About the style(s) used in "the karate kid"

[Azula]

I've been wondering what style was used in the Karate Kid series. I think they do Goju-Ryu style karate because from research i learned that Goju-Ryu is not Japanese but Okinowan, and the creator of the art was Miyagi Chojun. In the movie Mr. Miyagi also has the same name and also is from Okinowan origin. So my guess is Goju-ryu, what does everyone else think?

[bushido_man96]

Not sure, never really thought about it. It was always just "karate." There are some good analogies there, however.

[legkicker]

Pat Johnson, a 9th Dan in Tang Soo Do is the one who coreographed the fight scenes in the Karate kid movie. He trained Morita and Machio for the movie, too.

Fumio Demura was Morita's stunt double and he's a Shito Ryu instructor. I've met Demura a few times and am not sure if he's a hachidan or a kyudan. He is very, very good, though. In fact, he's probably the most famous shito ryu instructor in the USA. Norris got his shito ryu black belt from Demura, and so did Steven Seagal. Seagal studied shito ryu before he went into Aikido.

Pat Johnson:

Senior N.T.C. Black Belt, 9th Degree Black Belt Master & Film Maker Pat Johnson was introduced to the Korean art of Tang Soo Do while serving as a US Army Chaplain’s Assistant while stationed in Korea. Master Johnson was named Captain of Chuck Norris’ Black Belt Team which went undefeated for seven years, racking up more than 33 National and International titles in the process. Master Johnson’s personal competition record was 196-1-1. In 1975 & 1976 he also received a Golden Fist Award as “Outstanding Karate Referee.” Master Johnson has been inducted into Black Belt Magazine’s Hall of Fame, the Ocean State Hall of Fame and the NASKA Hall of Fame. Adding to his growing resume of accomplishments Master Johnson was voted one of the 25 most influential martial artists of the 20th Century by Black Belt Magazine . Master Johnson is an experienced stunt and fight choreographer with over 25 films to his credit.

Fumio Demura:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fumio_Demura

[The Karate Kid]

he did do some of his fight scenes i think like the one in karate kid 2 against chozan and his buddys. i think it is gojo ryu cuz in karate kid 3 the kata is from gojo i think isnt it tensho kata?

[bushido_man96]

That's cool info, legkicker. I didn't know that Seagal had a BB in shito ryu.

[Fairfax_Uechi]

he did do some of his fight scenes i think like the one in karate kid 2 against chozan and his buddys. i think it is gojo ryu cuz in karate kid 3 the kata is from gojo i think isnt it tensho kata?

Interesting. My understanding was that it was Movie-Ryu. A mixture of this and that. But it wouldn't suprise me if they had some Gojo. I do know that the circular blocks (wax on/wax off) and the paint the house (up/down wrist strikes) are used in several Okaniwan styles, including Uechi. So, it wouldn't suprise me either way. But, I'm willing to bet, that like all movies, the goal was to look good on camera not be true to any one art.

[elbows_and_knees]

That's cool info, legkicker. I didn't know that Seagal had a BB in shito ryu.

I didn't know that, and I've talked to him in person. He's got rank in kendo, judo, aikido and karate, but I was unaware that the karate style was shito ryu.

[bushido_man96]

That's cool info, legkicker. I didn't know that Seagal had a BB in shito ryu.

I didn't know that, and I've talked to him in person. He's got rank in kendo, judo, aikido and karate, but I was unaware that the karate style was shito ryu.

Cool. Very well rounded.

[parkerlineage]

I believe the major martial arts in the karate kid movies were:

Cinematography Ryu - The art of having the camera make you look good.

Ignorance Do - The art of relying on the fact that virtually nobody knows martial arts.

Narrativeimprobability Fu - The art of making script writers let you win

I happen to have a black belt in all of those - although, in my only MA film (it's a 9 minute ninja movie that we made for an English project), I was the bad guy, so I had to die. Therefore, my friend is really better than I am in Narrativeimprobability Fu. But I'm practicing!

[alsey]

I believe the major martial arts in the karate kid movies were:

Cinematography Ryu - The art of having the camera make you look good.

Ignorance Do - The art of relying on the fact that virtually nobody knows martial arts.

Narrativeimprobability Fu - The art of making script writers let you win!

lol, true