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Posted (edited)

OK, to start with (if you've not encountered it before), Gun Kata is a martial art created for the film "Equilibrium" - I don't know how developed it is but I guess it's not a fully rounded fighting system.

 

Right, that said I've just seen Equilibrium, and thought I'd let you know what I think of the martial arts in it....

 

1) Gun Kata is designed primarily for fighting with pistols (with or without ammunition) and defending against multiple attackers with firearms.

 

2) It also incorporates empty handed techniques - we see the following

 

- cross / reverse punch

 

- wrist lock

 

- knee strikes to the face and arm

 

- deflections of incoming hand attacks or hands holding weapons (lots of these)

 

- side kick to the knee

 

- grabbing the hands or arms of your opponent (but only as a prelude to a follow up strike)

 

3) A heavy reliance on footwork / body movement. Strongly outmaneuvering your opponents. Some minor acrobatics movements are used to prevent armed opponents getting a clear shot (rolls on the floor, one somersault)

 

4) Techniques for dealing with multiple opponents:

 

- Hit them hard and quickly. Even if it doesn't eliminate them immediately, it gives you a second or two breathing space to worry about the others.

 

- Get in close if possible - this nullifies the effect of distance weapons

 

- Know how long it takes a trained gunman to aim and fire his weapon. Never stay still for this length of time or longer.

 

- Know how to use your own weapons (be it guns, swords or whatever) effectively in all directions (without having to turn round - aiming with your arms or hands is faster than turning your own body)

 

5) Economy of Effort.

 

- Use the most direct and least complicated techniques or movements possible to achieve the desired effect.

 

6) The (fictional) practitioners we see in the film are meant to have practiced this art for many many years - there's no implication that the style would be quick or easy to learn or apply.

 

7) The fight scenes use stuntmen, but no CGI or wirework. Everything you see is at least physically possible (unlike many modern films with martial arts in!)

 

I'd recommend anyone with an interest in martial arts movies to see Equilibrium, as it does genuinely offer something unique.

Edited by iolair

Currently: Kickboxing and variants.

Previously: Karate (Seido, Shotokan, Seidokan), Ju Jitsu, Judo, Aikido, Fencing.

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Posted
King: at the moment just describing the martial art from equilibrium (which is called "Gun Kata"). Personally, even though it is from a film, I think it has some interesting concepts which are worth looking into.

Currently: Kickboxing and variants.

Previously: Karate (Seido, Shotokan, Seidokan), Ju Jitsu, Judo, Aikido, Fencing.

Posted
Well, to that I'd say.. it's just a movie. :P The effectiveness of firearms is far from nullified at close range, thus the term "wet works." That movie was neat, but the guards/anonymous gunmen were absolutely terrible. That guy.. the hero guy.. would have gotten much more efficient results using traditional gunfighting methods.

Paladin - A holy beat down in the name of God!

Posted

one day

 

people will realise that things you see in films and television are not to be taken as a be all and end all on the effectiveness of martial arts or reality...

post count is directly related to how much free time you have, not how intelligent you are.


"When you have to kill a man it costs nothing to be polite."

Posted

Yes guys, I understand about fight choreography - it makes it so much easier for the martial artist when (as in Equilibrium), the bad guys barely bother to fight back.

 

But, I thought the MA in this movie was interesting enough to warrant some discussion. I wasn't suggesting it was some new super-style that would supplant everything else.....

 

OK, in retrospect I should have posted this in the movies forum on here...

Currently: Kickboxing and variants.

Previously: Karate (Seido, Shotokan, Seidokan), Ju Jitsu, Judo, Aikido, Fencing.

  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

hey, we did some of this last night in my Budo Taijuitsu school.

 

we did some techniques using a gun (obviously not shooting it) and some defending against a draw. they where pretty cool. most used the gun in a similair fassion to an impact weapon like a kubotan or ju-jo, but with a bit of an edge.

 

an unloaded gun actually makes an EXCELANT close range weapon. and if it doesnt work you can always pretend it's loaded. they wont know the diferance

If in your journey you encounter God, God will be cut


~Hatori Hanso (sonny chiba)

Posted
and if it doesnt work you can always pretend it's loaded. they wont know the diferance

 

Um... If you're in a situation severe enough to call for bluffing with an unloaded firearm, you really should have a loaded firearm.

 

I don't think I'd ever advocate pretending you have a loaded gun. Should you be called on it, you will be in what the French call "le deep Doo-doo."

I'm no longer posting here. Adios.

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