Product Description
-------------------
The Root of Long Weapons Training. Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming
teaches Staff fundamental training and partner matching practice.
The techniques are compiled from Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) and
Shaolin White Crane Gongfu (Kung Fu), offering uniquely
comprehensive instruction of Southern-style Soft and Soft-Hard
Staff training. Techniques include: Sliding Striking Stinging
Coil Stinging Blocking / Bouncing Point Striking Chopping Staff
Sparring Advance-Retreating Circle-Sealing Four Corners
Repel-Neutralizing Follow-Neutralizing Entering Four Sides of
Staff Sealing Step Forward to Seal the Staff Sweeping Strikes in
4 Directions Matching Fundamentals Dr. Yang offers detailed
instruction for each movement, and corrections while students
demonstrate, making it easy for the viewer to refine their staff
technique. Staff training develops the fundamental skills
required for all other long weapons training, and it is
traditionally the first long weapon learned in Chinese martial
arts.
Review
------
The staff is a logical first choice for anyone
interested in weapons training, as it teaches 70% of the skills
needed for the majority of long weapons, as Master Yang explains
at the beginning of this DVD. This DVD is an excellent
introduction to learning staff, as Master Yang does it right by
teaching a very strong foundation to the student. I have numerous
tapes and DVDs that I purchased over the years that are nice to
watch, as they show wonderful demonstrations of various staff and
weapons forms. However, the majority of these DVDs and tapes do
not include any basic training, or if they do it is very minimal.
I dare say that although Master Yang is already known for
providing good foundation training in all of his productions,
this DVD is at the top of the list for teaching a very thorough
and complete foundation prior to teaching any kind of form. This
DVD is made up of three sections, of which the first two sections
were previously available on separate VHS. The first section of
the DVD teaches 6 techniques, the second section 6 more
techniques and the third section includes two man drills that
cover numerous techniques as well as some free sparring at the
end, with the participants wearing protective equipment. Master
Yang studied the staff while training in White Crane, Tiger, Long
Fist and Taijiquan. He talks about how each of these styles have
various techniques and training methods to offer the student, yet
each of them is also missing parts of the process. Master Yang
has taken the best of Shaolin and Taijiquan techniques and
training methods and combined them with the soft style of White
Crane staff. The contents of the DVD are as follows: Section One
· Sliding · Sliding Stinging · Chopping · Coil Stinging ·
Advance-Retreating Circle Sealing · Four Corners Repel
Neutralizing Section Two · Following-Neutralizing Entering ·
Blocking / Bouncing · Four Sides of Staff Sealing · Step Forward
to Seal the Staff · Point Striking · Sweeping Strikes in Four
Directions Section Three · Coil Stinging · Up Coiling · Side
Coiling · Center Stinging · Four Corners Repel Neutralizing ·
Four Corners Sliding Strike · Four Corners Diagonal Strike ·
Bouncing · Groin Scooping Strike · Step Forward to Seal the Staff
· Short Matching · Free Sparring SECTIONS ONE AND TWO (12
TECHNIQUES) In the first two sections of this DVD, the techniques
are demonstrated by three different students. These
demonstrations are done sequentially instead of simultaneously.
This offers the benefit of being able to focus on one
demonstrator at a time. Each of the students of Master Yang bring
different skills to the demonstration, as well as different
weaknesses. Master Yang can be heard giving corrections from off
screen. The techniques in the first two sections are demonstrated
by each of the three students in a stationary pose, while moving,
with a normal grip and with a reverse grip. At times the students
make mistakes or seem to forget a move for a second or two.
However, as one student might be better from a technical point of
view, another brings more intent to the moves. The moves are
learned fast, so that the student can feel the move and better be
able to produce power. Over time the moves can be done more
slowly, while focusing on coordinating the breath and the
movements. This leads to more internal power. --Google
SECTION THREE (2 MAN DRILLS AND SPARRING) In section three,
Master Yang is shown demonstrating all of the techniques. He then
either demonstrates their usage with another student in a two
person drill, or he has two students demonstrate the two person
drill for that particular technique, while wearing protective
head, wrist and hand gear. This section brings a better
understanding of not only how the techniques actually work, but
also demonstrate the effectiveness of the techniques. At the end
of section three the students take turns in having two man free
sparring with the staffs. I was very happy to find this section,
as in sections one and two Master Yang does not make much of an
appearance, as he has his students do the majority of the
demonstrations. In section three Master Yang spends a great deal
of time demonstrating techniques and is much more hands-on with
the process. This DVD is valuable to all practitioners that are
interested in learning weapons or enhancing their understanding
of how to apply power, even without weapons usage. The techniques
used in staff fighting displayed on this DVD display many of the
concepts and techniques that are so integral to Taijiquan.
--Google