The Art of the Straight Line by Lou Reed

This short video documents the story of Lou Reed's 30-plus year study and mastery of tai chi and the martial arts. A new book, The Art of the Straight Line - My Tai Chi, from Harper One, is scheduled for to be in stores on March 14, 2023 in the US, and March 16, 2023 in the UK/IE.

Lou Reed was a musician, singer, songwriter, poet, and founding member of the legendary rock band the Velvet Underground. He collaborated with many artists, from Andy Warhol and John Cale to Robert Wilson and Metallica. Reed had a groundbreaking solo career that spanned five decades until his death in 2013. Reed was also an accomplished martial artist whose practice began in the 1980s. He studied with Chen Tai Chi pioneer Master Ren GuangYi. This book is a comprehensive collection of Reed’s writings on Tai Chi. It includes conversations with Reed’s fellow musicians, artists, friends, and Tai Chi practitioners, including Julian Schnabel, A. M. Homes, Hal Willner, Mingyur Rinpoche, Eddie Stern, Tony Visconti, and Iggy Pop. The Art of the Straight Line features Reed’s unpublished writings on the technique, practice, and purpose of martial arts, as well as essays, observations, and riffs on meditation and life.

[julianmark]

Great video. So weird seeing Lou in another context than his music.

[brigittetabusse]

Magnifique souvenir de Lou Reed pendant une séance de thai chi😢😢😢

[schneidertm]

great ! does anyone know what music being used here ?

[philsuz]

great stuff and" its such a perfect day " for it sorry for the joke

[JonathanNelsonOfficial]

I met Lou during this era of his life. He shook my hand super hard and it pissed him off that I wasn't flinching. Most martial arts is such bullshit lol.

[davidmiller]

His teacher is the real starr interesting vid horrible guitar work is that Lou ? Anyway good insight into his joueney of self discovery after years of class A drug misuse thankyou