Watch Mastering Tai Chi

Name: Mastering Tai Chi
Released: 2016-09-23
Cast: David-Dorian Ross

2016
1 Season

Mastering Tai Chi is a highly informative course that teaches the viewer various techniques of Tai Chi, a Chinese martial art. The course is tutored by Tai Chi expert David-Dorian Ross, who has more than 25 years of experience in teaching Tai Chi to thousands of students.

The course is divided into various sections, each of which is designed to help the viewer master a specific aspect of Tai Chi. The first part of the course introduces the viewer to the basic principles of Tai Chi, and its history and philosophy. The viewer is also taught various warm-up exercises that help in loosening up the body and improve flexibility.

The next section of the course delves into the various Tai Chi postures, which are the foundation of the practice. David-Dorian Ross teaches the viewer the basic routine of Tai Chi postures, which includes the "brush knee" posture, "play guitar" posture, "grasp bird's tail" posture, and many others. The viewer is taken through the postures step-by-step, with clear instructions on how to execute each posture correctly.

The course also includes a section on Tai Chi's breathing techniques, which are an important part of the practice. David-Dorian Ross demonstrates various breathing techniques, such as "full breath," "half breath," and "reverse breath." He explains how each of these techniques can be used to improve the body's energy flow and help the practitioner to relax.

In another section of the course, David-Dorian Ross teaches the viewer how to use Tai Chi to combat stress and anxiety. He explains that Tai Chi can help in channeling negative energy and promoting inner peace. He demonstrates various Tai Chi movements that are specifically designed to help the practitioner relax and de-stress.

The course also teaches the viewer how to use Tai Chi for self-defense. David-Dorian Ross takes the viewer through a series of moves that can be used to defend oneself in case of an attack. He explains how Tai Chi can be used to redirect the attacker's energy and use it against them.

The final section of the course is a full Tai Chi routine that combines all the techniques taught in the course. David-Dorian Ross takes the viewer through the routine step-by-step, with clear instructions on how to execute each move correctly.

Throughout the course, David-Dorian Ross emphasizes the importance of practicing Tai Chi regularly. He explains that Tai Chi is not just a martial art or a form of exercise, but a way of life that promotes mind-body harmony.

Overall, Mastering Tai Chi is an excellent course for anyone interested in learning Tai Chi, whether they are a beginner or an advanced practitioner. David-Dorian Ross's clear and concise instructions, combined with his extensive knowledge of Tai Chi, make this course highly informative and engaging.

Mastering Tai Chi is a series that ran for 1 seasons (24 episodes) between September 23, 2016 and on The Great Courses Signature Collection

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Seasons

24. Another River to Cross

September 23, 2016

Add the last movements of the form: shoot the tiger, sealing and closing, cross hands, and closing form. 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-because studying the art of tai chi chuan yields rewards for a lifetime.

23. Conserve Your Energy

September 23, 2016

Discover the sources of the chi in your body, and consider the importance of circulating and cultivating the chi. Deeper states of relaxation permit smoother and more complete circulation, and the cultivation of chi refines and purifies your energy. This gives you more power-and allows you to conserve it.

22. Lotus Kick and Laughing Buddha

September 23, 2016

Listen to the tale of the wandering monk and the two temple brothers, contemplate the Laughing Buddha, and gain an appreciation of the importance of not taking life too seriously. 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.

21. Five Stages of Mastery

September 23, 2016

Tai chi is a living art that grows and changes, as it has always been. Hear the story of Chen Won Tang, one of the most influential tai chi masters in history, and draw inspiration from his innovation and leadership. Learn a new hand position that is used in the form movement seven stars posture.

20. Partners: The Whole Body Is the Hand

September 23, 2016

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. The secret: instead of focusing on how to defeat the opponent, a tai chi master focuses on recreating harmony.

19. Qigong Breathing

September 23, 2016

Deepen your understanding by reviewing all the movements you've learned so far, focusing on your internal sensations as you gently and continuously flow from movement to movement. Explore qigong meditative breathing, and uncover how the breath creates the continuous link from intentions to chi to body.

18. The Peaceful Warrior

September 23, 2016

Continue your consideration of the eight original intentions and their application to conflict. 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. Learn the next movements in the form: rooster stands on one leg and punch groin.

17. Bouncing Away Conflict

September 23, 2016

Explore the eight original intentions of tai chi, and see how they are exemplified in the form movements. These eight concepts also have practical applications in your daily life as conflict management strategies. Consider how to deal with conflict, and learn some stretches that will help you with the next form movement: snake creeps down.

16. A Movable Meditation

September 23, 2016

Tai chi is both moving meditation and movable meditation-you can perform the form anywhere, and you 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.

15. Legs to Arms: Connecting Upper and Lower

September 23, 2016

Discover the history, philosophy, and importance of tea in tai chi. As you savor this knowledge, contemplate the next tai chi principle: connecting upper with lower. 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 through the form movements of this ancient art.

14. Transitions as Smooth as Silk

September 23, 2016

Explore the history of silk and its connection to the principles of tai chi. Learn exercises to develop the motions of silk reeling and silk pulling, which are advanced techniques hidden within many form movements. 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.

13. Bring Out Your Flow

September 23, 2016

Tai chi relies on continuous, harmonious motion, or flow. 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 Mr. Ross demonstrate flow with the tai chi staff, and review all of the form movements that you have learned so far.

12. Chest, Posture, and the Natural Curve

September 23, 2016

Watch Mr. Ross with the tai chi straight sword, moving in tai chi's 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.

11. Inside Reflects the Outside

September 23, 2016

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.

10. Shoulders: Finding Reasons to Let Go

September 23, 2016

Tai chi becomes easy when you let go of mental and physical resistance and tension. By sinking the shoulders and relaxing the elbows, you improve your flow. Incorporate pivots to adjust your steps and alignment, and discover when the hands move in different rhythms. Learn the move cloud hands.

9. Feet: Separate Empty from Full

September 23, 2016

Begin with a new stepping practice to get you focused on footwork. To have the proper balance and leverage, it's important to know which foot is weighted, or full, and which is empty-and 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.

8. Hips and Waist: The Center Is the Commander

September 23, 2016

In tai chi, the whole body is connected in smooth motion, and the hips and waist lead the movement. 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.

7. Practicing in a Small Space

September 23, 2016

Learn the qigong form 8 pieces of brocade, which is an excellent warm-up or adjunct to tai chi chuan. Review all of the moves you have learned so far, and get strategies for how to do the form in a small space. With these techniques, you can practice anywhere-which means you'll practice more often.

6. The Bow and Arrow

September 23, 2016

A tai chi master is like an archer who never misses a target. Gaining clarity and calm through practice, you will learn to craft noble desires like straight arrows and release them from your bow with the force of 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.

5. Taming the Monkey Mind

September 23, 2016

The monkey represents our impulses, uncontrolled thoughts, desires, and flight/fight/freeze responses. Practice taming the monkey mind, cultivating the chi and the 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.

4. Mind over Muscles

September 23, 2016

The power in tai chi comes from your intention-your mind and will-not the physical exertion of your body. 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. Learn the next two form movements: white crane spreads its wings and brush knee and twist step.

3. Walking like a Cat

September 23, 2016

Movements in tai chi are graceful, balanced, and unhurried, and 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.

2. Harmony Is the Ultimate Goal

September 23, 2016

Continue your study of the principles of tai chi with the art's 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. Learn the first two movements of the Yang-style 40 form: commencing and grasp the bird's tail.

1. The Path toward Mastery

September 23, 2016

Welcome to the guan, or tai chi studio. Start your journey on the path of mastery by discovering how taijiquan is a complex system that weaves together martial artistry, the pursuit of health and longevity, and the philosophy of harmony and balance. Then, practice several stances that you will use throughout the Yang-style 40-movement form, and learn your first tai chi principle.

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Where to Watch Mastering Tai Chi

Mastering Tai Chi is available for streaming on the The Great Courses Signature Collection website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Mastering Tai Chi on demand at Amazon and Hoopla.