No comments about Renegade Masters + Shaolin vs. Manchu.

No comments about Jeet Kune Do.

2 comments about Mighty Morphin: Official Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Karate Club - Level 1.

1. Yeah, I grew up with this show in the '90s. I used to watch this every day, but I kinda wanted to watch a real Mighty Morphin Power Rangers episode. The kids chanting the names of the power rangers sounded kinda dorky.
   I used to be Power Raniac, but now I think the power rangers are pretty idiodic people with their silver mouths and cheesy karate action :b....



2. As a former martial artist, I first watched this tape back in 1997 when my cousins wanted to rent it. If they hadn't, I may well have written it off, but I am so glad I didn't! Jason Frank, aka Tommy in the show, gives a great Karate lesson for kids, and it's plain to see in the video that he is a great instructor for kids! At the end of the video, he shows you a really cool kata that perhaps Jason developed himself, which incorporates every move he teaches throughout the tape.
   
   For those who aren't so familiar with Jason Frank's accomplishments, he began training in martial arts when he was 4, and was already teaching the other kids when he was 12, so he has a lot of experience on the teaching end. He and a friend of his bought his first dojo when he was 18, and nowadays, Jason Frank owns all the Red Dragon Karate dojos, and still teaches sometimes at the one in Anaheim Hills. He currently holds the rank of 5th dan (5th degree black belt) at the age of 31, and considering the fact that 6th dan is the highest one can go in Karate if they are under 45 years old, that is amazing! Not only does Jason teach good basic moves in the video, but he also talks about the philosophies of martial arts and gives his own outlook on what it means to him. I bought this tape in 1999 when I saw it on a rack at a video store, and will soon be buying another copy for a little girl I know who wants to learn Karate. I would definitely recommend this tape, along with the tape made by Austin St. John (he played Jason in the show) to anyone just starting out in Karate or who thinks they might want to take it up.

No comments about Gracie Ju Jistu: Submissions, Submission Defense and Gracie Seld Defense.

No comments about Forbidden City Cop.

5 comments about Battlecade: Extreme Fighting.

1. It's one of the best that I have seen in a long time. I watched it on DVD at a friends house. After it was over I proceeded to Amazon.com to buy it. I would recommend this video to any who likes action.



2. I first saw this on VHS mode in a video store, and it's quite amusing.... I'm a huge UFC fan and I decided to stray for a weekend and grabbed it... I was impressed with the documentary-ish beginning... but this entire event seemed to be the minor league of bare-knuckle fighting. It stars Conan Silviera, whom in these fights was like a god, but as he approached the UFC, got beat like a rug. If you are into seeing some not-so-horrible matches, or want something different, get this DVD, but if you expect UFC quality fighting, stick with the big boys....



3. I love watching great fights w/ wicked strikes, blood, drama, and knockouts. A few of the fights were mildly entertaining but nothing worth the purchase. If you're a collector of mano e mano brawls on DVD then by all means add this to your collection. However if you're relatively new to full contact fighting you might get frustrated w/ the mostly ground based jujitsu-style techniques employed throughout this particular tournament.



4. The first major American MMA event other than the UFC had quick/mismatched fights along with a classic. During the earlier days of MMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu reigned supreme. Brazilians like Ralph Gracie, Conan Silviera, Carlson Gracie, jr., and Mario Sperry were to show their "superior" fighting skills, but not all of them succeeded. Both Ralph and Carlson Gracie had individual fights, while Conan and Mario "Zen Machine" Sperry had a tournament to deal with. The fight between Sperry and Igor Zinoviev was and is till this day a classic. That fight alone is worth the purchase of this DVD/VHS.



5. Good show but not a Pride FC. I'm adding my review only to lt people know that you get the same for cheaper if you look here in Amazon under Extreme Fighting instead of Battlecade:Extreme Fighting.

No comments about Campos III: Brazilian Submission Wrestling.

5 comments about Gojoe: Spirit War Chronicle.

1. This is a beautifully directed movie, by notable director Sogo ISHII. But it is definitely NOT an "action packed epic" as described by Amazon. And the fight scenes are unusually and imaginatively depicted, but they are not "extraordinary" in the usual sense. In short, this is not an action movie nor is it a traditional samurai or martial arts film. It is really a metaphysical fantasy film. "Gojoe" is to samurai films as "Blueberry" is to westerns.
   
   I am annoyed that it is getting poor reviews by people who were expecting some sort of Wu-Tang Baby Cart Master Killer blood and guts actioner. But it's not their fault that this film is incorrectly marketed.
   
   People who will enjoy this movie:
   - fans of director Sogo Ishii's slower paced films, e.g. "Angel Dust"
   - fans of other foreign cinema especially Japanese cinema, e.g. Rashomon (although I would never claim it is in the same league as such a classic)
   - those who like cerebral, beautifully shot films
   - people with an interest in Japanese mythology or Shinto, but okay with it addressed on an obviously simplified level
   
   People who are looking for the following should avoid this movie:
   - action (though there is some)
   - fast pace
   - linear story
   - everything spelled out and explained
   - humor
   - romance
   
   The high points of this film include the beautiful imagery, intense slow-burn acting of Daisuke RYU as Benkei, good performances by all the supporting cast, pretty nifty costumes, a really awesome climax.
   
   Oddly enough, I found Tadanobu ASANO, who I usually love, to be only so-so in this film. Maybe it was his bad hair.
   
   The reason I give this film only a 4 is that it really is a bit long. Nonetheless, Media Blasters did do the right thing by including the full international version, instead of the cut version.
   
   The DVD features are great, with both the original Japanese dialogue, nicely done subtitles, an English dub track, and some nice "making of" featurettes.
   
   This is an interesting, unique film but only for the right audience.



2. i dont understand what there isnt to get about the film or what not to like. the cinamatography is awesome, the storie plot is one of the better, more original ive seen in a while, i dont understand what the problem other people see with its special effects; the blood flow was great and realistic, not computer generated like in the new zatoichi film. i only had one qualm with the film and everything else really makes up for it; some scenes are grainy like they missed something in the editing process, but its nothing i hold against the film greatly. i rented it from blockbuster and have been thinking about buying just so i could add it to my collection. p.s. it's true people with ADD shouldn't be critics



3. I tell you, if you believe in gods and devils, this movie is quite terrifying. Note that this is a play on alot of folk tales about the legendary warrior monk Benkei. Also good if you're easily hypnotized by fire...



4. As I wrote in the title for, "Gojoe: Spirit War Chronicle," this is not a film for everyone. However, I really enjoyed the film. Sometimes [many times] a film does not have to tie all the loose ends to be enjoyed, sometimes just the escapism and pure enjoyment of a film as an entertaining piece of cinema is good enough. And I found the film interesting enough to put in my collection. Plus, I liked the character of Benkei (Daisuke Ryu) as a monk who has put down his sword, yet decides that he must complete one more mission. Benkei was once a famed swordsman, however, it has been years since he has slain anyone. Yet things are about to change: For there is an evil presence at Gojoe Bridge. Who is killing all the samurai? And for that matter, why?
   
   Benkei tries to enlist the help of his former mentor, who warns Benkei that he is not ready for this mission. Further, this monk warns Benkei that he will fail because he has not seen the way. Yeah, I know, sounds like a bunch of silly philosophical mumbo-jumbo, [and maybe it is] but that does not mean the film is not entertaining. At least for me. Moreover, I really liked the character actors in the film too. Plus, the antagonist in the film is portrayed by (Tadanobu Asano), who gives a very good portrayal in his role as a gifted swordsman. Tadanobu Asano is trying to reclaim his place as the rightful heir to the land, and watching his performance makes this film a worthwhile watch. Plus, the cinematography in the film is very good. Although there are spots here and there in the film where the picture is not very clear, they are few and far between. The film itself has great cinematography.
   
   The films narrative takes place in 12th Century Japan, at a place called Gojoe Bridge. Apparently, many members of a warrior clan are being killed by an unknown entity. Benkei, a former warrior has become a Buddhist and refuses to kill anymore, however, he changes his mind and decides to destroy whatever evil is lurking at Gojoe Bridge. Is it human? Or is it something else? I will leave this to the viewer to watch. I can tell you, however, that this movie does not disappoint. It sure did not disappoint me. I thought the cinematography and the acting and action sequences were very good, and the film definitely has an original storyline. I am a huge fan of the Toshirio Mifune and Akira Kurosawa classics. [Not that I am comparing this film to those earlier classics]. I am not. However, I like it when directors come along with something different for a change, and this film is definitely different. And once again, this is not a film for everyone, therefore, rent it first. [Stars: 4.5]



5. Gojoe is a rather strange offering and while I find it interesting, I'm still undecided as to what it's supposed to be. It's not a straight telling of the story of the monk Benkei at Gojoe bridge, indeed apart from taking a few characters and locations seems to have very little to do with it. So we know it's not a historical costume drama, then what is it ? The metaphysical element is strange, it's very difficult to judge what view the film is taking, is it one of the real world perceived from the the viewpoint of people who believe in demons and the mystic powers of Buddhism. Or is it a more fantasy oriented scenario where these are literally true and the combatants really are waging psychic war ? Perhaps it's a choice we're allowed to make ourselves, make of it what you will, I don't know the answer. The films pace also jumps to extremes, from blood spurting action shots where somewhat inept samurai are hacked up by the dozen to sections where a confused Benkei gets all angst ridden and meanders off into the wilderness to indulge in much tedious self examination and find himself. Clearly the director is trying to provide something deeper and more spiritual than Baby cart or Azumi but I'm not entirely sure he's succeeded, maybe you need to be a Buddhist to really get it.

1 comments about Turbo Jam Cardio Party.

1. Cardio Party was the first Turbo Jam video I've tried. I was looking for a fun kickboxing workout, and overall, I was not disappointed. The workout wasn't as dancey as I had expected--there are occasional brief interludes where you are encouraged to move to your own beat--but the entire atmosphere is more akin to a dance club than to a workout studio.
   
   This workout is about 43 minutes long, and I realy liked how it was broken down: each chapter is a 6-7 minute segment that is separately choreographed, so once you are done with that segment, you move on to a new routine. I have provided an overview for the moves contained in each segment below (times are approximate, and I didn't necessarily include *every* move):
   
   Warm-Up, 4 minutes. Charlene begins by warming you up with each of the 4 basic punches (jab, cross, hook, upper) and simple side steps. A few moving stretches are included towards the end.
   
   1st cardio segment, 7 minutes. As with most of the segments, you'll learn two combinations which you then connect together. The first combination consists of "wheel" (a standing side crunch) combined with cross and hook punches. This combo connects to a march with alternating knee lifts and then double knee lifts to either side; at the end, Chalene changes the march to a jog.
   
   2nd cardio segment, 7.5 minutes. The first combination here consists of a partial squat to either side; side kicks are then added to the squat. Building on this, you'll do the squat/side kicks, then squat front and back, add front/back push kicks, and then add knee lifts with front/back push kicks. Last comes a move Chalene calls a "twist"--you'll move front with jab-cross-jab punches and then do a knee lift, first just on the one side but then on both sides with arms added in. The entire sequence is then repeated to the other side.
   
   3rd cardio segment, 7.5 minutes. You'll start here with speed bag, adding an upper cut to the end of the move and then adding a front knee/back kick. After doing two knees to either side, you'll add in "Tai" punches--slow punches and blocks to the front while in "horse" stance (straddle squat).
   
   Turbo, 1.5 minutes. For the turbo, a siren goes off and you kick up the intensity, doing jogs and hopping knee lifts. However, two of the women in the large class always do a low-impact version of the moves.
   
   Water break, 30 seconds. Following the Turbo, there is a pause allowing you to get a drink of water, although Chalene encourages you to keep moving during this time.
   
   Recovery Dance Party, 6 minutes (but for some reason, this segment continues partly into the next chapter). I didn't really notice much difference between this and the other cardio segments; after a brief freestyle dance at the very beginning, Chalene moves back into kickboxing combinations. Here, she does cross, hook, and uppercut punches to one corner, speed bags to repeat in the opposite corner, and then does "zig zag" knees--basically, a side crunch combined with a knee lift to one side; eventually, a back kick is added on as well.
   
   Final cardio segment, 4 minutes. This is a quick segment performed entirely in horse stance. First, you do a front speedbag followed by quick cross punches. Staying in horse stance, you do a high-low punch to the side, then add zig zag knees; for the last couple of reps, Chalene does a hop when doing the knee lift.
   
   Aerobic cool-down, 3 minutes. Chalene describes the moves in this section as "finesse." There are some arm swings to the front plus some low front and back kicks, but everything is performed at a slower, more relaxed pace.
   
   Stretch, 1.5 minutes. Here, Chalene borrows from Tai Chi and talks about focusing your energy; she does just a few very brief stretches such as a hamstring stretch.
   
   Overall, this is a high-intenstiy workout that is mostly low-impact--there are a few jacks/hops thrown in here and there, but as previously mentioned, two of the participants always show funky, low-impact alternatives. The mood of this workout is definitely high energy, and the music is loud and upbeat, with a few recognizable songs (eg, a very fast version of "Busta Move"). Also, there is a countdown bar at the bottom of the screen which lets you know how much time is left in the current segment as well as previews the upcoming moves. If you enjoy kickboxing but are looking for a style that's more fun and funky than serious, this might be the perfect video for you.
   
   Additional comments about the instructor: Chalene is clearly enthusiastic and has a ton of energy. She makes frequent comments to say that she *knows* you are having fun, and there are several points where she bursts out singing along to the moves. I would say that she's pretty over-the-top, but I didn't find her to be annoyingly so.
   
   You may have heard that Charlene's cueing is poor; she actually *does* cue, but I wasn't always sure what she was talking about. For example, she cued "twist," which turned out to be a punching move. If I had done her "Learn and Burn" video first, I'm sure I would have found it much easier to follow along with this workout, but as it was, I was able to pick up the combinations pretty quickly the very first time through.

5 comments about Ultimate Fighting Championship 5.

1. This UFC ranks somewhere near the bottom on my list. UFC VI champ Oleg Taktarov makes a decent debut, but the rest of the tournament's fighters will only impress the eyes of those with little appreciation for technique & a lust for blood. Also features the first Superfight in UFC history which should go down in the books as the second (to Shamrock vs. Severn 2) most boring so far.



2. After 4 consecutive UFC tournament appearances, Royce Gracie gets a Superfight against Ken Shamrock. Royce is psyched because of the one fight, and is at least on camera, very confident. The result: was a very long/technical fight. These types of fights are not the most exciting to the untrained eye, but should be respected. As far as the tournament; a bigger, and a little smarter fighter class. Dan Severn returns, while others like Sambo champion Oleg Taktarov fall short due to bloody circumstances. All in all, a good tournament, but the last we see of Royce Gracie. Even with the new rules(Time -Limit), the 100% Jiu-jitsu style became too "one-dimensional". But those who practice it will tell you, 'BJJ isn't one dimensional', and I certainly agree. The birth of cross-training sort of began in this tournamant.



3. Dan Severn is a freakin' madman in this tournament. His fight with Taktarov alone makes it worth buying. Plus It's the end of Royce Gracie's reign as champion. The shamrock-gracie fight is long and frustrating to watch, but it's still the old, harsh UFC fighting.



4. UFC 5 saw the return of Dan "The Beast" Severn and honestly, a more focused and better rounded Severn because this time around he picked up some strikes and some finishing holds. After his disappointing defeat in UFC 4 to Royce Gracie, you could tell that Severn was not only here to win it all, he was here to bust some heads.

   The main draw was O.k. The 1st quarter match was between Andy Anderson (Tae Kwon Do) and Jon Hess (SAFTA) and I have to admit, this was one of the dirtiest fights in the UFC. There were a lot of rules infringements in this match by Hess like scratching at the eyes, fish hooking the nose and the mouth. I will admit that this was a TRUE FIGHT but at the same time, it was very dirty.

   2nd fight, Todd Medina (Jeet Kune Do) vs Larry Cureton (Kickboxing). This match was a little disappointing as well because this was a match between 2 strikers and immediately it went to the ground. Match 3 was very impressive from a grappler's point of view. Oleg Taktarov made his debut here against Ernie Verdicia (Karate) and Taktarov showed the same calm and comfort level on the ground as Royce Gracie does. And the final quarter match was between Severn and Joe Charles (Judo). Severn made his presence felt by bringing out the big guns in this one and he showed off some new things that he learned.

   The Super Fight was a return match from UFC I between Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock. This match is really long and a bit on the boring side, even for a scientific grappling match. At first there are shades of a few strikes but for the most part this is a match dedicated to "the guard". Another small highlight was from Canadian wrestler Dave Beneteau who also made his debut here as well.

   All in all, UFC 5 was O.k. I wouldn't call this one of the better ones but if you're a big fan of Severn's, this was for you because this UFC is all about Severn. Oleg Taktarov also had a great showing but other than that, this one is for the grapplers. For all of you striker fans, check out UFC 2 and UFC 6. There is a lot of striking in those 2 and for you grapplers, check out the ULTIMATE ULTIMATE and UFC 4.




5. This was an amazing tournament and was the first time Americans and Mixed Martial Arts fans were able to see SAFTA and how dangerous of a style it can be. MMA'ers, watch out for Jon Hess!!!