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Mastering Tai Chi

$49.99

At a Glance:

In-depth Instruction; over 752 mins
On-demand video access anytime
Bonus downloadable PDF resources
Access to class Q&A

Item: W01591E

Description

Start your journey of personal mastery with internationally acclaimed tai chi master David-Dorian Ross. Follow along as he takes you deep into the principles of this ancient Chinese practice as well as its long history, classic texts, and techniques to strengthen you body and mind. Along the way, you’ll master the Yang-style 40-movement form and discover a set of mental tools that you can apply in all areas of your life.

Class Sessions

The Path Towards Mastery

The Path Towards Mastery

36:52

Welcome to the guan, or tai chi studio. Start your journey on the path of mastery as David-Dorian Ross explains how taijiquan is a complex system that weaves together martial artistry, the pursuit of health and longevity, and the philosophy of harmony and balance. Practice several stances that you'll use throughout the Yang-style 40-movement form, then learn your first tai chi principle.

Harmony Is the Ultimate Goal

Harmony Is the Ultimate Goal

32:15

Continue your study of tai chi's principles with its most fundamental concept: When you're in harmony and balance, everything works better. Consider how this applies to your body, your mind, and your relationships with others. Then learn the first two movements of the Yang-style 40 form: Commencing and Grasp the Bird's Tail.

Walking Like a Cat

Walking Like a Cat

31:47

Movements in tai chi are graceful, balanced and unhurried. This is accomplished through mindful awareness of your body, thoughts and emotions. Mindfulness is an essential element of tai chi and a vital tool for a harmonious life. Use this awareness as you learn the next two movements of the form: Single Whip, and Step Up and Raise Hands.

Mind Over Muscles

Mind Over Muscles

28:24

Muscular tension and emotional stress inhibit the flow of chi and waste your energy, making you weaker. Feel the strength and power within softness as you move with a weighted tai chi ball. After that, learn the next two form movements: White Crane Spreads its Wings, and Brush Knee and Twist Step.

Taming the Monkey Mind

Taming the Monkey Mind

30:47

The monkey represents our impulses, uncontrolled thoughts, desires, and fight-or-flight responses. Practice taming the monkey mind, cultivating chi and character by releasing points of tension, clearing energetic bottlenecks, and accumulating merit and virtue. Continue your study of the form with the Hands Strum the Pipa, and Parry and Punch.

The Bow & Arrow

The Bow & Arrow

28:26

A tai chi master is like an archer who never misses a target. Gaining clarity and calm through practice, learn to craft noble desires like straight arrows and release them from your bow with your intent to manifest in the world. Ponder the power of your focused will, and learn the next form movements: Sealing and Closing, and Diagonal Flying.

Practicing in a Small Space

Practicing in a Small Space

31:28

Learn the qigong form Eight Pieces of Brocade, which is an excellent warm-up or adjunct to tai chi chuan. Review all of the moves you've learned so far, and get strategies for doing the form in a small space. With these techniques, you can practice anywhere, which means you can practice more often!

Hips & Waist: The Center Is the Commander

Hips & Waist: The Center Is the Commander

29:38

Relax your midsection and low back, and practice with the weighted tai chi ball to help you get the feeling of circling and spiraling. Continue with the next movements in the form: Punch Under Elbow and Repulse the Monkey.

Feet: Separate Empty From Full

Feet: Separate Empty From Full

31:08

Focus on footwork with a new stepping practice. Understand which foot is weighted or full, and which is empty to shift your weight smoothly and completely. Apply this new insight to the next form movements: Fair Lady Works at the Shuttles and Part the Horse's Mane.

Shoulders: Finding Reasons to Let Go

Shoulders: Finding Reasons to Let Go

31:02

By sinking the shoulders and relaxing the elbows, you improve your flow. Incorporate pivots to adjust your steps and alignment, and see when the hands move in different rhythms. Afterwards, learn the move Cloud Hands.

Inside Reflects the Outside

Inside Reflects the Outside

31:43

When your clear intention guides the chi and the chi directs the body, then your external actions are a reflection of your internal motivations. This unifies you into a coherent being, physicality led by spirit. Continue your study of the form with High Pat on Horse and Kick with Right Heel.

Chest, Posture & the Natural Curve

Chest, Posture & the Natural Curve

30:22

Watch as your instructor moves with the tai chi straight sword in circles and spirals that are natural to the body. Your body has five natural curves, or bows, that increase the power of your movements. Learn relaxed postures that emphasize these gentle curves, and maintain your awareness of the body bows as you learn Box Both Ears and Separate the Left Foot.

Bring Out Your Flow

Bring Out Your Flow

30:27

Maintaining your physical flow supports your ability to connect with universal flow: the exchange of ideas, information and energy that creates new things in the world. Watch as your instructor demonstrate flow with the tai chi staff. Then review all of the form movements that you've learned so far.

Transitions as Smooth as Silk

Transitions as Smooth as Silk

31:59

Explore the history of silk and its connection to the principles of tai chi. Practice exercises to develop the motions of silk reeling and silk pulling. Afterwards, feel this smoothness and connection as you continue with the form with Turn Body and Kick with Heel, and Needle at the Bottom of the Sea.

Legs to Arms: Connecting Upper & Lower

Legs to Arms: Connecting Upper & Lower

30:46

The upper body moves in coordination with the lower body, and the energy at the top of the head is connected to the energy at the bottoms of the feet. Maintain this connection in the form movements Open Arms Like a Fan and Snake Sticks Out its Tongue.

A Movable Meditation

A Movable Meditation

30:12

Tai chi is both a moving meditation and movable meditation; you can perform the form anywhere and carry the mental aspects with you in every situation. This exemplifies the principle of tranquility within movement, and movement within tranquility. Continue your study of the form with Turn and Pat the Foot, and Ride the Tiger.

Bouncing Away Conflict

Bouncing Away Conflict

32:50

Explore the eight original intentions of tai chi and see how they're exemplified in the form movements. Also, consider how to deal with conflict and learn some stretches that will help you with the next form movement: Snake Creeps Down.

The Peaceful Warrior

The Peaceful Warrior

31:58

Ponder the wisdom of the Dao De Jing and discover the five recommendations for cultivating the spirit of a peaceful warrior, as codified by the legendary founder of tai chi. After that, learn the next movements in the form: Rooster Stands on One Leg and Punch Groin.

Qigong Breathing

Qigong Breathing

32:52

Deepen your understanding by reviewing all the movements you've learned so far. Afterwards, explore qigong meditative breathing, and uncover how the breath creates the continuous link from intentions to chi to body.

Partners: The Whole Body Is the Hand

Partners: The Whole Body Is the Hand

31:31

Learn the game of pushing hands with a partner, an essential pillar of tai chi chuan. This exercise will increase your sensitivity and understanding as well as your martial prowess. Instead of focusing on how to defeat the opponent, a tai chi master focuses on re-creating harmony.

Five Stages of Mastery

Five Stages of Mastery

30:35

Listen to the story of Chen Won Tang, one of the most influential tai chi masters in history, and draw inspiration from his innovation and leadership. Then practice a new hand position that is used in the form movement Seven Stars Posture.

Lotus Kick & Laughing Buddha

Lotus Kick & Laughing Buddha

30:13

The Wu way of non-striving allows you to let go of control, tension and expectation. Keep this playful attitude as you step back to Ride the Tiger, and Turn Body and Lotus Kick.

Conserve Your Energy

Conserve Your Energy

32:54

Discover the sources of chi in your body, considering the importance of circulating and cultivating the chi. This will give you more power and help you conserve it.

Another River to Cross

Another River to Cross

31:36

Add the last movements of the form: Shoot the Tiger, Sealing and Closing, Cross Hands, and Closing Form. Then go through the entire 40-movement form, feeling the flow. Ponder the significance of your journey to tai chi mastery and consider the next steps on your path.

Your Instructor

David-Dorian Ross

David-Dorian Ross is the founder and CEO of TaijiFit and the creator of the TaijiFit mind-body exercise program. He holds a B.A. in Human Movement Studies from San Francisco State University and has completed graduate course work in physical education and Chinese. Trained in China with championship martial arts coaches, he has had an illustrious career in competitive tai chi, winning seven U.S. gold medals, two world bronze medals, and a world silver medal, the highest awards ever given to an American for international tai chi performance.

David-Dorian Ross

Bonus Material

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