Pitchfork

Heroin might suppress that monster appetite, but Lou Reed's discovered a healthier way to stay fit: Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan).

The former Velvet Underground frontman has been a martial arts practitioner since the 80s. He is a private student under Master Ren Guang Yi, who has performed Taijiquan onstage at hundreds of Reed's shows since the pair began their partnership. Now, like Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson, they've joined forces...on screen! Alas, it's not for an action-adventure comedy, but for Chen Taijiquan - Lao Jia Yi Lu & Straight Sword, a new instructional martial arts workout DVD.

Reed provides the film with both its 5.1 audio narration and dual-soundtrack options; choose between "slower music to develop your centering" or "quicker music to give you energy". Kind of like the verse part of "Heroin" as opposed to the chorus, right?

The DVD was released through YMAA Publication Center earlier this month. For some serious Central Park sword swingin' (it actually makes a "whoosh" sound) and a sample of Reed's new aerobic tunes (seriously, they're straight out of the Yoga Booty Ballet video set I bought off an infomercial), check out the trailer below.

As previously reported, Reed will perform for the first time ever a "theatrically realized version" of his third solo record, 1973's Berlin, live at St. Ann's Warehouse in New York from December 14-17.

Art at St. Ann's, the Sydney Festival, and UCLA Live will sponsor these shows, which feature Antony and a handful of other musicians.

In addition, the VU man is partnering with avant-garde German collective Zeitkratzer to create "audacious, clangorous realizations" of 1975's Metal Machine Music for a CD/DVD due early next year via Asphodel.