| My sword background is primarily with Japanese and | | | | learning some different ways to use the long blade, |
| Korean sword work, so I found Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming's | | | | even if some of the movements seemed awkward |
| DVD "Sword Fundamental Training: Solo Drills and | | | | due to being foreign to me. At times Dr. Yang has |
| Matching Practice" different from what I'm familiar with, | | | | students perform the solo drills, so you get to see |
| but very interesting and very well done for an | | | | different variations of solo practice. |
| instructional DVD. | | | | The final section before the conclusion is the matching |
| I've been very impressed with Dr. Yang's DVDs on | | | | practice with a partner. There were ten different |
| Chin Na, especially since my primary art of Hapkido | | | | matching drills and again, Dr. Yang gives so much while |
| also consists of many joint lock and pressure point | | | | teaching. Going slow, watching the DVD, and working |
| techniques. So I wanted to learn more of the sword | | | | with a partner, and you can definitely learn a lot from |
| fundamentals from the Chinese arts that Dr. Yang | | | | this program. Again, Dr. Yang's students demonstrate |
| teaches. This is a very good DVD to introduce those | | | | live practice with the drills Dr. Yang teaches. Watching |
| concepts and training methods. | | | | them illustrates how you can practice. |
| The DVD is divided into six main chapters: Intro, | | | | I really enjoy Dr. Yang's instruction and explanations. He |
| General Knowledge, Techniques, Solo Practice, | | | | has such a tremendous amount of knowledge and I |
| Matching Practice, and the Conclusion. These six main | | | | feel we are fortunate to have access to that |
| chapters are divided into more than 60 chapters to | | | | knowledge through the books and DVDs he has |
| help you skip to the section you want to review and | | | | authored and produced. Even with such knowledge |
| study. The entire program is a little over three and a | | | | and the traditional background, he still interjects humor |
| half hours long, so you will want to take notes and skip | | | | and modern American culture, such as near the end |
| back to the sections as you progress. There are | | | | when he says it takes a long time to become a Jedi. |
| subtitles that go along with Dr. Yang's instruction. I don't | | | | Another thing that really impressed me, and I've |
| think they are necessary, but having them there does | | | | mentioned it already, is the amount of information Dr. |
| not hurt. They do not match the exact words of Dr. | | | | Yang provides on this DVD. I recently checked out a |
| Yang, but convey the general concepts he discusses. | | | | three-volume set on self-defense from my local library. |
| The first portion of the DVD focuses on information | | | | Each DVD was thirty minutes long. I thought to myself, |
| and history of the sword. It was very interesting and | | | | why didn't they put all of this on one DVD? They |
| informative. It's a lecture on the sword that includes | | | | wanted to make more money, that's why. This DVD is |
| Chinese proverbs on the sword. This portion was very | | | | over three and a half hours long. If that other company |
| interesting if you are interested in all things martial as I | | | | had produced it, it would have been released as seven |
| am. Dr. Yang then teaches 27 fundamental techniques | | | | DVDs. It is just one more reason I really respect Dr. |
| with the sword. The instruction is very clear, and Dr. | | | | Yang and YMAA. |
| Yang brings out students to assist him in showing | | | | The DVD also contains the standard YMAA Extras: |
| applications of the techniques. So many DVDs would | | | | About YMAA, Catalog, Video Previews, and DVD |
| just show the movement once or twice and move on | | | | Credits. |
| to the next. Dr. Yang provides so much more, and it is | | | | This is an excellent introduction to Chinese sword. It |
| really refreshing to see an instructor who goes above | | | | provides history and information about the sword and |
| and beyond while teaching. | | | | enough instruction on techniques to provide many |
| The next portion of the program entails the solo | | | | hours of learning and practice. I recommend it to |
| practice drills. There is a lot to learn and practice here. | | | | anyone who wants to learn or know more about |
| The Chinese movements are different from the | | | | Chinese sword techniques. |
| Japanese and Korean I'm used to, and I enjoyed | | | | |