store front schools ep. 2

Asian Martial arts instruction in America was largely incubated in two varieties of places: YMCAs and other such community centers where teachers- often US servicemen returned from parts East- taught classes; and in private spaces. As martial arts grew in popularity and more Asian teachers became willing to teach non-Asians, the dedicated martial arts school proliferated. Now days I would guess the majority of martial arts schools are storefronts in strip malls. Images of pre-fabricated TaeKwonDo schools sandwiched by a discount clothing store and a restaurant, off a local highway aren't the most romantic. However, in between these timeframes there was a boon period for storefront schools, often with lurid or extravagant appearances. In many cities, particularly those with older and/or disinvested neighborhoods, the curious eye can still find some interesting examples of such relics of martial arts yesteryear. Then again, some of them are still open and teaching. Go inside!

For this installment of store front schools, I bring you a video I found over at DojoRat.  It is a short documentary called Southside Warriors about the Tornado School of Martial Arts in Detroit, MI.  The all black school is run by Gregory Jaco, a former Army Ranger and community activist.  He is in ill health and apparently approaching death.  In spending time with Jaco and his school we receive an intimate portrait of a bygone way of doing things in the martial arts world. 

DojoRat's original post has some fascinating background on the film, I hope you enjoy:

movie review: choke.

I recently watched "Choke," a documentary film about Rickson Gracie's preparation for, and competition in the second Japanese Vale Tudo tournament in 1995. The film profiles his career and training in California, then follows him to the competition. As well, the filmmakers follow two other competitors, one American, one Japanese as they prepare. The second half of the film documents the actual tournament, compressing the matches and showing some interesting backstage goings-on. Choke is primarily a profile of an important fighter at the height of his career but it only skims the surface of the ancillary and highly relevant subject material- the emerging dominance of Gracie Jujitsu and the then unnamed MMA.

shaw brothers buying guide.

Many of us love Kung-Fu movies, and if you’re like me you have a particular affinity for the infamous Shaw Brothers Studios. Unfortunately, for years the picture quality of these movies was terrible. This is because SB never released or licensed their films for home viewing- NO officially released VHS, Laserdisc or DVD ever. Until recently.

Around 2004 a film company out of Singapore named Celestial Pictures bought the entire back catalog of SB and began re-mastering the bulk of them. Not limited to the Kung-Fu and swordplay films so many of us love, but also the opera, romance, horror and drama produced by SB. Celestial painstakingly restored 760 films for DVD release with many now available. Here are some notes on finding and buying the right ones.

review: ninja assassin.

I finally went to see Ninja Assassin this past weekend. Don’t expect expert film making and don’t expect any attempt at factual accuracy. As well, contrary to what I was told the Wachowski brothers did not “make” this film, they were listed with 3 other “producers,” a vague Hollywood term that can mean all sorts of things. So don’t expect crazy Martix-like camera tricks and effects either. What you can expect is a ton of blood and a hell of a good time. My suggestion, see this on a Saturday night at a neighborhood theater where there’s likely to be a large youthful crowd so you can yell and laugh and “oh shit” as the ninja stars fly and the body parts drop.

r.i.p. david carradine.

If you had not already heard, David "Kwai Chang Kaine" Carradine passed away in Bangkok on Wednesday. Here is an early report from the AP. The rumor mill is claiming it was a case of auto-erotic asphyxiation.