Category: Film and TV

During the late 1980’s and the early 1990’s, the television show “MacGyver” was very popular. The series starred American actor Richard Dean Anderson. He became well known in the United States and internationally due to the success of the TV show. As a result of his fame, Anderson has appeared in numerous commercials promoting various products.

The Vitalon Foods Company of Taiwan produced a series of advertisements to promote their vitamin enriched sports beverage, Super Supau, and they chose Richard Dean Anderson as their spokesperson because of his tremendous popularity in Taiwan as MacGyver.

Five commercials were produced, featuring several different sports or adventures including bicycling, repairing a jeep, rescuing a speed boat, tai chi, and jogging. In addition, a clip for Taiwanese television featured a behind-the-scenes glimpse during the filming of the commercials.

Quote from Richard Dean Anderson Website

It is always interesting to find Tai Chi being featured in movies or on television, especially when being performed by the main actors. Check out some of the other examples that we have found by clicking here: Tai Chi in Film and Television

If you have found any appearances of Tai Chi in film or television we would like to know!

Tai Chi was featured in an animated movie called “Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius” based on the hit TV animated kids show. We are starting to see more references to Tai Chi in TV, film, commercials, and even music videos as the art is becoming more popular.

In the movie there is a scene with two of the show’s characters, Cindy and Libby, who are friends of Jimmy Neutron. Cindy is trying to practice Tai Chi in her bedroom while drinking “Purple Flurp” and Libby is asking her what she is doing.

As a practitioner and enthusiast who loves anything to do with Tai Chi, I am always happy when I see Tai Chi Chuan being featured in movies, TV shows, or commercials, even if it’s not good Tai Chi!

Let us know of any movies, TV shows, commercials, or music videos you have seen Tai Chi being featured in!

You can see this great kid’s animated movie by clicking on the image below!

Check out our other articles about Tai Chi in Films and TV!

Country western music singer songwriter Jim Lauderdale has featured himself performing Tai Chi in his newest music video.

Tai Chi has been a hobby and passion for Jim Lauderdale for more than 20 years.  He has attended regular summer camps held by George Xu, studied with Michael Tse, and regularly travels to China every few years to train with a Tai Chi masters there. When Jim Lauderdale is at home in Nashville, he can often be seen practicing Tai Chi in a local park in the mornings.

I’m delighted to say that my new song “Listen ” is out this week. I wrote it with Buddy Cannon. It’s about the humility and wisdom that often comes with age and experience. The film clip was directed by Jeremy Dylan on location in Sydney, Australia. Just before making the video, I spent a week in China, learning the Yang family style of Tai Chi. I’ve still got a ways to go with refining it, but I thought this particular style of my practice would go well with what we are saying in the song. The majestic Blue Mountains were definitely a wonderful place to practice!

Jim Lauderdale – Facebook post

Jim Lauderdale had also performed Tai Chi in an earlier music video from 2007 called “This Is The Last Time I’m Ever Gonna’ Hurt”, where there were a couple of snippets of him doing Tai Chi.

It is a real pleasure to see Tai Chi being featured in mainstream media such as music videos, commercials, television, and feature films. I look forward to seeing more quality Tai Chi being represented in these types of venues.

Don’t forget to check out our other Tai Chi Videos!

In the sixth and seventh episodes of the third season of the hit television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, we get to see the characters Angel and Buffy practice Tai Chi (or some version of it).

Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a popular television show which aired from 1996 until 2003. It was based on the film of the same title from 1992. The series starred Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy, and featured David Boreanaz as the the Vampire called Angel, who became the romantic love interest of Buffy.

Ang Lee is a Taiwanese film director, who has seen many of his films have international success. His first full feature film was “Pushing Hands” from 1992. It was part of the “Father Knows Best” trilogy which also included the films “The Wedding Banquet” and “Eat Man Drink Woman”.

The movie “Pushing Hands” is one of the few movies which is said to accurately portray the Tai Chi art of pushing hands. Below is a video essay of the film “Pushing Hands” by The Seventh Art. It looks at the relationships of the film’s characters through the use of space in the filming of the movie.

This is one of my favourite movies. Click on the image below to see more about this wonderful movie!

This is a wonderful short animated film. It features a monk earnestly trying hard to practice his Tai Chi, when he is interrupted by a cute little dog who just wants to play. A touching little story with a moral which maybe we can all learn by.

“When a Hermit Monk has his day interrupted by an uninvited guest, he is unwillingly taken on a journey to discover the true meaning of companionship.”

Tom Long – http://tomlonganimation.weebly.com/student-film.html

The Misguided Monk from Tom Long on Vimeo.

This great film was made by animator Tom Long. You can see more about Tom Long and his animation on his website http://tomlonganimation.weebly.com/.

Francisco Sánchez gives a wonderful exhibition of movement in this short film titled “A Small Allegory”. In the film, Sánchez performs movements of the Taiji Neigong Wu Bu Quan, which he learned from Master Xiumu Zhang.

Francisco Sánchez was born in Terrassa, Barcelona, during ​​the summer solstice of 1967. He is a direct disciple of the Taoist Master Zhang XiuMu, forming part of the 13th Generation of Wudang Zhao Bao TaiJi Quan lineage.Sánchez is a First Duan instructor of Taijiquan and Qigong, and founder of the TaiJi Quan YuYan® Sports Association. He is also a member of the TaiJi China-Wudang Quanfa Yanjiu Hui Chinese Association.

If you stop and breathe, in this same place and moment, the Taiji will not be just a path that I propose to share, but what you already appreciated when stopping and observing in your interior.

According to Francisco Sánchez, the inspiration to make this film was purely to honour his Master, 81 year old Master XiuMu Zhang, who instructs them daily with new and old teachings in order to approach the work of the Tao through the practice of Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong and Taoist meditation. Information in Spanish about Master XiuMu Zhang can be found here: https://yuyan.es/el-maestro-zhang-xiu-mu/

The film was produced by Xavi Díaz of Nova Era Produccions.

The 1975 movie “Killer Elite” stars James Caan as Mike Locken, an agent who works for a company that handles covert assignments for the CIA. His best friend (and fellow agent) George Hansen, played by Robert Duvall, ends up betraying Locken in a double cross.

In one of the scenes of the movie, Locken meets an old friend who is practicing Tai Chi in a group which is led by Guang Ping Tai Chi Chuan master Kuo Lien-ying. At one point Kuo tries to teach Caan’s character Tai Chi, but he is soon called away.

If you haven’t seen this movie yet, you can click on the image below to see more about it!

Check out our other articles about Tai Chi in Films and TV!