Tai chi, an internal and meditative martial art with roots in ancient China, has grown in popularity among Western fitness enthusiasts since the mid 1990s. Its combination of stress relief, flexibility-building and low-impact exercise make it excellent for people who want a simple maintenance workout. Although classes seem to be growing more common, not everybody can attend one. If you find yourself in such a position, you can instead study using a DVD.
Learning Tai Chi
Like most martial arts, learning tai chi is a repeating cycle of observation, instruction and practice. You will first see your instructor perform a particular move, and then receive detailed instruction on the particulars of the posture. You then practice the posture until the instructor is satisfied you understand. Most tai chi forms consist of a defined series of these postures for the student to practice consecutively and uninterrupted.
Distance Learning and Tai Chi
You can find several tai chi instructional DVDs of varying quality. When learning off a DVD, watching the video takes the place of a live instructor for the observation and instruction phases of the learning process. You will practice on your own, either between sessions of watching the DVD or while watching the DVD to confirm your technique is correct.
Advantages
Convenience and portability are the main advantages of learning tai chi from a DVD. It's a good resource for anybody who wants to learn tai chi but can't attend a live class. DVDs also move with you, making them a good teacher or alternative for people who travel frequently. Students who are easily embarrassed might also prefer working off a DVD so they don't fear judgment by classmates or an instructor while learning new concepts.
Disadvantages
One disadvantage of learning tai chi from a DVD is that the experience is not interactive. The instruction phase of learning tai chi ideally includes a teacher's observing a student and correcting his technique. Without this step in place, a student's progress is slowed and severely limited. A second disadvantage derives from the internal nature of tai chi itself. Much of the important work in tai chi consists of subtle posture, breathing and visualization -- aspects that are invisible when watching a teacher move on video.
Bottom Line
When learning tai chi, there is no substitute for live training from a qualified instructor. However, if you can't find or afford a live tai chi class in your area, learning from a DVD is a good alternative.
References
- "Tao of Jeet Kun Do"; Bruce Lee; 1978
- "East Tai Chi"; Keith Jeffrey; 2000
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