Relating to martial arts motion pictures that actually emphasize coaching, The Karate Child is usually on the forefront of that dialog. Mr. Miyagi’s unconventional technique of instructing Daniel karate and the wonderful Eighties music helped make it among the best American martial arts motion pictures of all time, however there are different movies that deal with the coaching a part of the story even higher, particularly Shaolin Martial Arts.
Launched in 1974, Shaolin Martial Arts is an old-school kung fu film from the de-facto king of Hong Kong martial arts movies within the Seventies and Eighties, Shaw Brothers. Directed by Chang Cheh, Shaolin Martial Arts was the third in a sequence of six movies within the filmmaker’s “Shaolin Cycle,” which revolved across the supposed fall of the second Shaolin Temple.
What Shaolin Martial Arts Is About
Shaolin Martial Arts stars Alexander Fu Sheng, Chi Kuan Chun, Gordon Liu, and Yan Tsan Tang as 4 of the numerous Shaolin males nonetheless left alive after the destruction of the Shaolin Temple. In an effort to remove them, an official of the Manchu authorities hires two well-trained killers, Yu Pi (Johnny Wang) and Pa Kang (Bryan Leung).
It is understood early on that regardless of how unbeatable they might appear, Yu Pi and Pa Kang will be crushed, however solely by exploiting their respective weaknesses, beneath the groin space and the abdomen. Sadly, not one of the fighters have the abilities wanted to do this, so Yan Tsan Tang and Gordon’s Liu’s characters are despatched off to study the required strategies.
What Makes Shaolin Martial Arts’ Coaching Sequences So Good
This supplies a wonderful setup for a terrific coaching sequence, whereby Yan Tsan Tang’s character is distributed on the seemingly menial process of catching 50 fish per day – along with his naked palms. Very similar to Daniel in The Karate Child, he turns into annoyed with not studying precise martial arts, however progressively learns that in catching the fish, he has fashioned the inspiration for the “eagle claw” method that he’ll use in opposition to Yu Pi.
Whereas martial arts motion pictures like The Karate Child make the coaching only a step within the journey of its protagonist, Shaolin Martial Arts manages to make it the crux of all the story. After the fish sequence, he has even more durable bodily challenges to sort out.
It has the same title, however Shaolin Martial Arts shouldn’t be confused with one other Shaw Brothers gem, Martial Arts of Shaolin, which starred Jet Li.
The second half of the movie takes the same route with Chi Kuan Chun’s character, who has to study a transfer akin to Bruce Lee’s one-inch punch. By hanging a bell from a brief distance, he injures his hand, however his willpower to higher himself and achieve his aim wills him to protect, setting the stage for a satisfying scene the place he lastly perfects the transfer.
Seeing somebody push via adversity is among the major appeals of martial arts motion pictures, and Shaolin Martial Arts executes this completely with Chi Kuan Chun and Yan Tsan Tang’s performances.
However whereas turning every day duties into kung fu workout routines is a key a part of the enjoyable of Shaolin Martial Arts, it nonetheless leaves room for the extra easy technique of coaching. Alexander Fu Sheng and Gordon Liu’s characters get to interact in thrilling sparing matches with their masters, permitting the movie to combine issues up and put collectively not one, however 4 distinct coaching arcs for its heroes.
- Launch Date
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August 3, 1974
- Runtime
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107 minutes
- Director
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Chang Cheh
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Alexander Fu Sheng
Li Yao
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Chi Kuan-Chun
Pa Chung / Chen Bao Rong
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Irene Chen Yi-Ling
Lin Chen-hsiu
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