Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with martial

Please help me remember the name of this movie.

aberrant — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:30:17 -0800

What was the name of this movie? Martial arts-themed/action (think JCVD-style). Cheesy scene description - the only one I can remember - inside. I last saw the movie in the 90's (likely early/mid 90's). The only scene I remember is a flashback to when the (non-Asian) protagonist was a boy, and he was in an Asian country (Singapore? Vietnam? Thailand? Could this be a Chuck Norris movie?). Several kids surround him in the road and beat him up, which is when he embarks on his study of martial arts. I really think it was Jean-Claude Van Damme, but having reviewed his filmography nothing rings a bell.

Any ideas on the name of this movie? Thanks!

Can I Polish Up My Martial Arts When I Can't Afford a Dojo?

snap_dragon — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 08:54:16 -0800

Is it possible to practice and brush up on martial arts? I can't afford a dojo and only have my wife to practice on (!!). I know...rather sad. But she is willing to learn so I teach her. Can I polish up my previous learning? I have 3 years in karate 2 years in small-circle jujitsu (wrist lock flowing techniques, and not the Brazilian stuff...which would be great, though)...and a smattering of Aikido. I am not looking to be Bruce Lee or the best cage fighter. I am wanting to perfect what I do know. Is it silly to watch youtube videos and books that I have (excellent reference by Marc Tedeschi etc) to refresh myself as well as practice teaching my wife? What are your thoughts on training in a vacuum if you will? If you have any training ideas or opinions I am open for your knowledge or criticism. I don't want to waste my time.

How do I find the right martial arts program for my 6 year old boy?

KTrujillo — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:34:19 -0800

What is the best entry level martial arts program for a quiet, kinda serious, very strong and flexible (can almost do the splits both ways) 6 year old boy? He LOVES anything that has to do with martial arts and Asia (movies, toys, cartoons etc) but I'm confused about the various schools and their strength and weaknesses. I don't want something like "Rex Kwon Do" but I also don't want something that is so watered down that it's just tumbling in a karate uniform. He has a couple of friends who are in Taekwondo but I'm not sold on those programs for him. HELP... Thanks!

Boot to the head . . . in Spanish

Joleta — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:41:37 -0800

Looking for an English-Spanish martial arts glossary. I can't seem to find an online English-Spanish martial arts glossary or dictionary. Mr. Joleta has several Spanish-speaking students in his taekwondo class and would like to communicate better with them. Does anyone know of an online list (or a book he could buy) that will help specifically with common terms used in the martial arts? He'd like to be able to say things like "Move your left foot forward" as well as have translations for kick, punch, front, side, roll, various parts of the body, etc. He doesn't need to say things like "front snap kick" in Spanish, though, as there are already a perfectly good Korean terms that everyone learns regardless of their native language.

What's new in Kung-Fu?

FortyT-wo — Wed, 07 May 2008 20:23:43 -0800

Can you help me become familiar with what and who is up-and-coming in martial arts movies? Am interested in recent movies that are less reliant on wires and CG, and in younger actors who didn't just learn martial arts to make a movie, but are truly gifted in the area. I don't mind subtitles! As I was watching The Forbidden Kingdom (a stinker, I thought, but I just really loved getting to watch Li and Chan fight), I was noticing that Jackie Chan and Jet Li have gotten on a bit in age. I realized that I'm not aware of who the next generation is in Kung Fu movies. I still love these two guys, but what's next? Whose movies should I be renting?

While I enjoy Kung Fu movies, I'm certainly no hardcore or super-knowledgeable fan. I have been a big Jet Li fan because I felt that he was so very gifted, and that to watch him was a treat. Knowing that he was a phenom as a youth is part of what really impresses me. But I am not familiar with any younger guys (and by that I mean under 40) who are matching up to him right now.

It's the raw abilities of the fighters that I love watching. I don't care for all the wire stuff that seems to be more popular now. I really love some of the older Kung Fu movies that don't rely so much on that. Fist of Legend is one of my all-time favorites - though, again, I haven't probably watched 1/100th of the classics because I'm pretty uneducated regarding the genre.

Would love to see some new stuff. What plain-ole good fighting movies without lots of wires and effects have come out recently? Which young actors are really gifted martial artists? Or, more importantly to me, which young, gifted martial artists are making movies right now?

Thank you so much in advance!

Everybody was kung fu fighting

Astro Zombie — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 16:31:02 -0800

If I was a teenager in the 70s, what style of martial art would have seemed the most badass to me? And why?

Photographing a Kid's Judo Tournament?

chengjih — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 06:36:03 -0800

What's the best way to photograph a kid's judo tournament and have pictures ready for the parents right after awards are presented? My judo club is hosting a tournament a few months from now. I've been asked to look into taking photos during the tournament and having these photos for sale by the end of it. The idea is to raise money for club operations by charging parents some amount for the pictures. What's the best way to go about this?

By way of equipment, I have a Nikon D70 with a telephoto lens (80-200mm f/2.8), and I can scrounge up a couple of laptops. The tournament will be in a large community center gym, with overhead fluorescents, so I might to do some basic color processing before images are presentable (probably along the lines of Picassa's "I Feel Lucky" touch-ups).

I don't believe I can practically offer prints, but I should be able to produce some number of CDs. The goal is to have something physically available for interested parents.

The main problem is timing, I think. Parents and their kids may have travelled some hours to get to the tournament, and may want to leave right after awards are given, rather than hanging around for me to burn CDs.

Any suggestions on how to do this? Thanks.

martial arts for kids in San Diego

diode — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 10:42:53 -0800

I've got a friend with an adopted son. The kid has some adjustment problems from his early treatment and adjustment here. She's looking at using meds to change his behavior. I think that's not a great idea and she should look to enrolling him in martial arts classes. They are in San Diego. Can anyone recommend a program in that area? My friend is a single mother. With single-track determination, she adopted a child from Russia a few years ago. He's eight now. This kid is headstrong, willful, perhaps has a wild mathematics talent, and also has problems being moody and depressive. He also likes to challenge adults around him physically at times (aka being rowdy and physical). He's also a great kid too.

The mother is coping with this but the mix is not quite right. They get into tussles and the kid is challenging to handle. She's been looking for psych help, and of course they pull out the pharmacopia and their book of terminology which will end up with the kid on Ritalin and other mood changers. I think he needs some good discipline, focus, and self-esteem building which succeeding at a martial arts can provide. Maybe he needs both. But I would try the arts before the drugs IMHO. In any event, a program that has a strong spiritual component where the sensei are teaching people to be strong beings as well as fighters is called for I think.
Any programs you know of that you like?

There's also a factor of adult-child power struggles. Perhaps a primer in how to be the top dog with children would also be a good thing to have.
Thanks in advance.

Asia travel ideas for 18 yr old karate lover?

RoadTripPlanner — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 03:48:39 -0800

Can anyone recommend any martial arts learning opportunities (camps, workshops, lessons, etc) in Asia that an 18 year old would enjoy? My nephew in the US is a karate brown belt and he would like to travel to Asia when he graduates from high school this year. I am trying to help him find some interesting travel opportunities which relate to karate. He loves karate and has been searching for something to do in Japan or India for Summer 2008 but we haven't found anything yet. Thanks for any tips.

Tai chi class

puddinghead — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 17:01:06 -0800

Anyone know of an ongoing Tai Chi class in the East Bay? I'd like to be able to pay by the class, since I'm away a good bit.

Kung fu in the DC area?

Atreides — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 06:37:17 -0800

Martial Arts Filter: To make this short and easy, do any of the MeFites in their collective wisdom have any good suggestions on where a 27 year old with no martial arts experience should look to begin learning such in the D.C. area? I not quite that interested in jujitsu, but all other forms I'm wide open to. Any advice you all might have, I certainly appreciate. My primary goal is self defense. This being spurred on after a stranger entered my sister's apartment and at one point, I had to physically shove him out. And more specifically, I'm interested in locations in the Arlington/Alexandria/Rosslyn (and other nearby areas).

Thanks again.

Burien, WA (Seattle-area) martial arts question

jhendow — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 09:21:28 -0800

I have practiced Shito-Ryu karate for about 3 years but my dojo has closed. I'm looking for recommendations for a new karate dojo. I know I won't find another Shito-Ryu dojo in my home town, so I'd consider switching to Shotokan or even perhaps to something else (kung fu or TKD?), but it needs to be close to my home in Burien. Anybody have a recommendation?

Homemade martial arts dummy

lunkfish — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 02:05:25 -0800

What can I use to build the frame for a martial arts dummy? Hi. I'm looking at building a dummy to beat up. The covering is quite straightfoward - carpet, foam, lots of duct tape - but the frame is tricky with my limited skills.

I want to make something along the lines of this but with two arms held out in front. I don't think the pvc pipe will be strong enough, and I want something thats quite hard and solid to hit.

My first thought was to use steel plumbing pipes and connectors, but they're not widely available in the UK. I've also thought of wood, but it would have to be round posts and I don't know if my DIY skills are up to making something solid. Also they're hard to find.

Is there another modular system with connectors I could use like pipes, or do you have any other ideas?

Martial arts for fatties?

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 19:19:51 -0800

Can seriously overweight people do martial arts? I'm interested in taking up a martial art. I'm a female, above average height, currently about 80-90lbs overweight. I'm pretty inactive, although I was rather athletic in the past so I know I've got it in me - it's just covered in fat! I'd like to do some form of martial arts as both a way to get some activity and also because I'm interested in the focus on discipline. Being overweight and poorly conditioned, do I have any chance of participating in a class or being able to keep within a reasonable range of other beginners? Is it likely to be physically impossible for me? I'm not exceptionally flexible but I don't feel like my movement is hindered a tremendous amount by my weight. Is there a certain form of martial arts that would suit me better than others? What's the level of activity like in comparison to something like aerobics? What's the best way to go about finding a class; should I call up and say "Hi, I'm fat, is it okay to sign up?" Any other advice?

What is the opening song in Stalag 17?

PurplePorpoise — Sat, 02 Jul 2005 16:08:46 -0800

What is the opening song in Stalag 17? There's also a version of it in Die Hard 3 when the dump trucks were getting loaded...

In HS, we sang a bawdy version to this tune on our way to rugby games that starting with "Three (~~British soldiers~~ Argyle Students) went to war taboo, taboo.../ so (a la ze ka?) so kick my ass taboo..."

Thanks!