Tai Chi Workout for Beginners

Rating:
Summary: Fun, Challenging, and Unique Workout
Review: After purchasing David Carradine's Chi Engery Workouts, I went out and purchased his other two AM & PM Tai Chi Workouts and Tai Chi Workout (this one). The Chi Energy Workout is my favorite, but these other two are terrific too. The other two DVD's have Arnold Tayam as the instructor, but not this DVD. The class participants are also different. I think this is a 1980's production based on the clothing and makeup of the students. I thought it was a bit corny at first, but it's actually a very fun, challenging, and unique workout.

The format is very similar to his other DVD's, the workout starts with stretching and connecting to your body. In this workout the stretching is a lot more like a yoga practice (which I loved!). Then, you work on basic stances and vital energy & fitness where you hold the stance and work on your leg muscles and strength and incorporate Chi Kung movements. I love these first few segments of the workout. David Carradine instructs them. Finally, you work on the Tai Chi individual movements and the complete form. David Nakahara I believe instructs this practice. I found this part a bit more difficult to follow than the other 2 DVDs, but I'm sure with practice I will get better.

The second workout included is called the Kung Fu workout. Again, you start out with stretching (called the Snake), and then move on to stances (called the Tiger), then kicking (the Leopard). Finally, you end with the combination (the Crane) and the spirit (the Dragon). It is a fun practice.

You also get a guided meditation on the DVD. They included a meditation on the AM & PM Tai Chi Workout and this one, but for some reason didn't include a meditation on the Chi Engery Workout DVD.

I would highly recommend David's 3-DVD set of Tai Chi workouts. You can read my other reviews on amazon.com.


Rating:
Summary: Try It!...You'll Love It!
Review: I work out every day. I vary my workouts between weight training, aerobics,upper and lower body days, some Yoga and some Pilates. I started incorporating this "Tai Chi Workout for Beginners" about 6 weeks ago, and now it is the one I use the most. If I had to choose only one, this would be it! With each session it leaves me feeling strong and rejuvinated, it is a feeling that is almost euphoric that I carry with me long after the workout.

As a total newbie to Tai Chi, I am glad I started with this one and would highly recommend it to others who want to learn from a great instructor.David Carradine, who we all know and love as "Grasshopper" from the Kung Fu TV series, will immediately put you at ease with his soft voice, and expertly and gently guide you through the entire workout.

The program breaks down to five sequences of movements and then on to a meditation sequence that is indescribably wonderful.
First up is about 15 minutes of specific stretching exercises, that will get the blood flowing and the muscles warmed up. If you practice Yoga, you will probably be flexible enough to perform these easily. If you are not as flexible, go slow, there is a lot of twisting and strectching, and the more you practice these, the more flexible you will become. Next up you will learn the Basic Stances of Tai Chi, which also take a bit of practice to get down, then on to some Vital Engery and Fitness exercises in which you will actually feel the stress leaving your body and the engery entering. After that, Indiviual Tai Chi Movements(a master instructor is on hand to demonstrate at this point) are practiced and then it is all put together in Complete Tai Chi Form.

The total workout is a little over an hour, and I will tell you that you are getting quite a workout and won't even realize it. There isn't one part of your body that is missed. It will leave you stress free, toned and more flexible physically and mentally. The meditation sequence as mentioned is also wonderfully calming. Carradine is always encouraging, and makes you feel perfectly fine to go at your own pace.

And there's more..you really get your money's worth on this DVD. You will also find a Kung Fu Session which also includes stretching,stance training, some kicking exercises, combination exercises and the philospophy.

Other features include four songs by Carradine and an interview.
The music is light, refreshing and will help ease you into this gentle but highly effective workout. No special equipment is needed. The class is wearing some sort of jump suits(that looked like something out of the Jetsons) and were wearing sneakers. I usually do the workout in just some comfortable clothing that moves easily, and barefoot on my Yoga sticky mat.

I absolutely loved this workout and the class. It gave me a fabulous introduction to Tai Chi, was a great workout, left me feeling wonderful(and even feeling a little more graceful then before) and wanting to come back for more.

Try it...you'll love it!...Thanks "Grasshopper"
Remember to breathe, eat healthy and enjoy!....Laurie

Rating:
Summary: Try It!...You'll Love It!
Review: I work out every day. I vary my workouts between weight training, aerobics,upper and lower body days, some Yoga and some Pilates. I started incorporating this "Tai Chi Workout for Beginners" about 6 weeks ago, and now it is the one I use the most. If I had to choose only one, this would be it! With each session it leaves me feeling strong and rejuvinated, it is a feeling that is almost euphoric that I carry with me long after the workout.

As a total newbie to Tai Chi, I am glad I started with this one and would highly recommend it to others who want to learn from a great instructor.David Carradine, who we all know and love as "Grasshopper" from the Kung Fu TV series, will immediately put you at ease with his soft voice, and expertly and gently guide you through the entire workout.

The program breaks down to five sequences of movements and then on to a meditation sequence that is indescribably wonderful.
First up is about 15 minutes of specific stretching exercises, that will get the blood flowing and the muscles warmed up. If you practice Yoga, you will probably be flexible enough to perform these easily. If you are not as flexible, go slow, there is a lot of twisting and strectching, and the more you practice these, the more flexible you will become. Next up you will learn the Basic Stances of Tai Chi, which also take a bit of practice to get down, then on to some Vital Engery and Fitness exercises in which you will actually feel the stress leaving your body and the engery entering. After that, Indiviual Tai Chi Movements(a master instructor is on hand to demonstrate at this point) are practiced and then it is all put together in Complete Tai Chi Form.

The total workout is a little over an hour, and I will tell you that you are getting quite a workout and won't even realize it. There isn't one part of your body that is missed. It will leave you stress free, toned and more flexible physically and mentally. The meditation sequence as mentioned is also wonderfully calming. Carradine is always encouraging, and makes you feel perfectly fine to go at your own pace.

And there's more..you really get your money's worth on this DVD. You will also find a Kung Fu Session which also includes stretching,stance training, some kicking exercises, combination exercises and the philospophy.

Other features include four songs by Carradine and an interview.
The music is light, refreshing and will help ease you into this gentle but highly effective workout. No special equipment is needed. The class is wearing some sort of jump suits(that looked like something out of the Jetsons) and were wearing sneakers. I usually do the workout in just some comfortable clothing that moves easily, and barefoot on my Yoga sticky mat.

I absolutely loved this workout and the class. It gave me a fabulous introduction to Tai Chi, was a great workout, left me feeling wonderful(and even feeling a little more graceful then before) and wanting to come back for more.

Try it...you'll love it!...Thanks "Grasshopper"
Remember to breathe, eat healthy and enjoy!....Laurie

Rating:
Summary: This DVD is a compilation of his 1987 TC and KF videos.
Review: If you have the VHS tapes he made in 1987 - "David Carradine: T'ai Chi Workout" (ASIN: B00000DGGX or ASIN: 6302817668) and "David Carradine's Kung Fu Workout" (ASIN: 6302702844) - then there is not really anything new here in the workout sections. However, for those who have been waiting for him to put those 1987 workouts on DVD, this is it! They're both here. I really liked his "Shaolin Cardio Kickbox" tape. I haven't seen the "Shaolin Strength Workout" tape yet, but I'll probably get both when he releases them on DVD. Maybe he'll put both Shaolin workouts on the same DVD!

Rating:
Summary: This DVD is a compilation of his 1987 TC and KF videos.
Review: If you have the VHS tapes he made in 1987 - "David Carradine: T'ai Chi Workout" (ASIN: B00000DGGX or ASIN: 6302817668) and "David Carradine's Kung Fu Workout" (ASIN: 6302702844) - then there is not really anything new here in the workout sections. However, for those who have been waiting for him to put those 1987 workouts on DVD, this is it! They're both here. I really liked his "Shaolin Cardio Kickbox" tape. I haven't seen the "Shaolin Strength Workout" tape yet, but I'll probably get both when he releases them on DVD. Maybe he'll put both Shaolin workouts on the same DVD!

Rating:
Summary: Ok, but could be more
Review: The workout is wonderful, and the instructions are very good. I found it very easy to follow the excerizes. I did find it somewhat disappointing in the end, however. While the music is beautiful, it reminded me of what you would find in an elevator. I was hoping for more traditional music in the program. The choice of class members in the background was also somewhat disappointing. Some of them seemed to be only there to push air around and did not seem to have grasped the concept of moving chi energy. I have not watched it since the first time.

Rating:
Summary: Junk that trades on Carradine's celebrity status
Review: This video is big on looks but is obviously designed to play to the gullible that think Carradine is the character he played on TV (some 30 years ago!) He was a dancer, not a martial artist and this shows. Some of the dancers in the background cant even keep together, making this video really a joke. Some gratuitous plugs for his other videos are here this masquerading as instruction. Save your money !