackles with energy and the flow is awesome. The "flipper vision" -- thousands of photographs taken in sequence so a practitioner can see how a transition happens, or where a body part is in a particular posture -- is unique and quite valuable. I've personally never been a fan of musical backgrounds for taiji, but the production values here are excellent and you can always turn the volume off (or up). This video shows why Chen style is the fastest growing style of taiji in America. It's a "must own" for anyone who either practices -- or wants to see what real Chen style looks like.

5 of 5 stars. The Best!!!!, December 22, 2006
Reviewer: Glen Mcpheat (Brighton UK)

Having studied Taiji now for ten years I have had the opportunity to learn with some of the top masters including Chen Xiaowang and Chen Yingjun. I have seen my fair share of videos books and dvds, however this has to be one of the best taijiquan products I have seen. Not only do you get the pureness and accuracy of Master Reng Guang Yi's transmission of laojia and sword form but also you get narration and backing track from one of rocks greatest legends Lou Reed! This is an excellent quality product which I would thoroughly recommend to beginners through to advanced students.

Taijiquan.com, Patrick Dickson, 2006

I've been waiting a long time for YMAA to come out with some information on the Chen Family Style of Taijiquan. Understandably, as Master Yang Jwing Ming, to the best of my knowledge, did not study Chen Family Style Taijiquan, no videos or books covering Chen Taijiquan have been published by YMAA prior to this release.

Therefore, I was very excited about this DVD, especially since the form presented is essentially the same long form of Chen Style that I learned from my teacher, Arthur Lee Starling.

I'm also intrigued by the ambient music and narration contributed by Lou Reed, who is a student of Ren GuangYi. Visit Lou Reed's site, www.loureed.org and you'll find a really nicely designed website. You can find a section on his site that has a photo gallery of pictures taken by Ren GuangYi. Rather a nicely done site. The other great addition to this DVD is the writing, directing and artistic direction of David Silver, a longtime collaborator of Dr. Yang Jwing Ming.

The DVD presents Ren GuangYi demonstrating the Liao Jia Yi Lu of Chen style in essentially three formats.

The form is filmed with a changing perspective, where the camera angle changes to match the movement of the form.

The form is filmed primarily from the front and side view. (Use angle button on remote)

The form is filmed primarily from the rear and side view. (Use angle button on remote)

The quality in the presentation of the form by Ren GuangYi is excellent. He performs with very evident power, strength, balance and presence. The filming of the form matches the quality of the performance by Ren GuangYi. The viewer is treated to a master of the art who does not hold back in his presentation. Ren GuangYi looks excellent throughout the DVD. By the way, seems like Central Park in New York is thought of by some people as a dirty unattractive park. Well, check out the beautiful setting for this DVD, it looks great.

The DVD is missing the top notch instructional sections that YMAA is known for. My hope is that a future release from Ren GuangYi and David Silver will add more teaching sections as well as cover some applications of the movements. Since the DVD is titled "CHEN TAIJIQUAN DVD 1" in the credits, it seems very likely that there will be a second act. Excellent!

Normally, I would not recommend a video that leaves out instruction and applications. However, the quality of the form being presented by Ren GuangYi is so superb, that it is worth owning this DVD even without an instruction section.

Ren GuangYi then demonstrates Fa Jing, or issuing of power, a skill that is usually associated with Chen Style Taijiquan. Chen Style is famous for its spiraling, wide leg stances, low stances and the mixed tempo of its moves, which results in Fa Jing. A slow movement will suddenly explode with power, unlike Yang Style Taijiquan, which is performed at a steady, slow pace.

The performance by Ren GuangYi is very inspiring and has benefited my understanding and performance of the Chen form that I practice. The quality of what is being presented is top notch and is a wonderful taste of what I hope is more to come.

The second section of the DVD has Ren GuangYi performing a Chen Style Sword Routine. Ren GuangYi is as masterful with the sword form as he was with the first Lu of Chen Family Style Taijiquan. I hope when the second part of this DVD is published that it includes a section on this sword form as well. Ren GuangYi carries the sword with a skill that can't be faked or rushed. The level of his presentation is a result of correct teaching and thousands of hours of devoted, focused practice.

The DVD also incorporates a technique called "FLIPPERVISION". A famed photographer has captured Ren GuangYi as he performs the first Lu of the Chen Style Taijiquan. The photographs are then resented in a slide show format, allowing the viewer to stop and see "snapshot" moments in time as the series progresses through the form.