Slanted Flying

Category: Videos

  • Yuki’s Gift

    Yuki’s Gift

    Yuki Tanji is a Tai Chi practitioner and instructor based in Berlin, Germany. In this beautifully filmed video produced by Jhohan Planefeldt, Yuki demonstrates the flowing art of Tai Chi Chuan.

    GIFT from yuki on Vimeo.

    Yuki Tanji was trained in classical ballet in Japan for 14 years. in 1999, she left her homeland of Japan, and moved to Berlin. Starting in 2000 she began learning the Chinese Martial Arts, starting first with the Shaolin art of Nan Chaun. Yuki was able to see connecting lines between the Martial Arts and Dance.

    After becoming pregnant, Yuki began seeking softer methods of the Martial Arts. She began learning weapons, Tai Chi Chuan, as well as Qigong exercises. It was from the experiences and skills acquired from both Ballet and the Chinese martial arts, that she teaches Botan, a style of Tai Chi and Qigong with inspirations of Dance, which is clearly demonstrated in the above video.

    You can view Yuki Tanji’s Facebook page here, and the website MindBodyOnline.com with information for her classes at Chimosa, where she teaches in Berlin, Germany.

  • Tai Chi in the movie “This Must Be The Place”

    Tai Chi in the movie “This Must Be The Place”

    The movie “This Must Be The Place” is about Cheyenne (Sean Penn), a wealthy former glam rock star who embarks on a quest from his retirement in Ireland to find the ex-Nazi war criminal hiding out in the U.S, who had persecuted his father during World War 2. After learning that his father is close to death, Cheyenne travels to New York, hoping to reconcile with him, only to arrive too late.

    There is a scene around 16 1/2 minutes into the movie which features Cheyenne’s wife, Jane (Frances McDormand), practising Tai Chi in the garden, while he watches from a window in the house. The Tai Chi teacher was played by Master Deng Er Li, who taught Yang style Tai Chi Chuan in Dublin, Ireland.

    This Must Be The Place – Exclusve Clip- Tai Chi from Trinity Film on Vimeo.

    As a practitioner and enthusiast who loves all things Tai Chi, I always get excited when I see Tai Chi Chuan being featured in movies, TV shows, or commercials.

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

  • Challenging yourself in Tai Chi Practice

    Challenging yourself in Tai Chi Practice

    How much do you challenge yourself in your practice of Tai Chi Chuan?

    This firefighter dons full gear, including oxygen tank and mask, and then performs the 38 Movement form from the Chen style of Tai Chi Chuan.

    What do you do to challenge yourself? Do you have any good examples of yourself or someone else performing challenging Tai Chi forms?

  • Lou Reed and Tai Chi

    Lou Reed and Tai Chi

    The late Lou Reed was mostly known as musician, however, one of his passions in life was practicing Tai Chi Chuan. Lou Reed was famous as the principal songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist for the band The Velvet Underground and later for wonderful work in his solo musical career.

    Lou Reed started his journey in Tai Chi during the 1980’s. He first studied Eagle Claw Kung Fu with master Leung Shum. He was introduced to the Wu style of Tai Chi Chuan at this school, and studied it for 15 years. Later, Lou Reed met Ren Guangyi, and began learning the Traditional Chen style of Tai Chi Chuan with him for more than 10 years.

    Lou Reed was very active in promoting the art of Tai Chi Chuan, whether it was featuring his teacher, Ren Guangyi, performing Tai Chi on stage during a concert, or assisting in teaching the art to fellow enthusiasts.

    Below are two amazing videos featuring Lou Reed and the Chen style of Tai Chi Chuan.

    Watch “Lou Reed – The Voice and The Practice”

    And this, “Art of the Straight Line”

    Unfortunately, Lou Reed passed away in October of 2013.  It was a great loss for the both the world of music and Tai Chi Chuan. He will truly be remembered for his great contributions to both arts.

  • World Tai Chi Day In Greenville

    World Tai Chi Day In Greenville

    Once again film maker Valdas Kotovas has produced another beautiful film capturing the events and people celebrating World Tai Chi and Qigong Day in Greenville, South Carolina on April 30th, 2016. The activities were held at the scenic Reedy River Falls Park. Communities like Greensville organize their local World Tai Chi and Qigong Day events to take place on the last Saturday of April at 10:00am local time around the globe.

    The original video from this event is not available at this time. Please enjoy this video by Valdas Kotovas of the Greenville event held in 2015.

    The 2016 World Tai Chi Day in Greenville included participants from various local schools of Tai Chi. Some of the schools which attended this this year, and are seen in the video, include Jimmy Dong and his Greenville Chen Style Tai Chi School; members of the Greensville Chinese Association; and George Gantt of the Equilibrium Zen Gym which teaches Yang 24, sword, and fan.

    Valdas Kotovas filmed most of the shots using a BM micro cinema camera in Raw , and shots with a Gimbal using a Sony A7s. You can view some of his other wonderful films on his YouTube Channel. Music for the video is by the Desert Dwellers.

  • The Immortal Path

    The Immortal Path

    The latest documentary by Empty Mind Films looks at the Wudang schools of Tai Chi Chuan. Once again, as with all of the Empty Mind Films productions, it is beautifully filmed and in quality HD format. The film features Taoist master Zhong Yun Long and other schools of the Wudang style of Tai Chi Chuan.

    Watch this wonderful trailer of the documentary “The Immortal Path”

    “No Martial Art has been so misunderstood in the west than Tai Chi Chuan and especially it’s relationship with the Tao. In the Immortal Path we explore the Tao and the Internal and external styles of Wudang Martial Arts with our guide, Wudang Kungfu master and Taoist priest Zhong Yun Long.”‘

    Quote from the Empty Mind Films Empty Mind Films website

    Please enjoy this video clip from the documentary “The Immortal Path”.

    Now you can own this wonderful documentary about the Wudang schools of Tai Chi Chuan!
    Check out the DVD by clicking on the image below!

    If you enjoyed this wonderful article about Tai Chi, please click the “Like” button!

    Don’t forget to leave a comment!

  • Andy Samberg Doing Tai Chi In Hot Rod Movie

    Andy Samberg Doing Tai Chi In Hot Rod Movie

    In the 2007 movie “Hot Rod”, Andy Samberg and his co-star Isla Fisher perform a scene in which they are practising Tai Chi on the shore of a beautiful lake. In this video clip from the movie the character Denise (played by Isla Fisher) shows Rod Kimble (played by Andy Samberg) an advanced Tai Chi move!

    Haven’t seen the movie yet? Click on the image below to find out more about this wonderfully funny movie!

  • The Slow Motion Tai Chi Of Daniel Medvedov

    The Slow Motion Tai Chi Of Daniel Medvedov

    Daniel Medvedov practices and teaches what is known as the 384 Tai Chi Sequence of Yao style of Traditional Book Of Changes I Ching system. Daniel Medvedov is known as a Zen Master internationally by his students, as he practices the Chinese branch of Zen, which he was authorized to teach by Master Nan Huai Chin, and Grandmaster Liu Yuen Chiao.

    Please enjoy this video titled “TAICHI SlowMo Daniel Medvedov” which was filmed in Vienna, Austria.

    Dr. Daneil Medvedov has his Ph D. in Philosophy from the International Institute for Cultural Philosophy, East-West Essence Society in Taipei, China. He is also a Specialist in Theology, as well as a Specialist in Chinese Culture.

    The video was filmed by Luis Casanova Sorolla, who is a student of Daniel Medvedov. To see more information and some nice photos of Daniel Medvedov, please visit  the gallery of Luis Caanova Sorolla at Behance.net.

  • What Defines the Martial From The Art?

    What Defines the Martial From The Art?

    Here is an interesting short film about the Martial Arts and “The Thin Line That Defines” the martial from the art. There is some Tai Chi featured throughout the film. This is a very beautifully filmed, and the editing is well done.

    Described as a A Film Documentary – Visual Poetry by spacebyspotmarasigan.com

    Please enjoy this short film on “The Thin Line That Defines” the martial from the arts.

    The Thin Line That Defines from SPACE by Spot Marasigan on Vimeo.

  • Travel – A Teacher’s Story

    Travel – A Teacher’s Story

    Hau Kum Lueng Kneip is a teacher of Tai Chi Chuan in Chicago, United States. She began her journey in Tai Chi in 1978, learning the Yang style in Hong Kong, and later from the Dong/Tung family in Hawaii. She has also furthered her studies in Tai Chi Chuan in Mainland China and Taiwan as well.

    Teaching at various venues in Chicago, Hua Kum Lueng Kneip has been sharing her love of the art for more than 20 years. She has taught in Chicago at places such as the Columbia College, Skokie Public Library, and The Center for Life and Learning at the Fourth Presbyterian Church. Many of her students have gone on to become respected teachers of Tai Chi Chaun as well.

    Please enjoy this wonderfully filmed video titled “Travel” featuring Hau Kum Lueng Kneip, which was directed and produced by Cheng Cheng.

    Don’t forget to check out our other Tai Chi videos and let us know what you think of them!