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Shanti School of Internal Martial Arts
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Southwestern Colorado, USA
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Tai Chi Videos with George Xu and Internal Martial Arts Masters

Five New Advanced Training Videos for 2009!

For a limited time only, order the first two DVDs, 18 Circles for Power and Martial Qigong, and receive Workshop Drills for FREE! $49.90

New! 18 Circles for Power, Mass, Speed & Freedom. Advanced Training Exercises for Martial Power with Master George Xu.
Master George Xu and Susan A. Matthews discuss, demonstrate, and test key principles of Chinese internal martial arts during an indoor practice session conducted in Matthew's studio in Southwestern, Colorado in April 2009. Third in a series of indoor study DVDs, this one is full of martial applications, currently in great demand among practitioners around the world. Master Xu presents specific aspects of his predator theory in the clearest language to date, emphasizing internal goals of maximum power, weight, speed, and freedom.

Viewers will benefit from Master Xu's advanced explanations of internal power and application demonstrations, while also being able to train along with him as he drills single moves. As he normally does in practice sessions, he selects basic moves from fighting styles he has mastered in his 45 year practice of Chinese internal martial arts: Martial Qigong, Lan Shou Quan, Chen Style Taijiquan, and Xing-yi Quan.

Between moves he demonstrates with Shifu Matthews the move's application and explains the internal details of his unique theory. You'll hear him discuss what he calls "energy techniques," such as "shrink and expand," "melt," "qi go through," "suck in the legs and arms," "subconscious body," "space power," "return to the baby," "pure internal," and the "third hand." Master Xu also talks about four types of exercise, or levels of ability, developed during a life of martial arts training, giving their names in Chinese as well as English.

Master Xu's predator theory comes together like never before in this video, making it more accessible to average practitioners, while also refining our link to traditional Chinese internal martial arts practice. In this latest of many video lessons that Master Xu has graciously contributed to, he offers new insights not only into internal secrets, but also into a whole system of knowledge. ©2009 Length: 1 hour, 35 minutes. $29.95

New! Martial Qigong with Master George Xu.
Master George Xu delivers two lectures during his recent workshop in Southwestern, Colorado. Space Power and key exercises for the prevention of stroke. ©2009 Length: 51 min. $19.95
Includes:
Qigong Exercises - Shrinking and expanding the Qi throughout the wole body, all directions
Space Power - Harmonizing the external Qi with internal Qi, retun to the baby, physical becomes unconscious like an ocean in space.
Qi going through whole body, energy sinking to earth.
Third Hand - Bai Hui to Hui Yin shrink/expand, front/back, up/down simultaneously moving.
Breathing Techniques - Back open/close and diaphram breathing.
Stroke Prevention with neck and head exercises, 10 movements..
Head and neck massage for Qi and blood circulation..

New! Workshop Drills and Lecture Out Takes with Master George Xu.
In the third DVD of this series Master George Xu leads walking drills, mostly Xing-Yi, demonstrating his awareness and use of space as a source of power and control over the physical movement. He and students also practice 14 Circles Drill, basic moves with information on internal neijing and descriptions of the "shape of qi," shrinking/expanding and reaction force. He also describes training and developing the energy of the six muscle groups of the back, making it liquid, and organizing the back to control the legs and arms. He ends by giving an excellent discussion on "What is Qi?" and goes on to describe how Qi is generated out of movement. ©2009 Length: 35 min. $10.95

For a limited time only, order the first two DVDs, 18 Circles for Power and Martial Qigong, and receive Workshop Drills for FREE! $49.90

New! Special Edition two-DVD set Celebrates 20 years of Hosting Visiting Teachers from China

In this Special Edition two-DVD set celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the George Xu Summer Camp at La Honda, California, Master George Xu and Master Yu Xiao Lin present single-move drills, qigong sets, and form demonstrations. Master Xu, who has hosted many masters from China every June in the serene coastal redwoods, was honored for his dedication to introducing traditional Chinese internal martial arts to practitioners in the United States. These special DVDs share in his effort to expand knowledge and practice of taijiquan and other internal martial arts in the West.

Each DVD in this two-DVD set is devoted to the lessons of each teacher. Masters Xu and Yu share diverse, yet complementary, information reflecting their backgrounds and teaching methods. Viewers can easily follow along as you would in an actual class session.

In Part One, Master Xu lectures on his “predator” theory to help participants understand key fighting principles: the four maximums—power, weight, speed and freedom; and the four “uns” un-understandable, un-resistible, unbreakable, and unpredictable. Master Xu’s lectures highlight Earth power, or the return of qi from the Earth, which each movement. This is not the highest level, he says, but it is one that many have a good chance of achieving. Also contained in the DVD is Master Xu leading Xing-Yi drills and an extensive number of basic movements. His repetitive and rhythmic drills are great exercises for loosening tight shoulders, for cultivating stronger connectivity, and allowing qi to flow. Master Xu also does two sessions of Huen Yuan Qigong, including 11 different circle movements each. He taught Chen Style broadsword during the camp, which he demonstrates at the end of Part One. He also demos the first section of his Chen Style form during the camp’s demo night.

In Part Two, Master Yu, who is 70 years old and has practiced traditional Chinese martial arts for 55 years, demonstrates several form styles, including Wu Style (Wu Yu Xiang), Chen Style (three variations, including a fa jing form) and the very old Yang Ban Hou and Yang Jiang Hou forms, which are little known even in China. Both forms come from the sons of Yang Lu Chan who developed the Yang Style form and system. Yang Jiang Hou has been called the historical “missing link” bridging Chen and Yang styles. In an indoor class setting, Master Yu also shows push hands principles of peng, liu, ji, an, li, tsai, shou, and cao. Assisted by students, he demonstrates variations in close-up detail for viewers to learn from. He also includes in his lessons eight walking drills that complement form training. Throughout camp, Master Yu emphasized relaxation (fang song), rounding out the five-day training with a qigong for health set of only four moves.

Both masters demonstrate applications of some of the movements practiced during class sessions and demonstrations. All in all, this DVD set is a great addition to the library of practitioners interested in Master Xu’s latest expressions of his predator theory in lecture and practice and in capturing rarely seen Yang Ban Hou and Yang Jiang Hou forms. Whatever your specific interests, you will be contributing to the continuing effort to preserve knowledge and practice of traditional Chinese internal martial arts. ©2009 $49.95.

"Short, but this little piece of the form shows a ton of the energetics that most practitioners will never get to experience. A.P."

China Camp 2007 Basic and Advanced Training Exercises with Master George Xu (Xu Guo Ming).
Two-DVD set in which Master Xu shares his latest information in 2 hours of drills, application demonstrations, and lecture in early morning practice sessions at China Camp 2007. The information in these two before-breakfast class sessions in front of the Tian Lun Hotel, San Qing Shan, Jiangxi Province, China is very well-presented and makes up a very comprehensive review of Master Xu's signature techniques and principles. Whether you have trained with him extensively, or never, these videos are worth having. Beginners and advanced alike can benefit from them. Length-95:52 min. & 61:08 min. Two DVDs for $49.95, plus S&H. Watch another Video clip

George Xu Lecture on Chen Style Taijiquan. Xu discusses using the energy of the predator in your practice. He lists eight things describing what Chinese internal martial arts are for him. The information in this video complements his Basic and Advanced Training DVDs to round out an up-to-date and comprehensive presentation of Master Xu's signature principles and applications. You probably can't find a more-comprehensive presentation in a single DVD. Length-59:16 min. $19.95, plus S&H.

 

Wang LabelDoctor Wang Zhi Xiang Lecture on Bamen Wu Bu at China Camp 2004

Dr. Wang gives a highly intellectual and informative lecture on the 12 elements required in taijiquan form and application. He describes and illustrates Bamen Wu Bu, eight-directional energetic force and the four elements, earth, wind, fire and water in taijiquan. This is one of the best, or perhaps the best lecture from both 2004 and 2007 camps (along with George's lecture described above). Expertly translated and interpreted by Paul Leu. You will want more after hearing this lecture. We recommend China Camp Out Takes 2004 (below) which contains his set of basic exercises and Yang Style Form. $19.95 plus S&H.

China Camp 2004 Out Takes:

Demonstrations, Exercises and Field Trip Montage. This DVD contains demonstrations from China Camp 2004 in Shanghai and Souzhou, China. Traditional Wu with Xu Guo Chang; Wu Style with Wang Hao Da's student, Zang Xie Xing; Lan Shou with Wu Ji; Tong Bei Demo; Chen Style; Liu He Ba Fa with Yun Yin Sen, and more demonstrations. Yang Style Basics and Form with Dr. Wang Zhi Xiang, Tong Bei Style Basics and Form with Wu Mao Gui. Montage of scenes and sounds of our field trips. Includes Scene Selections for easy and quick navigation. Play whole movie or jump to your favorite sections. $24.95

 

What is Tai Chi, Really? George Xu Answers

Tai chi has a long history in China. Long ago, martial artists in China discovered that using "internal" principles in the practice of taijiquan improved their health overall as well as their fighting skills. During recent years, tai chi has been increasingly recognized among westerners for its great health benefits. Highly-accomplished Chinese tai chi "masters" who have come to the United States since before the 1970s deserve credit for introducing tai chi to the western world.

In What is Tai Chi, Really? Master George Xu, with Susan Matthews assisting, discusses and demonstrates internal principles while performing selected Chen and Wu Style postures. They give the viewer a better idea of what to look for when practicing. Both Master Xu and Sifu Matthews demonstrate a section of the form, then discuss internal aspects. Master Xu demonstrates with Susan how power comes from utilizing internal principles of tai chi.

Whether or not you practice tai chi for its health benefits or for martial skills, it is the internal principles that make any tai chi practice beneficial.

What is Tai Chi, Really? is for anyone wanting to learn internal principles of taijiquan. The information it contains can benefit beginner or advanced practitioners, whether you focus on health or fighting. Even non-internal martial arts practitioners can use the information to incorporate into their particular style of practice.

Filmed at Shanti School of Taijiquan in Durango, Colorado. 46-minutes. $19.95

Internal Structure Testing: Chen Style Tai Chi
with George Xu and Susan Matthews

One of the best things about attending a tai chi workshop with a master from China is having an opportunity to see internal martial art principles applied by a highly experienced practitioner. To understand the principles you should train with a high-level master as often as possible. But not everyone is close enough to a teacher, or can afford to attend regular private lessons, or even weekly group classes, with an authentic master teacher.

Watching Internal Structure Testing is like being part of a private instruction session. Master Xu and Susan Matthews discuss energy-body movement concepts while they practice selected Chen Style postures. They convey fundamental and advanced internal principles of tai chi that everyone needs to know to reach new levels of ability and well-being. These include beginning stance, single whip, and half of the first section of the Chen form.

Internal Structure Testing is a unique example of a teacher working closely with a student to reach that ever-fluid point of understanding - what the master knows and the student struggles to grasp. You will enjoy the personable interaction between Master George Xu and long-time student, Susan Matthews, who is also a highly accomplished tai chi practitioner and teacher, as well.

Master George Xu is well-known and admired for his open and very informational style of teaching. For him, no secret is too secret. He believes that if you give freely you will be rewarded ten-fold for your generosity. Master Xu is highly sought-after by students and teachers the world over. He has regular workshops through out the year in the United States, Mexico, Japan, Denmark, Switzerland, Norway, France, and Italy. See www.susanamatthews.com for his schedule and Susan’s, too.

This video complements What is Tai Chi, Really? also produced by Serai Communication Arts and Shanti School of Taijiquan. Includes Scene Selections to facilitate training while you practice along with them. Filmed at Shanti School of Taijiquan in Durango, Colorado. 52-minutes. $19.95

ChiRunning Lecture at the 2007 China Camp by Danny Dreyer.

Danny Dreyer, ultra marathon runner, coach, author and founder of ChiRunning discusses how the internal focuses of tai chi can be applied to the sport of running. In this lecture he discusses how to turn running into an internal practice and how to run by directing one’s energy instead of relying solely on the legs for propulsion.Danny has incorporated taijiquan principles with the physics of long distance running in his ChiRunning and ChiWalking instruction, which is quite popular nationally and internationally. He delivers a very detailed description of his approach to increase efficiency and reduce body strain. Length: about one hour. $19.95 plus S&H.

Jin Zhen Liang on Chen Style Taijiquan.
Master Jin discusses very eloquently how Chen Style taijiquan incorporates yin/yang, spiraling (chan shi), qi (energy), and yi (mind) in movement and in one's personal outlook on life and one's self in the world. Translated by Liping Zhu. Length-61 min. $19.95.

Xu Guo Chang Lecture on Wu Style.
Xu Guo Chang discusses incorporating the seven stars cosmology in moving and how the human body, thus taiji movement, is a microcosm of the universe. Academic and theoretical. Master Xu has eight audience members come up to the front and help him demonstrate his theory. Translated by Wang Ren Li (Charles Wang). Length - 49 min. $19.95

 

Ji Ah Dong Lecture on Yang Style.
Master Ji discusses and demonstrates internal Yang style principles, such as breathing properly and staying peng. Translated by Sean Bonsing. 35 minutes long. $14.95 Watch Video

 

China Camp '07 Form Demonstrations.
Forty-six martial artists from several disciplines and locations in China, USA, Italy, Germany, Norway, and Denmark perform their forms in this prestigious event. Names and styles are provided in titles of each performance, so you get to know who these accomplished martial artists are. Click Here to view list of names and styles. These DVDs are good additions to martial art instruction libraries for owners and operators of schools and businesses (martial art, as well as tai chi for health groups, qigong, etc.) and all who work to preserve Chinese internal martial arts practices and principles. Length: Disc One - 69 minutes; Disk Two - 61 min.. $39.95, plus S&H. Watch Wu Ji Lan Shou Demonstration here (1:39) and Lu Zhi Liang below (Yang Style, 4:32)