Rating : - Bauguazhang Deer Knives - a rare and subtle form
First I would like to say that this is actually a first rate video of a very little known weapon, that is unique to somewhat rare and relatively poorly known (in the West at least) internal martial art. In the west Taijiquan is the fairly widely known sister art to Xingyiquan and Bauguazhang, these are all very subtle practices that are life long practices. While there are thousands of Taiji instructors in America, very few of them teach, or even know about the profound depths of this art. Fewer still have any idea of the intimate connections that these practices have to Taoist philosophy. Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming is one of the few in this final catagory, he is what the Japanese would call a living cultural treasure.
This tape would probably be most useful to someone who has studied Bauguazhang for several years and has acquired the fundamentals of circle walking and the palm changes. The weapons that the other reviewer mistook this tape to cover are commonly caller Tiger Hooks (silly shiny flails popular with wushu ninjas, now I express my prejudice!). Sun Moon Yin-Yang Mandarin Duck Axes is their Chinese name, which is why they are typically called Deer Horn Knives in America. If the other reviewer had recognized the word Baugua he would have realized that Tiger Hooks are not in the Baugua weapon set, which includes several strange items.
Personally I would recomend the previous tapes about Bauguazhang for someone new to this art since even finding good examples of these practice weapons in the U.S. is nearly impossible. You will know when you are ready to actually practice this form, plus you will recognize the names of everyone on this tape, with out reading this or any other review!