REVIEWS
These programs are the most widely used teaching tapes on t'ai chi and have been rated the best of their genre by leading authorities in health and fitness, physical educators, top health journals, national video and film boards of review, and librarians:
T'AI CHI FOR HEALTH: YANG LONG FORM WITH TERRY DUNN ***1/2
T'AI CHI FOR HEALTH: YANG SHORT FORM WITH TERRY DUNN ***1/2
Both programs: (1989) 120 MIN.
Combining narration about the philosophy of the amrtial art T'ai Chi along with step-by-step instruction in each tape for its respective subject, these two programs share the same prefatory material with the Yang Long Form consisting of 108 steps, and the Yang Short Form comprising 49 steps. The instructor is martial art expert and teacher Terence Dunn, who talks about the health and spiritual benfits of T'ai Chi, conducts warm-up and breathing exercises, covers the three basic postures, and outlines the five principles of T'ai Chi before demonstrating the actual forms. For many, the names of the movements are a delight in themselves ("Pick Up Needle on Sea Bottom," and "Part the Wild Horse's Mane," for example). Good background music, fine camerawork (including a running insert to show each position from a different angle) and slow and precise instruction make these programs easy to watch and follow. Highly recommended. --VIDEO LIBRARIAN. Vol.5, No.5
T'AI CHI FOR HEALTH with Terry Dunn: Yang Long Form; Yang Short Form
For the person seriously interested in this gentle Chinese martial art, these tapes provide detailed instructinos in performing all the classical moves and postures. Terence Dunn, a practitioner and instructor with 22 years of experience and a filmmaker, provides in the Short Form a t'ai chi sequence that lasts eight to ten minutes to execute (the Long Form version is a 20-minute routine). Each tape defines T'ai Chi and provides insight into its development, benefits, and philosophy. this is discussed as a practitioner demonstrates the routine in it entirety; bvoth tapes have this feature. Then Dunn begins with an extensive warm-up, followed by step-by-step instructions for the routines. Both versions contain a window that simultaneously provides a diffrent camera angle. In both versions, a musical sound track composed by Vangelis (chariots of Fire) accompanies the exercises. These videotapes provide support for students in formal classes as well as allow the curious viewer to see what T'ai Chi Ch'uan is all about. --Steven J. Mayover, Free Library of Philadelphia, in LIBRARY JOURNAL, June 15, 1990.
T'AI CHI FOR HEALTH: The Yang Short Form
T'ai Chi, an "internal" martial art that emphasizes circular fluid movements, is said to promote health, spiritual growth, and tranquility. Opening with a hypnotic seashore performance of the Yang short Form and a brief explanation of the history and philsophy of the discipline, this video then goes on to describe and demonstrate each of the 37 postures. Full-figure shots of veteran instructor Terry Dunn are augmented with inserts and close-ups. Dunn maintain viewer interest with his verbal imagery, clear instructions, and added philosophical notes. A companion to this no-frills production is the Yang Long Form, which demonstrates 108 postures. Adult. -- Candace Smith, BOOKLIST.
Responses to T'AI CHI FOR HEALTH videos from our viewers:
T'ai chi has been the only exercise I've found--and I've tried them all (!)--that relieves the stress and tension that I bring home from work. I haven't felt better in my life. Your tape is a great complement to your teaching. -- Robert Barry, President Barry Designs, Beverly Hills, CA
I've thorougly enjoyed withing with your videos. They are excellent in quality of teaching and very artistic. Your video has gotten me committed to seeking a teacher to practice seriously everyday. -- Gregory Stebbins, Management Consultant, Los Angeles, CA
Dear Terry, I have used your T'ai Chi tapes with great success in my work helping the disabled to regain their physical functioning. I am an occupational therapist working with stroke and head-injured patients. My patients like the approach so much that I am developing a funded "t'ai chi therapy" program at our clinic. -- Lisa Langer, Sands Point, NY...Your t'ai Chi lessons on video has helped me to gain better control over the stress in my life. thank you for your nice work. -- Lt. Gary Hall, Narcotics Division, LAPD
Terry, I can't tell you how much t'ai Chi ch'uan has contributed to my life. It's a fabulous art and health discipline which greatly relieves thestress in my career, and it has even enhanced my craft of acting by imparting greater poise, concentration, and spontaneity. Great stuff. -- Tate Donovan, actor, Los Angeles, CA
Dear Terry, I enjoy your t'ai chi for Health on video almost everyday. it's helped my practice greatly and I recommend it to all my friends and colleagues. I have written papers on this remarkable health practice to urge serious reserarch of its benefits by western medical science. Thank you again for a great job. -- Olgart Dalbert, M.D., Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, CA
I've found T'ai Chi to be a great meditation to balance the stress of everyday--and the perfect complement to a dancer's life. Thank you for your fine videos. They're a first! They are beautiful and very professionally done. -- Jodi Wintz, Ballet Coach, ex-Joffrey Co.
REVIEWS OF CHI KUNG FOR HEALTH VIDEOS
(Flying Phoenix Heavenly Healing Chi Meditations)
Wonderful, very intense, tons of material. Videos are an absolute need to continue. --John Wiik, St. Paul, MN
Your videos are remarkable. The effects I could feel right away in terms of increased energy were amazing and wonderful. I'm very glad I took the course. --Karen Duran, Minnneapolis, MN
Superb. I've used Terry Dunn's (t'ai chi) tapes for years as a supplement to my practice. I plan on using his chi kung tapes the same way. --Don Arenz, Iowa City, IA
Dear Mr. Dunn,
I've just got to write. The quality of your Flying Phoenix Heavenly healing Chi Meidtation is just great. Your production values are head and shoulders above so-called instructional tapes. I purchased the three tape set approximately in Ocotober of 1994. After some sorting out and trial and error I am concentrating on tape #3. I practiced the set many, many times and each time i see something new. Als you offer other tapes but I have not even learned tape 3 in depth. I must have 30 to 35 martial arts tapes and dozens of books on martial arts and chi kung. Plus I have taken chi kung seminars in Shanghai, China. Also I have not fully scratched the surface of tapes #1 and #2.
The quality, content and clarity of instruction are above anything I have experienced through any other means including two kung-fu schools and other tapes.
The bottom line is that I am one happy and healthy 54-year-old from practicing your instruction. My sincerest thanks. May Buddha Bless You. --David Bent, Washington Grove, MD
Dear Terry,There's chi kung and there's chi kung; and then there's the Flying Phoenix system. I cannot believe you put something as powerful and fast-acting as the Flying Phoenix Meditations on video. Publishing this incredible--and I dare say sacred--art on video shows your true generosity as a teacher. Again I'm amazed that you've broken with tradition and made this true health treasure available to all. Thank you so much. Best regards. --Paris Snyder, Santa Monica, CA
Review of Chi Kung For Health, Vols 1-3, by Tolala Towler, for Empty Vessel, Journal of Contemporay Taoism:
This video series by the well known qigong instructor, Terry Dunn, takes you step by step through the Flying Phoenix Heavenly healing Chi Meditations, a part of the martial, White Tiger Kung-fu, which was attributed to the Taoist monk Feng Do Duk, a legendary healer from Ehrmei Mountain in Szechuan province. He passed on the art to the ancestors of the Doo family in 1644.
As in most complete qigong schools, which usually include a standing, a sitting as well as moving forms, this series includes three volumes. The first, called Seven Standing Exercises, consists of seven standing meditations, each with distinct postures and breathing patterns. the video includes side views and panels explaining the breathing patterns and allowing us to view Terry's movements from different angles. It is said in the qigong world that to build qi you need to do standing meditation. Here we can learn seven different ways to do that.
In the second volume, called Ten Seated meditations, we are taught ten different seated meditations, again using various hand and body postures with poetic names such as Monk Holding the Pearl, Willow Leaf Palm, Wind Above the Clouds and Monk Gazing At the Moon.
We are taught basic breathing for meditation and then led slowly through various hand and body postures. The first four can be done singly for at least five minutes. The last six should be done sequentially in sets of seven repetitions for each exercise.
Volume Three is called Advanced Long Form Exercise and teaches a twenty-minute moving form. Building on what we learned in Volume One of the standing exercises, we ar led through this simple yet powerful qigong form. Terry guides us through the form in several creative ways, using different angles, including an overhead, so that we may view the movements from every way.
Because of the great interest in qigong in the West, it is important to have available bona fide teachings by bonafide teachers. Too often students end up learning a little bit of this form and a little bit of another, while never learning any complete system. This series is a good example of a serious and gifted instructor who offers a complete system of qigong to the serious student.
Reviews of Terry Dunn's CHI KUNG FOR HEALTH SEMINARS
Outstanding. On a scale of 1-10, I score it a 12+!! Extremely informative, practical and significantly energizing. --Dr. Gordon Mayfield, Madison, WI
I can already feel the benefits and am inspired to do more. It can be a meaningful process in my life as long as I practice. I have very skilled tools to do that now. --Pat Nolan, Wabasha, MN
Just excellent. Terry's emersion in the subject is obvious. A pleasure and privilege to study with him. --Dr. Gene M. Gudmundson, White Sulphur Springs, MT
Very Good. As a new comer to chi kung, I found the instruction very easy to follow and felt the effects immediately. Thank you so much for sharing your gift. -- J. Lloyd Blackwell, Grand Forks, ND
Hi Terry,
I really appreciated the Flying Phoenix class you taught in May in Minneapolis. I am impressed with the results so far. I had worked on your tapes before the class and found the class very interesting and am loving the extra insight to Flying Phoenix. By practicing the seated meditations or standing exercises, I have noticed a tremendous increase in my energy level and health. The increase is more marked with the seated exercises. The exercises just seemed to bring all my other training together and strengthen them. It was a real find for me...just what I was looking for. --Bruce E. Olson, Vernon Hills, Illinois
Dear Terry,
Thanks again for coming to St. Paul and teaching the Flying Phoenix Heavenly Healing Chi Meditations. As a novice when it comes to the field of Chi-Kung, I wondered if everything would be over my head. What I experienced was a workshop that was very accessible. Even though my mind and body wavered at times, I really enjoyed the intense work and I'm glad you were able to teach everything on your videos. At the workshop I began to experience some of the benefits that go along with the meditations and I know in the years to come the healing benefits will increase. I would like to wish you well with the Flying Phoneix workshops, Terry. I would recommend it to anyone interested in healing mind, body, soul, and spirit. --David Berglin, Duluth, MN
Outstanding in most respects, well worth the time, travel and money invested--all kinds of cool stuff to work on. -- James Boelter, Omaha, NE
This weekend has been the beginning of my life long journey and has affected me profoundly. Thank you for making this system of chi kung available. -- Jim Margis, River Falls, WI
Terry,
Bravo! Your "Flying Phoenix Heavenly healing Meditations" weekend workshop in St. Paul was superb! I believe that these Chi Kung exercises will prove invaluable for helping me balance and cultivate my energy. You have a real gift as a teacher, as evidenced by a thorough knowledge of the art, and the ability to transmit the material to your students. I plan to order your videotapes on the Meditations, as a reference for my practice. Thanks, again. --Dennis N. Heinke, Family Psychotherapist and t'ai chi ch'uan teacher, Appleton, Wisconsin.
Dear Mr. Dunn,
I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you doing the Flying Phoenix Heavenly Healing Chi Meditations seminar. I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and went away feeling as if I just found a buried treasure. These were three of the most profound days of my life. The series of Flying Phoenix meditations you taught were extremely powerful and yielded immediate benefits. The sensation of energy being cultivated and moving through my body after such a short period of time is very exciting.
This system of chi kung is of universal benefit and I hope people in the health and martial arts professions realize its tremendous value. They too will surely benefit by adding it to their current practices. I will continue to utilize these exercises for my own health and well being as well as the benefit of my staff and students downt he road. I know they will be just as excited as myself when they exprience the benefits of this powerful system.
I feel very fortunate to have been at the seminar and received so much benefit from your teaching and this system of energy cultivation. It was a truly a pleasure learning from you and I can't thank you enough for this gift of knowledge. It really is a treasure.
Sincerely and Gratefully,
Mark Goblowsky, President/Chief Instructor
American Academies fo Martial Arts, Inc., Bellevue, Nebraska
Interarts Productions, Inc.
1007 Montana Avenue, Suite 707
Santa Monica, CA 90403
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