Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast

Martial artist Brett Chan has enjoyed a steady rise in the film and television industry since his first appearances fighting with the Ninja Turtles in the late 1990s. A veteran Hollywood stunt performer with over 150 credits to his name, Brett has worked as a fight choreographer, stunt coordinator and second unit director on a number of action-packed TV shows. He has brought his wealth of martial arts knowledge to fight-centric shows for Netflix, including Marco Polo, Iron Fist (part of Marvel's The Defenders series) and Snowpiercer, based on Bong Joon-ho's 2013 film of the same name. His most recent show, Warrior - based on the writings of Bruce Lee - will return for its second season in October 2020 on Cinemax in the USA. He is also working on a reboot of the classic 1970s TV show, Kung Fu, for The CW. Brett says he tries to bring his own unique flair to every new project, working closely with his actors and his Hitz International stunt team to make television which is visceral, authentic, and above all, exciting. Jwaundace Candece is also a veteran of the stunt world having first made the transition from professional wrestling to on-screen fighting and stunt doubling in the early 2000s. As well as doubling for some of the entertainment industry's biggest names - including Queen Latifah, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Hudson, Whoopi Goldberg and Viola Davis - she has now mostly moved away from combat scenes to become one of the industry's top stunt drivers. She is also an ambassador calling for greater diversity in the stunt world, having created the TV and film listing website, Stunt Performers of Color. The site was launched in direct response to a lack of representation across the stunt world, where instances such as "wigging" and "painting down" are still commonplace in an industry which is largely male, white, straight and cisgender. Jwaundace is on a mission to make the stunt world a fairer space, and one in which everyone - regardless of their sex, race, age or gender - can feel included.LINKS#SaveWarrior! With the future of the Warrior TV show now in doubt, an online petition has been launched to help save Warrior. Sign up now via this link: https://www.change.org/p/netflix-save-warrior-and-get-season-3-confirmedWarrior Season 2 trailer: https://youtu.be/SDqwcuDY4DgBrett Chan's website: http://www.brettchanstunts.com/Brett Chan on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0150812/Brett Chan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bchanworld/Brett Chan prod reel: https://vimeo.com/438352614Hitz International website: https://www.hitzinternational.com/Hitz International on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hitzinternationalstunts/Hitz International on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hitzinternational/Jwaundace Candece website: https://www.jwaundace.com/Jwaundace Candece on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1330195/Jwaundace Candece on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jwaundaceJwaundace Candece on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jwaundace/Jwaundace Candece stunt driving reel: https://youtu.be/RHHeoLemtJEJwaundace Candece stunt reel: https://youtu.be/FSbr2p5Y-PQStunt Performers of Color website: https://stuntpoc.com/Stunt Performers of Color on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stuntpoc/StuntPOC webinar #1 'Diversity in film and television': https://youtu.be/jWmsKWtxco4StuntPOC webinar #2 'For women, about women in stunts': https://youtu.be/HFr-9D7gCcQStuntPOC webinar #3 'Surviving the downtime': https://youtu.be/NCirdXfu8Ws Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Loren Avedon answered a call to the Jun Chong Martial Arts Academy on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles late one night in 1987, little did he know that the call would prove to be life-changing. With only a matter of days until filming was scheduled to start in Thailand on the sequel to the 1986 martial arts hit, 'No Retreat, No Surrender', both of the film's contracted stars - Kurt McKinney and Jean-Claude Van Damme - had pulled out, leaving producer Roy Horan with the desperate task of having to contact the city's top dojos to quickly find a replacement. Enter young taekwondo ace, Loren Avedon; black belt student of brothers Phillip and Simon Rhee, part-time instructor at Jun Chong's and a used car salesman. After impressing Roy Horan, Loren found himself jetting off to Thailand to start his new career as a leading actor in martial arts action movies. 'No Retreat, No Surrender 2: Raging Thunder' would prove to be the first of a three-picture deal with the Hong Kong production company, Seasonal Films - created by Roy Horan and Ng See-yuen - followed by 'No Retreat, No Surrender 3: Blood Brothers' (1990) and 'The King of the Kickboxers' (1991). This blistering trio of fight classics quickly saw Loren Avedon become hot property in an already booming video market for martial arts movies. Listen as Loren speaks candidly about his formative years in LA and London, his martial arts training, his inspirations, his movie career, and the lessons he has learned after over three decades of working in the entertainment industry.LINKSLoren Avedon's website: http://lorenavedon.com/index.php/home/Loren Avedon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenavedonofficial/Loren Avedon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lorenavedonLoren Avedon on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lorenavedon2Warriorwear Clothing: https://warriorwear.clothing/Loren Avedon profile on Kung Fu Movie Guide: https://bit.ly/LorenAvedonProfile'No Retreat, No Surrender 2: Raging Thunder' review: https://bit.ly/NRNS2'No Retreat, No Surrender 3: Blood Brothers' review: https://bit.ly/NRNS3BloodBrothers'The King of the Kickboxers' review: http://bit.ly/KingOfTheKickboxersJULY COMPETITION DETAILSWe have two copies of the complete first season of 'Gangs of London' on Blu-ray and three copies of 'Mr. Vampire' on Blu-ray to give away in our July competition - courtesy of Dazzler Media and Eureka Entertainment respectively. Competition closes 31 July 2020. To be in with a chance of winning, sign up now to our newsletter at: http://bit.ly/KFMGhome. Good luck! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stu Bennett's transformational story from a shy, skinny kid growing up in the north of England to five-time WWE Intercontinental Champion and 'King of the Ring' - known by his pro-wrestling name, Wade Barrett - seems like a dream come true. The story belies years of hard work and even harder knocks; a steady climb from the amateur circuit in the UK to securing a contract with the biggest wrestling organisation in the world, only to have his mind and body tested to the limit. By the time he quit professional wrestling in 2016 - refusing to sign another lucrative deal with the WWE - he was out for the count, both mentally and physically, and determined to turn his back on the sport which he had loved and admired so much as a kid. Like so many WWE stars before him - The Rock, Dave Bautista and John Cena among them - the movies beckoned; specially, work in the UK with filmmakers including James Nunn (for 2016's Eliminators) and Ross Boyask (for 2018's I Am Vengeance). It is his role as the tough mercenary John Gold in the I Am Vengeance films which sees Stu play a good guy for the very first time - a far cry from the boos he would receive as an antagonist throughout his wrestling career. It is a role he would like to see continue as he progresses in the film and television industry. His new movie, I Am Vengeance: Retaliation, sees him square up to fellow British hard man, Vinnie Jones; it is released today in the UK on digital courtesy of Evolutionary Films. You can watch it now via the links below.LINKSStu Bennett on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stubennettofficial/Stu Bennett on Twitter: https://twitter.com/StuBennettStu Bennett on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3808325/Watch 'I am Vengeance: Retaliation' in the UK: iTunes (http://bit.ly/IAVRiTunes); Amazon (http://bit.ly/IAVRAmazon); Google Play (http://bit.ly/IAVRGooglePlay); Sky Store (http://bit.ly/IAVRSkyStore); Microsoft (http://bit.ly/IAVRMicrosoft)KFMG Podcast 'Vengeance' special: http://bit.ly/VengeanceSpecialKFMGPod'Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks' by Mick Foley - Amazon link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Have-Nice-Day-Blood-Sweatsocks/dp/0061031011/COMPETITION DETAILSWin a copy of 'Gangs of London' on Blu-ray in our July competition. Sign up to our newsletter via our homepage to take part: http://bit.ly/KFMGhome 'Gangs of London' is available to buy on Blu-ray, DVD and digital in the UK on 27 July courtesy of Dazzler Media. Amazon pre-order link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gangs-London-BLU-RAY-Sope-Dirisu/dp/B0876ZLMZX Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The key to success in the stunt world, says Hollywood action star Tara Macken, is to be an all-rounder. Tara's resume is testament to that philosophy. Raised in the jungles of Borneo, Tara's adventurous spirit started at a young age. It has remained with her throughout her professional career, where she has found work as a dancer, gymnast, model, actor and stunt performer with over 100 films and TV credits to her name. She is a leading name in the action community, known for her fighting and martial arts skills, and doubling huge movie stars like Tessa Thompson, Rosie Perez and Eva Longoria. An incredibly versatile performer, Tara moves between stunt work on hit TV shows like 'Westworld' and films including 'The Hunger Games', 'John Wick: Chapter 3', 'Birds of Prey' and the new 'Mortal Kombat' film, to playing Bugs Bunny in a sequel to 'Space Jam', and stepping behind the camera to work as a stunt coordinator, fight choreographer and trainer. She now has her eyes set on joining the rising number of female stunt coordinators operating in Hollywood, following a path set by her friends and colleagues Zoë Bell and Heidi Moneymaker, determined to redress the balance in the industry and eventually move into main unit directing. In an already long list of amazing achievements, we can't wait to see what Tara will accomplish next. This conversation was recorded in London prior to the UK government lockdown caused by the coronavirus.LINKSTara Macken on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2706388/Tara Macken on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taramacken/Tara Macken on Twitter: https://twitter.com/taramackenTara Macken on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tara.mackenTara Macken fight choreography reel: https://youtu.be/bYX9ofsJrasTara Macken fight reel: https://youtu.be/jjHaMBIjih0'Intensive Care' trailer: https://youtu.be/tTJo_vfeGI8'Intensive Care' review on Kung Fu Movie Guide: http://kungfumovieguide.com/intensive-care-2018/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the late 1970s, Richard Norton - martial artist and bodyguard to the stars - faced a crossroads in his life. He could either stay in Melbourne, Australia, and continue with his nine-to-five job, teaching martial arts in the evenings - a life he very much enjoyed - or follow the advice of singer Linda Ronstadt and move with her to California. It was a decision which would prove life-changing. Once in America, Richard started to supplement his days touring with some of the world's biggest musical artists - including ABBA, Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, James Taylor and many more - with work in the movies, encouraged by his friendships with Hollywood action legends like Chuck Norris and Pat E. Johnson. It was Pat who first introduced Richard to kung fu superstar Jackie Chan, leading him to eventually work on some of the greatest Hong Kong action films of the period, including 'Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars' and 'Millionaire's Express' for Sammo Hung, and 'Magic Crystal' and 'City Hunter' for Wong Jing. He would work again with Jackie Chan in the 1997 film, 'Mr. Nice Guy', and continue his on-screen partnership with B-movie action queen, Cynthia Rothrock, appearing in 10 films together from Hong Kong to Hollywood. Nowadays, Richard can increasingly be found behind the camera, lending his extraordinary martial arts knowledge as a fight trainer and choreographer on some of the biggest action films of the last decade, including 'Mad Max: Fury Road', 'Ghost in the Shell', 'X-Men: Dark Phoenix', and 'Suicide Squad'. His next release, James Gunn's version of 'The Suicide Squad', is scheduled for release on August 2021. Recorded during the lockdown from his home in Melbourne, Australia, join us as we chat about his amazing journey and his many achievements, something that Richard - who turned 70 in 2020 - puts down to simply being a byproduct of his quest to become the best martial artist he could possibly be. Judging by his continued work-rate, training regime, and passion for the martial arts, it is clearly something he continues to pursue each and every day.LINKSRichard Norton on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rjnorton64/Richard Norton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rjbromleynortonRichard Norton on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0636280/Richard Norton profile on Kung Fu Movie Guide: http://bit.ly/ProfileRichardNortonRichard Norton interview from 2011 on Kung Fu Movie Guide: http://bit.ly/RichardNorton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When a stunt performer couldn't get the right shot needed during a 70ft fall on the set of Vietnamese superhero movie, Lôi Báo (2017), the film's action director, Vincent Wang, made a quick decision. With time running out, Vincent relieved the stunt performer of their duties, strapped himself to a harness and performed the stunt himself - much to the shock of the rest of the crew. He nailed it first time. No surprise, really, considering Vincent's over two-decade career as a stunt performer in Hollywood, working on some of the largest action films of all time, including the Bond franchise (Tomorrow Never Dies, Die Another Day, Skyfall), The Bourne Ultimatum, The Force Awakens and work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In more recent years, Vincent has pursued a career as a fight choreographer and action director, where his credits include Zhang Yimou's big-budget creature feature, The Great Wall (2016) - starring Matt Damon and Andy Lau - and work in Vietnam with the versatile director, Victor Vu. His most recent project is Cruella, a live-action prequel to 101 Dalmatians starring Emma Stone and Emma Thompson. During this face-to-face conversation - recorded in March 2020 just before lockdown restrictions were put in place by the UK government following the coronavirus pandemic - we discuss his upbringing in northwest China, where he was selected to train at a Chinese wushu school from the age of six. It was his move to the UK in 1991 to teach martial arts which would eventually lead him to work in the film industry; but martial arts remains his true passion, not just for self-defence purposes, but also as a way of building confidence and improving health. For more information about Vincent Wang, visit the links below.LINKSVincent Wang on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0911058/Vincent Wang on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vincentwang99/Vincent Wang on Twitter: https://twitter.com/vincentwang99Vincent Wang on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMTmJKQsH9sLGW6hd6Z2cmgLôi Báo review - Kung Fu Movie Guide: http://bit.ly/LoiBao2017The Great Wall review - Kung Fu Movie Guide: http://bit.ly/TheGreatWallKFMGDragon Girls review - Kung Fu Movie Guide: http://bit.ly/DragonGirlsKFMGDebt Collectors review - Kung Fu Movie Guide: https://bit.ly/DebtCollectorsKFMG Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tired of scrolling through streaming platforms trying to decide on the next thing to watch during lockdown? Then let the martial arts action star Scott Adkins help you, as he discusses his favourite fight films of all time on today's episode, including five bonafide classics and five lesser-appreciated head-kickers. During our chat - his fourth appearance on the show - we discover how he almost ended up in the 1997 Gary Daniels movie, Bloodmoon; what he learned from Donnie Yen and Yuen Woo-ping on the set of Ip Man 4; his thoughts about moving into directing; and the latest gossip on his many upcoming projects, including Dolph Lundgren's Castle Falls, spy thriller Legacy of Lies, sci-fi adventure film The Intergalactic Adventures of Max Cloud, and Debt Collectors, the surprise sequel to 2018's The Debt Collector. Debt Collectors is released on digital in the USA on 29 May and DVD on 2 June, courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films. In the UK, the film is known under the title, Payback, and will be released on digital on 8 June and DVD on 9 July, courtesy of Dazzler Media.We are also joined by Australian indie action filmmaker Maria Tran, who has spent her lockdown working on a new comedy short, Tiger Cop: Toilet Paper Hero; an homage to the 1980s Hong Kong action films she watched as a child, only with a topical pandemic twist. Maria is an actor, director, producer, writer, fight choreographer and mentor to up-and-coming filmmakers in Australia, who works hard to support people particularly from minority backgrounds in helping them to share their stories through film. She is also a kick-ass action star who has worked with Jackie Chan (for Bleeding Steel) and Roger Corman (for Fist of the Dragon), fought on-screen in China and Vietnam, and enjoyed success with her own independent shorts and features. Her first feature film, Echo 8, will see her in the lead role as well as directing, and will be completed in 2020.LINKSScott Adkins on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thescottadkins/Debt Collectors trailer: https://youtu.be/lPDs-BU7y7c'Tiger Cop: Toilet Paper Hero' on YouTube: https://youtu.be/yTepmGqoueMMaria Tran's website: https://www.mariatran.com/Maria Tran on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mariatran85Maria Tran on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mariatranactress/Maria Tran on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariatran85/'We need to embrace conflict': TEDxYouth@Sydney talk by Maria Tran: https://youtu.be/KVehRy-V07k Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You could say it was Jackie Chan that first brought together the Manila-based martial arts power couple, Sarah Chang and Vincent Soberano. They first met at the Jackie Chan Stuntman Training Centre; a huge complex in Tianjin, used by people from all over the world to train in the martial arts and make it in the movies. Vincent - a former professional fighter and pioneer of mixed martial arts in China, who helped to train the country's first UFC fighters - helped to design the facility; and in 2016, in walked Sarah Chang - actor, producer, fight choreographer, and five-time USA national wushu team member - training for a role in a movie. While she was there, she befriended the stunt coordinator, Sam Hargrave, who ended up using her to double Celina Jade in Wu Jing's action blockbuster, Wolf Warrior II. Vincent and Sarah connected over their passion for martial arts, and their drive to portray authentic fighting styles in the movies. But it wasn't until their work on the action horror, Blood Hunters - filmed in the Philippines - that the two decided to leave Beijing and move to Manila full-time, where they have since started a family, set up their own production company, and produced a string of films together, as well as working on their own projects. Their other films together include the tournament movie, The Trigonal, and the soon-to-be-released, Circle of Bones. Vincent and Sarah discuss the challenges they face making martial arts films in the Philippines, which is still an uphill struggle despite the international success of similarly 'hyper-local' fight films made elsewhere in Asia. They also share tips on how they are remaining busy (and sane) during the coronavirus lockdown. Blood Hunters: Rise of the Hybrids is out now on digital platforms including Amazon, Vimeo on Demand, FlixFling, Vudu and Fandango, courtesy of DarkCoast.LINKSSarah Chang on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starringsarahchang/Sarah Chang on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starringsarahchang/Sarah Chang on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarahchangwushuSarah Chang's website: https://starringsarahchang.com/Vincent Soberano on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VincentSoberanoFilms/Vincent Soberano on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vincentsoberano/Vincent Soberano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/VinceSoberanoVincent Soberano's website: http://vincentsoberano.com/'Blood Hunters: Rise of the Hybrids' on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloodhuntersthemovie/'Circle of Bones' on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cobmovie/'Blood Hunters: Rise of the Hybrids' review on Kung Fu Movie Guide: https://bit.ly/BloodHunters2019'The Trigonal: Fight for Justice' review on Kung Fu Movie Guide: https://bit.ly/TheTrigonal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Through his trio of martial arts films - Merantau (2009), The Raid (2011) and The Raid 2 (2014) - filmmaker Gareth Evans helped to put Indonesian action cinema on the map, launched the careers of a new generation of fight stars (including Iko Uwais, Yayan Ruhian and Cecep Arif Rahman), and created some of the most exhilarating, inventive, and game-changing fight sequences of modern times. Not bad for a young filmmaker from South Wales, who grew up watching Jackie Chan films with his dad, who chose to invest in a video camera when he turned 17 instead of learning to drive. Following his adventures in Indonesia, Evans has since returned to Wales where he has been developing a range of projects exploring new mediums and genres, including the British gothic horror, Apostle (2018) - available on Netflix - and the nine-part TV series, Gangs of London, which lands on Sky Atlantic in the UK on 23 April 2020. The show, based on a computer game, sees Evans return to a contemporary action setting, working alongside his frequent collaborator, UK stunt coordinator Jude Poyer (featured in Episode 48), with a story focusing on the fall-out following the death of a gang leader. Listen as Evans explains how he believes Gangs of London contains some of his finest action work, as well as exploring the steps that led to him creating The Raid films, often regarded by critics and fans alike as two of the best modern-day martial arts films of all time. We also investigate the possibility of a reunion with Iko Uwais, the secrets to his visceral style, and what other genres he would still like to explore. This conversation was recorded in London in early March 2020 before a UK government lockdown following the coronavirus outbreak.LINKSGareth Evans on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ghuwevans/Gangs of London trailer - https://youtu.be/VoJ_yZqhmAgGangs of London on Sky Atlantic - https://www.sky.com/watch/gangs-of-londonThe Raid review on Kung Fu Movie Guide - http://kungfumovieguide.com/the-raid-redemption/The Raid 2 review on Kung Fu Movie Guide - http://kungfumovieguide.com/the-raid-2/Gareth Evans profile on Kung Fu Movie Guide - http://kungfumovieguide.com/profile-gareth-evans/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our annual, festive End of Year Show for 2019, featuring the Life of Action author and fight movie expert, Mike Fury. It has been another action-packed and diverse year for martial arts movies, from off-beat indie comedies (The Art of Self-Defense) to big Hollywood franchise-based actioners (Hobbs and Shaw, John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum), not to mention the return of the traditional Hong Kong kung fu movie (Master Z, Ip Man 4). Scott Adkins went ballistic in Avengement; the world's biggest martial arts stars squared off in Triple Threat; and Veronica Ngo turned in a star-making performance as a kick-ass mother hellbent on finding her daughter in Furie; but which film will come out on top? Join us as we count down our personal top five martial arts films from the year, as well as reading out comments submitted by our listeners. We also talk about the worst martial arts films of the year, discuss the stories which hit the headlines, and highlight the movies we are most looking forward to in 2020. And - because it's the festive season - we exchange a few film-related Christmas presents, and raise a toast to all the Fu followers around the world who have supported us over the years. This is the last in the current season of podcasts. Thank you for your continued support in 2019 and we wish you a very enjoyable, relaxing and happy holiday season. Mike Fury's new book, 'Life of Action Volume II', will be released in February 2020, and you can pre-order it now via the link below.LINKSPre-order Life of Action Volume II: https://www.mikefury.net/shop/life-of-action-book-iiMike Fury's website: https://www.mikefury.net/Mike Fury on Twitter: https://twitter.com/themikefuryLife of Action on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lifeofactionbook/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On his very first day working on a Hong Kong action film set, Jude Poyer saw someone rushed to hospital when a stunt went badly wrong. Instead of seeing this as a bad omen, Jude - who had relocated to Hong Kong at the age of 18 to follow his dreams of working in martial arts movies - stayed in Hong Kong, where he would be based for the next eight years, working with some of the biggest names in kung fu cinema: people like Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Jet Li, Corey Yuen, Tony Ching, Stephen Tung Wei and Vincent Zhao. The decline of Hong Kong cinema saw Jude return home to the United Kingdom, where his credits as a stunt coordinator, action director, fight choreographer and stunt performer now number in the hundreds; from Free Fire to Final Score, Star Wars to Transformers. In more recent years, it has been his work with the Welsh-born director of The Raid, Gareth Evans, which has seen him operate in an entirely new and refreshing context, particularly for UK independent cinema; from the twisted gothic horror of Apostle (2018) to the upcoming HBO series, Gangs of London. Their new film together, Havoc, is currently in pre-production and will see Evans return to the type of action which made him an international name. In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss the enduring legacy and power of classic Hong Kong action films, how to sustain a career in the stunt industry, the ups and downs of working in the UK, and just how the heck they made that relentless gun-fu church fight in Kingsman.LINKSJude Poyer's website: http://www.reelpowerstunts.com/Jude Poyer's IMDb page: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0694706/Jude Poyer on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reelpowerstunts/Jude Poyer on Twitter: https://twitter.com/reelpowerstuntsJude Poyer on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReelPowerStunts/'Drug Den Master', directed by Jude Poyer: https://youtu.be/b1v4g0imWuU'Kingsman' church fight scene (explicit!): https://youtu.be/t1WWDBTda2Y Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When ex-US Marine and martial arts instructor Chris Collins took his Wing Chun pupils to see the film Ip Man 3 in 2015, he joked that he would be appearing in the next film in the Ip Man series - if another sequel was ever made. Fast-forward several months and Chris is sitting in front of director Wilson Yip, who is offering him a role in the fourth and final instalment of the hit kung fu movie series starring Donnie Yen. Chris, who plays one of the villains in the film, says his rapid rise in the Hong Kong film industry is because of his intense focus and determination to achieve his goals, honed after serving nine years in the US Marine Corps. As a combat specialist, Chris toured the globe learning the fighting arts from some of the world's toughest martial artists, using this knowledge to inform the marine training programme. He still teaches martial arts to this day from his base in Hong Kong and his satellite schools around the world, instructing in mostly boxing, Brazilian jiu jitsu, Filipino weapons systems and Wing Chun. It was his role as a fight trainer, stunt performer and choreographer which eventually saw him befriend and work with some of the Hong Kong film industry's top talent. On this episode, listen to Chris share his fascinating life story; from being the bullied son of Chinese-American parents growing up in a predominantly white neighbourhood in Ohio and Florida, to joining the army and fighting in some of the US military's most intense conflicts. We also discuss his love of Hong Kong, and how the movies saved him after he stepped away from the competitive fighting circuit; a career decision which has seen him work with the likes of Tony Jaa and Sammo Hung in 2017's Paradox, and Donnie Yen and Scott Adkins in 2019's Ip Man 4. We also highlight his many upcoming projects, one of which is Benny Chan's Raging Fire, which also stars Donnie Yen. Ip Man 4 will be released on 20 December in China and 25 December in the USA, courtesy of Well Go USA. Find out more about Chris Collins via the links below.LINKSChris Collins' website: http://www.chriscollinsaction.com/Introduction to Chris Collins on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Yvv7IldGw6IChris Collins on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriscollinsaction/Chris Collins on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisCollinsWT/Chris Collins on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SifuChrisCollinsIp Man 4 Chinese trailer: https://youtu.be/W6kENxxxLVIIp Man 4 USA release information: https://www.wellgousa.com/films/ip-man-4-the-finaleUPDATE - 20 JANUARY 2021Some of the details discussed in this conversation have since been revealed to contain falsehoods. The details in question relate to Chris Collins' time in the military. Chris has further clarified the details relating to his military record in two Instagram posts, both dated 23 December 2020. You can read the posts in full on Chris Collins’ Instagram page, @chriscollinsaction (https://www.instagram.com/chriscollinsaction/), and by using the following links: post #1 (https://www.instagram.com/p/CJH0iH1pzrahFP4tkNcWZOmXcSxcGb6s7AOauU0/), post #2 (https://www.instagram.com/p/CJH01eFJPtzI5cwyT85XH5ghXNsFWyIg-5GKjY0/). I have made the decision to add a message to the start of this episode in the interests of providing full disclosure and to provide additional context to anyone listening to this episode for the first time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a lifelong fan of Bruce Lee, the chance to play a starring role in HBO's Warrior TV series - based on a story by the late kung fu movie star and executive produced by his daughter, Shannon Lee - was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And he relishes every scene in his role as Young Jun; the entitled, violent, and arrogant heir to Chinatown's Hop Wei gang, a criminal syndicate operating in late 1870s San Francisco at the height of the Tong Wars. Jason Tobin adds heart, nuance and depth to the character through his brotherly friendship with new Hop Wei recruit, Ah Sahm (played by fellow British actor, Andrew Koji). A sexy, heady mix of political drama, racial tension and great fight scenes, the series has been heralded as one of the best TV shows of 2019 by Rolling Stone and has found a devoted audience since first airing on Cinemax in April 2019. Season two is now in post-production with a third season in development, while the first season is available right now on Blu-ray in the USA. Born in Hong Kong, educated in the UK, and living in Los Angeles from the age of 18, Jason sees acting as the perfect way to 'honestly express oneself' - to paraphrase the words of his hero, Bruce Lee - and tell the kinds of stories he wants to tell. He does this not just through his own work as an actor, but also as a writer and director. In this episode, we discuss his theories on acting, his long-standing friendship with the filmmaker Justin Lin (who gave Jason his first breakout role in 2002's Better Luck Tomorrow), his appearances in many Hong Kong and American action movies - from Beverly Hills Ninja to The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift - to his excellent performance in Warrior. Keep up-to-date with all the latest Jason Tobin news by following him on Twitter and Instagram.LINKSJason Tobin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jsntbn/Jason Tobin on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jsntbnBuy Warrior on Blu-ray via Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VJWW5G8/This episode's podcast page: http://bit.ly/JasonTobinKFMGPodShannon Lee and Andrew Koji on the Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast: http://bit.ly/KFMGPodShannonLee Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alexander Fu Sheng would have celebrated his 65th birthday on 20 October 2019. A poster-boy for Shaw Brothers' unique brand of high-octane martial arts action films throughout the 1970s and early 80s, Fu Sheng died tragically young at the age of 28 in a car crash on his way to a night-shoot. Like Bruce Lee before him, his young death immortalised him as another tragic martial arts film star, taken too young at the height of his powers. However, unlike Lee, Fu Sheng is largely unknown outside of his native Hong Kong, with many subsequence kung fu stars taking his place and becoming household names; people like Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Donnie Yen and so on. This is partly due to the limited international distribution of many of his films. However, through the excellent work of Chinese distributor, Celestial Pictures, Fu Sheng's movies can now be enjoyed in pristine quality through DVD and streaming services - particularly Netflix and Amazon Prime, where the glory of his many classic kung fu pictures can be enjoyed by a whole new generation of fans. In this special commemorative episode, we talk to Fu Sheng's biographer, Terrence J. Brady, about the life and career of the much-loved film star. He made 43 complete films in only 11 years as a hard-working contract actor at the Shaw Brothers studio, quickly rising in the ranks to become one of its highest paid stars. We speak about his many iconic film roles, to working with Shaw Brothers legends like Chang Cheh and Lau Kar-leung, to his marriage to the superstar singer, Jenny Tseng, as well as detailing the events leading up to that fateful night on 7 July 1983. Terrence's book is the first English-language biography of Alexander Fu Sheng and a must-read for any Shaw Brothers movie fan.LINKSBuy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Alexander-Fu-Sheng-Biography-Chinatown/dp/1717363679/More information: http://www.teako170.com/fushengbio.htmlFacebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1203346679706951Jenny Tseng and Alexander Fu Sheng singing 'You Don't Have to Be a Star To Be in My Show' live on TVB: https://youtu.be/t51dhR6CRKgAlexander Fu Sheng profile: http://bit.ly/ProfileAlexanderFuSheng Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Hollywood stunt performer Heidi Moneymaker was asked to flip a car three times in mid-air while doubling for the actor Saoirse Ronan in the 2013 film, The Host, she approached the job in much the same way she approaches all other aspects of her work: fearlessly. Heidi is the real deal. Operating in the shadows, she is a genuine action hero who has entertained millions around the world in some of Hollywood's most successful films (from the Fast and Furious franchise to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, John Wick, The Hunger Games and too many more to mention). She has doubled the likes of Drew Barrymore, Michelle Rodriguez, Ruby Rose and Julianne Moore, but it is her decade-long partnership with Scarlett Johansson which propelled the former gymnast into the limelight, following her work in helping to shape the movements of Marvel's high-kicking super-spy, Black Widow. As she explains in this episode, she feels intrinsically attached to the character, having brought Black Widow to life in (so far) seven films; from Iron Man 2 (2010) to Avengers: Endgame (2019). In recent years, Heidi can increasingly be found behind the camera. She spent six months training the Oscar-winning actor Halle Berry for her action-heavy role as an assassin in John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019) - continuing her long-running association with the Los Angeles-based stunt collective and production company, 87eleven - and she has successfully moved into stunt coordinating with the ambition to eventually direct. But what would be her dream project? Listen to our chat to find out, as well as discovering many more revelations, from fitness and nutrition tips to advice on how to survive - and thrive - in the Hollywood film industry.LINKSHeidi Moneymaker on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidimoneymaker/Heidi Moneymaker on Twitter: https://twitter.com/heidimoneyFind out more about Heidi Moneymaker's fitness business, Fierce Lotus, via the website, https://fiercelotus.com/, and on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/fiercelotus/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/fierce_lotus)Visit this episode's page on the Kung Fu Movie Guide website: http://bit.ly/KFMGPodHeidiMoneymaker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have been reporting from the Fighting Spirit Film Festival since it started back in 2016. Now in its fourth year, the event has grown to become the UK's largest martial arts movie festival; a two-day celebration which welcomes some of the genre's biggest names and best talent. As well as screening some of the hottest new feature films from around the world, the festival also provides an opportunity for up-and-coming, independent filmmakers to have their movies shown on the big screen. This spirit of collaboration and inclusivity strikes at the heart of what makes the festival such an inspiring event. This episode - recorded live at the 2019 Fighting Spirit Film Festival - features conversations with a number of key people involved in the independent martial arts movie scene, from established stars to talented young actors and filmmakers destined to become the next big thing. On this show, you will hear from the creator of the Fighting Spirit Film Festival, Soo Cole; actor and wushu expert, Leslie Kunz; the filmmaker and martial artist, Beau Fowler; the writers, directors and stars of the short action comedy '10 Minutes for a Pound', Linda Louise Duan and Jadey Duffield; the Hong Kong film expert and head of Eastern Heroes, Ricky Baker; the Italian martial arts actor, Max Repossi; one of the producers behind the 'Dead End' series, Daniella Dahoui; and the team behind zombie action Brit-flick, 'Tribal', the director Matt Routledge and star Zara Phythian. Listen as they describe what the Fighting Spirit Film Festival means to them, as well as answering a series of quick-fire questions stolen from the rather brilliant Artists Behind the Action podcast, produced by 87eleven Action Design. A huge thank you to Soo Cole, the Fighting Spirit team and all of the staff at Stratford Picturehouse for their help with this episode. Visit fightingspritfilmfestival.com for more information, and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.LINKSFighting Spirit Film Festival website: https://www.fightingspiritfilmfestival.com/Fighting Spirit Film Festival on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FightingSpiritFilmFestival/Fighting Spirit Film Festival on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fightingspiritfilmfestival/Fighting Spirit Film Festival on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FSFilmFestivalKung Fu Movie Guide Episode 43: http://kungfumovieguide.com/kfmg-podcast-s04-episode-43-fighting-spirit-film-festival-2019/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the age of four, Mindy Kelly has dedicated her life to the martial arts. Since moving to Hollywood, she has made her name as both a stunt performer and coordinator, working on music videos for the likes of Lady Gaga, Childish Gambino, Skrillex and Metallica, to performing for major action movies like Alita: Battle Angel, The Dark Knight Rises and Transformers: Age of Extinction. Now Mindy has now made her feature film debut as a stunt coordinator - not to mention fight choreographer, martial arts trainer and action designer - on the new dark indie comedy from the writer and director of 2014's Faults, Riley Stearns. The Art of Self-Defense - which stars Jesse Eisenberg, Imogen Poots and Alessandro Nivola - is released in theatres in the USA from 12 July via Bleecker Street, and it's really worth checking out. The film is a funny - and at times shocking - look at toxic masculinity which also displays Mindy's knack for creating cool action. Her star is on the rise and it was awesome to be able to spend time talking to her about working on the film, as well as discussing the lack of female stunt coordinators and fight choreographers in the industry, and what can be done about it.Also appearing on this action-packed double bill is the always-inspiring producer, entrepreneur and martial arts instructor, Janell Smith. As CEO of Iron Dragon Productions and its distribution channel, Iron Dragon TV, she is leading the charge in supporting indie martial arts and action filmmaking from her base in Austin, Texas. Iron Dragon TV streams everything from classic kung fu to original content - produced via Janell's own production company - and is available now in 4K and HD via UltraFlix, Roku and a new Android app, which is available to download now via Amazon and Google Play. Janell also runs the Iron Dragon TV Action Fest, an annual celebration of indie martial arts shorts and feature films from around the world, which this year takes place on 9-10 August. Visit idtvactionfest.com for more information. It was great to chat with the awesome Janell Smith who works so tirelessly in supporting up-and-coming filmmakers, as well as anyone looking to get into the martial arts.LINKSMindy Kelly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindytheninja/Mindy Kelly on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindytheninja/Mindy Kelly on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MindyKellyMindy Kelly's official site: https://www.mindy-kelly.com/The Art of Self-Defense official website: https://bleeckerstreetmedia.com/theartofselfdefenseThe Art of Self-Defense trailer: https://youtu.be/Td0oBCWO_I4Janell Smith on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janell001/Janell Smith on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janellvelasmith/Janell Smith on Twitter: https://twitter.com/janellvelasmithJanell Smith's official site: http://www.janellsmith.com/Iron Dragon TV website: http://irondragontv.com/Iron Dragon TV Action Fest 2019 website: http://www.idtvactionfest.com/Iron Dragon TV Android app on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/On-Demand-Movie-Streaming/b?ie=UTF8&node=9408766011Iron Dragon TV Android app on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.irondragonproductions.idtvflix&hl=en_US Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we welcome back the martial arts movie star, Scott Adkins, who makes his third appearance on our show. Scott and the director, Jesse V. Johnson, have been responsible for some very impressive work over the last few years, including Savage Dog, Accident Man, The Debt Collector, Triple Threat and their latest, Avengement, which sees Scott provide one of his most intense acting performances. It's a partnership which allows Scott to take on more challenging, character-driven work, and one which shows no signs in slowing down. In this quick catch-up, Scott talks about how his new-found creative freedom in front of and behind the camera has sparked an interest in directing his own films. He discusses the types of movies he would like to make as a director, as well as giving us an update on some of his upcoming movies; one of which is Ip Man 4, which sees Scott working with kung fu movie legends Yuen Woo-ping and Donnie Yen. A huge thank you to Soo Cole and the whole team at the Fighting Spirit Film Festival for organising this conversation.The UK martial arts actor and filmmaker Mark Strange shares a connection with Scott that dates back to 2003, when Mark also worked on the Jackie Chan film, The Medallion, which featured a young Scott Adkins. Flash-forward to 2019 and Mark can now be seen going toe-to-toe with Scott in tough new UK actioner, Avengement, which is out now in the USA and available on digital in the UK courtesy of Dazzler Media. The film will be available on Blu-ray and DVD from 1 July and you can pre-order it now from Amazon. Mark will also be making an appearance in Ip Man 4. On this episode, he discusses his experiences working in Hong Kong as well as the challenges of getting his own action movies off the ground in the UK, where he has predominantly worked with the director Chee Keong-cheung. Their latest film - the zombie action flick, Redcon-1 - took a mammoth seven years to complete, and is available to watch now on Netflix. Keep up-to-date with all the latest Scott Adkins news by following him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and for all the latest Mark Strange news, follow him on Instagram and Facebook, and also check out the website, markstrange.com.LINKSPre-order Avengement on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Avengement-DVD/dp/B07QFF8C5TRedcon-1 on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81097713Fighting Spirit Film Festival website: https://www.fightingspiritfilmfestival.com/Scott Adkins on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialscottadkins/Scott Adkins on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thescottadkinsScott Adkins on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thescottadkins/Mark Strange on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markstrangeofficial/Mark Strange on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markstrange1/Mark Strange's website: http://www.markstrange.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was while doubling for Milla Jovovich on the set of Resident Evil: The Final Chapter in 2015 that Olivia Jackson's life would transform forever. A promising young stunt performer, model and Muay Thai kickboxer from South Africa - whose film credits included Mad Max: Fury Road, Guardians of the Galaxy and Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Olivia narrowly escaped certain death when a motorcycle stunt went horribly wrong during filming in Johannesburg. Following a head-on collision at high-speed with a mechanical mobile film camera, Olivia spent 17 days in a coma. Her injuries were severe and life-threatening; brain swelling, broken bones, a punctured lung and severed crown. Part of her face was 'degloved' in the incident and needed to be completely rebuilt. Damage to the vertebrae in her spine has left her with permanent paralysis on the left side of her face and body, resulting in the need for her left arm to be amputated. In this candid, detailed and at times graphic conversation, Olivia explains how the stunt community has rallied together to support her since the accident took place four years ago, the results of which she continues to feel every day. It has been a slow and steady road to recovery, but Olivia has shown great courage, determination and optimism since the event, refusing to let her injuries get the better of her. She has returned to her training in the martial arts - she is on her way to gaining a black belt despite only having one arm - and she says her Buddhism has helped in dealing with the effects the crash has had on her mental health. Olivia's story is a poignant one, and acts as a stark reminder of the very real dangers that stunt performers put themselves through for the benefit of our viewing pleasure. It was an absolute privilege to be able to visit Olivia's home in the UK and spend time with her to record this episode of the show.LINKSFollow Olivia Jackson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliviathebandit/Olivia's story will also be told in a new biography, written by New York-based writer Shannon Nixon, coming soon in 2019. More details can be found via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oliviabiography Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After watching Thailand's Ong-Bak and Indonesia's The Raid, the producer, stunt coordinator and fight choreographer Sonny Sison had an epiphany. Where were the Filipino action films promoting their indigenous martial arts styles, like Ong-Bak did with Muay Thai, and The Raid with silat? Determined to do the same for his home country, Sonny left Hollywood and boarded the next plane to Manila, taking over 25 years' worth of industry experience with him to a country still developing as a global player in the movie market. Since relocating, he has been on a self-made mission to promote the Filipino martial arts through his fight choreography. In 2018, he worked with director Erik Matti on the non-stop fight fest, BuyBust, and this year sees the arrival of Maria, a Filipino action film directed by Pedring A. Lopez and starring Cristine Reyes, which is available now on Netflix. In this episode, we discuss his upbringing in the Philippines and Hawaii, where he first discovered his love of martial arts through the movies, before his relocation to Hollywood and his work in the entertainment industry. He befriended fellow Hawaiian, Mark Dacascos, and the two started out on their show-business journeys together, with Sonny eventually ploughing his own furrow via Power Rangers, producing, dancing with Michael Jackson and stunt performing on huge Hollywood films like The Rundown, The Green Hornet, Olympus Has Fallen and Godzilla. Sonny worked as the second unit director on Mark Dacascos' directorial debut, Showdown in Manila, and as Sonny explains, he has plans to work with his old friend again. We discuss the rich heritage and cinematic appeal of Filipino martial arts, the challenges of working in the country's film industry, and how you go about training someone with no martial arts background to look like an absolute bad-ass on screen.LINKSFollow Sonny on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sonny-Sison-Producer-Action-Director-1720324101578654/Follow Sonny on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonny.808pride/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Chuck Norris convinced his martial arts buddy - the 11-time world kickboxing champion, Don "The Dragon" Wilson - to consider a career in the movies, he could never have dreamed how quickly his life would transform. A winning audition for the king of exploitation cinema, Roger Corman, led to a multi-picture deal which would see "The Dragon" become the leading martial arts movie star in the highly lucrative direct-to-video market of the late 1980s and 90s, headlining movies such as the Bloodfist series, Ring of Fire, Red Sun Rising and many others. His closest brush with mainstream stardom arrived in 1995, playing a gang leader in Batman Forever. He's still busier than ever in front of the camera. His latest movie - the action comedy Paying Mr McGetty - sees him play a hitman, and it is available now on DVD. Considered one of the best competitive kickboxers of his generation, Don - now in his mid-60s - may have hung up his competitive gloves long ago, but he can still be found training, teaching and passing on his martial arts wisdom at exhibitions around the world. He still believes passionately in the martial arts as a force for good, helping as a tool to teach confidence, respect and self-discipline to kids, as well as a way to stamp out bullying. It's something he knows only too well. As the son of Japanese and American parents who grew up in 1950s America shortly after the second world war, bullying was a word he knew only too well. In this conversation, Don explains how he turned a negative situation into a positive, becoming one of the greatest and most famous martial artists in the world. LINKSDon "The Dragon" Wilson on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Don-the-Dragon-Wilson-105915392771397/Don "The Dragon" Wilson profile on Kung Fu Movie Guide: http://bit.ly/DonTheDragonWilson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shannon Lee was only four years old when she lost her father, the international martial arts superstar, Bruce Lee - but her father has continued to have a lasting impact on her life. As the CEO of the Bruce Lee Family Companies and Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the Bruce Lee Foundation - a not-for-profit social enterprise - Shannon has been responsible for upholding the legacy of her father through numerous channels, including podcasts, retail, social media, books, documentaries and TV shows, educating future generations on Bruce Lee's work and philosophy. Alongside Jonathan Tropper (Banshee) and Justin Lin (Fast and Furious), Shannon is an executive producer on the new 10-episode martial arts drama series, Warrior, which has debuted on Cinemax. The show, set during the brutal Tong wars of San Francisco's Chinatown in the latter half of the 19th century, is based on an original concept by Bruce Lee. On this episode - the first in our fourth season - Shannon explains how Bruce Lee's original treatment evolved, and how a talented and diverse cast helped to bring it to life.Andrew Koji was on the brink of giving up acting when he landed the lead role of Ah Sahm in the show. Following roles in TV and theatre in the UK, it was a chance audition for Warrior which would turn his life around. He explains what its like being a British-Asian actor working in the UK, and how he managed to tap into his training in the styles of karate and Shaolin kung fu to play the role of Ah Sahm. Warrior is on Fridays at 10pm on Cinemax. A big thank you to Alyssa Michnevitz at HBO and Cinemax for arranging interviews with Shannon Lee and Andrew Koji.LINKSVisit the Cinemax website for more information: https://www.cinemax.com/warriorFor the latest Bruce Lee news, visit brucelee.comFollow Bruce Lee on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bruceleeFollow Bruce Lee on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BruceLee/Follow Bruce Lee on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brucelee/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Celebrating the best (and worst) that martial arts movies had to offer in 2018, join us for our festive round-up of the year with the action movie expert and author of 'Life of Action', Mike Fury. As well as counting down our top five favourite martial arts movies of the year, we discuss the stories that grabbed the headlines in 2018, read out some listener's comments compiled from across our social media channels, and look ahead to the titles we are most excited about in 2019. We also play clips from some of the awesome guests we have had on the show this year - including Scott Adkins, Cung Le, Amy Johnston, Bob Wall, Diana Lee Inosanto and Jesse V. Johnson - and we play a few outtakes from our blooper reel. And, because it's the holidays, Mike and I exchange a few martial arts-related presents. Thank you Fu followers around the world for all your support in 2018 - we wish you a very merry kung fu Christmas and a happy new year! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Bruce Lee died 45 years ago at the age of 32, his death was shrouded in mystery. To this day, theories still abound as to the circumstances surrounding his passing and the events leading up to it. Writer Matthew Polly has his own theories, along with many other revelations about Lee’s short but incredible life which he has published in a new biography, called 'Bruce Lee: A Life', which is available now wherever you get books. Matthew’s fully comprehensive biography expands on Lee’s privileged upbringing as a child star in Hong Kong, to his formative years in America as a martial arts instructor, and then later as an actor in movies and television. Throughout the book, Lee’s enthusiasm, creativity and determination jumps off the page, rendered in amazing and insightful anecdotes sourced from years of research and over a hundred interviews with Lee’s friends, family and business partners. Matthew Polly’s book is a revealing portrait of one of the 20th century’s most important and iconic figures – not just in the world of martial arts and big-screen entertainment, but also as a self-made man who crossed the cultural divide between east and west. In this interview recorded during a promotional visit to the UK, Polly expands on Lee’s cinematic legacy, his reputation in Hollywood as a “guru to the stars”, the rumours and scandals which continue to haunt his life story, and his enduring status as one of the world's most famous individuals. Matthew Polly’s other books include 'American Shaolin' and 'Tapped Out'. His book, 'Bruce Lee: A Life', is out now. This is the last in the current season of podcasts.LNIKSBuy 'Bruce Lee: A Life' on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bruce-Lee-Life-Matthew-Polly/dp/1471175693Follow Matthew Polly on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MatthewEPollyBruce Lee profile on Kung Fu Movie Guide: http://bit.ly/BruceLeeKFMG Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Buffy's stunt double and former Power Ranger, Sophia Crawford, earned her spurs as a stunt performer working in Hong Kong's raw and relentless action movie industry in the early 1990s. She found herself part of an era of exceptional, female-fronted martial arts films, working with the likes of Moon Lee, Sibelle Hui and Yukari Oshima, performing all of her own stunts in conditions that were sometimes less than perfect. It was in Hong Kong where she discovered her love for the martial arts, acting and stunt performing, following her troubled years as a teenager growing up in London as a directionless, rebellious punk rocker, expelled from five schools and eager for adventure. Her journey is one of dogged determination, perseverance, blood, sweat and tears - from Hammersmith to Hong Kong to Hollywood, doubling for the likes of Madonna, Sienna Miller and Renée Zellweger. Now she has accepted a new challenge away from the movie business, having moved to Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband - the stunt coordinator Jeff Pruitt - to run her own business, a coffee shop called The Federal Coffee House. In this conversation, we discuss her approach to stunt performance, the challenges of working in an unfamiliar country, and her time on two of the biggest martial arts TV shows of all time: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Jean-Paul Ly moved from Cambodia to London to make it in the movie business, he predicted that within three years, he would be the lead in a martial arts action film. It only took two and a half years until he completed work on Jailbreak (out now on Netflix) – Cambodia’s first martial arts film and a runaway international success. Despite being made on a shoestring budget and facing a number of on-set challenges, Jean-Paul Ly’s hard work as the lead actor as well as one of its main fight directors helped the film to receive rave reviews from The Hollywood Reporter and Variety, and win international awards from film festivals including Fantasia, where it beat competition from huge Hollywood productions like Atomic Blonde. Since then, Jean-Paul Ly has been working on a number of exciting new projects, from the UK action comedy Nightshooters (which gets its world premiere at the Raindance Film Festival in London on 6-7 October, and lands on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download from 26 December), to 14 Fists (directed by the Nightshooters' Bart Ruspoli), The Prey (a new action film from the team behind Jailbreak), Vengeance 2, and The Division, a short film which also marks Jean-Paul Ly’s directorial debut. Jean-Paul Ly will also be appearing in Disney’s Artemis Fowl, directed by Kenneth Branagh, which will be released in August 2019. Find out more about Jean-Paul Ly by visiting his website, lyjeanpaul.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Having now worked with UK martial arts star Scott Adkins a total of six times – including on the films Savage Dog, Accident Man, The Debt Collector, and the soon to be released martial arts movie event of the year, Triple Threat, which also stars Iko Uwais, Michael Jai White, Tony Jaa, Tiger Chen and Michael Bisping – the writer, director and former stunt performer Jesse V. Johnson is right to feel proud of what they have accomplished in a reasonably short space of time. Jesse and Scott continue to produce exceptionally accomplished martial arts action features in an increasingly unsettled world for low-budget filmmaking. But it’s a world Jesse knows only too well. Born in the UK – the nephew of stunt legend Vic Armstrong – Jesse used his earnings as a teenage stunt performer for the 1990 Arnold Schwarzenegger classic, Total Recall, to relocate to Hollywood, where he balanced stunt work on major studio pictures with directing and writing his own feature films. It hasn’t always been easy, as Jesse explains in this frank and often revealing conversation, and he has had to learn some important lessons along the way; about ambition, integrity, and the craft of filmmaking. He is most proud of his new film, The Debt Collector, an enveloping crime comedy starring Scott Adkins and Louis Mandylor (Martial Law, My Big Fat Greek Wedding), available to watch now on Netflix. It will get its UK big screen premiere at the Fighting Spirit Film Festival in London on 14 September. We also spend time discussing his all-star action extravaganza, Triple Threat. Jesse’s next project with Scott will be called Avengement, which has just wrapped filming in the UK. LINKSJesse V. Johnson on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/actionjessevjohnson/Jesse V. Johnson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actionjessevjohnson/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today is an 'I Am Vengeance' movie special. WWE star Stu Bennett (aka Wade Barrett) and martial arts movie legend Gary Daniels star in 'I Am Vengeance' (aka 'Vengeance'), which is out now in theatres and on digital download in the US. The film tells the story of ex-serviceman turned mercenary, John Gold, and his quest for revenge following the death of his former army buddy. The UK-made action film is the brainchild of writer and director Ross Boyask and producer John Adams, who both work at Evolutionary Films, an independent production house and distributor which specialises in genre films. On this Vengeance movie special, we discuss the challenges of running a film company in the digital age, and learn more about the making of the movie, and their plans to turn the John Gold story into a franchise.I also sit down with one of the film’s stars, Bryan Larkin, whose psychotic henchman character is one of the highlights of the movie. The Scottish actor and filmmaker discusses his life and career, from directing his own short films to appearing opposite Gerard Butler in London Has Fallen (2016), and working in Hong Kong with Donnie Yen and Andy Lau in the gangster thriller, Chasing the Dragon (2017). 'I Am Vengeance' will get its UK premiere at the Fighting Spirit Film Festival in London on 15 September, and will be released via Evolutionary Films on 28 September. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Although Bob Wall had no desire to become a film star, he somehow ended up appearing in some of the highest grossing martial arts films of all time. As Chuck Norris’ business partner and Bruce Lee’s training buddy and friend for over a decade, Bob – a world professional karate champion – found himself cast as one of the baddies in Lee's 1972 film, The Way of the Dragon. Bob provided a similar foil to Lee’s on-screen attacks the following year when he was cast as the treacherous villain, O’harra, in the 1973 martial arts classic, Enter the Dragon. In this candid interview, Bob Wall – now aged 78 and speaking to me from his home in California – recalls a young and charismatic Bruce Lee who ruffled feathers amongst the martial arts community and revolutionised the action film genre. Despite a few film appearances since Enter the Dragon (including Robert Clouse’s Game of Death and supporting roles in Chuck Norris films), Bob – who describes himself as a “foul-mouthed Irishman” – mostly retired from the movie business following Lee’s untimely death. But the Bob Wall story doesn’t end there. Listen as he recalls training with Gene LeBell, Mike Stone and Joe Lewis, and teaching superstars like Steve McQueen, Freddie Prinze and Elvis Presley. He is still active on the martial arts scene as the founder of World Black Belt, and through his many appearances at seminars around the world. For the latest Bob Wall information, head to bobwallworldblackbelt.com.Also on the show, I talk to the action film expert and writer Timon Singh, who drops by to talk about his new book, 'Born to Be Bad – Talking to the Greatest Villains in Action Cinema', which features interviews with some of the best big screen baddies, including Bob Wall. 'Born to Be Bad' is available now in hardback, paperback and on Kindle via Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Born-Be-Bad-greatest-villains/dp/162933345X/. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UK actor and filmmaker Joey Ansah’s imagination was sparked at an early age through the power of the classic Hong Kong action movie, Dragons Forever, and the Street Fighter video game. The son of a famous Ghanaian fashion designer father and a UK mother, Joey grew up immersed in both British and African culture. His passion was, and still is, the martial arts, becoming a famous online ‘tricker’ and skilled in Capoeira, Taekwondo, Ninjitsu and many other styles. Working as a fight choreographer, extra, stuntman and actor, his big break arrived in what Rolling Stone called “the best fight scene ever filmed”, duking it out with Matt Damon in The Bourne Ultimatum (2007). Since 2010, Joey has been working tirelessly towards bringing his beloved Street Fighter story to TV screens, following a short film (2010’s Street Fighter: Legacy), an epic web series (2015’s exemplary Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist), and an online follow-up (2016’s Street Fighter: Resurrection). In 2018, shortly after this conversation was recorded at his London home, it was announced that eOne and the Mark Gordon Company had given the green light to a new Street Fighter TV show with Joey Ansah acting as one of its executive producers. His latest acting project is Mission: Impossible – Fallout, the sixth in the Mission: Impossible film franchise starring Tom Cruise. Next year, Joey will be appearing in Joe Cornish’s The Kid Who Would Be King and Guy Ritchie’s live-action adaptation of Disney’s Aladdin.LINKSFollow Joey Ansah on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoeyAnsahOfficialFollow Joey Ansah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoeyansah/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alain Moussi has enjoyed a rapid rise from stuntman to starring roles to leading his own martial arts movie franchise. As Kurt Sloane, he is the poster-boy at the heart of the rebooted Kickboxer franchise – a role made famous by his childhood hero, Jean-Claude Van Damme – which was launched in 2016 with the film Kickboxer: Vengeance. The second instalment, Kickboxer: Retaliation, received rave reviews upon its release in 2018, with The Hollywood Reporter calling it “stylish and enjoyable”, and Forbes calling it an “absolute must-see”. The film is available now on Blu-ray and DVD in the UK from Kaleidoscope Home Entertainment. The man behind the franchise is the producer and director, Dimitri Logothetis, and halfway through this chat with Alain, Dimitri unexpectedly joins the conversation to tell us more about the challenges of remaking such a beloved franchise, and his plans to bring back authenticity to martial arts movies in the age of computer-generated superheroes. Alain is a chatty, engaging guest who is also a martial arts instructor based in Ottawa, Canada. We discuss his approach to teaching as well as his road to stardom, from doubling the likes of Channing Tatum, Hugh Jackman and Henry Cavill, to taking his first steps as a leading man. Alain and Dimitri are also collaborating on more movies together, including a new sci-fi franchise called Jiu Jitsu, which we also get to discuss. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To celebrate the UK DVD and digital download release of Accident Man – a British action comedy based on a comic book by the creator of Judge Dredd – we have two of the world’s biggest martial arts movie stars on today’s show. Listen to my in-depth conversation with one of the most popular female action stars on the planet right now, Amy Johnston, who has gone from being Scarlett Johannsson’s stunt double to leading her own fight flicks with top performances in movies like Lady Bloodfight and Female Fight Squad. Make sure you subscribe to Amy’s YouTube channel to never miss an episode of her new show, called Hero Training. We discuss everything from early inspirations to female fighters, the #MeToo campaign and her excellent performance as the sword-wielding assassin Jane the Ripper in Accident Man. Accident Man is co-written, produced by and stars the hardest working man in martial arts movies, Scott Adkins, and we were very fortune to be able to catch up with Scott ahead of the UK big-screen premiere of his dream project, which took place at the Fighting Spirit Film Festival in his home city of Birmingham in April 2018. In this short interview, we discuss the film and I also get to ask Scott some quick-fire questions. If you’re looking for a more detailed chat with Scott Adkins, then I would suggest listening to Episode 18 of the show in which we discuss his life and career in more detail. Accident Man is available now in the UK via Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. It is directed by Jesse V. Johnson and co-stars Ashley Greene, Ray Stevenson and David Paymer, as well as top martial arts stars Michael Jai White and Ray Park, with fight choreography by long-time Adkins collaborator and former podcast guest, Tim Man. This show has it all! Get your copy of Accident Man now from all good DVD retailers. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Accident-Man-DVD-Scott-Adkins/dp/B0771JJMNV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Having retired from the world of mixed martial arts, Cung Le is channelling the same grit and determination which made him a champion fighter into his career as an actor in Hollywood and Asia. Over the past decade, the former UFC fighter, Strikeforce Middleweight Champion and highly decorated martial artist has balanced his professional fighting career with appearances in some superb martial arts movies, including Fighting, The Man with the Iron Fists, Bodyguards and Assassins, The Grandmaster and True Legend. Last year, he took on Antonio Banderas in Security and Scott Adkins in Savage Dog. And the movie roles keep rolling in; he will next be seen in Europe Raiders, the third in the Raiders trilogy, alongside Tony Leung and Kris Wu. Cung’s story is an inspiring one. He fled war-torn Vietnam as a child to settle in California, and overcame prejudice at high-school to become a medal-winning wrestling champ. He explains his journey as a multi-disciplined martial artist, culminating in his many appearances for the UFC, before his acrimonious split from the organisation amid accusations of doping. He continues to fight for the fair representation of fighters contracted to the organisation, and is very vocal about his opposition to how the company is run. We discuss this topic as well as geeking out about working with visionary director Wong Kar-wai, saving the world in Pandorum, and how to make that difficult leap from the cage to the screen.LINKSFollow Cung Le on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CungLe185Follow Cung Le on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cungle185/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Actor, stunt performer, filmmaker, teacher, activist - there's a lot more to Diana Lee Inosanto than just being the daughter of legendary Filipino-American martial artist Dan Inosanto, not to mention the goddaughter of the iconic Bruce Lee. Despite being only seven when the martial arts superstar passed away in 1973, she still has fond memories of "Uncle Bruce" and growing up with the Lee family, with whom she is still very close. She has continued to teach the philosophy and martial arts of her father, and is currently working on bringing his life story to the big screen. She is collaborating with the veteran Hollywood producer Mark Gordon (Saving Private Ryan) to tell the story of Dan Inosanto's secret martial arts training regime with the Dallas Cowboys, regarded as the catalyst for the team winning the Super Bowl in 1978. In this candid conversation, Diana speaks of her interest and appreciation of the martial arts, as well as her journey as an actor and stunt performer. Her credits include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Face/Off, Blade and Wild Wild West; she has also worked as a fight trainer for actors including Aaron Eckhart and Melissa McCarthy. We also talk about the sexual abuse claims which have rocked Hollywood, highlighted by the Me Too movement. Diana speaks of her own experiences of sexual harassment and how the industry can use this breakthrough moment to make positive changes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Star of the 1985 Motown-produced cult classic, The Last Dragon, we welcome Taimak to our first podcast of 2018. Taimak Guarriello was only 19 when he made his starring-role debut as the wise kung fu kid 'Bruce' Leroy Green in Berry Gordy's weird and wonderful action fantasy. It's a fun mix of martial arts and music, but the shoot wasn't always smooth, and Taimak explains some of the on-set disputes, rivalries and relationships which fuelled the production. He discusses working with legendary music mogul, Berry Gordy, and his co-stars Julius Carry and Vanity. But we also talk about his tough upbringing in New York and London, where his bohemian parents introduced him to many of the major celebrities of the time, including the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Andy Warhol and David Bowie. He was inspired by Bruce Lee and Shaw Brothers films, and even trained under the legendary 'Black Dragon' himself, Ron Van Clief. Taimak has remained true to the martial arts ever since, and he continues to train all the time as well as make his own movies, including a pseudo-sequel to The Last Dragon, called Master. You can read more about Master on the film's Indiegogo page. You can also keep up-to-date with all of Taimak's activities by following him on Instagram and Twitter.Also on this episode, I spend a bit of time chatting to the actor, fitness trainer and filmmaker, Daniel Lue, who has just made his own kung fu movie, called Kung Fu Theatre. Its a zero-budget tribute to the old-school kung fu movies he loved in his youth, and you can watch it for free on Amazon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the Kung Fu Movie Guide's End of Year Show 2017, featuring the action movie expert and ‘Life of Action’ author Mike Fury. Listen as we reveal our Top 5 martial arts films of the year - and also share our thoughts on the worst film of the year. We also discuss the top martial arts movie news from 2017, and take a moment to remember some of the people who have died this year. We look back at some of the great guests who have appeared on the show, play some never-before-heard outtakes and - because it's a Christmas special - we also exchange a few Christmas presents. It's an action-packed episode and we hope you enjoy it! For more information on Mike Fury, visit mikefury.net. You can also follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Thank you Fu followers around the world for your continued support in 2017. Merry Christmas and a happy new year! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode comes to you live from Fighting Spirit Film Festival 2017, an all-day celebration of martial arts movies which took place in London, UK, on 16 September 2017. You will hear from up-and-coming UK filmmakers whose short films were shown at the event, including: multi-award-winning writer, director, producer, actor, stuntman and martial artist, Beau Fowler, whose short film Express Delivery picked up the award for Best Action Choreography at the festival; Doctor Strange actor Linda Louise Duan, who features in the short films I Am Not the Devil, Shadow Warriors and the Chinese animation, Foxy; the 'kung fu couple', David Cheung and Yolanda Lynes, who discuss their crowdfunded action comedy, The Real Target; the team behind the excellent Hong Kong action movie homage, Kowloon Killers, that's assistant director, Jonah Werth, and director, Leif Johnson, who took home the Audience Choice award at the event; plus the multi-talented Jon Xue Zhang, who is the subject of a mini-documentary called Portrait of a Martial Artist, and the event organiser, Soo Cole. I last spoke to Soo at the first Fighting Spirit Film Festival in July 2016, which was recorded for Episode 05 of the show. A full run-down of all the short films shown at this year's festival can be found at fightingspiritfilmfestival.com. LINKSFighting Spirit Film Festival website: https://www.fightingspiritfilmfestival.com/Fighting Spirit Film Festival on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FightingSpiritFilmFestival/Fighting Spirit Film Festival on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fsfilmfestival Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we welcome one of martial art cinema's all-time greatest villains to the show. The giant, musclebound German fighter Matthias Hues has spent a career taking on the likes of Dolph Lundgren, Cynthia Rothrock, Don "The Dragon" Wilson, Bolo Yeung, Billy Blanks, Lorenzo Lamas and Mark Dacascos. But despite his on-screen persona, Matthias is actually a very sweet-natured person, as revealed in this wide-reaching, in-depth conversation. His story is fascinating. He became a highly successful owner of health clubs in Germany before spontaneously moving to Hollywood at the height of the action movie boom in the 1980s. He worked out at the famous Gold's Gym and was eventually spotted, landing an early breakthrough role replacing Jean-Claude Van Damme in the 1988 sequel, No Retreat, No Surrender 2: Raging Thunder. He then landed the main villain role in the cult Dolph Lundgren movie, Dark Angel (1990 - also known as I Come in Peace).Throughout the video boom of the 1990s, Matthias Hues became the poster-boy for a special brand of low-budget American action film, and featured in fight flicks like Mission of Justice (1992), TC 2000 (1993), Bounty Tracker (1993), and Fists of Iron (1995). In more recent times, Matthias can be seen working with Mark Dacascos on a number of exciting new film projects, including Showdown in Manila (2016), Maximum Impact (2017), and Ultimate Justice (2017), which is available to buy on DVD from 3 October. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we celebrate the weird and wonderful world of Bruceploitation cinema with the martial arts action star, director, writer and fellow podcaster, Michael Worth. When he's not making his own movies, Michael has been following his passion for kung fu movies with a number of exciting projects. I catch up with him during the filming of his own Bruceploitation documentary, which looks into the strange sub-genre of films which followed in the wake of Bruce Lee's untimely death in 1973. The 'clones' films made cult stars out of a number of Bruce Lee imitators including Bruce Li, Bruce Le, Bruce Leung, and Dragon Lee. Many of these names feature in Michael's documentary, as well as legendary kung fu movie actors, directors and producers like Angela Mao Ying, Godfrey Ho, Lee Tso-nam, Mars, David Chiang, Yasuaki Kurata, and the late Phillip Ko.Michael has also penned an accompanying book, The Bruceploitation Bible: The Film Clones of Bruce Lee; both the book and the film will be released later in 2017. He is also helping with the digital restoration of a number of classic Bruceploitation titles for Blu-ray release, working alongside the distributor, Severin Films. Michael is also the co-host of The Clones Cast, a great podcast which looks at a different Bruceploitation title on every episode. In the 1990s, Michael Worth became a prominent star of martial arts action films with movies like Final Impact (1991), To Be the Best (1993) and Fists of Iron (1995). In more recent times, Michael has moved behind the camera to write and direct his own projects, which include Killing Cupid (2005), God's Ears (2008) and the upcoming MMA drama, The Butterfly Guard (2017). We discuss Michael's earliest memories of Bruceploitation cinema, the reasons behind its continuing cult appeal, and some of his favourite titles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fresh from his award-winning fight choreography duties on a string of Scott Adkins hits - including Boyka: Undisputed, Eliminators, Ninja: Shadow of a Tear, and the upcoming Accident Man and Triple Threat - it was a great pleasure to spend time with the Swedish martial arts maestro, Tim Man. A former taekwondo champion, Tim Man learned the hard way by getting knocked around as a stuntman in Thailand, working with the likes of Tony Jaa, Jeeja Yanin, Joe Lewis and Gordon Liu. Although he hates being interviewed, we still enjoy a wide-ranging chat about his life and career; from being an obsessed martial arts movie fan growing up in Malmö, Sweden, to his first leap into the action movie industry following the international success of Ong-Bak. We discuss why he continues to work with the British action star, Scott Adkins, and also his plans going forward in the movie business. This interview was recorded before Tim's success at the 2017 Shanghai International Film Festival, where he picked up the award for Best Fight Scene for his work in Boyka: Undisputed. Tim Man is a name to look out for and it was a pleasure talking to him for this episode of the podcast.LINKSTim Man's website: extremestunts.seTim Man action reel: https://youtu.be/omEBtqU-YFg Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scott Adkins is one of the world's biggest martial arts movie stars. From humble beginnings as a Van Damme and Bruce Lee obsessed taekwondo practitioner growing up in Birmingham, UK, to starring in some of the best fight movies of the last decade, Scott Adkins has consistently brought a unique charm, athleticism and authenticity to his own special brand of high-kicking action films. His latest film, Boyka: Undisputed 4, sees Scott reprise his most famous role as the Russian ex-con' and MMA expert, Yuri Boyka. You can order the Universal Studios Home Entertainment Blu-ray and DVD release of Boyka: Undisputed 4 right now from Amazon. As well as leading roles in the Undisputed and Ninja franchises, Scott's many other martial arts action films include Hard Target 2, Eliminators, Assassination Games, Wolf Warrior and Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning. He has worked on huge Hollywood blockbusters like Doctor Strange, The Bourne Ultimatum, The Expendables 2, X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Zero Dark Thirty, and worked with everyone including Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren and Jacky Wu Jing. Scott has most recently completed back-to-back projects with the stuntman-turned-director Jesse V. Johnson, including Savage Dog, Accident Man - in which Scott also worked as scriptwriter and producer - and Triple Threat. The latter is an all-star fight flick featuring Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Tiger Chen, Celina Jade, Jeeja Yanin, Michael Bisping and Michael Jai White. In this exclusive, wide-ranging interview, Scott talks about working with the Jackie Chan Stunt Team in Hong Kong, the trials and tribulations of Hollywood, his trademark style of fight choreography, and the increasing scourge of online piracy. Scott is the hardest working man in martial arts right now and it was a pleasure to sit with him and record this fascinating conversation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Céline Tran continues to enjoy a remarkably diverse career. She has gone from adult film star to action hero following the release of her first martial arts feature film, Jailbreak - Cambodia's first martial arts film. It was a hit when it was released locally in January 2017, and has now been picked up by The Raid distributors XYZ Films for international release. The film showcases Céline's awesome martial arts skills, which can also be seen in a number of great short films including 2014's Burst - choreographed by France's Cinemaction Stunts, the fight team behind Luc Besson’s Lucy (2014), Spectre (2015) and Jason Bourne (2016) - and 2016’s Bladed Minds, which displays Céline's skills with the Katana sword. We discuss her past as a professional adult film star under the name, Katsuni. She appeared in around 350 films in a career spanning 13 years. We discuss her former career as well as her many other interests. As well as being an actor, she is also a writer of comic books, a DJ, a contortionist, and a presenter and producer of self-defence videos, where she explores the Indonesian discipline of Pencak Silat. She also holds a black belt in karate.LINKSCéline Tran's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/MaVieDeNinja Céline Tran's website: https://www.maviedeninja.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bruce Lee historian and author Steve Kerridge is my guest on this special episode of the show, which is very much a celebration of Bruce Lee's life and work. Steve is the author of the fabulously detailed book, Bruce Lee: Legends of the Dragon, which outlines the making of the film The Way of the Dragon (1972). Along with fellow Bruce Lee expert David Tadman, Steve also produces the regular Bruce Lee Forever poster magazines (available to buy from the Eastern Heroes website). Steve's new book, Bruce Lee: The Authorized Visual History, is an official account of the life of the martial arts star, featuring rare photography and a foreward by Bruce Lee's daughter, Shannon Lee. It will be released later in 2017. Steve has also compiled books on Bruce Lee's many appearances in Hong Kong film and celebrity magazines, including the titles, Bruce Lee: Golden Movie News Annual, and Bruce Lee: Four Seas Weekly.As well as knowing pretty much everything there is to know about the late, great kung fu star, Steve is also a distinguished martial arts instructor who runs his own school, the Essex Kickboxing Academy. He has dedicated his life to studying martial arts ever since he first became obsessed with Bruce Lee in the early 1970s. Steve is part of the original, first-wave of Bruce Lee fans who remembers sneaking into cinemas in the UK to catch a glimpse of their hero, who passed away at the young age of 32 in 1973 after only starring in four complete films. Visit the podcast section on kungfumovieguide.com to find links to the books we discuss on this episode. Many of the proceeds Steve makes from his books go towards the Bruce Lee Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation who do great work in funding social and educational initiatives. Go to bruceleefoundation.org to find out more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aspiring filmmakers should definitely tune into this episode of the Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast, as I talk to two up-and-coming, talented, London-based directors Matthias Hoene and James Nunn, who are both making waves internationally with their own action films. Firstly, I talk to the director Matthias Hoene about his new film, Enter the Warrior's Gate (aka Warrior's Gate), a Chinese-European co-production written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen. The time-traveling wuxia fantasy stars Dave Bautista, Uriah Shelton, and the Chinese actors Ni Ni, Mark Chao, Francis Ng and Kara Hui. If you are reading this in the States, you can watch the film right now exclusively on DirecTV.My second guest is James Nunn, who has become a highly sought-after director after being launched onto the UK indie scene with his first directorial effort, the acclaimed thriller Tower Block (2012), co-directed with Ronnie Thompson. He has since collaborated with top UK fighting star Scott Adkins on two films: Green Street 3: Never Back Down (2013), and Eliminators (2016), which was James' first film under contract with WWE Studios. His most recent movie, The Marine 5: Battleground (2017), featured a number of WWE wrestlers and is available to watch right now on digital and Blu-ray. We discuss his earliest film memories, working with Scott Adkins, how to make a convincing action movie in London, and the impact piracy is having on the film industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was a pleasure talking to the rising Asian-American movie star JuJu Chan on the latest podcast. JuJu was born in Hong Kong and raised in America where she has enjoyed prominent roles in films like the Netflix-produced Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny (2016) - directed by kung fu movie legend Yuen Woo-ping and starring Donnie Yen and Michelle Yeoh - and her new film, Jesse Johnson's Savage Dog (2017), starring Scott Adkins, Cung Le and Marko Zaror. JuJu continues to work across the American and Chinese film markets. She has just completed work on Fruit Chan's The Invincible Dragon, which co-stars Max Zhang and the UFC fighter Anderson Silva. We discuss JuJu's multifaceted career, which has seen her graduate from film school in New York to winning beauty pageants around the world, followed by a star-making turn in a popular Hong Kong reality TV show which made her a household name. She has written books, released an album, and continues to train in the martial arts. She has recently become a spokesperson for a smartphone fitness app called Move It. If you want to purchase the app, you can get a 10 per cent discount when you enter this offer code: juju2017. Listen to us chat about many topics including Asian actresses in Hollywood, beauty pageants, how to keep fit, and doing karaoke with Michelle Yeoh. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is an action-packed show with not one, not two, but three up-and-coming UK martial arts stars. Firstly, I catch up with the directors, writers and stars of the new martial arts action flick The Real Target: David Cheung and Yolanda Lynes. After raising funds through their Indiegogo campaign, David and Yolanda are now in production with The Real Target alongside a cast of great UK fighting talent. They took time out of their busy schedule to talk to me about how the film is taking shape, and what they are learning about the production process.Then I have a chat with the great Katrina Durden, the London-born martial arts star who is making waves in the action movie industry following her performance as the Blonde Zealot in 2016's Marvel superhero blockbuster, Doctor Strange. We chat about her experiences making the film alongside some of the UK's premier action talent. She looks set to be working on some exciting projects over the next few years and we look forward to charting her progress in the industry.This episode features an excerpt from the Doctor Strange theme, which is called The Master of the Mystic End Credits by Michael Giacchino. Buy on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/song/1440809984. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What better way to launch the second season of podcasts than with a chat to one of Hollywood's most beloved and prolific stunt co-ordinators, J.J. Perry. Jordan Andrew 'J.J.' Perry has been involved in some of the best action movies of the last 25 years, including Avatar, Iron Man, Star Trek Into Darkness, Django Unchained, Transformers: Age of Extinction and the John Wick films. He trained Gina Carano for Haywire, Tom Hardy for Warrior, Gerard Butler for 300, Milla Jovovich for Ultraviolet and Hugh Jackman for X-Men Origins: Wolverine. His most recent films include work as stunt co-ordinator on Ang Lee's Billy Lynn’s Half Time Walk, The Fate of the Furious - the eighth film in the Fast and Furious franchise - and the Stephen King adaptation, The Dark Tower. In this episode, we talk about J.J.'s ongoing work with Chad Stahelski and David Leitch at the 87eleven stunt team, including his most recent contributions to the extraordinary John Wick series. We also discuss his upbringing in Texas where he first discovered his love of taekwondo, becoming a highly decorated competitive fighter and instructor before pursuing a career in the army. We discuss his early work as a stuntman, before he landed key positions in TV shows like Walker: Texas Ranger and the Mortal Kombat franchise which helped him to cement his name in Hollywood. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here's a kung fu movie double bill for the final episode in the first season of Kung Fu Movie Guide podcasts. Join me as I have a quick chat with the legendary Korean-born Hapkido master and former action star Hwang In-shik, famous for his role in the 1972 Bruce Lee classic The Way of the Dragon, and his work with Jackie Chan in The Young Master and Dragon Lord. The person I have to thank for organising the interview is my second guest on the show, Ricky Baker.'Kung Fu Ricky' has dedicated his life to the promotion of Hong Kong and kung fu cinema. His work as part of the Eastern Heroes label alongside film expert Toby Russell has seen him publish books, magazines and documentaries on kung fu cinema, as well as provide Hong Kong movie stars with their first taste of western exposure, hosting events with the likes of Chow Yun-fat, Donnie Yen, Jet Li and Gordon Liu. His work in championing the golden age of Hong Kong cinema continues to this day with the Eastern Heroes shop and website where fans can purchase rare memorabilia and new material, like his array of Bruce Lee titles written by the highly knowledgeable historian, Steve Kerridge. Ricky shares his memories of working in the promotions industry as well as meeting his heroes like John Woo and Quentin Tarantino. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here's a real treat for fans of competitive kickboxing and martial arts movies, as I have a conversation with former world champion Jerry "Golden Boy" Trimble. Kentucky-born Trimble took the kickboxing world by storm in the 1980s by winning four consecutive world championships before embarking on a highly successful film career. His debut feature was alongside Jet Li in Tsui Hark's The Master, before taking starring roles in a number of action films produced by the king of exploitation cinema, Roger Corman. In 1995, his acting career took a different turn when he landed a key supporting role as a detective alongside Al Pacino in Michael Mann's classic crime film, Heat.On this podcast, you will hear from Jerry about his time on the set of Heat where he received first-hand acting advice from Al Pacino. Jerry also discusses the origins of his 'Golden Boy' nickname, the pitfalls of fame, the time he fought on screen with Tom Cruise and Drew Barrymore, and also the wisdom he has learnt from a life in the limelight. Jerry Trimble lives in Vancouver, Canada, where he continues to work in TV and film. Find out more about Jerry by visiting his website, jerrytrimble.com. Thank you again to George Dennis for his technical support. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

British actor and former world kickboxing champion Cengiz Dervis is my guest on this episode of the Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast. This interview took place in the same week Cengiz discovered that he had landed a large role in a new 10-part TV series produced by Marvel's Avengers star Jeremy Renner and The History Channel called Knightfall. Since retiring from the ring, Cengiz has worked behind-the-scenes as a fighting coach, training the likes of Natalie Imbruglia and Rowan Atkinson for the Johnny English films, and also Rosamund Pike for the James Bond film, Die Another Day. He also runs his own production company, Fight Me Productions, for which he writes, directs and produces his own projects.Cengiz was taught martial arts by his uncle from the age of five. He continues to train six times a week, even mastering the legendary Iron Palm (or 'dim mak') technique. Cengiz discusses how a troublesome upbringing in a rough part of London forced him to develop his self-defense skills, and how he channels the same commitment he displayed in the ring into his acting work. Cengiz has worked with Scott Adkins and Joey Ansah on Green Street 3: Never Back Down, and Ansah's subsequent work with Alain Moussi in the Street Fighter: Resurrection TV mini-series. We are predicting great things for Cengiz, so be sure to keep up to date with all his latest news via his website, cengizdervis.com. Big thanks to George Dennis for his continuing technical support. Also, a quick warning: there is a bit of bad language on this one. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.