Tan Tao Liang in Return of the Leg Fighter (1976)
- Duration: 80:26
- Updated: 18 Apr 2013
Doris Lung Chur Erh also stars in this movie. AKA "The Knife of Devil's Roaring and Soul Missing (1976)" . A kicker in this genre known more for flashiness and not known for power and technique like Hwang is Tan Tao-Liang, a Korean-born Chinese martial artist. Like Hwang, Tan is an exponent in Tae Kwon Do. Tan would compete in numerous competitions and developed a flashier style because there were times when he would apparently hit the opponent's head but was not awarded the points by the referee. Tan decided to develop what he calls the "hop kick". By utilizing his left leg and chasing the opponent with his kicks, he would eventually be awarded the points.
In 1973, Tan was approached by film producers and made his film debut in THE HERO OF CHIU CHOW (also known as HERO ON THE WATERFRONT). Tan appeared in pretty standard kung fu fare like TORNADO OF PEARL RIVER and THE YOUNG HERO OF SHAOLIN, where he showed off his impressive kicking talents. The hop kick he used in tournaments would be something he would be best known for in his films. In 1976, Tan received his breakthrough role when he appeared opposite James Tien and a young Jackie Chan in HAND OF DEATH, directed by future Hong Kong auteur John Woo. Tan plays a Shaolin student who is sent to track down a traitor in the ranks who has become an evil warlord. The finale, pitting Tan and James shows some of Tan's best kicking, under the choreography of Sammo Hung.Tan would appear in a series of films with Taiwanese-born female fighter Angela Mao. THE HIMALAYAN (1976), DUEL WITH THE DEVILS (1977) and SCORCHING SUN, FIERCE WIND, WILD FIRE (1979) had the two team up and fight against the bad guys. Mao utilizes her skills in Hapkido while Tan lets loose his lethal leg work. In 1976 as well, Tan starred alongside Wang Tao and Tommy Lee in one of the most underrated kung fu classics of all-time. THE HOT, THE COOL, AND THE VICIOUS seems somewhat like a rip-off of THE SECRET RIVALS. However, with Lee not only as the main bad guy, but as action director as well, his choreography work in this film is kicked up a notch when compared to his work on the action in SECRET RIVALS. Tan and Wong would return for the sequel, CHALLENGE OF DEATH (1979), where Wang plays a different character.
THE LEG FIGHTERS (1980), or INVINCIBLE KUNG FU LEGS, is hailed as one of Tan's best films. The cast is comprised of superkickers galore with Tan being the true veteran of the bunch. However, that does not hinder the skills of cast members Hsia Kwan-Li, Peng Kang, Chin Lung, and Sun Rong-Chi. Sun and Peng choreographed the action scenes, in which various styles of kicking is displayed. The finale, pitting Tan and Hsia against Peng is definitely one of the best shot fight scenes in this era.
Tan would retire from films in 1984, with his final appearance in JUNGLE HEAT, a Hong Kong film that co-starred Sam J. Jones (FLASH GORDON). Tan relocated to Monterey Park, California where he would open a Tae Kwon Do school and adapted the English name of Delon Tan.
In 1990, Tan worked on the film BREATHING FIRE as story writer and executive producer under the name "Delon Tanners". The film starred former GOONIES actor Jonathan Ke Quan (who studied under Tan in Tae Kwon Do after training under Philip Tan in 1984) and Eddie Saavedra as brothers who try to stop a gang of bank robbers, not knowing it is their own father, played by another TKD artist, Jerry Trimble, who is the leader. It is possible that Tan may have came in as action director as well as Quan, Saavedra, and Trimble gets to show some impressive-like martial arts skills in the vein on Tan Tao-Liang.
It is believed that Tan Tao-Liang trained John in Tae Kwon Do, forcing him in the splits because of a lack of flexibility.
Tan Tao Liang in Return of the Leg Fighter (1976)
https://www.youtube.com/Arosav
http://wn.com/Tan_Tao_Liang_in_Return_of_the_Leg_Fighter_(1976)
Doris Lung Chur Erh also stars in this movie. AKA "The Knife of Devil's Roaring and Soul Missing (1976)" . A kicker in this genre known more for flashiness and not known for power and technique like Hwang is Tan Tao-Liang, a Korean-born Chinese martial artist. Like Hwang, Tan is an exponent in Tae Kwon Do. Tan would compete in numerous competitions and developed a flashier style because there were times when he would apparently hit the opponent's head but was not awarded the points by the referee. Tan decided to develop what he calls the "hop kick". By utilizing his left leg and chasing the opponent with his kicks, he would eventually be awarded the points.
In 1973, Tan was approached by film producers and made his film debut in THE HERO OF CHIU CHOW (also known as HERO ON THE WATERFRONT). Tan appeared in pretty standard kung fu fare like TORNADO OF PEARL RIVER and THE YOUNG HERO OF SHAOLIN, where he showed off his impressive kicking talents. The hop kick he used in tournaments would be something he would be best known for in his films. In 1976, Tan received his breakthrough role when he appeared opposite James Tien and a young Jackie Chan in HAND OF DEATH, directed by future Hong Kong auteur John Woo. Tan plays a Shaolin student who is sent to track down a traitor in the ranks who has become an evil warlord. The finale, pitting Tan and James shows some of Tan's best kicking, under the choreography of Sammo Hung.Tan would appear in a series of films with Taiwanese-born female fighter Angela Mao. THE HIMALAYAN (1976), DUEL WITH THE DEVILS (1977) and SCORCHING SUN, FIERCE WIND, WILD FIRE (1979) had the two team up and fight against the bad guys. Mao utilizes her skills in Hapkido while Tan lets loose his lethal leg work. In 1976 as well, Tan starred alongside Wang Tao and Tommy Lee in one of the most underrated kung fu classics of all-time. THE HOT, THE COOL, AND THE VICIOUS seems somewhat like a rip-off of THE SECRET RIVALS. However, with Lee not only as the main bad guy, but as action director as well, his choreography work in this film is kicked up a notch when compared to his work on the action in SECRET RIVALS. Tan and Wong would return for the sequel, CHALLENGE OF DEATH (1979), where Wang plays a different character.
THE LEG FIGHTERS (1980), or INVINCIBLE KUNG FU LEGS, is hailed as one of Tan's best films. The cast is comprised of superkickers galore with Tan being the true veteran of the bunch. However, that does not hinder the skills of cast members Hsia Kwan-Li, Peng Kang, Chin Lung, and Sun Rong-Chi. Sun and Peng choreographed the action scenes, in which various styles of kicking is displayed. The finale, pitting Tan and Hsia against Peng is definitely one of the best shot fight scenes in this era.
Tan would retire from films in 1984, with his final appearance in JUNGLE HEAT, a Hong Kong film that co-starred Sam J. Jones (FLASH GORDON). Tan relocated to Monterey Park, California where he would open a Tae Kwon Do school and adapted the English name of Delon Tan.
In 1990, Tan worked on the film BREATHING FIRE as story writer and executive producer under the name "Delon Tanners". The film starred former GOONIES actor Jonathan Ke Quan (who studied under Tan in Tae Kwon Do after training under Philip Tan in 1984) and Eddie Saavedra as brothers who try to stop a gang of bank robbers, not knowing it is their own father, played by another TKD artist, Jerry Trimble, who is the leader. It is possible that Tan may have came in as action director as well as Quan, Saavedra, and Trimble gets to show some impressive-like martial arts skills in the vein on Tan Tao-Liang.
It is believed that Tan Tao-Liang trained John in Tae Kwon Do, forcing him in the splits because of a lack of flexibility.
Tan Tao Liang in Return of the Leg Fighter (1976)
https://www.youtube.com/Arosav
- published: 18 Apr 2013
- views: 58906