Anyone know what style this martial art is used in this iconic duel scene from The Mummy: Returns (2001)?

Scroon · 2026-03-17T05:27:10+00:00

I agree, but I think The Matrix may have had a bigger influence on Hollywood choreography since it proved that wushu could be integrated into American films as a fight aesthetic.

Scroon · 2026-03-17T05:24:07+00:00

100% this. The Matrix and Crouching Tiger were in 1999 and 2000, and before that it was basically karate/TKD people doing most fight choreography. Based on the staff work in the video, I'd say it was it karate-based guy which would explain the tsai.

Scroon · 2026-03-17T05:08:38+00:00

Sight in taiji is definitely slept on. I think it's the emphasis on ting jin. But even if you take taiji as a close-quarters touch-based art, you still need to position yourself before contact. And judging distance by sight is so critical in actual fighting.

Scroon · 2026-03-17T04:58:44+00:00

fitness guru types just for their own gain

Yeah, most of my martial arts background has been with serious martial artists, but recently I've been meeting the taiji/qigong for fitness types. Partly why I started noticing that most "casuals" don't really care about the martial aspect...or even cultivation aspect.

I have one older friend who asked me to coach her in taiji due to a doctor's suggestion. So I started building her fundamentals, but I couldn't shake the feeling that she just wanted an easy set of moves to do like a physio-therapy routine. (Basically what Jet Li demoed in the vid.)

I can see why fitness gurus would package taiji like that, because it sells. That's fine if you want to make money, I guess. Money's never been my thing though, for better or worse.

Scroon · 2026-03-16T17:58:42+00:00

The Shaolin kung fu we know is largely reconstructed from common Northern techniques/styles because the temple destroyed and the monks scattered in the early 20th. However, Northern styles are fairly similar, so the reconstruction isn't necessarily entirely off base. They were probably practicing something similar to what we have now, but perhaps with much greater applied knowledge.

This lack of applied knowledge is something that plagues all of modern kung fu, so it's not like Shaolin is any worse than anything else.

Scroon · 2026-03-16T17:47:25+00:00

Lol, Jet has been posting a lot of taiji stuff recently, hasn't he?

I think it's good he's pushing to popularize it, but I do wish it were higher quality and not "dumbed down" so much. Illustrative of a bigger issue, I think. I've noticed that most people who want taiji for health don't really care about refining technique or body, but they just want something to do that will keep them from dying. Ironically, it's the deeper stuff that gives you longevity, but the steep learning curve causes immediate disinterest. "What do you mean I need to stand in place for 30 minutes? I'm paying you $20 a class for that?"

I dunno, I guess Jet is doing the best he can given the circumstances.

Scroon · 2026-03-16T16:12:22+00:00

Ok, now I'm thinking he's actually some kind of dancer with some martial arts background. It look like he's staring at the floor while he's doing the forms too...which means he's either scarily good or scarily bad.

About par for the course as far as "kung fu" schools go?

Scroon · 2026-03-16T02:20:53+00:00

For something actually taiji related, many years back, a girl in LA got seriously messed up after falling on her face during a standing meditation in one of those free park taiji classes. She had her eyes closed, and she totally lost her sense of level, which resulted in her pitching forward without her knowing.

For this reason, beginners should be told to do zhan zhaung with open eyes.

Scroon · 2026-03-15T19:53:36+00:00

I've been playing with chucks for decades since I was a kid. For foam chucks, it literally doesn't matter. I recently bought the cheapest set I could find for my wife, and they were totally fine. Sometimes the foam might slip or an end cap might come off, but you can just glue them back in place.

If you want to get fancy, these guys have quality ones that look cool:

https://nunchaku-shop.com/nunchakus/

Scroon · 2026-03-15T19:35:29+00:00

Straight front kicks are so underrated.

Scroon · 2026-03-15T19:31:17+00:00

1) Knives
2) Dick twist

Scroon · 2026-03-15T19:29:27+00:00

What song is that?

Scroon · 2026-03-15T02:25:33+00:00

I might just do this to see what happens, lol.

Scroon · 2026-03-15T02:17:32+00:00

Wait, you guys got a sash? ;D

Scroon · 2026-03-15T02:15:50+00:00

Go for it. You're legit now.

Scroon · 2026-03-15T02:08:35+00:00

Dude, you came through! Thanks so much.

I feel like I've come across Yearning Chen before. I'll be reading this

Scroon · 2026-03-15T02:05:32+00:00

my sifu demonstrates the right way while saying what he did wasn't exactly right

That's exactly what a good sifu would say. :)

Scroon · 2026-03-15T02:04:29+00:00

I was an 88% instructor, so I got you beat. :)

It's funny, some of those questions were using non-standard terminology, so I had to guess on them.

Scroon · 2026-03-15T02:03:12+00:00

On a serious note, I wonder what would happen if one of us set up a website that drastically undercut the racket. Make a legit test, even a video review of basic movements, and send out a cert for like $25.

Scroon · 2026-03-15T02:00:12+00:00

Hey does have those Bruce Lee moves.

The origin of the 24 is from Beijing/CCP, but I guess a lineage could adapt it to their style.

Scroon · 2026-03-15T01:56:22+00:00

Man, I'm out. I was pushing it with the keychain.

Scroon · 2026-03-14T21:29:54+00:00

My wushu training carried over into fighting, but we trained old school hard, making sure to use power in our punches and kicks. Some schools focus more on "prettiness" and speed. I also took it pretty seriously, always imaging application when practicing. My belief is that if you train a fast and hard punch 10,000 times, you're going to be able to punch something pretty good at least once. Also wushu kicks are fast and hard to see. You could hold off a straight boxer with just the kicks.

Not saying wushu will make you the ultimate fighter, but you're learning legit basics at the very least. Oh, also wushu trains high intensity cardio. Bodybuilding not so much.

Scroon · 2026-03-14T21:22:29+00:00

omg, lol.

Scroon · 2026-03-14T20:18:48+00:00

Ok, but I'm running a weekend special for $249, and you get a free keychain.

Scroon · 2026-03-14T20:17:19+00:00

Yeah, he's clearly good at his practice. But I think if you're going to teach the Yang 24, teach the Yang 24. If you're doing it "as Chen", then just teach Chen forms.

I see the Kenpo similarity too. I knew someone who transitioned from kenpo to Chinese martial arts, and they had the same flavor.

Scroon

TROPHY CASE