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  • Watch Kajukenbo GM Eric Lee in “Weapons of Death”

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    The Weapons of Death 90 min  -  Action | Drama  -  24 July 1981 (USA)
    Starring the “King of Kata” – Kajukenbo GM Eric Lee

     

    Weapons of Death (1981) [NR]

    Amazon Instant Video {included FREE with Prime Instant Video}
    Starring: Eric Lee, Bob Ramos
    Runtime: 1 hour 26 minutes

    In San Francisco’s Chinatown, a band of thugs kidnaps a girl for a large Chinese gang. Her half-brother gathers a team of expert fighters to get her back.

    Click here to watch: http://www.amazon.com/Weapons-Death-Eric-Lee/dp/B002SP2U9O

    From his bio on the Kajukenbo Cafe: Born in Canton, China, Master Eric Lee began his Martial Arts training under Chung Ball and later with Master Al Dacascos.

    Nicknamed “The King of Kata” he went on to excel in the field of Martial Arts and is accredited with winning more national and international awards than any other Martial Artist in the United States.

    Of Eric Lee, Black Belt Magazine is quoted as saying “Without a doubt, the most influential forms performer of his time … “The Original Martial Arts Encyclopedia states, “Before the advent of form ratings, Lee was unofficially the number one form champion in the U.S.”
    He has been featured on the cover of just about every major Martial Arts magazine throughout the world.
    After retiring from the competitive scene, Master Lee continues to distinguish himself in the field of Martial Arts instruction and the entertainment industry.

    Perhaps Eric Lee’s best-known movie is “Big Trouble in Little China.” He has also had major roles in: Blood Sport II., Ninja Busters, Weapons of Death, Fist of Iron, The Shinobi, and The Game. Over the past twenty some-odd years his cinematic career has taken many other exciting turns. He has either starred, co-starred, or been featured in many other major motion pictures and television series. Some on the most memorable include: Ring Of Fire I & II, Death Match, Rambo, Misfit Patrol, License To Kill, Strong City, Smoke on the Water, Hanoi Hilton, Talon Of The Eagle, Steel Justice, Future Kick, Death Machine, Falcon Claw, Good Guys Wear Black, Shame Shame On The Bixie Boys, Uncommon Valor, Into The Night, “A” Team, General Hospital, Bob, Call To Glory, Airwolf, “V”, Tales of the Gold Monkey, Kung-fu Series, Fall Guy, L.A. Nightlife, For Love And Honor, Joe And The Colonel, Beauty And The Beast, Hollywood Beast, Creature Features, Me & Mom, Incredible Hulk, Bring ‘Em Back Alive, Hunter, Gavalan, Scarecrow & Mrs. King, Greatest American Hero, Gong Show, Rousters, Price Is Right, World Martial Arts Challenge, Just For Kicks Television, Evening Magazine, Kitt And Rene Show, This is Hollywood, A&E’s Martial Arts Special, and the Hollywood Reporter. He just completed work on Lethal Weapon IV and recently starred in The Master Demon.

    Eric was promoted to 9th degree Grandmaster in July, 2004, by Sijo Emperado.


  • Pacific Rim movie

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    Pacific Rim (2013)
    131 min – Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi – 12 July 2013 (USA)

    “As a war between humankind and monstrous sea creatures wages on, a former pilot and a trainee are paired up to drive a seemingly obsolete special weapon in a desperate effort to save the world from the apocalypse.”

    Director: Guillermo del Toro
    Writers: Travis Beacham (screenplay), Guillermo del Toro (screenplay), 1 more credit »
    Stars: Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi

    Decent fight scene between 2 of the mech pilots, with a nice elbow hubud and a omo plata.

     


  • Redemption starring Jason Statham

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    redemption

    Redemption (2013)

    100 min  –  Action | Crime | Drama  –  28 June 2013 (UK)

    Homeless and on the run from a military court martial, a damaged ex-special forces soldier navigating London’s criminal underworld seizes an opportunity to assume another man’s identity — transforming into an avenging angel in the process.

    Director: 

    Writer:  (screenplay)

    Stars: , ,

    Decent movie with some nice Kaju moves – including an elbow cover and some joint locking.


  • Jeff Speakman – The Perfect Weapon (1991)

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    Jeff Speakman – The Perfect Weapon (1991)

    The complete movie!  Not sure how long it will stay online.

    Jeff Speakman has some kenpo moves that should look very familiar.  Just sayin’.

    https://

    You need to mouse over the pop-ups & carefully click the “x” on each to get rid of them both.

    I recommend a version of this method to block most advertisements & malware, since it works on Linux, Windows & Macs.

    You can get a “hosts file” that stops almost everything from [here] but sometimes it blocks stuff you did not know you wanted.

    If you edit your “hosts file” the close your web browser and re-open it to take effect.  You might notice things feel a bit faster too.


  • Sudden Death (1977) movie with Kajukenbo fighters

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    Sudden Death (1977)
    84 min  –  Action | Drama  –  May 1977 (USA)

    An action movie with 2 traditional Kajukenbo fighters, Robert Conrad (John Leoning student), and Don Stroud (Sijo Emperado black belt).

    Robert Conrad is probably best known for his role on the TV show “The Wild Wild West” in the late 1960’s where he did most of his own stunts & fight scenes.  The series was ultimately canceled due to congressional pressures over the amount of violence.

    “Sudden Death” is now *free* to watch here on Amazon Instant Video, if you have an Amazon Prime account.

    The YouTube video below is a major spoiler: the final fight scene between Robert Conrad and Don Stroud.
    Pretty cool piece of history.

    Thanks to Professor John Bishop for finding the clip.


  • Game of Death (2010, Wesley Snipes)

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    Game of Death    2010 [R] 85 minutes

    When a diplomat narrowly misses assassination, a bodyguard rushes the politician to the hospital and prepares for the bad guys to come finish the job.

    Cast:  Wesley Snipes, Zoe Bell, Robert Davi

    Two decent fight scenes, including limb destruction, shelving kicks, elbow covers and the like.

    It is on Netflix Instant Streaming.


  • ‘Wing Chun’ in Netflix Watch Instantly

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    Wing Chun  1994 (NR) 1hr 35m

    Martial arts expert Wing Chun (Michelle Yeoh) battles bandits in this magical film that provides as many laughs as it does wallops. Besides horse thieves, Wing Chun must deal with the men around her who simply can’t handle a strong, independent woman. Ultimately, she must dish out “lessons” again and again until the respect for her skills is finally won. The reemergence of her childhood sweetheart, however, throws her emotions into a tizzy.

    Wing Chun kung-fu is the foundation of Jeet Kune Do and at the core of our trapping range tools but this movie is pure fantasy and seems to have little or no historical value.   You may find it somewhat amusing if you like kung fu movies.


  • Miami Connection (aka ‘really bad taekwondo movie’)

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    Miami Connection on Netflix Watch Instantly
    1987, 1hr 26m  (R) for martial arts violence and a few nipples.

    ‘The year is 1987. Motorcycle ninjas tighten their grip on Florida’s narcotics trade, annihilating anyone who dares to move in on their turf. Martial arts rock band Dragon Sound has had enough and embarks on a wave of crime-crushing justice.’

    The ‘demonstration’ & ‘sparring’ that starts around 0:35 makes me want to go back under anesthesia.  I have no idea why the TKD guys are using steel pipes and swords in half of their fight scenes.

    On the up-side: this is prior to TKD as a 1988 Olympic event in Seoul, so it still has punching and take-downs.  In addition, most of the actors pronounce it correctly: ‘tay kwon doe’.

    If the black Dragon Sound / TKD guy ‘Jim’ looks familiar, it is because he is kickboxing & UFC champ Maurice Smith


  • Maximum Conviction on Netflix ‘Watch Instantly’

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    Maximum Conviction (2012) available to watch on Netflix ‘Watch Instantly’

    “When former black ops operative Cross (Steven Seagal) and his partner Manning (Steve Austin) are assigned to decommission an old prison, they must oversee the arrival of two mysterious female prisoners. Before long, an elite force of mercenaries assault the prison in search of the new arrivals. As the true identities of the women are revealed, Cross realizes he’s caught in the middle of something far bigger than he had imagined.”

    1:08 Gooseneck come-along

    There are a few decent fight scenes scattered through the film.

    Bren Foster who appeared in Fight Science has a nice looking fight near the end that you might mistake for Muay Thai or Kyokushin-kaikan of it was not for all of the Tae Kwon Do sounds he makes when kicking.

    No sex or nudity, but a few F-bombs.


  • “Interview with a Hitman” fight scene

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    Interview with a Hitman” on NetflixWatch Instantly
    http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Interview_with_a_Hitman/70242537
    About 58 minutes in (0:58)

    Rather sloppy and the film may even be sped up there is a nice outside hand exchange.
    It follows with a small fight scene, including an inside hand exchange & elbow to the throat

    Maybe the shaved head provides less wind resistance…


  • ‘Dachimawa Lee’ on Netflix Watch Instantly

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    I’ve mentioned a few times that my (and my brother’s) TKD training is primarily the “Chang Moo Kwan” style, as opposed to the more common, sport-oriented “Moo Duk Kwan”.

    Our primary instructor, Vince Stovall trained in Chang Moo Kwan while he was stationed in Korea.

    If you are studying your Kajukenbo history enough that you know the Japanese & Chinese words for “Fist Law” or “Fist Method” then something VERY important should stand out here:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang_Moo_Kwan
    For the record, if you do NOT know the Japanese & Chinese words in question then I am truly disappointed in you.
    Just memorize it right away and let me go on thinking that you care about your training enough to read parts of the manual now and then.

    Anyway, since some estimates say Moo Duk Kwan makes up about 75% of “Tae Kwon Do” schools, it is rare to see, or even hear of Chang Moo Kwan.

    Just now, had a goofy Korean martial arts movie (‘Dachimawa Lee’) on for background noise while I am working.
    The next thing you know, a lot of movement caught my attention:  a fight scene, at about 19 minutes in.

    http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Dachimawa_Lee/70122120

    Watch it if you get the chance and we can discuss in class.