Stephen Quadros and Michael C. Hall:
Partners in Crime
Black Belt contributor Stephen Quadros (left) gives the thumbs up to Michael C. Hall, the star of Showtime’s Dexter. The two will be appearing together Nov. 23 on the serial-killer drama.
(Photo courtesy of Stephen Quadros)
Kung Fu Pumpkin
By Jon Sattler
Like many martial artists, Steve Santiago of Hamburg, New Jersey, turns to Bruce Lee for inspiration in all aspects of his life, including pumpkin carving. To honor the profound impact Lee’s had on his life, Santiago spent three hours creating an edible idol in his hero’s image.
Presidential candidate Barack Obama
(Photo courtesy of Barack Obama’s campaign)
Barack Obama and Bruce Lee Embody Change
by Eugene Chu
(This letter is in response to Jim Wagner’s recent endorsement of John McCain and does not necessarily reflect the views of Black Belt.)
I read online Jim Wagner's view of why he is voting for John McCain. I acknowledge that McCain and Wagner have proudly served in our country's armed forces. While Wagner is truly a master of reality-based martial arts and McCain is truly a distinguished military veteran, I voted for Barack Obama. While my views are based on political belief, like Wagner, some of my reasoning is also based on martial arts beliefs.
Obama's campaign slogan is "Change We Need." In his perspective, the Bush administration has made some poor decisions with both the economy and military. Some people believe that McCain will simply continue what the current administration started. Like Obama, many martial arts teachers have also believed in change.
The late Bruce Lee held a similar mind-set to Obama. He wrote the then-controversial article "Liberate Yourself From Classical Karate" because he did not agree with maintaining traditional martial arts. He believed the old ways of strict adherence to one style and use of noncontact impeded growth and did not address real combat. Because of his work to address true sport combat, Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White acknowledges him as the father of mixed martial arts. Because of his work to address true street combat, his students taught our police and soldiers enhanced combatives, one example being Dan Inosanto teaching Jim Wagner himself.
Right now, our country is facing a recession and the war in Iraq does not have a definite endpoint yet. While traditional politics would mandate lowering taxes and keeping our troops deployed, this does not address the resource strain on our economy and our military. Under traditional martial arts, the misguided remedy for losing a street or ring fight might be more kata time or more noncontact sparring. The Obama campaign claims McCain has voted with our current president 90 percent of the time. In fact, McCain even tried to ban mixed martial arts when it first debuted, an act of misguided maintenance of tradition of both politics and martial arts. Tradition may not be what we need right now.
Regardless of who wins, I will acknowledge the winner as our president. I would prefer Obama because he is interested in doing more than simply preserving tradition. Bruce Lee went against tradition and we have mixed martial arts and reality-based self-defense because of his efforts for change. We live in difficult times, and if change from Obama can make our lives better, we should embrace it.
Sen. John McCain is a former U.S. Navy pilot.
(Photos courtesy of Sen. John McCain's campaign.)
Vote for a Warrior by Jim Wagner
For us Americans, this November is when we have the democratic privilege of voting for the next president of the United States. In essence, the soon-to-be most powerful man on Earth. The choice is between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain. When I am in that voting booth on November 4, I will be casting my vote for the warrior—John McCain, and as a martial artist, I will give my reasons why.
Although I truly admire Obama for many reasons, I am not about to hand over the most powerful military in the world over to him. National security is economic security, but economic security is fragile without a strong national security.
McCain is a former U.S. Navy pilot, a true warrior, who was shot down over North Vietnam. He was captured by the enemy and held as a prisoner of war for several years. When given the chance to be set free and leave his fellow American prisoners behind, because of the political clout of his father, he opted to say with his men instead. That is character that one cannot buy.
McCain guarantees that he will not cut and run from Iraq, and why should we? Regardless of why we are there, we are there. President Bush’s “surge” of more troops last summer worked. Iraq is slowly getting back on its feet and Iran is held in check by having our troops on both sides of them; Iraq on their western border and Afghanistan on their eastern border. Whether we like it or not, we are the world’s police officer. Although mocked relentlessly by the media for stating that American troops “could be in Iraq for a hundred years,” McCain is absolutely right, and has not backed down from his support of the troops or assistance to the Iraqi people. The United States has had a military presence in Germany and Japan, former enemies, for more than 60 years, and there is no sign of us leaving as long as China and Russia continue to rattle their sabers.
Obama, on the other hand, has stated that he intends to withdraw our troops and that the Iraqi government is able to adequately defend themselves. Yet our generals have warned against a pull out at this time. Prematurely pulling our troops out will give the enemy their long awaited victory, giving rise thousands of Iraqis being murdered in a civil war and essentially handing over the oil fields to vacuum-seeking regional power Iran, who is backed by China and Russia. By voting for John McCain, I am voting for stabilization of Iraq.
I am voting for John McCain because he has the martial arts mentality. After all, the term “martial arts” literally means “war arts.” The U.S. Supreme Court, five judges out of nine anyway, finally understood the martial arts mentality and recently assured the American people that it is a God-given right, not a privilege, for law-abiding citizens to bear arms for self-protection. The Supreme Court understands that an unarmed citizenry empowers only the criminals, terrorists, and a government that may lean toward tyranny. Obama’s party is outraged that the Supreme Court recklessly granted citizens the right to defend themselves. After all, the police will always be there to protect you—right?
Why do we study the martial arts? Is it to beat up and destroy innocent people? Absolutely not. We discipline ourselves to be ready to use those techniques that will protect ourselves and our loved ones. We work hard to be victorious in the face of aggression. We don’t have the attitude of appeasing the big bullies, the criminals or the terrorists like most sheep do. Likewise, we should not have the national attitude of appeasing the insurgents, or any other enemy—foreign or domestic. John McCain has proved that he is a fighter, not only on the battlefield but also as a politician, even willing to take flak from his own party when he disagrees with them on occasion. Even his political enemies cannot help but admire his strong character and patriotism.
If Obama wins this election, I will call him my president. I will serve him in my official capacity. However, I would prefer serving a fellow warrior and a former senator who is both tough and compassionate. We are living in a global economy, and whoever becomes president will rely on their advisers to try to revive it. However, handing over the “football” to the next commander in chief is not a time for on-the-job training. I prefer someone who has actually faced high risk situations. That is why I am voting for John McCain.
(Editor's note: The views expressed by our columnists do not necessarily represent the views of Black Belt. Send your comments to jsattler@aimmedia.com)
Karate Champ 1; Mugger 0
by Jon Sattler
Naysayers, beware: Karate is a valid form of self-defense. The Telegraph of Great Britain is reporting that an Italian woman used her championship-caliber skills to end an attempted mugging:
Four times Italian women's [karate] champion Lara Liotta, 29, was on a street in broad daylight in central Rome when the man, a Romanian immigrant of no fixed abode, approached her and asked her for a cigarette.
When she told him she did not smoke he allegedly lunged for her and grabbed her around the neck.
Miss Liotta, who works as prison officer, immediately put her black belt training to good use, delivering two swift jabs to the man's face which sent him crashing to the ground. […]
After punching the man to the floor, she ran to the nearby railway station of Termini and alerted police, who caught him before he could run away. He was arrested and detained on charges of assault.
(Image courtesy of Lionsgate)
The Forbidden Kingdom on Blu-ray and DVD
The Forbidden Kingdom, a martial-arts epic starring Jackie Chan and Jet Li, arrives September 9 on Blu-ray and DVD. The two-disk special edition set includes extras on the making of the film along with iTunes and Windows Media Player files so you can play the film anywhere.
Sid Campbell
(Photo by Rick Hustead)
The Passing of a Master
Dear Friends,
It is my unfortunate task to announce the passing of a Masters Hall of Fame Alumni Hanshi Sid Campbell; we will mourn the passing of a great martial artist. Hanshi Campbell was known for his quick wit, passion for the martial arts, and his humor. He will be greatly missed.
His family has lost a dear loved one, his students have lost their teacher, the martial arts community has lost one its leaders, and the Masters organization has lost a great friend.
Steven Lopez in the year 2000, holding his Olympic gold medal in taekwondo.
(Photo from the Black Belt archives)
Lopez Family: Medals and Controversy in Beijing
by Raymond Horwitz
According to coverage at NBCOlympics.com and Yahoo! Sports, Black Belt Hall of Fame member Steven Lopez (Competitor of the Year, 2000) has added a bronze to his cache of Olympic medals. His record includes two Olympic gold medals and four world-championship titles—and he hadn't lost a match since 2002.
Some controversy arose, however, when his team leader Herb Perez filed a protest in response to a docked point in Lopez's quarterfinal match against Italy's Mauro Sarmiento.
His brother Mark, 26, and sister Diana, 24, made their Olympic debuts in Beijing. On Thursday, August 21, Mark won a silver in the men's 68-kilogram category while Diana earned a bronze in the women's 57-kilogram group.
The Martial Artist’s Guide to the Olympics
by Jon Sattler
With dozens of sports and more than 10,000 athletes scheduled to compete at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, trying to navigate through the thousands of hours of Olympic coverage can be a Herculean task. To help you find what you’re looking for, we put together this simple martial-arts guide to the Summer Games.
Boxing Dates: August 9-24
Location: Workers’ Indoor Arena
Fencing Dates: August 9-17
Location: Fencing Hall in the National Convention Center
Judo Dates: August 9-15
Location: University of Science and Technology Beijing Gymnasium
Taekwondo Dates: August 20-23
Location: University of Science and Technology Beijing Gymnasium Wrestling Dates: August 12-21
Location: China Agriculture University Gymnasium
Pocket-Sized Chuck Norris Battles Communists
by Jon Sattler
If Gamesoft’s upcoming cell-phone game delivers on half of the promises in the press release, we could be looking at the greatest Chuck Norris adventure of all time:
Chuck Norris: Bring the Pain introduces mobile gamers to the hero that never needs an introduction, Chuck Norris. Play as either Ranger Chuck or Commando Chuck as he battles the combined forces of Fidel Castro and Kim Jong-il to defeat Communism here and abroad, with all of the subtlety of a Chuck Norris powerhouse takedown. But the enemy isn’t the only one feeling the wrath of Chuck as totally destructible environments allow Chuck to punch down houses with his fists or raze whole forests with his gun.
Gamers with camera phones will also be able to paste their faces onto the bodies of Norris’ soon-to-be vanquished foes. If the project stays on schedule, Norris will be coming to a cell phone near you in August 2008. No word yet on whether Mike Huckabee makes a guest appearance.
MTV "Made" coach Chan Lee bows to his taekwondo student, Ryan Watkins.
(Photos courtesy of Chan Lee)
Chan Lee Brings TKD to MTV
by Jon Sattler and Edward Pollard
When MTV decided to take an out-of-shape teenager and transform him into a tournament fighter, they turned to taekwondo instructor Chan Lee. During the five weeks of filming for the reality-show Made, Lee not only helped his student earn his yellow belt also showed him how to clean up his life—literally.
We spoke with Lee recently about his experiences on the show, the importance of self-discipline, and the transformative power of traditional arts.
Tell us about your student, Ryan Watkins.
The child I got was your typical sedentary teen who likes video games. He was 5'5", 261 pounds, and we had to turn him into a martial artist.
What was the learning curve like?
Regardless of skill, as long as there’s a will, there’s a heart, there’s a passion to doing it, anything is possible. Ryan really did step up to the plate, really showed up to try his hardest. Maybe he wasn’t athletically gifted or had all the skills you look for in a martial arts fighter, but he had the heart, and that was the most important key. I think it would have been an impossible task if he didn’t have the stomach for it, but he really had a try-hard attitude and just wanted to learn everything I was teaching him.
As a teacher, you’re supposed to find what a person’s strong suits and weak points are and maximize that. I used his weight as an advantage in the fight. I’m not going to have him do a back kick or spinning kicks.
Chan Lee
Things that are going to throw him off-balance.
Exactly. It was all about maximizing his center of gravity and making him a better fighter. He’s not the type of guy who’s going to get out of the way of the kick. He’s the kind of guy who’s going to move into the kick. I developed a strategy for him in a short period of time to help him become a good martial arts fighter.
And then, at the same time, I helped him outside of his life. There’s a reason why his life became where it’s at right now, and so I helped him develop a disciplined mind and attitude outside of the school. All that had to be congruent. You can’t just be disciplined about learning the martial arts. You’ve got to be disciplined in your personal life and other parts, as well.
Otherwise you’re just a weekend warrior. Absolutely. I think we did a great job conveying that. I got him to clean his room, and it was an absolute pigsty—garbage everywhere. You don’t just look at someone’s room and go, "Oh, it’s kind of dirty." It was like, "How the heck do you actually live in this thing?" It was that bad.
He was not paying attention to his immediate surroundings and the results of his behavior.
If you put a frog in boiling water, he’ll jump right back out. But if you leave the frog in the water and slowly turn up the temperature, he won’t notice. He’ll eventually just boil. I think a common theme in anybody’s human condition is that you get used to your own stink, eating badly, treating your family bad or whatever it may be in your life.
I’m sure it’s not the first time you’ve bore down on someone who needed extra help.
I’ve been doing martial arts for 30 years now, since a kid, and I’ve had different perspectives from being a top competitor at one point to being a teacher, just a student—I was a white belt once.
Teaching is my first love. That’s why I run five schools here. Martial arts is a tool to help people become better. And so when you hear the words dojung or dojo, it becomes a reflection, a test tube where you can practice discipline, courage, confidence and all these other things that you want to happen in a safe environment.
And then all those successes you have in the dojo or the dojung become a reflection of other areas outside of here. As you develop more courage here, you become more courageous in other areas. You become more confident because of it.
Taekwondo teacher Chan Lee (left) poses with his MTV "Made" student Ryan Watkins.
(Photo illustration by John Bodine)
How was he tested?
He had two tasks. Our first task that we made him do was get his gold belt for the tournament. The second task was to actually enter the tournament and compete. We had him compete in three things: forms, board breaking and free sparring.
It seems like an ideal transformation crucible.
It becomes a part of who you are. Once you become a gold belt, a green belt, a black belt, you become what that rank signifies. You become a black belt forever. It’s like when you become a marine, you’re a marine forever. You’ve had that experience to get to that point. If you’ve had a great school and a great teacher that is able to teach you that, it’s beyond the kicks and punches. It’s the discipline that went behind that punch. It’s the confidence that you had behind that kick. That’s the incredible transformation that you get when you learn the martial arts.
Karate Teacher 1; Car Thief 0
by Jon Sattler
While reality-based experts would say that you shouldn’t engage a criminal to protect your possessions, it’s hard not to cheer when you read stories like this. According to ABC15, a 71-year-old black belt in shotokankarate single-handedly stopped a car thief:
Wojciech Chomicki, 71, noticed the thief breaking into his car from his kitchen window. He ran outside, ripped open the car door, yanked the bandit out, and pinned him to the ground with a choke hold.
A police spokesman says the thief appeared to be relieved to be released from the car owner's grip.
We’re guessing the students at Chomicki’s dojo are extremely well behaved.
Craig D. Reid is currently writing The Utlimate Guide to Martial Arts Movies.
(Photos courtesy of
Craig D. Reid)
Kung Fu Classics: Shaolin Edition
by Jon Sattler and Sarah Dzida
Dr. Craid D. Reid—our favorite martial arts movie guru—brought the Shaolin Temple to Washington D.C.’s doorstep. On Saturday, June 14, Reid presented three kung fu films about the legendary temple at the National Geographic Museum opening of Shaolin: Temple of Zen—Photographs by Justin Guariglia.
When it comes to chronicling the evolution of kung fu cinema, Reid has the ultimate insider’s perspective. In the 1970s, Reid became one of the first Western stuntmen to appear in a Chinese martial arts movie and is now a fight choreographer for American production companies.
In other words, we couldn’t agree more with National Geographic’s choice for an expert, which is why we’re working with Reid to create The Ultimate Guide to Martial Arts Movies.
But back to the screening: The flicks they picked come from Shaw Brothers Studio, one of Hong Kong’s most beloved and influential martial arts moviemakers.
Shaolin Temple (1976, 126 min.) Considered to be director Chang Cheh’s masterpiece, the film chronicles the fall of the Shaolin Temple, and features an impressive roster of the Shaw Brothers’ legendary kung-fu stars.
Executioners from Shaolin (1977, 100 min.) This early work by the great martial arts film director Liu Chia Liang picks up the story where Shaolin Temple leaves off, with a father-and-son team of master fighters seeking vengeance for the destruction of the Temple.
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978, 119 min.) Hoping to seek revenge against the oppressive Manchus, a young man enters the Shaolin temple to master its unique fighting techniques. According to the New York Times, this film is “widely considered to be the greatest kung-fu flick of all time.”
Reid’s equally enthusiastic about the Hong Kong classics.
“These are three of the best martial arts films made during the 1970s, and 36th Chamber of Shaolin is in the top three of the best martial arts films ever made,” Reid told us. “The fights are superb in that you can see what the actors are doing, and they don't rely on special effects or fancy editing; these stars are legitimate martial artists. The fights are shot wide angle, and [there are] up to 20 techniques per shot. No one today does that anymore—not even Jet [Li] or Jackie [Chan].”
Aspiring martial artist Ryan Watkins shows off his skills in his bedroom.
(Photo courtesy of Chan Lee)
Teen Martial Artist "Made" on MTV
by Edward Pollard
Ryan Watkins wants to stop living the lazy life of a video-gaming couch potato and get some discipline by being made into a fleet-footed karate kid. Chan Lee is the owner of JK Lee Black Belt Academy and four other martial arts schools in town.
Along comes Made , MTV's self-improvement reality show that follows teens who wish to be "made" into singers, athletes, dancers, skateboarders and now martial artists. With the help of an expert in the field of their chosen new identity, they try to attain their goals. Each episode documents the process and progress of one teen over that period.
Several months ago, MTV selected Lee to be the martial arts coach during the ninth season of their Daytime Emmy Award-winning series, Made. The episode premieres Saturday, June 14, at 4 p.m. ET/PT.
(For an inside look at Watkins' transformation, check out the October 2008 issue of Black Belt.)
Jack Black studied karate for a year in elementary school and judo for several years in high school.
(Photo courtesy of DreamWorks)
Jack Black Slams Sandler
at the Box Office by Jon Sattler
Israeli commandos battled it out with anthropomorphic kung fu masters at the box office the weekend of June 6, 2008.
In You Don’t Mess With the Zohan, Adam Sandler plays a former Israeli spy who fakes his own death so he can work in New York as a hair stylist. Zohan put up a good fight, making $38.5 million, but it was DreamWorks’ Kung Fu Panda that brought home the biggest purse, earning $60.2 million.
Panda, the critically adored animated film, features Jack Black as Po, a lazy yet enthusiastic panda on an unlikely quest to become a martial arts master. When we caught up with Black at a press event, we asked him about his martial arts influences.
“My hero right now is Stephen Chow,” Black says. “I love Kung Fu Hustle; that’s probably my favorite kung fu movie of all time because he mixed the martial arts with comedy in a really creative and great way."
Black also revealed how Po’s character and attitude resembled his.
“Po’s a younger version of me [in that he’s] a daydreamer and positive, but also insecure in that he doesn’t have all the kung fu skills,” Black says. “That reminds me of my early days when I was having fun with theater and acting but was also insecure.”
Kevin Taylor: Record Breaker by Jon Sattler
Everyone’s got a few talents they’re particularly proud of. Some people sing. Others paint.
Kevin Taylor breaks bricks.
Taylor—who is the president of the World Speed Brick Breaking Association—will be on NBC’s America’s Got Talenton June 17, 2008. For a preview of his performance, we offer Taylor’s record-breaking display of destruction, which was shot August 2, 2007, at the Metro Beach Metropark in Michigan. But be warned: Seeing Taylor break 584 bricks in 57.5 seconds could cause intense hand pain.
(Video courtesy of the World Speed Brick Breaking Association)
Amir Perets
(Photo by Rick Hustead)
The Science of Fighting Back by Jon Sattler
Previous episodes of National Geographic Channel’s Fight Science answered the question: Do martial arts masters possess superhuman abilities? While their test results may seem incredible, most of us can’t strike with the force of a 35-mile-per-hour car crash. So how are mere mortals supposed to defend themselves?
In Fight Science: Fighting Back, scientists use dozens of motion-capture cameras and crash-test tools to analyze the effectiveness of common self-defense tools and techniques. And to ensure that the scenarios were realistic, National Geographic brought in experts like Israeli Defense Forces commando Amir Perets and former UFC heavyweight champion Bas Rutten to participate.
The episode premieres Monday, June 9, 2008, at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Bruce Lee's Hong Kong Home for Sale by Jon Sattler
To raise money for the victims of the Sichuan earthquake in China, philanthropist Yu Panglin is selling Bruce Lee's old house in Hong Kong. But here’s the kicker: Following Lee’s death, his home was turned into a “love motel.”
We’re guessing something was lost in translation.
In other Lee news, Tony Award nominee Bartlett Sher has been tapped to direct Bruce Lee: Journey to the West, which will be coming to Broadway in 2010.
Paste magazine reports that "the plot will interweave Bruce Lee’s ascent to stardom with Chinese mythology about the Monkey King. The musical is also intended to weave Chinese pop and culture throughout."
We’ll let you know as soon as they decide who’ll play the jeet kune do master.
Dolph Lundgren
(Photos Courtesy of Dolph Lundgren.)
Anything You Can Do, Dolph Can Do Better by Jon Sattler
While most action stars don’t measure up to their on-screen personas, Dolph Lundgren is the real deal. In addition to holding a third-degree black belt in kyokushinkarate and winning the European championships, the Rocky IV star served as the team leader of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Pentathlon Team, earned a Fulbright scholarship to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and retired from the Swedish special forces with the rank of conscript corporal.
Lundgren recently spoke with our managing editor, Edward Pollard, about Brazilian bare-knuckle fighting, the Zen effect of traditional martial arts, and getting his rib cracked by Black BeltHall of Fame member Bill Wallace.
When did you begin competing in tournaments?
I started in the late ’70s when I was a kid. I read about guys like Bill Wallace, Joe Lewis and Benny Urquidez.
Did you ever get to train with any of them?
I trained with Bill Wallace after I came over here. I sparred with him in the late ’80s and he was still very tough, a very good fighter. He’s the real thing, for sure. He cracked my rib with a side kick one time. He really has that killer instinct when you spar with him.
I met Urquidez on the set of Rocky IV. He was pals with Sly [Sylvester Stallone]—they knew each other. The Rocky thing was such a big deal in those days. Sly was in his late 30s and I was in my mid-20s, and people showed up and we had the ring. Don King would show up with the latest fighter sometimes, and Sly would spar with his brother Frank once in a while. It was fun. I was just a kid standing around obeying orders, being a martial artist. I didn’t say much if I wasn’t spoken to.
Did you spar with Stallone?
Yeah, we messed around a bit, and he was actually a pretty good fighter for an actor. He was in good shape and did all his stunts—nobody stood in for him. Plus he had to direct, he wrote the thing and produced it. You have to hand it to the guy.
Do you pay much attention to the mixed martial arts?
I do a little bit. I was on a mixed-martial arts show hosted by Bas Rutten. I met Kimbo Slice, the street fighter—nice guy.
Are you going to put him in a film?
Yeah, maybe I should. He’s a tough guy. He’s got a real look. Those are real courageous guys up there. I’m sure if I’d have been around when I was that age, I probably would have done MMA, too.
What about Semmy Schilt, the K-1 World Grand Prix heavyweight champ?
He’s technically very good and very tough. I mean, what are you going to do with a guy like that [in the ring]? Somebody suggested I put him in a movie, too. I’ll write that down now, as a matter of fact. I’ve been thinking about it.
I read that you were considering doing a project in Brazil.
Yes, I’m still thinking about it. They used to have bare-knuckle fighting there way before MMA. People were betting on fights and getting hurt.
The genesis of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It’s what the Gracies were thinking about.
They probably took it from the streets and then created their kind of way of doing it, which is more civilized. Out there, they just fight under a bridge for the [entertainment of the] traffic going by, and they have cameras and people bet on it. So I have sort of a hot idea for a movie or something like that. That’s something that I’m thinking about.
I also read that you’re deep into the pentathlon.
I’m into the pentathlon as a sport because I was practicing it for this film as part of the U.S. Olympic team in 1996 and I hung out with the guys there and helped them out a little bit. I haven’t been as close to it as I used to be, but I still follow the sport. It’s one of the original Olympic sports created by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games. It’s five different sports, so it has the most multitalented athletes: swimming, shooting, running, horseback riding and fencing. It’s an officer’s military sport. Everything I do.
Do you really fence?
I used to fence in college when I was doing taekwondo. I was doing boxing, fencing and I took it up for that movie, Pentathlon.
I noticed fencing was first introduced in the Stockholm Olympics.
You’re right, and you know who came fifth? Lt. George S. Patton. It’s totally military, based on the Napoleonic career. You start out on a horse, and when your horse gets shot, then you have to use your gun, then your sword, then you have to run and swim to deliver the message.
Have you read Black Belt much?
Yeah, I used to love to read it when I was in Sweden and I first got into martial arts. That’s where I used to read about Lewis, Wallace and all those guys. I still remember there was a picture of my instructor at the time, Brian Fitkin. He was fighting in the world championships in Long Beach, [California], when I was a white or blue belt. The U.K. team won then and it was a big deal for a little Swedish kid, of course. He was one of my role models, too, my sensei.
What I like about my traditional training is that I’ve got all the traditional aspects of the martial arts because I trained in them for 10 years. It took me about seven to get my black belt, so all the meditation and the katas were done in due time. When I train, even by myself, I will do a kneeling meditation for a minute at the end just because it makes me feel good. It makes me feel like I’m back at the dojo when I was a teenager paying respect to my teacher. That’s part of it for me, too.
So you connect to a timeless part of yourself, the part that is untouched by the brutality of life.
It’s the Zen effect of martial arts that makes the humble man more courageous and the boastful man more humble. That’s what it does if you treat it the right way. That’s what’s beautiful about it. That’s what I try to take with me in this business and in my life from martial arts.
(For the full story on how Lundgren became a martial artist and movie star, see the August 2008 issue of Black Belt.)
(Photo by Rick Hustead)
Cuban Judo Team Wins Gold, Loses Medalist by Jon Sattler
Cuba, we’ve got some good news and some bad news. First, the good news: Cuban judo champion Yurisel Laborde won a gold medal at the Pan-American Judo Championships in Miami. Now, the bad news: No one from her team has seen her since she packed her bags and left them a note on Sunday, May 11, forcing the Cuban team to return home without the two-time world champion and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist.
This isn’t the first time Florida has swallowed up one of Cuba’s Olympic hopefuls. Back in March, seven other Cuban athletes disappeared, this time at the Olympic soccer qualifier in Tampa.
Or more specifically, Ed O’Neill, who played Bundy in the hit sitcom Married With Children. O’Neill—who recently earned his black belt under Hall of Fame member Rorion Gracie—introduced Mamet to jiu-jitsu while working on one of the director’s films.
“David wanted me to do The Spanish Prisoner in New York, and when I was there, I demonstrated a choke, an arm block," O'Neill says. “When he moved out [to Los Angeles], it was in the back of his mind.”
“He's a tough guy,” Magno says. “I think he uses jiu-jitsu very well. You're using your leverage, your balance—you use your intellect. It's like a chess game. That's why he's enthusiastic. He's no young guy. But he has a lot of dedication to the sport.”
So much dedication, in fact, that Mamet brought Magno on as the jiu-jitsu coordinator in Redbelt to ensure that the fight scenes were authentic and cast jiu-jitsu master John Machado as one of the villains.
O’Neill agrees with Magno’s assessment of Mamet’s skills and dedication.
“Dave is a very game, pugnacious guy. You would be hard-pressed if he got ahold of you,” O'Neill says. “Good tendon strength. He's been rumored to be smart, so he can apply the techniques of jiu-jitsu properly. He immerses himself in it. He's passionate about it. He goes 100 percent. And I know from talking to some of the guys he's rolled with, it's no day at the beach.”
Seeing as O’Neil was introduced to jiu-jitsu by one of his film connections, writer/producer/director John Milius, it’s only fitting that he shared the love with Mamet. When it comes to jiu-jitsu, Hollywood truly is a small town.
(For more on how O’Neill became a black belt, check out the May 2008 issue of Black Belt.)
Around the World With Jackie Chan by Jon Sattler
The Forbidden Kingdom is the property of
Lionsgate and The Weinstein Company.
Jackie Chan's a busy man these days. When he's not saving bears or defending his homeland, the Hong Kong superstar and Olympic torchbearer has been promoting his latest kung fu epic, The Forbidden Kingdom, which premieres Friday, April 18. During his press tour, Chan revealed his innermost thoughts on laundry, attending a martial-opera school, and his collaboration with Jet Li. On mastering the martial arts at a young age: "I was sent to martial-opera school [at age 6]. You have to learn singing, dancing, music, acrobatics, kicking, punching, stick fighting. ... If one person does something wrong, [the teacher] hit the whole class. Not like this day. They can sue you." On his collaboration with Jet Li: "I've wanted this to happen for 20 years. We'd have dinner and say, 'Let's do something.' We'd agree. Then we'd go our separate ways and another two years would go by and nothing happened. Finally, we found a middleman—a producer—who put something together. Thank goodness!" On Hong Kong and American filmmaking: "In American film, they care about the actors. In Hong Kong film, we don’t. When I’m making my own films, there are so many injuries. We save time, save money, risk life for the movie." On doing his own laundry: "I never take the underwear or socks to the laundry; they charge you $20. You can buy another one [for that price]. … It's not about money; it's about discipline."
Bruce Lee's name and likeness
are the property of
Linda Lee Cadwell/Concord Moon.
On Lee’s strengths: "The truth is Lee was a formidable opponent with a chiseled physique and technique. I totally enjoyed sparring and just spending time with him. He was as charismatic and friendly in the ring and at home as he was on film. His confidence and wit were dazzling, and sometimes even debilitating to others. […] Lee was lightning fast, very agile and incredibly strong for his size."
On Lee’s adaptability: "Bruce Lee learned from everybody. He had a very open mind. He never believed in only one martial arts style or that one was superior. He believed that everything had strengths and weaknesses and that we should find the strengths in each method."
On Lee’s chances against Norris: "Would I have beaten Bruce Lee in a real competition, or not? You'll forgive me for answering with another Bruceism: ‘Showing off is the fool's idea of glory.' "
While their dream fight never became a reality in the ring, the epic battle can be seen in Lee’s unfinished masterpiece, Game of Death.
Bruce Lee’s Game of Death is the property of 20th Century Fox.
Jim Wagner Pepper-Sprays Morgan Spurlock
by Jon Sattler
Sgt. Jim Wagner
(Photo by
Rick Hustead)
To prepare for his search for Osama bin Laden, documentary filmmaker and Super Size Me star Morgan Spurlock turned to Black Belt Hall of Fame member Sgt. Jim Wagner for a crash course in terrorism survival.
"I was expecting him to have the typical celebrity mentality," Wagner says, "but he was really down-to-earth. He placed himself in my hands and was a dedicated student."
Wagner and his assistants ran Spurlock through a series of training scenarios that recreate the harsh realities of the Middle East. Over the course of the eight-hour session, Wagner taught him how to survive explosions, kidnapping attempts, sniper attacks and hostage situations.
Wagner says, "He quickly learned the truth of what I’ve taught for years: Any valid self-defense technique can be mastered in five minutes."
Spurlock’s crew was there to capture the action at Wagner’s Los Angeles training facility, and the two appeared in a CNN segment about Spurlock’s documentary on the War on Terrorism, Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?
In the final training scenario, Spurlock agreed to let Wagner pepper spray him so he could experience firsthand what a chemical attack felt like. After he recovered, Wagner awarded him with a certificate for completing his Terrorism Survival course.
"He thanked me for the lessons, and I wished him a safe mission," Wagner says. "I look forward to seeing the movie that documents his journey into the lion’s den."
Redbelt star Chiwetel Ejiofor (center) poses with jiu-jitsu masters John Machado (left) and Renato Magno (right) on the film's set.
(Photos by Edward Pollard)
Redbelt Star Bests Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart by Jon Sattler
Chiwetel Ejiofor—who plays a jiu-jitsu black belt in the upcoming martial arts action-flick Redbelt—won the Laurence Olivier Award for best actor as the title character in Othello, beating out fellow Shakespearean actors Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen.
In Redbelt, which is written and directed by Pulitzer Prize winner David Mamet, Ejiofor stars as a Desert Storm veteran who is dragged into the world of underground fighting. The movie also features a who's who of martial artists, including Black Belt Hall of Fame members Randy Couture and Dan Inosanto, jiu-jitsu masters John Machado and Renato Magno, and boxing champ Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini.
When it comes to writing scripts, William Shakespeare might be a master of the stage, but Mamet is the king of the streets.
Avi Nardia
(Photo by Rick Hustead)
Kapap Authors Take On Jungle Survival by Sarah Dzida
Kapapinstructors and former Israeli Defense Force soldiers Avi Nardia and Albert Timen will put their skills to the test in the jungles of South America. Nardia and Timen are traveling to Guyana to do field research for a survival course they’re launching in April 2009. The authors of Kapap Combat Concepts: Martial Arts of the Israeli Special Forces plan to offer martial artists the chance to try their combat skills against the forces of nature.
“We do basic survival in the States for our students like first aid, an introduction to the outdoors, how to find north without a compass,” Nardia says. “[But the jungle is completely different] because you don’t have the sun, and this makes it much harder.”
The jungle survival course is for martial artists who really want to challenge their abilities in an unpredictable environment, Nardia says. Of course, safety is a concern for their preliminary program, and that’s why Nardia and Timen plan to spend 2008 researching and preparing the logistics for such a trip.
Nardia says, “[Kapap instructors] always try to study new things [and jungle survival] is a new skill. It’s not a joke.”
David Carradine’s Favorite Roles
by Jon Sattler
David Carradine’s career spans decades, and in that time, he’s played everything from a Shaolin monk to a singing cowboy. Here’s what Carradine had to say about his favorite roles.
Kung Fu, as Kwai Chang Caine, a Shaolin priest in the 1800s American West: “Before Kung Fu, I had no martial arts training. I didn’t know what the stuff was and I didn’t know it was important that I did know. I got by at first because of my background in dance and gymnastics. But once the series started and I started learning with my big toe, so to speak, eventually I decided to formally study it and I never gave it up.”
Bound for Glory, as folk singer Woody Guthrie: “For me, as far as preparation goes, this was like the opposite of Kung Fu. Because when I did Bound for Glory, I think I knew everything there was to know about Woody Guthrie. I mean, I ate, drank and slept Woody Guthrie—literally. Even in my sleep, I would listen to his recordings just so I could get the vocals right.”
David Carradine is set to star in Son of the Dragon on Hallmark Movie
Channel HD in April 2008.
(Photo courtesy of hallmarkchannelpress.com)
Kill Bill, Vol. 2, as Bill, the man at the top of Uma Thurman’s revenge hit list: “It was a dream role—and before I got it, I was basically stalking Quentin Tarantino for a few years. I had an idea that I needed to work with the guy, that it would supercharge my career.”
Son of a Dragon, as Bird, mentor to a young thief who woos a Chinese princess: “My character changes so much throughout the story. You’ve got this fierce warrior who resolves never to draw his sword again and then leads this sweet, peaceful life, taking in all these homeless kids. It’s almost like I had a Clark Kent/Superman thing going: a mild-mannered guy with a secret life that nobody knows about. When I read the script, I said, ‘Man, it’s like this role was written especially for me.’ Then I found out later that it really was.”
Kung Fu Killer, as the title character: “The character I play is a martial arts monk, but he’s much darker than that sweet guy on Kung Fu. This guy doesn’t mess around. He’s bent on revenge, and he knows he really shouldn’t be because of his teachings, but he can’t help it. It’s very, very film noir and it’s remarkable stuff. He’s the most ruthless character I’ve ever played who is still a good guy—and if they let me, I can see myself doing this character for the rest of my life.”
Jackie Chan (right) and Bill Wallace rehearse a fight scene for The Protector (1985).
(Photo Courtesy of Warner Bros.)
Think You’re the Next Jackie Chan?
by Jon Sattler
Legendary fight choreographer Yuen Woo-ping—the guy responsible for the action sequences in dozens of Hong Kong classics, including Ang Lee’sCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,Jet Li's Fearless and Jackie Chan'sDrunken Master—is searching for the next generation of martial arts stars.
Don’t worry if you don’t fit the action-hero mold—Woo-ping wants martial artists of all shapes, sizes and styles. In other words, it doesn’t matter whether you’re an up-and-coming cage fighter, a disciple of Sgt. Jim Wagner or an old-school kung fu master, Woo-ping wants to see what you're made of.
So if you think you got what it takes, send your head shot, full-body shot, resume and demo reel to Black Belt contributor Mike Leeder.
Bas Rutten Explores MMA's Cerebral Side
by Jon Sattler
Bas Rutten’s new MMA documentary, Potent, sets out to answer the question, What makes a champion? Eschewing the trash talking and over-the-top hype of today’s fight promotions, Potent emphasizes the “art” in the mixed martial arts by exploring the cerebral side of the sport with many of MMA’s greatest innovators and pioneers, including Dan Henderson, Frank Shamrock, Mario Sperry, Vitor Belfort and Dean Lister. The film weaves together interviews and behind-the-scenes training footage that captures the mental toughness and creativity fighters need to succeed in the ever-evolving sport.
Bruce Lee: The Musical by Jon Sattler
(Bruce Lee's name and likeness property of Linda Lee Cadwell/Concord Moon)
At Black Belt, we like to consider ourselves Bruce Lee experts—after all, we’re working on three Bruce Lee books—but we never imagined that Lee’s life would be getting the Broadway treatment. Tony-award nominee David Yazbek, co-creator of The Full Monty and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, is writing the tunes for the production. Early speculation suggests that the show could hit theaters as early as 2009.
Kickboxing Mystery Novel Goes Pulp
by Patrick Vuong
Dorchester Publishing recently released kickboxer Ron Shade’s first adventure, A Killing Frost, the debut novel of the popular private-detective series, as a mass-market paperback. Written by taekwondo expert and police officer Michael A. Black, A Killing Frost might be fiction, but it contains action that’s based on real-life experiences and authentic martial arts training. In it, Shade is hired to locate a missing illegal alien whom cops aren’t too concerned about, but when the man is found floating facedown in a canal, Shade seeks justice in an underworld of death, conspiracy and cover-ups.
Black, who’s collaborating with Julie Hyzy on a new novel called Dead Ringer, started learning judo, jujutsu and karate as a kid in Chicago. He became a military-police officer after graduating from college and was stationed in Korea, where he earned a black belt in taekwondo. After the military, he shifted to law enforcement. As an ode to the times when his martial arts knowledge saved his skin on duty, Black created Shade as a private investigator who can deploy his kickboxing skills as deftly as he can use his crime-scene talents.
Chuck’s Combat League Goes Globa
by Jon Sattler
Chuck Norris
(Photo by Rick Hustead)
Now that the "Chuckabee"political juggernaut has come to an end, Chuck Norriswill have more time to focus on his World Combat League, which will be airing in more than 100 countries next season. The reason for the WCL’s success: knockouts.
"It's the most exciting three minutes of mixed martial arts anywhere," Norris says. "The WCL had a 34-percent knockout rate, which is tops in any sport. If a fighter tries to slow the pace of the fight down, they will be penalized for passivity."
To ensure that all those potential viewers tune in, we recommend a Black Belt Hall of Fame match between Norris and Bill Wallace.
