3 comments about Stone Warrior- Chinese Strength & Health Program.

1. Great form of exercise and definitly a challenging form of qigong for the advanced practitioner, martial artist looking for some form of expansion to their training. The only downside is you will not find any of the internal basis or what have you on about the Stone Warrior or Iron Wire/Thread qigong on the disk, but it is the advanced portion of their system so they probably expect you know about the internal or historical aspects already.



2. Okay, I gave a pretty bad review of this dvd originally because it didn't play right. But after viewing it without the technical problems, I would like to say that it is a pretty good program and given the rarity of the subject matter, a good addition to any collection. Ancient muscle conditioning? Not many dvd's out there on the subject. I've edited my original review and it won't allow me to give it more stars, but I'd give it 4. Sorry, Mr. Keen, if I cost you sales on this. I commend you for putting this out.



3. 
   I'm sorry that you were not happy with the production. If the DVD is faulty, please send it to me for a replacement.
   
   No, not filmed in the basement but in a 5,000 sq ft hall where we were hosting the seminar.
   
   Yes, out of breath because the exercises are under full tension and demonstrated at full tension. If you're not out of breath with the exercise, you are not pushing enough.
   
   Iron Vest is the internal set, Stone Warrior is all external. Please visit my site for more details on the complete Chinese Strength & Health Program.
   
   We will refilm this DVD to make the atmosphere more appealing.
   
   Thank you for your help.
   
   Sincerely,
   Thomas Keen
   Keen's Martial Arts

2 comments about Avenging Boxer.

1. A young man (played by Peter Chang) watches his father die and grows up wanting to revenge. The story is pretty basic here. Its a bad movie for the most part, but luckily there are some incredible fight scenes.
   
   Lung Fei makes a cameo at the start and takes on Cassanova Wong. Some nice kicking by Cassanova, and Lung Fei is defeated easily. Only a warmup of what's to come.
   
   After like an hour of no good action, Cassanova gets to fight again. He fights Chan Wai Lau who has a good role as one of Peter Chang's 2 teachers. Chan Wai Lau is a great comedic actor with decent fighting skills, and he performs about as well as he can against Cassanova. He makes good use of a pipe as a weapon, but Cassanova is too much for him.
   
   Next up is what I figured would be the highlight of the movie, Wong Wing Sang vs Chia Kai. I am a big fan of both actors, so I was expecting greatness, and that's exactly what I got. Chia Kai does an AMAZING stunt at the beginning where he jumps off of a wall and lands on a table. Awesome fight with good acrobatics and good fist work.
   
   Next Chia Kai takes on Cassanova. Its possibly even better than the Chia Kai Wong Wing Sang fight.
   
   Just when I thought the action couldn't possibly get any better, they somehow turn the choreography up a few notches in the final fight. I have only seen Peter Chang in a few movies and this is the only one I have seen where he has a leading role. You may recognize him as the guy with the gun who fights with Wang Chung in Shanghai 13. His acrobatic skills are up there with just about anybody. Its a shame he was only in a handful of movies because he could have been a big star. Major talent completely wasted. Anyways, the final fight is 12 minutes long and one of the best fights I have seen in awhile. I have watched this movie every night for a week and I just can't get over how good the choreography is. Not only will Cassanova Wong fans love this movie, but any kung fu fan will be blown away by the final 30 minutes.
   
   4/5
   
   I have the Phoenix DVD and the picture quality is a bit above average and its partly widescreen. Sound is decent. English and Japanese tracks, no original language option. For some reason Chan Wai Man is on the cover of the DVD, but he isn't in the movie.



2. Cassanova Wong ("Warriors Two") stars as the bad guy in a plot that you've essentially seen in a 100 (or more) kung fu films. Yet, this is still totally worth checking out. The occasional point of view from the villain is also kinda different and appreciated.
   
   Peter Chang is given an amulet by his father prior to the old man's death at the hands of an assassin (Wong). Chang witnesses the death, but knows no kung fu, and the only revenge he would be able to obtain, would be on Wong's knuckles. He flees and joins a group of traveling acrobats, learning what he can as he goes. Though Wong doesn't know who the boy is, he keeps running into him as he tracks the amulet. Eventually a thief named Stumpy steals the item, leading to some confusion about the identity of the person Wong is looking for, which inadvertently buys Chang more time to train.
   
   Peter Chang is quite an acrobat and it's surprising that he hasn't been in more movies. This film starts with a decent fight, then wallows for a while in "plot" development and unfunny shenanigans. Then the end has about 4 good, lengthy fights in a row as Cassanova Wong kicks his way to the people he is seeking. The finale takes place in a barn, filled with ropes, barrels, and hay, and is one of the best fights I have seen in a long time. Very creative and well executed.
   
   Distributed by Black Lotus films, the partially widescreen picture quality is pretty good. English dubbed only, and some of the voices are bad and don't fit well. Minor complaint though. This movie was the subject of much lament for me as I repeatedly passed on its purchase when it was available last summer at a local chain for $4.99. Had I even the slightest idea it was this good, I'd have bought several to pass on to friends. It was 5 bucks, starred Cassanova Wong, and it was kung-flippin'-fu! Well, live and learn, I reckon. 3.5/5
   
   1979. aka: Method Man; Fearless Young Boxer; The Avenging Boxing

1 comments about Old Skool Killaz, Vol. 2 - Golden Buddha Collection.

1. DRESSED TO KILL
   The movie is about this guy who wanders into town to find out he is being hunted down by a secret clan! The picture is not bad! To me, it's watchable! The full screen doesn't ruin the fight scenes! The kung fu is odd with different styles! The movie is all around weird! But this is the second best movie out of this collection!
   
   THE MASK OF VENGENCE
   This movie is about some guy who must help the Mask Clan (I guess) to kill a blind, crippled, one-armed man! Out of all these four films this one has the best picture! Still suffers from the white flakey crap on the screen but very tolerable! The full screen ruins some the kung fu luster but still watchable! The kung fu is a bit Carter Wongish (meaning clumsy and oafish) but still it's admirable with this movies kookiness! All around this is a pretty weird but exciting film!
   
   REVENGE OF THE SHAOLIN MASTER
   Mr. Delon Tan is being framed by some evil government offical for stealing rice for the refugees and now he's beinh hunted by everone! If you are a Yuen Wo Ping fan then this is the film you wanna check out (he choreographs the fights and not the director)! The picture is tolerable, a little unwatchable in the night scenes! The kung fu is great! This is why I love Yuen, NOT BECUZ HE DID THE FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY FOR THE MATRIX, cuz he simply knows how to make a kung fu movie! All around this movie is the best out of this collection!
   
   SAMURAI DEATH BELLS
   I didn't quite understand the story! This is the worst out of all the movies for this collection! Not becuz it's a bad movie, becuz of screen fitting! Yes, everytime a camera gets a close-up on somebody's face, his mouth would be cut out of the picture! And the full screen sort of ruins the fights in this movie! The picture is good but ruined by screen fitting! THe fights were good but again ruined by screen fitting!
   
   OVERALL: The only reason not to get this collection is becuz of picture quality and screenfitting (and if you hate english dubbing as much as I do and I'M AMERICAN.... english dubbing)! I can't speak for everyone about the picture quality, but I thought the picture in all these films were exceptional! The full screen effect continues to be a problem (especially with Samurai Death Bells) but in the end this a descent product! And this is coming from a guy who loves kung fu cinema too death! So only avoid if you're nik pickey about picture and screen fitting!

1 comments about Shotokan Karate Kata Volume 2: Black Belt Forms.

1. This DVD does not show proper form or rythem to traditional Shotokan karate. I was given this DVD and I'm glad I did not spend money on it. Steve Flores does not show the form or strength that a world class instructor should. Don't waste your money

No comments about Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu Karate Vol. 3.

1 comments about Welcome to the Grindhouse: The Bodyguard/Sister Street Fighter.

1. This was the first double feature I have bought under this title and I must say it was the start of a new film viewing habit. I bought a 20 film box set labled Grindhouse as well and I couldn't even see the people in the films due to a horrible tape to dvd transfer. If you're looking for the quality to accompany the stink of such rotten awesome movie cheese then this is the Grindhouse to get with.

No comments about WOLF DEVIL WOMAN - kung fu - VHS RARE - martial arts - OCEAN SHORES.

5 comments about The Tao Of Yi Chuan-D.

1. The only thing that might be useful in this DVD is watching the movements performed by a very experienced person. But why spend your money on that single fact? the narrator gives a terrible overview of the martial art's history. Yi Quan is supposed to view martial arts as a science, and there is too much of a mystical tone in health section. When the master speaks, you don't understand a word he says. There is no explanation to anything; the postures are just shown (no suggestion on how long to do it, a normal person would hold hat for 5 seconds like him, or what to work on during those postures), and during motsapu, the master just repeats 1,2,3 like a million times. not very illuminating... during fa li he does about 2 different movements, and repeats the a million times, no wonder the video lasts an hour, there are many more movements than that. same thing for the apllications part. It's an internal martial art!! one cannot teach that with such little explanation. anyway, much more to say, but what's the point. i'll try one of the DVD's of the school in beijing, hope they are more proffessional.



2. I wish the prior review had been here before I ordered this dvd. There isn't any instruction here just a demonstration. This is a really poorly done dvd as well. I have no doubt the instructor knows what he is doing and can exact a great deal of damage but he doesn't teach you how to do it. The internal martial arts have many subtle movements and explanations that are completely missed without at least some discourse. If you know what the instructor is doing you don't need this dvd; if you don't know exactly what this instructor is doing then you wont learn a single thing here. Save your money and try to find a qualified teacher, though it's next to impossible in the u.s. .



3. This offering is likely to be of limited benefit for people just starting out in the internal martial arts as explanations are kept to a minimum. People with a more substantial background will be in a better position to appreciate the nuances of Master Li Jiang Yu's demonstration and to learn from them. Even so, an attentive and open-minded beginner can expect to gain just by attending to the external details of Master Li's performance and modeling on them. Traditional training in internal gong fu proceeds on much this basis, with the teacher providing occasional input as the student appears ready with much practice and inner research. Even then, however, the old Confucian adage applies: "When I have presented one corner of a subject to any one, and he cannot from it learn the other three, I do not repeat my lesson."
   
   NO DVD or video presentation can be expected to substitute for the living presence and input of a qualified teacher. Still, it's always to the serious student's great good fortune to be able to watch someone of Li Jiang Yu's caliber demonstrate their art. For that reason, five stars.



4. I found this DVD useful in understanding the basics of Yi Chuan. There are many exercise that can be used to develop Chi Power and that in and of itself makes it a worthwhile buy.



5. He likes it!
   
   Having watched the video, I can attest that Li Jiang Yu has a lot of power and fighting skill. I actually felt sorry for the guy he was demonstrating on.
   In terms of the quality of the video, the best analogy for it is: You're exploring a cave and come across a wall carved with instructions for the art of Yiquan. Everything is as concise as can be: just some images and terse instructions.
   Master Li covers all aspects of the art as best as anyone could in 57 minutes. The biggest omission is a lack of discussion on "Internal" principles. All I heard was a quick mention of "Soong" (Relax); but these principles could be picked up in any good book on genuine Internal Martial Arts.
   About the excessively repetitive movements (Mo Ca Bu/Stepping, etc), Master Li covers all the details and important aspects of the movements but only once for the most part. If you think these details and applications aren't important then just try fighting without them!
   This video is probably best for a person already learning from an Yiquan teacher as a concise overview of the art or for the person who wants a concise overview of the art. If you're looking to train and master Yiquan from this video then you have A LOT of work ahead of you.

No comments about Basics of Tang Soo Do, Volume 2 - by Chun Sik Kim.

No comments about IFC Fighting Championships-Mayhem in Montana.