Normally, I recommend to students to learn the simplified forms first and then graduate to the long forms of a style. However, due to the quality of the DVD offered by Dr. Yang, Jwing Ming of the Long Form of the Classical Yang Style Sword Form, I feel the best choice would be to learn the long form offered on this disc. Although there are many good Taijiquan Sword instructional videos available for the Chen, Wu, Sun and Yang styles, I believe that Dr. Yang, Jwing Ming has done his usual top notch job of providing the student with a wealth of material on his Taijiquan Sword Classical Yang Style DVD.

A good teacher will teach you a form. A better teacher will teach you an application. A higher level would be the teaching of the technique. And as Jou, Tsung Hwa relates in his book, The Tao of Taijiquan, the best thing a teacher can pass on is the "key" to the system. I always get the feeling when I study the tapes, books and DVDs from Dr. Yang that he is truly sharing many secrets of the various styles that he teaches. Fortunately, unless a student is at a level that has the understanding and skill necessary, the information cannot be used or absorbed. I say fortunately because this can prevent injuries through misuse. Yet Dr. Yang provides enough of the basics and the exercises that build a strong foundation, whereby a student can raise themselves to the higher levels where deeper information on the DVDs become more available, understandable and usable.

This 54 posture Yang Sword Form is presented along with the Taiji Sword Form, the Taiji Sword Qigong Set, Taiji Qigong Breathing, Fundamental Sword Techniques and 10 Matching Drills for training with another student.

As Dr. Yang frequently reminds the viewer on his tapes, you must practice and make these moves a natural part of your being. Without practice it is impossible to achieve mastery or even capableness of these techniques, applications and forms.

The Taiji Sword is considered by many to be a very advanced level in Taijiquan Mastery. Learning the sword form greatly enhances and strengthens the Taiji set. Learning the sword form increases one's ability to project chi and is a necessary tool in reaching advanced levels of Taijiquan.

Even if you've purchased Dr. Yang's VHS tape of this form, it is worth the money to obtain the DVD as it contains much information not included on the VHS tape. Additionally, information on DVDs is much easier to access than on a VHS tape.

The DVD is professionally filmed with very easy to follow along teaching, showing the moves at slow speed and at normal speed. Additionally, using students to demonstrate the moves and then having Dr. Yang provide constructive criticism and praise offers more insight into the moves to the interested viewer.

Over the years I've owned several of Dr. Yang Jwing Ming's products, both books and videos, and they have always been of the highest quality. They tend to be well presented, highly detailed, and informative. Recently I've purchased his TAI CHI SWORD DVD and I'm very pleased to say that it's outstanding.

This DVD offers extensive information on all aspects of Classical Yang Tai Chi sword forms and techniques. It also includes training in Tai Chi sword Qigong exercises, something that I had never even heard of before. Dr. Yang presents dozens of basic sword techniques, shown without an opponent and with. This allows the viewer to concentrate on the movement alone and then see precisely how it is used. This is a great advantage for learning each movement from both a dynamic and functional point of view. It also provides training on stances, partner training drills, and applications.

Included in the program are the names of each movement read in English and Mandarin with subtitles on the screen. Subtitles also indicate the breathing with regards to inhales and exhales for each move. I don't know if Yang is responsible for the writing and organization of this program or if he hires someone, but this program is designed very well as a teaching tool. The instructions are precise, logical, and easy to follow. The DVD's menu makes it easy to skip around the content and select subjects out of sequence or for repeated viewings.

The 54 posture forms presented on this disk are different from those that I learned years ago though the movements and techniques are quite familiar. Camerawork, lighting, and editing are good quality and aid in ease of viewing and comprehension. The content of this DVD is also available in book form which may be very useful as a companion tool to the DVD.

There are several very good products on the market today regarding Yang Style Tai Chi Sword, but for anyone interested in making a thorough and effective study Yang Tai Chi sword forms and methods, you couldn't do much better that buying this excellent DVD.

An excellent, illustrative manual for those interested in learning the philosophy and tactics of tai chi sword. Most excellent!

Another great DVD tutorial from Dr. Yang's extensive collection

Well done video. Easy to follow. But I'm just not coordinated enough yet to get very far into it.