Knife Fighting Techniques

Description

A rousing fusion of fast-paced Ashtanga yoga, explosive martial arts and life-affirming meditation, Cameron Shayne¹s Budokon system puts Eastern practices on a new plane. Anyone looking for a high-energy workout that also sharpens mental focus and brings a deeper feeling of purpose will find it on their own terms with Budokon. Shayne¹s personal energy and passionate mastery of all three disciplines is affecting; the kicks and punches are exhilarating; and the meditations are both grounding and eye opening.

The cover touts it as "the reunion of martial arts, yoga, and meditation," but for those who have practiced those disciplines separately but not in combination, Cameron Shayne's Budokon Beginning Practice offers a fresh, even unique approach to a home exercise regimen. Yoga, martial arts, and meditation don't actually commingle in this approximately 38-minute program (also included is a version that's about 10 minutes shorter); a fairly traditional, 20-minute yoga practice (for creating "power through stillness") is followed by 15 minutes of martial arts ("power through movement") and about three minutes of meditation ("power through emptiness"). The yoga asanas, including forward bends, lunges, twists, standing poses, and several sun salutations, provide a good stretch and warm-up for the martial arts moves; the latter, with their short, vigorous punches and kicks mostly performed from a traditional "fighting stance," offer a contrast to the slower, deeper yoga postures, and the sequence of the two is genuinely invigorating. Shayne, a martial arts master who also knows his yoga, provides excellent instruction throughout, and easier versions of the yoga poses are demonstrated. There's also a "pose guide" option, accessible both separately and during the workout, to explicate all the poses and movements in greater detail. --Sam Graham

Features

• FREE standard shipping on this item!

Reviews

Is this Christian-friendly?

by vmamafrika from on 2010-08-15
I got this to help with my focus and practise martial arts. I've dabbled in Taekwondo and Kenpo Karate and miss them dearly. I haven't tried this DVD yet but have watched it twice, checking if it in any way exalts the ultimate enemy. I'm not so religious as to shun any form of mind-body activity. I just don't want to glorify someone other than my Father.I find it a bit dubious that Shayne calls a particular move Vinyasa, as I have come to understand Vinyasa to mean 'movement with breath'. I'm no expert Yogi, but I've seen that move before, and it was called Chaturanga.Anyway, I think I'll go ahead and practise Budokon, albeit after a number of months; I've also watched Cameron Shayne's Flow & Flexibility (martial arts/yoga fusion DVD) and find it so much more interesting than the beginner's practice but so much more challenging. The two are worlds apart, really. I need to first work up some strength so that Flow & Flexibility isn't discouragingly hard. (I have a feeling I'll only need a few short weeks to master the beginner's practice, and the moves in it don't strike me as perfect for building my stamina for Flow and Flexibility. I'm thinking along the lines of traditional strength training and Pilates). I'm even getting the entire set. Cameron's technique is perfect as far as I can tell, and although I want to honour God I haven't found that his style doesn't so I can also try the meditation in his DVDs (it's what I think will calm me down and help me to concentrate). I like his fusion of Yoga with martial arts. Can't wait to move up to Flow and Flexibility!

Great Workout!

by Michelle Way from on 2010-07-08
I just did this DVD for the first time and I really loved it. I thought it was a challenging and well choreographed workout. Cameron Shayne's instruction is spot on and I was able to do all of the moves which surprised me a little because I am new to yoga and the closest I've ever come to a martial art is Tae Bo. I love his voice too - very soothing. I think this would be a good choice for anyone who is interested in yoga and martial arts....or just a really great workout!

Good Product.

by E. Furtado from ME on 2010-04-14
Good DVD but need to be a little more limber to do some of the stretches. The martial arts part I was able to pick up fairly quickly with practice. But you need to be limber and considerably thin to do the yoga moves.

Reflections on Budokon

by Angel C. Garces from Hilo, HI, USA on 2010-03-28
The Budokon System is a combination of yoga, martial arts, and meditation. The Budokon DVD for beginners begins with an introduction into the Budokon system and its elements. Budokon provides 20 minutes of Yoga practice such as, cresent, downward facing dog, plank position, warrior I, and warrior II. The yoga practices enables a person to stretch their body from a variety of many different positions. Any athelete will be able to increase their flexibility by following the techniques. I noticed that my kicks are higher, and that I am more tolerant of my squats since I have began Budokon in February.The second half of Budokon emphasizes martial arts training. The martial arts portion of Budokon teaches pivot punches, rear knee, lunge punch, defensive stance, cat stance, cat stand kick, horse stance, squat kick, and rear leg kick. The moves for the martial arts techniques are simple and they are repeated for a series of 10 repititions for each exercises. Although, I do not plan to use these martial art techniques for evil purposes, learning them is fun, exciting and essential to understand! I get a really intense workout from the simple exercises! By the time I am finished with the martial arts portion, I am sweating like a pig on a summer's day in the desert.The last portion of the Budokon system is a short meditation. This usually lasts about two-five minutes. This helps a person clear their mind until they fade away into a tranquil and serene mindset. I think this portion is what makes Budokon unique. I have gained a greater understand of the purposes and benefits of Budokon from this reflective period of tranquility.Budokon is amazing! It only lasts for 40 minutes! I used to workout for an hour to an hour and a half, but I was never able to gain flexibility and a peace of mind from lifting weights, running ,or pushups and sit-ups. I do other workouts now, and I try to switch it up so I have a good balance of them. However, Budokon is one of my main workouts. I run, lift weights and I do the Beach Body Insanity Workout. I rotate between these a lot. It is only with the Budokon workout so far, do I greatly increase my flexibility than anything else.

Great introduction to Budokon

by H. Burnette from on 2010-01-21
I really enjoyed this workout. It is very basic, so if you are more advanced in yoga or martial arts, I would recommend a more advanced DVD. My only disappointment is that the yoga and martial arts are in two separate sections instead of combined like in more advanced Budokon workouts.

Description

Go Behind-the-Scenes of a Worldwide Phenomenon! THE BEST MOMENTS FROM THE GREATEST MARTIAL ARTS MOVIES OF ALL TIME! Take a trip through martial arts history from its beginnings in bloody rebellion to the high-flying action movies of today. Join host Samuel L. Jackson for the most action-packed moments from over 100 movies including rarely-seen vintage films and modern-day favorites! HIGHLIGHTS FROM THESE HIT MOVIES: Charlie's Angels Rush Hour 2 Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon...and dozens more! INTERVIEWS AND FOOTAGE OF YOUR FAVORITE STARS AND DIRECTORS: Ang Lee Sammo Hung John Woo and many others!System Requirements:Running Time: 96 Min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/MISC. Rating: NR UPC: 043396084766 Manufacturer No: 08476

Reviews

Martial Arts in the Movies

by Jusuf Hariman from Australia on 2009-12-28
The best moments from the greatest martial arts movies of all time. Take a trip through martial arts history, from its beginning in bloody rebellion to the high-fying action movies of today. Joing host Samuel L Jackson for the most action-packed moments from over 100 movies. Including rarely-seen vintage films and modern-day favorites. Highlights from these hit movies: Rush Hour 2, Charlie's Angels, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Interviews and footage of your favorite stars and directors: Ang Lee, John Woo, SAmmo Hung,etc. Special features: Digitally Mastered Audio, Six action-packed trailers of martial arts films, Audio: English and French-2 Channel (Dolby Surround), and Subtitles: English, French, Titles, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean and Thai.

good documentary hosted by samuel l. jackson

by morgoth from omaha, NE on 2006-04-08
This movie does not show like many great clips but is a pretty good documentary. It starts out talking about the the first shaw movies and lau kar-leung, and also the origins of kung fu(briefly), women in the 20's making these movies, and of course kwan tak-hing. The only thing that I really had a problem with is that they just passed over the jimmy wang yu, lo lieh, chen kwan tai, hwang jang lee, etc. I don;t think it even mentions the venoms!! They show some good clips from one armed swordsman, but even though they show their dramatic scene, they don't even mention jimmy or lie's name. So it goes way to quickly into the new school stuff like crouching tiger but does not capitilize on the golden age of kung fu.

Martial Arts Journey

by from on 2003-07-15
This in-depth documentary gives a behind-the-scenes look at the history of the martial arts films. It shows what the early pioneers of martial arts had to do to pass on the skills when the then rulers wanted to forbid the practice. The journey is one of rebellious beginnings to high flying stunts in movies today. It also features the work of Bruce Lee, Jet Li, Jackie Chan,Sammo Hung and others. This is a great documentary to watch if you want to learn more about the world of martial arts in films.

Entertaining history of martial arts on film

by BD Ashley from Otago, New Zealand on 2003-05-11
Presented by Samuel L. Jackson, THE ART OF ACTION is an enjoyable and entertaining look at the history of matial arts films from its origins in Peking Opera in China, which was performed by men in women's clothing. Strangely, the first kung fu features were made with the WOMEN doing all the fighting as film was then considered a lower medium in China, and it was "dishonorable" for men to stoop to that level!Of course, no film about martial arts could be made without Bruce Lee, "The James Bond Of Martial Arts". Here viewers are treated to footage from RETURN OF THE DRAGON where Lee beats the bejesus out of a young Chuck Norris, as well as hearing Lee's philosophies on kung fu, which remain intriguing and inspiring no matter how many times you hear them.THE ART OF ACTION also features appearances from Jackie Chan, recounting his experiences as part of a Peking Opera troupe at age 7, as well as ruminations by John Woo, Ang Lee and Steven Seagal. There's plenty here to educate and entertain viewers, though stranglely Hammer's martial arts/ horror film LEGEND OF THE SEVEN GOLDEN VAMPIRES is overlooked here... but Cynthia Rothrock's cruddy movies get some attention! I just don't get it! That remains my only quibble. Also features clips from more recent films like RUSH HOUR 2 and CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON.If you like this, you may want to check out the similar documentary CINEMA OF VENGEANCE which is about the history of martial arts and Hong Kong action films, though personally I found THE ART OF ACTION to be more entertaining. Both movies are highly recommended.

Description

For the first time, the legends of martial arts are gathered in the ultimate DVD collection that will provide countless hours of adrenaline-filled action. IncludedBig Fight, TheBlack Cobra Black Cobra 2 Black Cobra 3 Black Fist Black Godfather, The Brave Lion Chase Step by Step City Ninja Deadly Duo Death Machines Death of a Ninja Fighting Mad Four Robbers Four Shaolin Challengers Guy with the Secret Kung Fu, The Hands of Death Head Hunter, The Heroes of Shaolin Part 1 Heroes of Shaolin Part 2 Image of Bruce Lee Impossible Kid, The Infernal Street Karate Kids USA Kung Fu Arts Kung Fu Kids Break Away Master, The: Max Master, The: Out of Time Step Ninja Champion Ninja Death I Ninja Death II Ninja Death III Ninja Empire Ninja Heat Ninja: The Protector Real Bruce Lee, The Return of the Kung Fu Dragon Return of the Street Fighter Shadow Ninja Shaolin Deadly Kicks Shaolin Temple Sister Street Fighter Snake Fist Dynamo Snake, The Tiger, The Crane, The Spirits of Bruce Lee Street Fighter, The Ten Fingers of Death Tiger Love TNT Jackson Weapons of Death

Features

• 12 DVD Disc Set
• Region 0, NTSC
• Audio - English
• Run Time: 70 Hours, 23 minutes Complete Movie List: 1. The Big Fight - Featuring: Roc Tien2. Black

Reviews

A box full of FISTS IN YOUR FACE

by Alabaster Jones from earth on 2010-05-12
I just received my copy of the Martial Arts 50 Movie Pack yesterday, and although I've only watched 4 of the movies included, I feel that I've already gotten my money's worth.You see.. I first chose to watch the Ninja Death trilogy, after reading recommendations in these reviews.All I can say is that it's absolute genius! I won't spoil the movies by describing them, but if you're into cheap 70s Chinese Kung Fu flicks, you'll be hard pressed to find anything better to watch than the Ninja Death trilogy. The other 47 movies on here are just icing on the baffling and confounding cake that is Ninja Death.If you're looking at this page, I assume that you get some enjoyment from Z-grade cinema. If you've never seen the entire ND trilogy, then pop this sucker into your cart and click away. You won't be disappointed.

Awesome!

by Timothy Nguyen from Corvallis, Oregon on 2010-02-22
If you like corny asian films this is the way to go...you will have hours of enjoyment....go snuggle on a rainy day with your loved one and watch these kung-fu masters chop away at your day one movie at a time!

The Bandits are attacking!

by G. Mahar from Boston, MA on 2009-12-03
Of course there's alot of kicking ass but I hadn't realized the depth of plots in Kung Fu movies i.e duty bound honor;over-coming adversity;family loyalty and gorgeous Asian girls who speak in a beautiful(dubbed) Australian accent.Though there are two disks with colored's which should have been left out. I recommend this Kung-Fu collection for its action and strong, in-depth stories.

Well worth the money you will spend.

by Brian from Chicago, IL on 2009-11-07
First thing i'd like to point out is that the listing that amazon shows for this (as far as the movies go) is incorrect. The listing as amazon puts it is the same as the original release (which is NOT to be confused with the new version, of which the picture is shown) with the exception of "TNT jackson". Instead of "TNT jackson" you get Fist of Fear, Touch of death.Now since amazon is listing the picture for the re-release of this box set, im going to assume that's the version they are selling. It should be noted that along with "TNT jackson", you get four other movies which are:Breakout from oppression Day of the Panther Jive Turkey The Guy from harlemthe movies they replace are the aformentioned "Fist of fear, touch of death" along withDeath Machines Death of a ninja Sister Street Fighter Ten Fingers of death (which to Morgoth, is the Jackie chan movie Master with cracked fingers under an alternate title)Also the movie with chow yun fat in it is entitled "the Head hunter".The easiest way to tell the difference is that the original (and it should be noted BETTER) version has a non-descript guy on the cover as opposed to bruce lee.Now that thats out of the way, I can get on to the other thing i wanted to mention.I'd like to thank morgoth for pointing out Shadow Ninja. I have had this movie pack since at least the time when it first came out, and never bothered to check out that movie until i read his review of this pack last night. When I got home i popped the movie in and was thoroughly entertained. So thank you.Now on to the actual reivew of the pack itself....due to the fact that i have seen little if any of the movies featured all the way through, i shall end this review by giving a list of the more noteworthy movies to look out for on this pack.The aformentioned Shadow Ninja (which should definitly be the first movie to watch as soon as you get this.) Tiger Love Kung Fu arts Chase Step by Step Deadly Duo AKA Two Great Cavaliers (which is not to be confused with the Ti Lung epic of the same name) Fighting Mad The Master: Max and out of time step (which are actually episodes of a tv series) The heroes of Shaolin 1 and 2 The impossible kid (a martial arts movie featuring A MIDGET! has to be seen to be believed!) The street fighter, Return of the street fighter (a duo of great movies featuring samurai master sonny chiba) Ten fingers of death AKA Master with cracked fingers (possibly jackie chan's first starring role and a great movie) Snake Fist Dynamo (mentioning it only to say look for the brooklyn zu version called dragon snake fist thats uncut)if i've missed any it would be because i haven't actually seen them and therefore do not know they are good.

Just like Kung Fu Theatre on USA

by Henry T Blewer III from Binghamton NY on 2009-10-12
There are some gems in this collection. If you like the fun kung fu movies also, you'll want to buy this. This collection is worth the investment.

Description

A 4 DVD - 1 CD collection designed to teach you Mixed Martial Arts while you get fit! Includes S.A.V.E. Level 1: Learn footwork, kicks, punches and defensive tactics with this great beginner workout. Fit 2 Fight: 90 minutes of heart-pumping, muscle-building fitness skills for the intermediate level matrial artist. Includes segments on grappling and defensive tactics. Combat Ready: Advanced students will be challenged with this workout that includes high level combinations, defensive tactics and grappling. Let's Sweat: The ultimate fitness challenge includes one hour of routines designed to rip your muscles, increase your flexibility and improve your cardio strength as you get ready to fight! Audio CD: Powerful Spirit: You will maximize your training through empowerment and relaxtion with this mental conditioning CD.

Reviews

A lot more than I expected

by Fitness Freak from NJ on 2008-06-24
I learned a lot from these DVDs...didn't know there were like 5 in the set. Physical and mental training and conditioning along with basic moves and defenses. It was easy to learn but hard to do some of the more advanced stuff. Guess I have to work up to them.

Description

Filmed entirely in Japan, BUDO:THE ART OF KILLING is a highly acclaimed docu-drama and a favorite of martial arts practitioners and fans alike. Highlighting the various techniques of "Budo" (Karate, Judo, Aikido, etc.), this action-packed film is a visual feast exploring the spiritual and historical traditions, training and techniques of this specialized form of martial arts. Synapse is proud to present this critically acclaimed film in a newly re-mastered version transferred from original vault materials. A must-see even for fans of Japanese history, BUDO:THE ART OF KILLING is "powerful and frequently amazing… stuns the beholder." (VARIETY) EXTRAS: - New Windowboxed Digital Transfer from Archival Vault Materials in the Original Filmed Aspect Ratio of 1.33:1 - Original Theatrical Trailer - Original Press Kit Still Gallery - Liner Notes - Eye-Catching Foil Cover Artwork

Reviews

great dvd

by healthandbeautyconnection from los angeles.ca on 2010-02-09
I have always loved martial arts,from a young age.This dvd captures the essence of martial arts,very realistic.Now that im older, i try to life the life of of harmony,health,peace,still practice martial arts.This dvd would be a graet teaching tool for any martial arts [...]

budo

by Gaetano Frongillo from Switzerland on 2010-01-30
Documentario eccellente, ottima fotografia. Forse molto retorico, conoscendo un po' i maestri di cui si parla direi che sono stati descritti con troppa enfasi, tanto che a volte alcune situazioni possono apparire "comiche" ad uno spirito moderno e disincantato, ma ritengo in ogni caso che lo spirito che dovrebbe animare le arti marziali è stato chiaramente evocato. Perfino la colonna sonora è degna di nota. Da consigliare.

All things Japanese

by G2 in Gillett PA from on 2009-12-13
Saw this a long time ago on VHS and was glad to see it was available on dvd, takes you through many of the disiplines of the Samurai, as well as showing how a sword is crafted, more a documentary but a good one! G2

Peaceful and Beautiful documentary about Japanese martial arts

by Alain B. Burrese from Missoula, MT on 2009-08-19
I really enjoyed "Budo: The Art of Killing." I usually watch and review instructional videos, and it was a nice change to watch this documentary on the martial arts of Japan. One thing that really stands out is the beauty of Japan that is shown throughout the film. Seeing some of the scenic settings reminded me of places I visited while living in Japan, and how there are so many beautiful and peaceful places in the land of the rising sun. It's not a fast paced DVD, with some scenes in slow motion with slower music, but that added to the beauty of the film.Peace and beauty in a film about the art of killing? Yes, and I found the relationship between the two to be calming and reflected on some of my own training. Seeing some of the masters train with Mt. Fuji in the background, on beaches, or in other aesthetically pleasing places (most dojos are simple elegance) or the scenes in fields or forests, made me think of how often it is my training in martial arts that calms me and becomes the most serene time of the day. Meditation and physical training go together.The training scenes in the film are not instructional. You are not going to learn how to do the things you see from this film. Nor does the film elaborate on the training that got the people in the film to that point other than saying it takes a long time and much dedication. However, watching this can motivate one to pursue their training to reach the higher levels.For those interested in the various martial arts of Japan, this DVD serves as a nice introduction. You get to see people training in Judo, Karate, Sumo, Aikido, and more. The section with women training with the naginata will be interesting for females to see the samurai art practiced by women of all ages. There was also a lot of time spent on the sword, which the Japanese samurai are known for. Besides seeing some masters of the sword, the film shows a blade being made as well. I was surprised that the Ninja and Ninjitsu were not covered.Overall, I enjoyed this DVD, just as I enjoy reading the older Samurai writings that have been translated to English, and books about the samurai, ancient Japan, Korea, China, and related works. If you are interested in an artful film about the martial arts and beauty of Japan, you will enjoy this film.Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks and the dvds: Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking Essentials series and articles including a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer. Alain Also wrote a series of articles called Lessons From The Apprentice.

GREAT!!!

by Brandon K. Thompson from on 2008-05-21
This dvd was exactly what I thought it would be, a comprehensive view of all of the major martial arts of Japan: karate, kendo, iaido, judo, sumo, Okinawa kobudo,and yabusame(archery on horseback). Anyone serious of martial arts should have a copy of this dvd.

Description

Achieve Ultimate Flexibility in 20 minutes a day! Based on his bestselling book Ultimate Flexibility, Sang H. Kim has created a series of 20-minute stretching workouts that you can follow at home to increase your flexibility and tone your body. Each of the three workouts - easy, moderate and intense - gives you a total body stretch with a special focus on the muscles commonly used in martial arts training. You also get an introduction to stretching, tips on getting the most out of your workouts, exercises to improve the height and power of your kicks, and a bonus 7-minute workout that focuses on stretches for high kicks and splits. If you re ready to dedicate 20 minutes a day to improving your flexibility, this DVD is for you.

Reviews

Very Good,has led onto further purchases from Sang H Kim

by L. Mainwaring from South Wales on 2010-04-06
I bought this whilst in the UK, and had to import from US. The DVD is broken down into the different levels, from Beginner to Intense, which is ideal for the different levels of flexibility (I started from basic and I am building up gradually..) The programs last a maximum of 20 Minutes each which is good if you are short for time or get bored easily doing sessions over 30mins.I already participate in Kickboxing (Intermediate level) and found that even within a week of this stretching my kicking has improved in speed and height.So something must be working..:-)I found the whole DVD of a good standard, and am currently in the process of buying more from Sang H Kim. No-nonsense, straight down to it attitude and the little comment at the end of every session, of "I'll see you tommorrow" Really works for me!

Ultimate Flex.

by Bob Lew from Mass. on 2009-05-16
Did not care for the video--it's the personal idea of this particular instuctor. I found better strecting and kicking techniqes in Jame Lew's the Art of Kicking and Strecting--I highly recomment the video.

save your money

by Deborah Mehling from on 2009-05-11
After 5 years of Taekwondo, I was looking for something to take me to the next level. I was very disappointed with this video. If you have been doing any form of martial arts for longer than 2 weeks, save your money... you already know as much as this video will teach you.

3 full body stretching routines

by YogaKat from Oregon United States on 2008-08-01
There are 3 wonderful, full body stretching routines on this DVD. Sang H. Kim's energy is magnificent!!!There are 3 levels of routines each one is approx. 20 minutes. Sang moves thru the routine fairly quickly and counts 1 thru 8 keeping a good rhythm. It is a very nice alternative to typical yoga sun salutations and your whole body will feel alive and open after the exercises.You can do each one individually or together for a full hour of fun! I would probably not recommend for beginners as he doesn't give a lot of explanation on form, but if you know a bit about stretching and possibly yoga already this is a "must have".The intense workout is quite invigorating. The moderate workout is done completely on the floor. The easy routine is a nice practice for easy days. Each one is quite different and allows you a variety choice depending on how you feel.I love the music which comes on intermittently throughout the practices. The staging is quite simple and no fancy stuff. You can just concentrate on stretching, moving, and breathing.Please see my other yoga and stretching dvds on amazon and check my web site to view my very favorites (including this one) at worldturning dot com.

Good stretching video

by Jim Grice from New Orleans on 2007-11-22
While this video is titled "Stretching for Martial Arts" it is so fundamental in approach that it will be equally useful to anyone. It is not an overly strenuous or violent type of stretching. Each user is advised to proceed at their own pace and given a method for doing so. After using this video daily for about a month I have found it to be extremely effective. Mr Kim is very organized and through in his method, systematically going from joint to joint providing graded exercises for each. He provides three levels of workouts, each increasing in intensity. The first level can be used by anyone without prior experience or training. Anyone consistently using this video will benefit almost immediately. Each session in about 20 minutes and provides a good workout as Mr. Kim goes rather quickly. I recommend this video to anyone begining a stretching program.

Reviews

shaolin

by none from on 2010-07-29
Worst movie I have ever seen. DVD looks like a bad copy of a VHS tape

Nice but not a remastered version

by Jerry E. Monroe from USA PA on 2007-09-22
This is for true Jet Li fans. Excellent Shaolin Action. And forms, speed just the exquisite style Jet Li is known for. Good story line, Only thing is the picture quality could have been better. I don't think there is a remastered version out there. If so let me know. Until then this is a must see Jet Li Film.Truly Good Shaolin Action.

This is review of the PRODUCT, not of the MOVIE

by Vitaliy Rudnytskiy from Warsaw, Poland on 2007-08-23
I was greatly disappointed, because the movie that I got recorded on the DVD was completely different then "The Martial Arts of Shaolin" although title printed on the box and disk itself was correct. I returned first DVD and got another one. But again it was wrong movie. This way I haven't finally got the movie that I wanted to buy at all :(

North and South Shaolin

by morgoth from omaha, NE on 2006-12-01
Now Amazon has reviews for the movie that I am reviewing-'North and South Shaolin' and a Jet Li Shaolin Temple movie. Now I can guarantee you that the 3 Jet Li 'Shaolin Temple' movies are great but this one is kind of a dud. I don't know why Amazon thinks these are the same movies but they ARE NOT.Cassanova Wong stars as a young monk who has to take down the majorly underused kung fu superstar Eagle Han. Sadly Eagle is in Godfrey Ho form and the action director does not know how to use him properly. Cassanova on the other hand looks superb but does not get in near enough fighting. While the choreography is average at best, they speed up the film so much we can hardly see what the hell is going on in the fights.The story is not really worth going over. Eagle Han(Han Ying) plays your standard government bad guy.2 things that really stood out to me was the great training sequence with bamboo that Cassanova has and in the final fight you will see a couple of short action scenes that Donnie Yen ripped off for 'Legend of the Wolf'. Then this movie rips off that sweet kick that Cassanova does in the finale of 'Warriors Two'. Sadly the final fight is not great but the last 12 minutes are still worth a watch for any kung fu fan.Picture quality from Video Asia is not very good but it is LETTERBOXED!!!!

the best

by from on 2003-04-19
This is the best one out of all them, in the series. I'd give this 5 stars but the reason is that you can barely see the subtitles. But its a must see movie, i sorta understood anyway even though i could barely see the subtitles.

Description

Achieving and maintaining the high level of fitness required for martial arts training is a scientific process. The training methods you use and the way you workout can greatly affect your success in the ring and on the street. In this informative DVD, Sang H. Kim has brought all of the exercises in the Ultimate Fitness video series together into one powerful presentation. He teaches you the exercises that have helped him maintain ultimate flexibility for over 20 years and demonstrates the most effective exercises for developing explosive power and speed in your techniques using weight training, running, isometrics, and more. Plus, get advice on developing hard to work areas like agility, balance, coordination and timing. Packed with information, this DVD is guaranteed to bring variety to your workout no matter what style you practice. You get over 100 drills, exercises and training methods that have made the Ultimate Fitness Series bestsellers. Discover which exercises are the most effective, how you should execute them for maximum results, how to apply them to your martial arts training and dozens more expert workout tips from Sang H. Kim, author of Ultimate Fitness through Martial Arts, as he explains and demonstrates each exercise.

Reviews

Major Letdown!!!

by John Miller from Missouri on 2010-02-22
I own three other Turtle Press DVDs and this one I am highly disappointed in. They did not describe this once clearly to me, because this was not what I was expecting; they should have left it was a book because with how they have it organized you will have to do a large amount of starting, stopping, and fast forwarding to skip all of the unnecessary filler. Some of the exercises they describe doing you are unable to do in your home. I personally do not recommend this DVD. If people are looking to become very flexible I would recommend the Ultimate Flexibility DVD because it has greatly increased mine.

A "Must have"

by C. Fritzsch from Oak Ridge, NJ on 2007-08-07
Sang H. Kim does a fabulous job describing the "What, Where and How to's" of 9 basic essentials to improve one's martial arts skills. This DVD is a must have for the serious martial artist! The wealth of information and practical exercise suggestions is worth far more than the price I paid for the video! There's also some added bonus features!.

Not what I thought...

by Kristine M. Cook from Pompano Beach, FL USA on 2007-04-04
I've studied martial arts and wanted to get back into training. For some reason I thought this was going to be a 'workout' video with someone guiding me through a complete workout. What it actually contains is a series of excellent excercises to help you hone your skills on a particular move or apsect of your training, like stamina. Anyone who is focusing on a particular part of your training should buy this dvd as many of the exercises are challenging, even for the seasoned martial artist; however, for someone who wants to train without a dojo, well--that's not what this is.

Ultimate Fitness

by JLM from on 2006-11-10
This DVD was not clearly described when I purchased it, and it was not what I was expecting when I watched it. I think it could be beneficial, but there is a lot of filler and requires fast-forwarding through some parts. I don't think it's really worth what I paid for it.

Great selection of exercises

by Jay Genaro from San Diego CA on 2006-01-20
This dvd has a great selection of exercises, ranging from the easy, do them in class all the time type to some that I'd love to be able to do and am working up to. The flexibility section is especially good, with a ton of exercises to improve your kicking height and strength. This is one that I'll be able to keep coming back to and finding new challenges for a good long time.

Description

Platform:  DVD MOVIE Publisher:  CELESTIAL PICTURES Packaging:  DVD STYLE BOX Rating:  RATING: NOT RATED A Chinese kung-fu master is put in the precarious position of having to salvage his honor after inadvertently insulting the family of his new Japanese bride. His loyalty on the line the dishonored martial artist attempts to regain his in-laws' trust by dueling with seven Japanese ninjas. With each round the stakes get higher the fighting styles alternate and his opponents grow increasingly fierce. Which style will ultimately prove more effective and what will it take for the hapless groom to admit that he's finally met his match? Jason Buchanan All Movie GuideFeatures Featurementary with Hong Kong cinema expert Bey Logan; Spotlight on a Legend: A tribute to celebrated Martial Arts icon Lau Kar-Leung with Hong Kong cinema expert Bey Logan; Hero of Shaolin: An exclusive interview with leading man Gordon Liu; Shaolin Vs. Ninja: An exploration of the legendary Martial Arts weapon forms of China and Japan; Trailer galleryScene Index 1. The Arranged Marriage [6:44]2. Spousal Abuse? [7:26]3. An Overzealous Student [6:05]4. East Vs. East [6:12]5. Secret Weapons [5:22]6. Irreconcilable Differences [7:30]7. The Challenge [9:25]8. Kendo [7:45]9. Drunken Boxing [7:38]10. Karate [6:52]11. Pole & Staff [4:13]12. Yali & Sai [6:48]13. A Slippery Situation [6:01]14. Ninjitsu [1:53]15. Crab Vs. Crane [7:48]16. Accepting the Sword [4:31]Specifications:Actors: Gordon Liu Yasuaki KurataFormat: Dubbed NTSC Subtitled WidescreenLanguage: Mandarin Chinese Cantonese EnglishRegion: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1Number of discs: 1Rating: Not RatedStudio: The Weinstein CompanyDVD Release Date: May 27 2008Run Time: 104 minutes

Reviews

Surprisingly Good!

by Derek Dean from Monterey, CA on 2010-07-21
I ended up buying this based on the other reviewer's comments, and I'm so glad I did. Given the age and nature of this film, the production values are surprisingly high, with excellent lighting and camera technique...... and the transfer to DVD is beautiful... clean, clear, and with great depth to the image as well as top notch sound.I must admit I fell in love with the leading lady, and the story was so much fun that I've already watched it 3 times. If you are a fan of this genre, then this is a MUST HAVE..... and if you've never seen this type of early martial arts film, then this would be the one to buy for an introduction. Highly recommended!!!

"I'll never marry the Japanese girl with the runny nose."

by H. Bala from Carson - hey, we have an IKEA store! - CA USA on 2010-06-05
HEROES OF THE EAST is also known by the more badasss title SHAOLIN CHALLENGES NINJA, but whatever you call this movie, doesn't alter the fact that it is one of the most entertaining vehicle for martial arts ever put to cinema. No one dies in this one, so there's none of that extra gratuitous thrill. Rather, the focus is on the remarkable exhibition of techniques encompassing various disciplines in the Japanese and Chinese martial arts. It's been a while since I saw The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, but HEROES OF THE EAST may be my favorite Gordon Liu flick.The misunderstandings here get more blown out of proportion than in an episode of Three's Company. Cultural clashes and notions of impropriety quickly surface when an arranged marriage hooks up a proud Chinese man and a willful Japanese woman. It starts at the wedding ceremony when the Japanese bride Kung Zi unwittingly wears white, the color of death in Chinese culture. Ah To, himself a student of kung fu, then learns that Kung Zi is a practitioner of karate, and he promptly contends that her style is brash and unladylike. It doesn't help that Kung Zi while training breezily wrecks the family garden, demolishing those decorative little stone statues and such. When Ah To shows off his Chinese kung fu, Kung Zi scornfully taunts him: "When you practice with it, it's like dancing." When Kung Zi demonstrates her more forceful moves, Ah To lets her know: "All that noise, it's like a beggar driving dogs away." Marital bliss gets kicked to the curb.Thanks to a pretty stupid scheme of Ah To's cringing tattletale servant, things escalate even further, and before you can say "Can't we all just get along?" seven of Japan's foremost martial artists, each a master of a particular discipline, storm Ah-To's home to challenge him in a series of one-on-one duels.These challenges play out superbly. Another fun element is that no sooner does one fight end than we immediately learn Ah To's next challenger, and then we watch Ah To, in his allotted time of rest, try to come up with the proper counter. These skirmishes are wonderfully choreographed and hold up spectacularly well today. One outstanding sequence is Ah To versus the kendo master (or, more properly, iaido master) and what Ah To does here actually worsens things. Further highlights are the nunchuk and tonfa versus three-sectioned staff sequence and the sai versus butterfly sword sequence (and I got a kick out of the odd little sai master with his French mustache and his twitchy mouth). Ah To versus the judo master falls out more like a comedy routine, as Ah To bests him in a pretty underhanded (but clever) manner. I did think that the finale which is Ah To taking on the master ninja, while pretty decent, goes on a bit too long. Surprisingly, the ninja's employment of the "Japanese crab fist" isn't as cheesy as it sounds.Director Lao Kar-Leung, himself an accomplished and highly respected martial artist, has a wonderful cameo as the drunken boxing master whose style Ah To must lift. Lao Kar-Leung also doubles Gordon Liu in some of the tricker moves with the three-sectioned staff.Unlike films like FISTS OF FURY, HEROES OF THE EAST doesn't portray the Japanese martial artists as evil goons. Legendary director Lao Kar-Leung instills a sense of dignity in the Japanese contemporaries and even though the challengers lose, there's respect there. Gordon Liu was a superstar in the late '70s and '80s and you can see why. Liu not only has the requisite skills of a martial arts icon, but he's got presence and swagger and grace. Even if it's a wig he's got on for this picture (around this time, Gordon Liu was still shaving his head regularly because of his shaolin monk roles). Mizuno Yuko, who plays Kung Zi, is herself a skilled martial artist and she holds up very well when sparring with Liu. What's more, you do get the sense that the two lead characters are genuinely in love, and that lends a sweet emotional core to what otherwise would only have been a technical exercise in Chinese and Japanese martial arts. As it is, HEROES OF THE EAST is one of the finest films of its genre that I've ever seen. And the way it ends, not with bloodshed and gruesome deaths, but with mutual respect after an exhibition of prowess and skills, well, that's pretty much a philosophical linchpin of martial arts, isn't it? Makes me want to go in the garden and practice maneuvers like the "Cripple Li Carrying Water" and chop down innocent garden gnomes. Such an awesome movie.The DVD from Dragon Dynasty offers up several nifty special features: feature commentary from Hong Kong Cinema Expert Bey Logan; "Spotlight on a Legend" - a tribute to celebrated martial arts icon and director Lao Kar-Leung, hosted by Bey Logan (00:36:08 minutes); "Hero of a Shaolin" - an interview with Gordon Liu as he talks about his career and, specifically, about this film (00:22:13); "Shaolin vs. Ninja" (00:26:10) - this is a really interesting segment with a Japanese Iaido master, a Hung Gar weapons master, and an Okinawan bo master breaking down techniques in their craft; and the original theatrical trailers for HEROES OF THE EAST and COME DRINK WITH ME.

I must be missing something.

by Dolon from San Diego, CA on 2009-12-27
I purchased this movie based upon the reviews here at Amazon and although I did enjoy the action scenes I felt more perplexed than (apparently) most other reviewers.It was difficult for me to discern whether the female lead was actually that; a female. Only after the cleavage shot while sparring with her new husband did I allow myself to trust it was a woman, but only for the sake of creative license. Although the fight scenes were entertaining it was difficult for me to believe that one "student" had mastered seven different disciplines to the degree where none of the Japanese "masters" were capable of defeating him. The Shaw Brothers are definitely from China which is evidenced in this somewhat one-sided film. I'll hazard a guess but the same probably holds true here in the USA to our older cowboy and indian movies (pre 1979) where the indians did not fare well. I've given this film a three star rating for the well choreographed action sequences, believing it must have been fun to direct. If you are looking for examples of various fighting styles this movie may be for you, if you are looking for substance please continue your quest.Admittedly, I am spoiled by films such as, The Shadowless Sword, The Warrior, Aragami, Legend of the Black Scorpion, The Restless, Seven Swords, Warriors of Heaven and Earth...(my list goes on and on).

A Favorite Film Gets Even Better

by S. VALE from Northern California on 2009-12-17
I have already enjoyed "HEROES OF THE EAST" (aka "SHAOLIN CHALLENGES NINJA") for over 15 years, first having seen it on video tape, then on DVD and now on this excellent Dragon Dynasty edition DVD.IMHO, this is one of their best yet, if not THE best, releases. The movie is finally restored (thanks to Celestial Pictures), to its ShawScope glory, with both Mandarin and Cantonese soundtracks (as well as that good 'ol, clunky English dub, which I doubt I will ever listen to again!), and a bevy of cool special features.There are so many reviews of both the film itself and the special features here (and elsewhere), I will only add that this movie is one of the great kung fu movies of all time. It is rare in that there are no deaths and not even any serious injuries (except perhaps to an ego here and there!). It is a movie about sharing culture, about the challenges in any marriage, and especially in a marriage where there is a culture barrier. It is a story about being patient and loving anyway (but that message is covert. This is not a romance, nor a "chick-flick" yet, I do believe that many women will enjoy it, even if they are not big martial art fans, and I also think it is good for kids).The martial arts in this film, directed and choreographed by the great real and film martial arts master Lau Kar Leung (and he even makes a great cameo as the Drunken Master "Beggar Su", in addition to filling in for his adopted brother, student and lead actor Gordon Liu on some difficult moves, most especially with the weapon, Three Sectional Staff. I always knew that the moves behind the back were NOT Gordon Liu, but I did not know, until the commentary by Bey Logan, that it was Lau Sifu) are some of the best ever. It is mostly pretty realistic (and even the exceptions are still pretty cool to watch) kung fu choreography, with little wire work (almost none, if any), few special effects shots, and believable fights (again Bey Logan's commentary helped me, because the few fights that are not completely believable, I always had a little trouble with, and it is nice to hear confirmation about those. E.g. A Chinese straight sword would not and could not stand up to full contact with a Samurai sword. The Chinese sword would break. Period!). THe exceptions are few and as I say, still fun and work within the context of the story.And the story is a good one. A truly great martial arts movie or action movie of any kind, should have the action help tell the story. And this one does.The special features on this disc are generous and quality. I loved Bey Logan's commentary and half hour tribute to Lau Sifu and the movie itself. I really like Bey's commentaries. I could almost see myself getting any and all DD releases just for those, even though I might not love the film. But on this one, not only do I love the film, but it is one of his best commentaries. His obvious love and respect for Lau Sifu and for the film itself, is both evident and enhances my enjoyment of the movie itself.Gordon Liu's interview is also about a half hour (or at least 25 minutes) and also is very interesting. While he repeats some of what he has said in other interviews on other DD releases, there is plenty specific to this movie that makes it very special and interesting (e.g. how he and the Japanese actress who played his wife were able to "bond" a bit on a date before filming and also how they worked out a little code, so they could know when it was their cue, since neither spoke the other's language!).And the feature about Japanese and Chinese weapons was also interesting and the woman who was the host for this was kinda cute!This is my favorite DD release thus far by far. It is tremendously entertaining with lots of repeatability for viewing pleasure and I also continue to learn a lot, both from the movie and from the special features."HEROES OF THE EAST" was already one of my favorite kung fu movies of all time (and I admit, I am still missing having seen a few classics, such as "THE PRODIGAL SON", and have never seen all of Jet Li's "FIST OF LEGEND"... not more than a few scenes in a video store in Times Square over 15 years ago! I know, I know: I should be ashamed of myself. It is next on my list!). But I have seen a good deal of the Shaw Brothers 70's and early 80's classics and again, this has already ranked up with my favorites (most notably, "THE 36th CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN", aka "THE MASTER KILLER").Now, with this DD release, I think "HEROES OF THE EAST" climbs up to tie with anything as number one. For me, now, there may be those that are as good, but none better.I would definitely rate this one as a must buy (especially at the price! But even for twice the price, I would still get it).

Heroes Now In The West!

by Brian Lueth from Chicago, IL United States on 2009-09-10
Man, I love this film. Heroes of the East features all types of fantastic martial arts styles including Kendo, Judo, Ninjitsu, Chinese Boxing and weapons battles up the yin yang! This is another absolute Shaw Bros. masterpiece that must be seen and appreciated by anybody and everybody claiming to be a Kung Fu cinema fan. The cinematography and choreography are second to none and the directing, well, the directing is impeccable, just what you'd expect from Lau Kar Leung. He's a master of his craft, no doubt about it.Dragon Dynasty have released another incredibly cool DVD with a solid, clean transfer, crisp sound, three great audio language tracks (including English for those that prefer dubbing) and some super slick special features. I can hardly say this is Lau Kar Leung's best work but it is definitely amongst his best.My final word on this release is, "Go buy the movie." It's a classic, it's a masterpiece and if you love good Kung Fu cinema this is a "must-own" film. I'd have to say that this is definitely made my top ten favorite Kung Fu films of all time so don't wait until it disappears from shelves and eventually goes out of print, grab yourself a copy now and marvel at the beautiful filmmaking and tail-kicking, hand-to-hand, fist-to-fist & weapon-to-weapon combat! Heroes of the East is timeless entertainment.