ChiDragon

If you are only interested in the "magical" practices, the answer is no. It is not necessary.

If you'd study the DDJ long enough, I think you should know what the DDJ is all about by now.

It is because Qigong is Qigong. A names was given to it is what one thinks it is. Given a name to it that makes one's new invention and write a book to make some money!

A Taiji teacher may only teach you the movements. If you don’t know how to coordinate the breathing with the movement and the movement coordinates with the breathing, then, you are wasting all your effort in your practice.

TDB is The Dao Bums.

Too slow is that a set of movements can be done in 30 to 45 minutes. That means you stand on one leg and took a minute or so for the other leg to land the the floor/ground. Normally, that is how long for a master to finish the Yang style 108 form if so desired!

Let's put it this way. If one can perform a show like that, it must be done by a master of the art.

In regard to the speed of in practicing Taiji, I had gathered from the accumulated knowledge of my forty years experience in the Yang style. Taiji beginners must be practiced at moderated speed. For that said, it means it should not be to slow nor too fast to begin with. The moderated speed is at your own pace. It is because, as a beginner, the leg muscles are not used to withstand the weight of the body by standing on one leg. The duration for standing on one leg depends on the physical strength of the individual. Some can be standing longer on one leg may perform at slower speed. The one that cannot stand too long may have to do it a little faster to release the stress on the leg. After the leg muscle strength are developed from diligent practice, then, the leg can be stand longer to withstand the body weight. Now, it can be do the movement slower. One should not do faster than the moderate speed. If the speed was beyond the moderate speed, then, it is not Taiji. It becomes ending up practicing Shaolin Kung Fu. However, after years of diligent practice or became a master of the art, one may perform at much slower or much faster speed. Standing on one leg is like one is lifting one's own body weight with the leg. The slower the speed have more health effect to the body. It is because the slow movements are slowly developing the muscle tone throughout the body. The moderate slow speed will, also, prevent from over stressing the leg muscles at the beginning.