NightOwl

Movie: Samurai Fiction Directed by: Nakano Hiroyuki Released: 1998, JAPAN Starring: Tomoyasu Hotei (A popular Japanese Guitarist), Kazama Morio, and Fukikoshi Mitsuru Style(s) Showcased: Kendo, Ninjitsu Trailer: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ICvw22Jr4mQ&mode=related&search= http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/6239/samuraifictionvz3.jpg Artist introduction: None of the main characters had any background in martial arts before this movie. http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/5351/img43nik9.jpg Plot Summary:Inukai Heishiro, a son of a feudal lord during the Tokugawa period (around 1603-1867...a popular time period for these sorts of movies) takes it upon himself to avenge the stealing of a sword given to his family by none other than the Shogun himself. Unfortunately, he and his friends are no match for the rouge samurai who now carries the sword, and in the process one of his friends dies. Wounded and with home too far away, he stays in the house of a nearby samurai living with his only daughter. As he comes to find out, the old samurai is none other than a master swordsman and martial artist, who has long since given up the sword. But if Inukai is to avenge his father and friends, he must convince the old master to train him in the art of the blade.... http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/3028/2tcr5.jpg http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/8042/3tak9.jpg http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/1831/tphpyp1.jpg http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/5774/4tmo6.jpg Review: Samurai Fiction certainly has an interesting list of credentials. Experts in Kendo and Budo taijitsu had to be brought in to help with the fight scenes as none of the leading actors had any previous martial art experience, and the director had never made a full featured movie before. Actually, he did a lot of extensive work in directing music videos at MTV Japan, and the influences of his backround work certainly show up in the heavily stylized Samurai Fiction. To start with, almost all of the movie is in black and white, a throwback to the samurai movie classics of old. Yet at the same time the soundtrack is entirely modern, with rocking tunes that seem to more fit Kill Bill than 1600's Japan (actually, the background music to the Crazy 88 fight scene in Kill Bill Vol. 1 comes from this movie). As for the actual content of the film, it does fairly well for itself. The acting is good for one (outside of bizarre character actions...more on that later), and the fight scenes are not too shabby. At the same time, this movie is an action/comedy, and while it is humorous in parts, at times it doesn't live up to the level set by the cinematography. This is more or less a cultural thing, as Japanese humor tends to be a little on the quirky and strange side (I have studied Japanese for about 7 years now and will be moving there this August...I've about earned the right to complain ). Also, the story (while taking a fresh approach) still pretty much sticks to traditional samurai movie stereotypes. However I hope I haven't given the impression that I dislike this movie, because actually I thought it was very well put together and entertaining. If you are looking for a film that doesn't take itself too seriously while at the same time putting a modern spin on an old genre, I highly recommend this movie for a good Saturday evening matinée. Pros- Very cool music...check out the album Electric Samurai on itunes Fun and entertaining, without being too heavy or intense Nice art direction Ninjas....need I say more? Cons- Humor is quirky but not always in a good way (same problem with some characters) Hidden pacifist message (I wanna see heads roll, not hands shaking! ) Not enough Ninja action QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ Review review: SEE THESE MOVIE OR BRING DISHONOR TO YOUR FAMILY: Ong Bak Drunken Master Kung fu Hustle Samurai Fiction RENT 'THE NOTEBOOK' FOR A BETTER ACTION FLICK: The Big Boss 3 Ninjas

Sorry about the delay! Mid-terms and all that. But duty calls! ()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()() Well, it has been a long time in coming. I know most of you have been thinking this whole time, 'But Uncle Nightowl, are there such things as Ninja movies?' to which I can only say yes Virgina...there are ninja movies. Unfortunately, anyone who has captured actual live footage of ninjas has been found hours later stuck full of shirukens and with their head imploded due to the sheer awesomeness of seeing ninjas flip out; so needless to say we have to rely on the historical dramatization efforts undertaken during the 80's and 90's in order to get a glimpse into the hidden world of THE NINJAAA! Movie: 3 Ninjas Directed by: Jonathan Turteltaub Released: 1992, USA Starring: Victor Wong, Michael Treanor, Max Slade, and Chad Power (yeah, I've never heard of him either). Style(s) Showcased: Hollywood-do, and I am guessing TKD Trailer: couldn't find any..only this fan mash up: http://youtube.com/watch?v=fyyejWKpqE8&mode=user&search= Artist introduction: Uh, supposedly the three kids starring are black, black, and brown belts in something. Plot: The movie starts out with a head FBI agent leading a team to bring down an illegal arms ring, only to have the boss escape once again (curses!). Meanwhile his three sons are staying at his father-in-law's house...who just happens to be a ninja master. 'Grandpa' teaches the three boys the ancient art of the Ninja, and once he deems them worthy, gives them the 'Ninja' names of Tumtum, Rocky, and Colt. Alas, the arms dealer is none other than a former student of the (Chinese) ninja sage, and in order to convince him to train his army of evil ninja henchmen, he kidnaps the 3 boys to hold for ransom. Unfortunately for him, the 3 ninjas have watched 'Home Alone' as part of their regular training, and they must work together to take out the bad guys. http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/4381/a7011974yv7.jpg http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/4733/3ninjas1992xa4.jpg Review: Where to start? Well how about here: when I first saw this movie I thought it was the coolest thing ever...also when I first saw this movie, I was 5. Now some may reasonably say that my taste in film has not improved much since then...but I can say that for this film at least, my fond memories don't seem to match up to reality. I realize that it made sense to make this movie, Ninjas were in vogue back then, and a particular group of Turtles was mugging the collective piggy banks of millions of children. But at the same time it doesn't prevent this movie from being a Mcdojo mind control device (if I teach my kids karate, they will be able to take on whole armies of scary but incompetent evildoers) and a general insult to Ashida Kim (a TRUE ninja master). Despite the horrible acting, laughable storyline, and tragic blend of 'Karate Kid' cliches, a string decent fight scenes could possibly have saved this movie...but the truth of the matter is that you will only find the fights here interesting if you've never seen one of these new Technicolor movies before. Over all, it is complete junk, and if you show this stuff to your kids I will call Child Protective Services...led by ninjas. No that is not a joke. Pros- Hilarious at 5:30 am in the morning Cons- Bad acting Bad dialogue The Ninja Master seems only to be able to fight while his back is to the camera for some reason... Action scenes so hammy that it isn't kosher Review List: SEE THESE MOVIE OR BRING DISHONOR TO YOUR FAMILY: Ong Bak Drunken Master Kung fu Hustle RENT 'THE NOTEBOOK' FOR A BETTER ACTION FLICK: The Big Boss 3 Ninjas

well, it's free publicity...

That's not true? Oh man...I made a big mistake... ^%^%^%^%^%^% Cliche: Mcdojo Disclaimer: NOT MEANT to bash any style...Mcdojos are not unique to any one art. however...this one is just too good to pass up: Ah, Mcdojos! Are they are real and relevant problem? You betcha. When you see hoards of people getting black belts as easily as switching to Geiko (that just got me 5 bucks by the way), you know something fishy is going on in the martial arts world. The problem is that Mcdojos are EXACTLY what people want. Who needs to fight and drill themselves into the ground for years at a time to get a black when all you need is a belt a month for a little under a year? The answer is that (unless you are a dedicated martial artist) nobody needs to put in much work anymore. You just want the exercise and the 'confidence' that comes with martial arts, not the active pursuit of it. You are there to buy a product, not to earn it. And thus Mcdojos have come into power. And yet because of this, the term 'Mcdojo' has become so over-used that it is little more than an insult to trash someone else's style anonymously over the internet. Therefore it is my honor to place Mcdojos in the MARTIAL CLICHE HALL OF FAME.

Warning Opinion Ahead!!!!! To me, Black belts as a whole don't mean much to me. 30 years ago (before my time but work with me here), if you told me you had a black belt I'd have considered it a major accomplishment. Back then you had to do kumite with little to no protection gear, and in many places a day of training meant plenty of bruises afterwards. If you did martial arts, you did martial arts, and you would have most likely had combat experience. My friend who lived in Japan during the 70's took karate while he was over there, and they were TOUGH (if you performed a stance incorrectly you would get a hard whack with a bamboo stick). But come the age of lawsuits and soccer moms who have seen 'The Karate Kid' one too many times, you can't do that too much anymore. So if you can't be sure if a black belt represents martial ability anymore, what does it represent? Time spent? It's a cliche, but the 'McDojo' phenomena has shown that you don't need to put even that much time in to get a fancy belt with patches about your waist. So if it doesn't represent martial ability (which then what is the point of studying a fighting art?), and it doesn't represent effort, what does it mean? Now mind you, there ARE places and people who put in a ton of effort to get their belts, and truely have learned how to used their art in a fighting situation. However, on the whole you can't assume that anymore...in fact it is sadly almost safe now to assume that it doesn't represent anything. I know because I've been there. From the end of Middle school to the end of my Junior year I took TKD. Including white, I made it up to my 7th belt during that time. However, as I progressed more and more I realized that I wasn't getting much better; just memorizing more forms. Yes, I probably could have made it to black...the forms were the only part of testing that you had to do well in order not to fail, but I felt wrong about doing so when I knew that I wouldn't be much more than a paper tiger. Mind, there were some good fighters there...however there were plenty of bad ones too (me being in that group). I knew someone who was so out of shape that they had trouble making it even through the forms. But because they could memorize them they got a new belt like clockwork. Subsequently I quit and since then (and after doing a lot of research into the world of martial arts), saying 'I have a black belt' doesn't do anything for me.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=TqQbCYa5noA&mode=user&search= This is what you were referring to right? The documentary is interesting, but hardly accurate in my opinion. I doubt that it took too much special talent to ring that bell (which didn't even ring on the last go).

3 Ninjas. ......Nope, none that I can think of! If the ninjas are wearing black ninja garb or are using special straight 'Ninja Swords', then it is not going to be accurate.

Here's some stuff I posted on a Chinese thread...maybe it will help here too? ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; drunken boxing, while quite old, is very rarely seen as a stand alone style (except in the movies). Rather it is usually found in a 'drunken' move set of Chinese styles such as Choy-lay-fut, Monkey style Kung Fu, Southern Shaolin, Tajichuan, and others. Pure drunken boxing in itself is called Zuijiuquan. Characterizing these Drunken styles are erratic movements and positions that seem to almost mimic the look of a drunkard, the result being that the practitioner is very fluid and loose, thus being able to bob and weave out of the way of punches easily. Also, it is supposed to lure the practitioner's opponent into a false sense of security to lessen his reaction time to sudden unexpected burst of strikes from what looks like a docile form. Supposedly this is one of the most demanding forms of Kung fu, and often it is only taught to advanced practitioners. (There must also be a distinction made between traditional and contemporary drunken boxing. Contemporary drunken fist has very highly exaggerated movements and miming that render it purely for show. You usually see this in contemporary wushu competitions where drunken forms show off amazing flexibility and extreme movement that even the most hammered of kung-fu masters could never pull off, but don't do much else than look pretty ( ). Traditional is a lot more conservative, with less acrobatics and smaller movements making it a lot more efficient. Regardless, this still brings up the question of Zui Quan's effectiveness in combat.Well....there is an oft shown video of Drunken boxing vs. Kyokushin: http://youtube.com/watch?v=S3_b9SUDQ-8 This is the only clip of Drunken boxing sparring that I can find. Mind you, It was done for a Japanese variety TV show and since it was posted on a famous 'in your face MA site), it has come under scrutiny as possibly have being set up (or the drunken boxers were karateka who were trying the style as an experiment). Regardless, it doesn't look so hot. Still...it is unfair to judge based off of just one video. Again, the hard thing that it is so hard to find being practiced instead of just being used in a form. I could see it being useful (but slightly unorthodox) if you practiced it against someone coming on with regular attacks though...whether or not there are places that do that remains to be seen. Searching the web does bring up some gyms that do exclusively teach it, but the are few and far in between. I personally would love to learn it and experiment with it, as the fluidity could potentially make for a nice way to dodge attacks (which I like doing ^^). Finally to cap things off...more youtube! (notice the fist and elbow strikes and absence of miming in this more conservative form) Also a bit more conservativehttp://youtube.com/watch?v=HqeyTHtS5RU (getting more modern) http://youtube.com/watch?v=LjO_8J1xlRY http://youtube.com/watch?v=nsF_aNSjNjM more modern madness...http://youtube.com/watch?v=zcWOAmIKl8w some in here...and actual KF sparring...nice to see. Just threw that in...love seeing tourists get beat uphttp://youtube.com/watch?v=gGzr-gkIums&mode=related&search= it's in there..

For TKD or Aikido?

Heh, glad to hear that someone reads these things other than myself. And no, no offense taken at The Big Boss info. In fact I appreciate it . Besides, I welcome any other opinions on these movies (even though they are wrong ). Alright! We've been over two blasts from the past...now a return to more modern fare... Movie: Kung fu Hustle Directed by: Stephen Chow Released: Hong Kong, 2004 Starring: Stephen Chow Style(s) showcased: From what I can tell, Wushu, and Hollywood-do Trailer:http://youtube.com/watch?v=lMUSMmR3jsU http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/7058/246298thumbol2.jpg http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/9854/kungfubu0.jpg Artist introduction: Stephen Chow, while just recently becoming known in the West with the movies Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle, has actually been starring in and making movies for the past 20 years. He is known for his comedy (and almost all of his films are in some way part of that genre), and lighthearted exaggerating of traditional Chinese culture. He adored Kung Fu films as a child, and did receive some training in Wing Chun, however he is not nearly as serious of a devotee to martial training as much as his is an entertainer (as opposed to some of the others profiled beforehand). His movies are also know for their constant in-jokes, homages, ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kung_Fu_Hustle has a list of all of the film and media references in Kung Fu Hustle ) double entendres, and wacky wordplays. Whether his style is your cup of tea or not, he is starting to become rather popular on these shores, and you will probably be seeing more of him in the near future. Plot: As the Feared 'Axe Gang' (dressed all in suites and top hats...at least they dress well) begin to take over 1940's Shanghai (or a place similar to Shanghai), two clumsy con men try to pose as members of the feared gang in a sleepy backwater town, hoping to make an easy buck. Unfortunately for them, while they are attempting to throw their weight around, the real Axe Gang shows up, and three kung fu masters hidden among the tenants break their long silence in order to save their homes. http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/3049/kungfuh3fu8.jpg http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/6460/mvkungfuhustle1dq7.jpg http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/2444/kungfuhustlemusiqueol1.jpg Review: To start things off I must say this: if you want realism, turn on PBS. If you want entertainment, than you found the right movie. A very different style then the gritty Ong Bak or stone faced Lee, Chow takes many cues from Jackie Chan's antics, then gives it a shot of caffeine. A parody of and at the same time homage to the Wuxia genre (along with Kung fu films of yore), expect the laws of gravity to become more or less 'guidelines', and Looney Toon like human abilities. There's everything in this movie from assassins whose weapon of choice is the Zheng (a classical Chinese instrument...and boy can they ROCK), to an aged kung fu master who was so devoted to his studies that he went insane...but he's actually pretty laid back once you get to know him(played by Leung Siu-lung, who in the past did a lot of Bruce Lee imitation work). The two main protagonists Sing (Chow) and his chubby sidekick Bone (Lam Chi Chung), are an amusing pair, with Sing's constant wavering between trouble maker and good guy, and Bone's almost dog-like tagging along. By the end of the movie you actually do develop a strong interest in these two characters, and while they might not always do the right thing, they are very likable. The other Character of note is the Landlady (Yuen Qiu), whose loud voice is only matched by her big temper. All in all, the characters are well brought out, and the acting very well done for a Kung Fu flick. However, while it plays well with lay audiences, I know of many martial artists who do not like this film. To be sure, the humor doesn't always work, and it goes too far over the top at times, but this is a movie not meant to be taken seriously. So if you can manage to turn off the 'UFC' mentality just for a bit, you may find yourself pleasantly surprised by this film. Pros- Good acting and entertaining characters Funny in a goof ball sort of way A good martial arts movie for those who aren't really into martial arts Cons- Too over the top at times Very little in the way of real martial arts The zany actions of a lot of the characters might be a turnoff for some. Review Summary Time!!! SEE THESE MOVIE OR BRING DISHONOR TO YOUR FAMILY: Ong Bak Drunken Master Kung fu Hustle RENT 'THE NOTEBOOK' FOR A BETTER ACTION FLICK: The Big Boss

Hey, wrote this for my history class last year...thought you might find it interesting: Wushu, the Chinese word most commonly translated as ‘martial art’ is today practiced by millions as the officially recognized sport of China. From soccer moms and their grade-schoolers to hordes of practitioners in parks performing synchronized movements in front of Chinese TV cameras, all claim to be part of an ancient oriental tradition spanning back thousands of years. And yet, a look into the past belays a curious truth: wushu is a modern creation. In fact, it is less than 100 years old, and the catalyst for its flourishing can be attributed to none other than the Chinese Communist Party. Somewhat paradoxically, the same government that created the phenomenon of contemporary wushu is also responsible for the near extinction of fighting systems in China, the very thing that it now claims to propitiate. Thus this is a look at how a tradition was persecuted, forgotten, and in the end used by the People’s Republic of China for its own agenda. The history of Wushu prior to the late 19th century is not straightforward, but almost cyclical in its waning into more or less acrobatics and exercise during times of peace, and being transformed back into combat during times of unrest. The original martial arts derived from farming tools and hunting tactics. As time went on, teniques were collected and organized to form different fighting styles that varied by region, and by the end of the Han dynasty, martial arts had become a highly developed practice with clearly defined systems and lineages (Wilson, 317). However, martial arts never were part of the mainstream, but rather there were four main areas where wushu developed and was practiced on a regular basis. The first was where martial arts got their start: among the population as a whole. ‘Folk styles,’ useful for the often lawless regions of China outside of the cities, were where the original practitioners of wushu were to be found, as opposed to in the halls of the elite and the intellectual (Tsang,25) (Fairbank, 230). The second area was in the military, present both in drills involving close and long range weaponry and unarmed combat. Martial artists were valued on and off the battlefield, and during the Tang dynasty they were even encouraged to take official posts in the military to lend their expertise. Again however, it is important to remember that they were not among the majority (Tsang, 32). The third stronghold of wushu was in religious circles; and while the majority of Taoist and Buddhist monks were not practitioners of martial arts, the famous exception was the Buddhist monks of the Shaolin temple in the Henan province(Dyer-Bennet, 1199). The Mecca of martial arts during its time, it attracted some of the most well known artists of the era, a tradition thought to have been started by Abbot Fu Yu (1203-1275) who was known to invite wushu experts to the monastery to train the monks living there (Davis, 378). The brightly garbed monks became so famous for their martial prowess, that at times they were used as a militia unit, a position that allowed them to amass a great amount of wealth from the government (Wilson, 452) The final section of Chinese society that had a history of martial arts was the many secret societies. Secret societies could be made up of many different social groups: the local populace banding together for protection, religious sects, and most often, groups of thugs. Usually bearing colorful names such as ‘The Yellow Turbans’, or ‘The White Cloud Society’, these organizations often played a role in (or likewise formed because of) social unrest (Latourette, 576-78). Many times martial arts could be seen present in these orders as they always tended to have a hint of violence. Members of the famous White Lotus cult during the Qing dynasty were known to practice wushu, and the infamous ‘Boxers United in Righteousness’ or ‘Boxers’ were well known for their exhibitions of Chinese boxing and theatrics in order to attract disaffected peasants to crusade against the ‘barbarians’(Gewu, 67) (Chesneaux, 52). Thus it is within the context of these ‘four pillars’ that wushu entered the modern age. The first of the pillars to crack was in the military. After a humiliating defeat at the hands of the West in 1901 during the Boxer Rebellion, the Qing court issued an order to halt the military examination system, causing wushu to essentially retreat out of the military realm and into the countryside (Gewu, 77). However it is important to remember that the rampant imperialism that dominated China at the turn of the century had a great deal to do with a disparity in military technology. While the majority of Chinese were still fighting at the time with ‘cold’ weaponry, the Western powers were equipped with guns and a modernized navy that could easily defeat the Manchu army. And even though most soldiers were little more than grunts, even an accomplished swordsman or unarmed fighter (despite what the Boxers would have had their followers believe) was no match for a bullet. Thus the rise of the West and modern weaponry forced martial arts in the military realm to the side as new tactics were needed for the modern battlefield (Dyer-Bennet, 1199). Despite the fall of traditional modern arts in the military in the face of modern weaponry, wushu managed to survive in the countryside. Through the rest of the early 1900’s up to the dawn of WWII, wushu became more organized and accepted as a public sport, as multiple wushu competitions and tournaments were held (Gewu, 80-93). However, after the invasion of China by Japan and subsequent Communist rebellion against the Nationalists, the remaining three pillars would soon face their own near-extinction. After WWII, China was reeling from years of savage oppression and warfare. It was during the war that the Chinese Communist Party had garnered support for its cause by using the opportunity to spread the gospel of Marx to the countryside as a whole. Due to this surge in popular support by the peasantry at large, in October of 1941 the Nationalists led by Chiang Kai Shek were forced to flee to Taiwan and hand over control of the CCP. Outside of the British controlled Hong Kong, China was now a swath of red. Shortly after the Communist takeover in 1953, the newly created Physical Culture and Sports Commission of the People’s Republic of China established a sub-committee entitled by the equally as long name of ‘The Research Commission of Chinese Physical Culture’. As far as the committee was concerned with martial arts, it had an interest in organizing and developing wushu in order to bring it into mainstream popularity （Gewu, 95-96). The main goal was to develop from the various styles and methods of wushu a performance art and national sport that would one day receive recognition from the international community as a uniquely Chinese activity (Davis, 376). In 1956 the PCSC officially declared martial arts as a competitive sport, and promptly included it in the curriculum of schools and other areas of physical competition, and in the years following thereafter, official rules were applied for wushu tournaments which included heavy emphasis on forms and routines for the 1st national games held in Beijing in September of 1959. The following year the National Wushu Games where held in Zhengzhou, and increased elevation of jumps and aesthetics for scoring was stressed over actual martial ability, thus marking a trend towards acrobatics rather than combat (Gewu, 97-98). Nevertheless, wushu as it traditionally existed was not under direct threat. However, with the dawn of the Cultural Revolution that would change. If there ever was a historical event of mass ignorance and rejection of knowledge, it was the Chinese Cultural Revolution which consumed the region from 1966-1976. The catalyst for the nation-wide anarchy was the call from Mao Zedong to the youths of China to ‘Purge China of the Four Olds’. This included but was not limited to ‘anti-revolutionaries’ (many of whom were loyal members of the Communist Party), ‘Capitalist-roaders,’ and any traces of ‘bourgeois’ influence. The resulting carnage saw the complete destruction of the educational system and a lapse into mob rule. Traditional cultural activities of all varieties were persecuted as ‘bourgeois’, from festivals and traditional Peking Opera, to anyone with a specialized occupation, which included martial art specialists (Fairbank, 726). The practice of martial arts was strictly forbidden, and anyone caught doing so faced harsh repercussions. Even in the countryside, practice ceased and many documents and historical records related to the subject were destroyed (Davis, 376). Thus faced with persecution, many were forced to call of martial arts entirely and only the few who could afford it left the country. The oppressiveness of the PRC had long been a driving force for emigration, and many former mainland Chinese saw the British colony of Hong Kong as a gateway to economic prosperity. It was here and elsewhere abroad that the remaining few who knew martial arts practiced without much fear of repercussion, and from an initial 1945 population of about 600,000 before Communism to a headcount of over 2.5 million in 1955, Hong Kong (along with locales such as Taiwan and America) ushered in a massive tide of humanity and in the process rescued Chinese martial arts from extinction. Ironically it was also in Hong Kong where the obscure tradition of wushu took off to become internationally famous, catching the attention of even the once hostile Chinese Communist government (Tsang, 167). While Mainland China was awash in unrest of the Cultural Revolution and subsequent cooling down period and economic rebuilding under Den Xiaoping, in the 1970’s and 1980’s martial artists who had fled to Hong Kong and the subsequent new generation of trainees found an ingenious way to capitalize on their talents: the kung fu film (Davis, 379). The Hong Kong public ate up movies filled with displays of questionable wire-work and acrobatics mixed with martial arts, and eventually stars of the genre such as Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan managed to break out to a world-wide audience. Interest in martial arts skyrocketed throughout the world, and a once cold PRC suddenly became eager to capitalize on the phenomenon. China was opening up, and they needed something to put them on the map. With visions of Olympic glory floating in their heads, the PCSC in 1979 started up an effort to revive wushu (although private schools were still not allowed at the time), and in 1984 a study titled, ‘The Report on the Meeting for the Discovery of the National Wushu Heritage’ was filed. However, due to the cultural damage of 30 years of communism, the data collected was lacking. With countless documents lost and wushu masters reluctant to contribute, the effort was for all practical purposes a failure. Throughout the mid-1980’s masters living abroad were encouraged to return to the Mainland, and in the 1990’s actual officials were sent abroad to try and find those who had left to practice outside of China. Contributions however, still remained few and far between, and the result was a mixed collection of forms highlighted by exaggerated movements placed under the title of ‘Wushu’ (Davis, 376) (Gewu, 104). Meanwhile, as China began to try and reclaim its historical heritage, a curriculum was introduced in 1982 at the Shaolin monastery to try and revive the once great pillar of Chinese martial arts. However, the style being taught featured only bits and fragments of traditional forms supplemented with the aerobics of the now titled ‘Contemporary’ or ‘Modern’ wushu. From the 1990’s onto today, the CCP still officially sponsors these Shaolin Monks to travel abroad as a cultural public relations move, sending them to everywhere from New York to Portland Oregon for displays of ‘The Ancient Art of Kung fu’.(Davis, 376-378). As of the present, the bid to revive martial arts has not yet come to fruition, and while the CCP did manage to get the 2008 Olympics secured for Beijing, wushu was not accepted by the Olympic committee as an official event. Nevertheless, a grand show of the ‘ancient tradition’ of martial arts will no doubt be shown during and after the opening ceremony. As China presents itself as the land from which all civilization flows, and tourism becomes as viable industry, more and more ‘ancient traditions’ from other aspects of Chinese culture will no doubt be unearthed as China’s history is more and more being seen as a way to promote China in the eyes of the world. But things stand the same: The folly of the Cultural Revolution led to cultural and historical losses that may never be regained. And if current trends continue, a once rich cultural heritage will soon be reduced to cultural propaganda as the last of the pillars fall. ************************************************* Sources: Chesneaux, Jean. Peasant Revolts in China 1840-1949 Trans. C.A. Curwen. London: Thames and Hudson Ltd, 1973. Davis, Edward L, ed. Encyclopedia of Contemporary Chinese Culture New York, NY: Routledge, 2005 Dyer-Bennet, Townes, and Alan Trevithick. Encyclopedia of World Sport: From Ancient Times to the Present. Santa Barbra California: David Levinson and Karen Christenson, 1996 Fairbank, John King, and Merle Goldman. China: A New History Massachusetts: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1998 Fairbank, John K. and Roderick Macfarquhar, ed. The Cambridge History of China Vol 15. The People’s Republic Part 2: Revolutions within the Chinese Revolution 1966-1982. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 1991. Gewu, Kang. The Spring and Autumn of Chinese Martial Arts -5000 Years- Santa Cruz, CA: Plum Publishing, 1995 Latourette, Kenneth Scott. The Chinese: Their History and Culture New York: MacMaillian Company, 1934, 1946, 1964. Tsang, Steve. A Modern History of Hong Kong London: I.B Tauris & Co Ltd, 2004 Wilson, Alexis, ed. et al. Encyclopedia of China: The Essential Reference to China, Its History and Culture. New York, NY: Dorothy Perkins and Roundtable Press Inc. 1999

I'd punch with the butter knife, it would not be comfortable to get hit with that. The broomstick offers too much commitment for me...you miss and the other guy has you

I'd take the knife and laugh at the mirror image of myself who has never trained in a staff weapon before

Glad to hear that the Home Team did well!

Brazilian Jujitsu

It may have been but...there are way better movies out there with multiple kicks in them (if that is your thing). Anyhow, on to the next legend... Movie: Drunken Master Directed by: Yuen Woo Ping Released: Hong Kong, 1978 Starring: Jackie Chan Style(s) Showcased: Hun Gar, Zui Quan Trailer: http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/1418/scmasteron1.jpg http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/2215/drunkenmasterlnd1.jpg http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/2431/sam17zo7.jpg Artist intro: Who doesn't love Jackie Chan? Well, some people don't ...but some people don't like sunshine and puppies either. Born in Hong Kong and trained in Peking Opera along with his good friends Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao (who would also become KF movie stars in their own right), he initially found work outside of the theater as minor characters and working as a stunt man in various films (including in 'Enter the Dragon'). After trying his hand in some unsuccessful starring roles, he finally found break-out hits in 'Snake in the Eagle's Shadow'(1978) and "The Drunken Master' (also 1978 and featuring co-stars Yuen Siu Tien and Hwang Jang Lee). From there on he rose to super-stardom in Asia, but wouldn't become a household name in the states until the 90's with the hit, 'Rumble in the Bronx'. As for his personal life, he has kept it mainly private, marrying in the 80's to a Taiwanese actress. He also has had great success in China and Japan as (surprisingly enough) a singer , and he can sign in Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, English, and Vietnamese (among some others). As for his martial training, he received a fair amount of Norther Shaolin for his performances back in his opera days, but he also has trained under Northern Mantis, Western Boxing, Judo, Wing Chun, and a few other styles. Jackie's on screen persona is very unique, and he has admitted to being influenced by Charlie Chaplin and Bruce Lee. However he wasn't influenced by Lee in the way you might think (there were countless Bruce imitators after his death), but rather he wanted to create martial heroes that were more carefree and fun, as opposed to stoic and constantly grim. Thus his movies have some of the most imaginatively choreographed fight scenes ever recorded on film. It is here where he also has famously done a great amount of his own stunts (and infamously received wince-worthy injuries) however currently in his older age he tends not to do nearly as much stunt work anymore. http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/5315/zq1978yn6.jpg Plot: Jackie portrays a young Wong Fei Hung, a famous martial arts hero commonly played in the kungfu genre. However unlike other films showing Wong Fei Hung, in 'Drunken Master' Fei is a troublemaker, constantly causing trouble in and out of his father's kungfu academy (much to amusement of his peers). Finally having enough, his father sends him to be trained for one year under the Kungfu master Su Hua Chi (played by Yuen Siu Tien who would revisit similar roles in other movies), who is notorious not just for his fighting skills, but also for being so harsh that he cripples his students. After under going a period of grueling training, Fei runs away only to run into the assasin thunderfoot (played by Hwang Jang Lee) and recive a sound beating. Humiliated, he returns to the hard drinking Kungfu master, who agrees to teach him the secret art of...Drunken Boxing. Review: Although this film is not nearly as good as its sequel (Drunken Master 2 aka The Legend of the Drunken Master), it is a great showcase for what was then a budding star. Unlike Bruce's first major film, "Drunken Master' holds up quite well. Featuring signature Jackie humor and stunt work, it is easy to see while watching the movie a young Chan getting his feet wet. The acting is fairly good (and a good part tongue-in-cheek), and as touched on, the choreography features plenty of flips, tricks, and physical humor. Also of note is the main villain played by Hwang Jang Lee. He's notable not only for playing a villain in so many Kungfu films, but also for his signature use of almost solely kicking. He is also famous for killing a knife wielding man in self defense with one kick, (!) but I digress.... Back to the movie. It is not without its flaws. The choreography and fighting is not nearly as polished as some of Jackie's later films, and at times it is a bit silly, but keep in mind that it is a lighthearted film. All in all, I must give this a thumbs up and recommend it as a true classic. If all you know about Jackie Chan is from 'Shanghai Noon', then you must watch this movie! Pros: Helped Start Jackie's career Filled with signature stunts (Chan got KO'd and almost lost an eye during filming) and humor A nice supporting cast Cons: As it is earlier work, it is a little unpolished sometimes ******************************************* Let's Summarize Shall we? SEE THESE MOVIES OR BRING DISHONOR TO YOUR ANCESTORS: Ong Bak Drunken Master RENT 'THE NOTEBOOK' FOR A BETTER ACTION FLICK: The Big Boss

Did light lifting without killing myself this time around...hoping to go back in tomorrow...

Yep, those were what the 'ninja' we see today were based off of. Minus the props and puppets of course. Also another myth, the 'Ninja Swords' you see being sold on martial art sites (straight as opposed to the curved blade of the katana) have no historical evidence to back the up. Ninja most like used the same swords as everyone else.

Before I settled on the gym that I go to during the summer, I went looking around dojos all over the place. KungFu schools, karate, krav maga, even ninjitsu. I eventually settled down with Wing Chun for awhile before moving on to a MMA gym.

Ah, yes, that one is fun to watch. The kicker that he fights toward the end; that guy has some crazy stuff! Great fight scene.. anyhow I found another place which teaches Drunken boxing as part of its curriculum and does sparring too (although it teaches a mixture of Kungfu styles, not just drunken). However it is located in Japan which is a bit...far away. http://www.seiryukai.jp/

I've seen that documentary before but...I have major doubts that the one karate master.

yep, look for any Kyokushin schools near you as they tend to be more into that sort of thing than other karate styles (not that they don't exist either, but they are much less common).

Cardio is basically anything that will get your heart rate up but doesn't involve huge muscle strain. Running, skipping rope, etc. are all good ways to get some cardio in. By the way, how do you like ninjitsu?

When I feel that things might get out of hand, I stand on one leg and strike the 'Karate Kid' stance while letting out a high pitch yell.

Movie: The Big Boss (originally released in the USA under the title of 'Fists of Fury', but don't confuse this movie with another Bruce title under the same name) Released: Hong Kong, 1971 Leading Role: Bruce Lee Style(s) Showcased: Stylized variety Trailer: Clip:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2e7K89-mWE&NR Better than the Ong Bak clip even! http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/8060/bigbossmw4.jpg Artist intro: Bruce. Lee. Need I saw more? This is the grandfather of the modern MMA movement, the king of the screen, the Socrates of the martial world, the force that brought martial arts into the western spotlight, and a legend who was cut down in his prime (resulting in only increasing his mystique). Born in San Fransisco (thus technically eligible for president...Osama Bin Laden would've been toast by now) but raised in Hong Kong, he lived there until his teens when he was sent back to the US to live with his uncle. From there he continued on in his education and attended Washington University where he met his wife Linda. After graduating with a degree in philosophy, they got married in 1964, and from there Bruce took many side roles in US films, but ultimately found more success in Hong Kong where his movie career took off (starting with 'The Big Boss'). As far as his fighting background, he was taught Tai Chi Chuan by his father, but spent a great deal of time training under Yip Man in Wing Chun. Along this art, he also had a good deal of experience in boxing and Hun Gar. He would later promote the movement of a 'style with no style', which in theory was to take only the fastest and most efficient of attacks from all the arts and condense them into one. Of course he would later claim this to be done in his JKD style, and as far as his fighting ability goes and just how many styles he knew is up for debate...you can find out more on your own. Regardless, his philosophy major definitely shows in his approach to MA, and the UFC owns more to this man than they might like to admit. Unfortunately, Bruce died unexpectedly in 1973 from cerebral edema, and of course now there are all sorts of crazy conspiracy theories as to what REALLY happened. Regardless, he is a fascinating figure whose commentary on MA today would certainly be just as controversial as they were back then. Plot: A young man named Cheng goes to live with his cousins to work at an ice packing plant. When some of his cousins discover that the managers are smuggling drugs on the side, the are murdered and Cheng's previous promise to give up fighting is broken as he sets out for revenge. Review: Alright folks, this is it...THE movie that launched Bruce Lee's career and became the highest grossing Hong Kong film of all time before it was beaten...by the next Bruce Lee film. It must be a classic right? Right? Before I go on I will confess something...I only saw 1/2 of the movie, but there is a good reason for that, namely that it is a bad movie. Don't let Bruce's name fool you: the fights are boring, the entire thing is ridiculously low budget, it's waaay too long, and the non-action scenes make you wish that the undead zombie of Bruce Lee would shamble over to your house to one inch punch you out of your misery. I watched up to where Bruce was getting drunk and called it quits, but as can been seen from the dog clip there were many more high quality action scenes that I missed. Speaking of which, it takes 30 min just to see Bruce fight. If I wanted to see a static Bruce, I would have just saved myself the rental and put a scene from 'Enter the Dragon' on my desktop. Again, it is extremely low budget in a non-corny and boring way. Expect to see a lot of shots of dirt roads and a shoddy ice packing plant, because apparently these are the only two places that they were legally allowed to film such dreadful dialogue. Am I being a bit harsh? Yes, but you can't help but see this movie in the context of Bruce's other films, and it is fair to say that it doesn't measure up. Pros -Started Bruce Lee's career -His Cousin is cute Cons -Bruce doen't fight until 30 min into the movie -BAD non-action scenes...even for a kung-fu flick -Boring fighting -Slow paced plot Let's summarize so far shall we? SEE THESE MOVIE OR BRING DISHONOR TO YOUR ANCESTORS: Ong Bak RENT 'THE NOTEBOOK' FOR A BETTER ACTION FLICK: The Big Boss