IP Man star Donnie Yen recently shared a chilling experience he had while filming a fight scene for the hit movie Ip Man 3. During a conversation with talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, Ian spoke about his apprehension and nervousness while directing a scene involving boxing legend Mike Tyson, who had limited film experience.
Despite his misgivings, Ian and Tyson were able to successfully stage the scene, which became a fan favorite. Ian’s behind-the-scenes narration adds an intriguing layer of insight into the filmmaking process and the skills required to create a believable fight scene.
During an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Donnie Yen, a martial artist and actor known for his role in “IP Man” talked about his fight scene with Mike Tyson in “IP Man 3.”
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Jimmy Kimmel asked, “You once had a fight scene with Mike Tyson?”Donnie Yen replied, “Oh that’s right, yeah.”Kimmel then asked, “Did you choreograph that?”Donnie Yen explained,
“Yeah we did, but at the same time you know, I was always a big fan of Mike. When I was doing this movie with him ‘IP Man part 3’. I didn’t know what to expect.”
He continued, “So I thought, you know Mike I love him but then he really doesn’t have a lot of film experience, I didn’t want him to come to the set and start swinging and what am I supposed to do. My character in IP Man was supposed to be very poised and very calm, right and always block these strikes at the very last second.”
Donnie Yen then described a particular choreography where Tyson was supposed to throw his famous left hook and knock a punching bag next to Yen’s face. Yen said
“So I felt his punch was coming at me 90 miles per hour, I kid you not” and was worried about how to block it without getting hurt. Despite being a skilled fighter himself, Yen felt his wife’s concern about his safety and was determined to go home in one piece.
As they walked very quickly, Ian felt Tyson’s hand rush past him, and the sound of the wind was like a tornado. Tyson hit the punching bag with such force that a shiver ran down Ian’s spine.
Overall, it was an intense fight scene that required Jena’s skill and caution. The audience burst into laughter as they heard Donnie Yen talk about his experience with Mike Tyson.
Despite Tyson’s lack of film experience, the scene was a success thanks to Yen’s choreography and both actors’ dedication to their craft.