Chinese Kung Fu With Tseng, Yun Xiang; T'ai-Chi-Ch'uan: Movements Of Power And Health; T'ai-Chi-Ch'uan: (Yang Long Form) With Master Xue, Dejun; T'ai-Chi Massage

These four programs, produced at the Long Island School of T'ai-chi-Ch'uan, all share the same low-budget look, with passable video (no attention to lighting) and occasionally fuzzy audio. Chinese Kung-Fu is a combination interview/sampler video in which instructor Bob Klein interviews Tseng, Yun Xiang about various styles of Chinese Kung-Fu, which the Tseng later demonstrates. Unfortunately, the demonstrations are only brief samples of the forms, and therefore have little value (although the Drunken and Monkey Kung-Fu are fun to watch.) The only complete form shown on the tape is the Wu Dan Mountain Snake form (so, if you've had requests, here it is.) In T'ai-Chi Massage, Bob Klein demon­strates--while competing with a noticeable background audio hum--a full body massage using finger pressure (acupressure), stretching, loosening joints, and breathing techniques related to T'ai-Chi movements. Although it wasn't really apparent on the tape, T'ai-Chi massage "is simple to learn and perform, very safe and will bring immediate ecstasy." T'ai-Chi Ch'uan: Movements of Power and Health is a detailed guide to the Yang Short Form, which incorporates scenes from instructor Klein's classes on same, while T'ai-Chi-Ch'uan (Yang Long Form) offers a guide to Yang Long Form, with less individualized instruction per step. There are simply other and much better T'ai-Chi tapes on the market (such as T'ai-Chi for Health: Yang Long Form with Terry Dunn and T'ai-Chi for Health: Yang Short Form with Terry Dunn, reviewed in our July-August 1990 issue). Not necessary purchases. (Available from: Artistic Video, 87 Tyler Ave., Sound Beach, NY 11789; (516) 744-0449.)