Arrowhead Martial Arts Studio Blog

WELCOME TO MY MARTIAL ARTS BLOG! Keep up to date on all the latest news, tips and ideas from Arrowhead Martial Arts Studio by subscribing to my RSS feed or you can receive email updates right to your inbox. Thanks for visiting! -- Ryan Wheaton

This past weekend I finally went to see the Bourne Ultimatum with Matt Damon.

As a martial artist, I love going to films that demonstrate martial arts in a realistic manner. So what did I think of the martial arts in this film? Read on.

If you think I’m going to say I didn’t like it because they weren’t doing Kenpo on the screen, think again. When I first saw these movies, it reminded me a lot of Kenpo so I was immediately sold. So what did I think? Simply put, the fight scenes alone are worth the price of admission. Anyone who has seen the movie I’m sure will agree.

Many people are bugged by the shakey camera effect however I will say it makes you feel like you’re right in the middle of the action. A nice touch, if you ask me. The use of environmental weapons was a great twist when Bourne uses a hardbound book to overwhelm an “asset” that was sent to kill him. In Kenpo, environment is defined as everything in you, on you, and around you. Bourne used this idea incredibly well and a good reminder that if ever put in position to defend ourselves that environmental objects can be a great equalizer.

I was impressed at how believable Damon was with the martial arts moves. He looked very natural and it didn’t seemed forced. You can tell he did a lot of training before the film started and from what I understand it was a form of Escrima/Kali. From my perspective, he moved like he knew what he was doing. So was it acting or is he that good? Frankly, I don’t care. He nailed it.

The film started with a bang and didn’t let up for the rest of the movie. Good plot. Good pace. Good action. This is by far the best of the trilogy (although there are rumors of more to come).

My overall review: Run, don’t walk, to go see this movie!

Agree or disagree? Leave your opinion in the form of a comment below.

Social Bookmark This Post!

No wonder some martial arts out there mimic “tiger” like movements. WOW!

Social Bookmark This Post!

Finally, a reality show worth watching!

If you haven’t yet heard about “Human Weapon” on the History Channel, you’re not alone. I just heard about it last week and set my TiVo to record it.

It’s a show about two guys who travel the world learning various martial arts. I just watched the “JUDO” and “KARATE” episodes back to back. All I can say is “Wow!”

The hosts, are Jason Chambers and Bill Duff. Jason is a mixed-martial-artist and professional fighter while Bill is a former professional football player and wrestler. Quite the odd couple but still it shows how two people from different backgrounds adapt and put their moves to the real deal test. They learn from various masters in a particular discipline then at the end of show they choose which one is to fight one of the systems top black belts (or equivalent). What a great concept!

New episodes come on every Friday either at 7pm or 8pm (thanks to TiVo, I don’t have to keep track of when shows come on!). This season, the hosts train and fight in following martial arts:

• Muay Thai: Ultimate Striking
• Karate
• Judo: Samurai Legacy
• Eskrima Stickfighting
• Savate Streetfighting
• Pankration: The Original Martial Art
• Krav Maga of the Israeli Commandos
• Marine Corps Martial Arts
• MMA: America’s Extreme Fighting
• Kung Fu
• Sambo: Russia’s Extreme Fighting
• Bokator: Cambodian Blood Sport
• Silat: Martial Art of Malaysia

Who knows, maybe next season they will feature AKKI Kenpo?! Now wouldn’t that be something.

Has anyone else seen the show? Let me know in the form of a comment below.

Social Bookmark This Post!

Here is the latest AKKI Kenpo video of my instructor, Mr. Paul Mills, teaching the subject of Top Spin at the bi-annual AKKI Las Vegas camp in March of 2007. Study it well as there are MANY things to learn from it!

Social Bookmark This Post!

I just caught wind that Bruce Lee’s 1973 classic martial arts film “Enter the Dragon” is to be remade.

Its going to be written and directed by Kurt Sutter who is the producer of “The Shield” on the FX channel; so it should be pretty gritty. The new title will be “Awaken the Dragon.”

Hopefully they don’t screw this one up as its going to be a hard movie to beat. It will no doubt involve a ton of wire work and unbelievable digital effects.

The Associated Press is said to have received an email today from Warner Bros. publicist that the remake will tell the tale of an FBI agent who is assigned to investigate a Shaolin monk and underground Kung Fu fight clubs. No word yet on who will be cast in the lead roles.

If you’ve never seen the original Bruce Lee classic, I highly recommend renting it. It’s one of the all time best martial arts movies, ever. Period.

BONUS: Rumor has it that the dojo scene in Enter The Dragon takes place at a Kenpo Karate Studio.

Social Bookmark This Post!

Many martial artists and masters subscribe to the one stance, one strike (or block) theory. Whole systems have been built around this way of moving. The belief is that for maximum power, you have to time those two actions together. Many question if you can really hit multiple times when moving from one stance to the next or if you have to hit one stance per block or strike.

I contend it’s absolutely possible to hit multiple times in one transition.

In AKKI KENPO, we have techniques that teach one stance per strike (just look at the majority of yellow belt) and so we haven’t completely thrown this idea out the window. However, as time and skill in the art increases, we should be sophisticating our motion to get in as many EFFECTIVE strikes as possible within each transition (Yes, you can reach a point of diminishing return here).

When you factor in both major and minor striking, path of action, and the idea of filling the gap, it’s not that hard to hit two, three even four times in one transition and still have power and speed within one stance change. If you look closely, you’ll see it in every belt level we have.

I’m not saying the one strike per stance is an antiquated idea. What I am saying is that it is a “basic” way of hitting.

Where do you stand? Leave your opinion in the form of a comment below.

Social Bookmark This Post!