Top Five Martial Arts Movies

Sometimes people ask me what martial arts movie is the best.  It’s a tough question!  There are so many that I like, so in no particular order, here are five of my absolute favorites!

1. Enter The Dragon

This was Bruce Lee's best movie. The plot is simple, but fun!

What really makes this movie shine is the martial arts sequences. Bruce Lee's impressive fighting has never been duplicated. He's fast, he's strong, and he's intense. Every martial artist should be required to see Enter The Dragon. Bruce Lee is the best of the best.

2.  The Matrix

The first Matrix movie is still as amazing as ever! It redefined special effects and introduced the world to a style of on-screen fighting that had never been seen before. For nearly a decade, action movies regularly copied what the Matrix started.

On top of all that, The Matrix has an incredible story, slick costumes, and a techie style that rocks!

3.  Kill Bill (Vol. 1& 2)

Not strictly a martial arts film, but by far my favorite of the genre. Tarantino captures so much of the traditional martial arts attitude, and weaves it together with a complex revenge story. It also pays homage to martial arts movies that came before, and it's filled with martial arts Easter eggs from beginning to end.

My favorite scenes include: "The Bride" getting her sword, the showdown in Japan, and the escape from the coffin.

4.  The Karate Kid

As I've said before, when I'm talking about The Karate Kid, the only movie I'm talking about is the 1984 classic, starring Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita.

The martial arts sequences aren't phenomenal, but the story captures the essence of karate extremely well. The movie also extends beyond martial arts, with elements of teen drama, that still resonate today.

5.  Teenage MutantNinja Turtles

This is a seriously great martial arts movie.  It has a fun, kid oriented plot, and a completely retro 80's vibe, which, for a variety of reasons, works so well with martial arts.

The action sequences are beyond impressive. It's amazing to think how the actors were able to execute such complex stunt sequences in thick, rubber, turtle costumes. This is a define classic.

What is the Best Martial Arts Style?

 

I’m sure you’ve heard from many Martial Arts instructors, and even more Martial Arts students, that there is one absolutely amazing, foolproof, over-all conquering style of Martial Arts. The reality however, is that the difference among most martial art styles is negligible. What it comes down to is that there are only so many ways that the human body can move, and there are two basic ways that people fight. Either they wrestle, or they box.

No matter what style you’re studying, the objective is to subdue an opponent by grappling them into submission, or by striking them down with your arms and legs. There’s no way around it.

But now, the question that naturally follows... Which method is better, wrestling or boxing?

Depending on who you ask, you’ll get two different answers. Anyone training in a style more like wrestling will tell you that they have the most effective system. Anyone studying a boxing style will tell you that they have the most effective system. It’s hard for someone planning to take up a Martial Art to get an unbiased answer.

I teach Karate, and Karate is most definitely a boxing style. So, naturally, I have my own bias. But I’m going to let you in on a secret... Someone skilled in either style will be an effective fighter. 

Is the Crane Kick Real?

Fans of The Karate Kid ask me this question all the time. I even asked this question to my first instructor when I was eight years old. And before I continue, let me be clear. When I’m talking about the Karate Kid, I’m talking about the classic 1984 movie starring Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita. Not the remake with Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan.

But, back to the Crane Kick, is it real? It’s a fair question. Who doesn’t want to learn the Crane Kick? It looks cool in the movie, and as Miyagi said, “If done right, no can defend!”

So, is it real? Well... Yes and no.

The Crane Kick is a front kick, but with one knee raised at the starting point. The defender jumps, and the leg that was planted launches up to deliver the kick, while the leg that was initially raised lands back on the ground. In Shotokan Karate, there is a kick that looks like a double Crane Kick, prominently featured at the end of the kata Kanku Dai. It’s harder to execute than the Crane Kick, but it’s even more effective.

As for the name... no, in Shotokan Karate, there is no official Crane Kick.

So, back to the original question, is the Crane Kick real? The full answer is a qualified yes, because the moves are real. Will you learn the Crane Kick in a Karate class? No, not the way Mr. Miyagi taught it.

Before I conclude, I should probably also address Miyagi’s line about: “If done right, no can defend!” In truth, there are plenty of defenses for the Crane Kick. And if you don’t believe that, just check out the end of The Karate Kid Part II.