Ch'uan Fa Health and Self Defense

In the '50s it was cocktails before dinner, in the '60s, pot. In the '70s we relieved tension by jogging, and in the '80s we had a choice between aerobics or t'ai chi. In the '90s, we've finally reached a welcome mind/body middle ground with Wayne Villeneuve's Ch'uan Fa, which is a Meditative Martial Art. Villeneuve demonstrates the movements, beginning with a warm-up and stretch on a beach, followed by some basic punches and kicks, before combining all of the moves into short and long formal sequences. The scenery is lovely, the music gentle, and the instructor, who gives excellent directions for body positioning, breathing tips and mental imagery, is low-key and relaxed. The point here is not so much self-defense, which Villeneuve says will come in time with muscle memory, or fat burning aerobic conditioning, but rather tension relief, muscle toning, and mental conditioning. Sure to be popular in communities with a population interested in the newest ideas in fitness, both mental and physical. Recommended. Aud: P. (E. Druda)