The A-Z of Martial Arts Styles in Movies (Part Two)
M to Z
Welcome back to our alphabetical journey through martial arts in cinema! In this second part, we'll explore representations of martial arts styles from M to Z. As before, I am not claiming these are the definitive representations, but rather some personal favorites that I hope you'll enjoy too.
Bear in mind that I struggled a little with entries for some of the latter letters, so they aren't all necessarily purely martial arts movies, but at the very least, movies that feature the style effectively!
M = Muay Thai/Boran: Ong Bak (2003)
"Ong Bak," the modern martial arts classic, offers a raw and mind-blowing showcase of Muay Thai and its parent art, Muay Boran. The film follows Ting, a young villager who travels to Bangkok to retrieve a stolen Buddha statue, using his Muay Thai skills to overcome various obstacles and opponents.
Tony Jaa, who has since become a household name for his incredible talents, did all of the stunt work and action scenes himself, often risking serious injury to capture the pure adrenaline-fueled martial arts shots that make up this movie. Jaa's raw energy and incredible athleticism perfectly capture the essence of these ancient Thai martial arts, making for a must-watch movie for all martial artists.
The fight club scene is one of the highlights.
N = Ninjutsu: Ninja Series (2009 & 2013)
Scott Adkins stars in the movie "Ninja" and its sequel "Ninja: Shadow of a Tear", both of which showcase Ninjutsu in all its stealthy glory. In the first film, Adkins plays Casey Bowman, an orphaned American adopted by a Ninjutsu master in Japan. When a prized katana is stolen, Casey must use his skills to retrieve it and protect his sensei's daughter.
Although the movie is certainly cheesy and somewhat dated in its 80s-style storyline, what it lacks in plot can be more than made up for by Adkins' impressive fighting skills and the movie's action directing. Adkins, having trained in various martial arts, does a great job of embodying the style of Ninjutsu. His fights incorporate striking, grappling, deception techniques, infiltration, and of course, the use of swords, staffs, and throwing stars.
Check out the final fight for a display of nearly all of the above:
O = Okinawan Karate: The Karate Kid Part II (1986)
In "The Karate Kid Part II," Daniel LaRusso travels to Okinawa with his teacher, Mr. Miyagi. The film explores Miyagi's past and introduces a new rival, Chozen, forcing Daniel to apply his karate skills in a different cultural context.
Here we get a look at Miyagi-Do and other styles that represent Okinawan Karate. These depictions emphasize balance, discipline, focus, and simplicity that are pivotal features of Okinawan Karate, alongside the rural settings and hard training methods. The later series "Cobra Kai" expands on this exploration of Okinawan Karate and its philosophies, adding depth to its portrayal by revisiting key scenes and aspects. Both the film and the series offer insights into the cultural and spiritual aspects of this martial art.
Karate Kid 2:
Cobra Kai:
P = Pencak Silat: The Raid Series (2011 & 2014)
"The Raid" and "The Raid 2" are fantastic showcases of Pencak Silat, the Indonesian martial art known for its brutal and dynamic combat. In the first film, an elite SWAT team becomes trapped in a tenement run by a ruthless mobster and must fight their way out. The sequel expands the scope, following the protagonist as he goes undercover to infiltrate the criminal underworld.
These films feature intense choreography and stunning fight sequences, highlighting Pencak Silat's effectiveness in both armed and unarmed combat. The series, and in particular the main character (Rama) played by Iko Uwais, does a great job in capturing the unique aspects of the style, such as the low stances, joint manipulation, and heavy use of knives and short-bladed weapons. All these elements add to the mix to create raw, visceral fights dripping with intensity and fury.
Here is Rama taking on a machete gang:
Q = Quarterstaff: Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
Although not a traditional martial arts film, "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" features some memorable combat scenes. Most notably, its representation of the famous quarterstaff duel between Robin Hood and Little John (played here by Kevin Costner and Nick Brimble) on a log bridge. The quarterstaff came to prominence in the European Middle Ages for its strength, simplicity, and wide availability. This scene highlights the versatility and power of the weapon, as well as certain techniques that are the hallmark of European quarterstaff fighting. For instance, striking horizontally with both ends while gripping the staff in the center (aka a 'paddle-hold'), which may have been due to the fact that quarterstaffs are typically rough in nature and therefore less easy to change grips with.
You can see the scene here:
R = Rex Kwon Do: Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
Although purely fictional, "Rex Kwon Do" from the cult classic "Napoleon Dynamite" has become a highly influential 'Martial Art'. The film follows the awkward and alienated Napoleon Dynamite as he navigates high school life, family troubles, and his friend Pedro's campaign for class president.
Rex Kwon Do's creator, the flamboyant Rex (played by Diedrich Bader), is a hilarious parody of American martial arts culture. With his stars-and-stripes pants and over-the-top machismo, Rex embodies the stereotypical "strip-mall dojo" instructor. His famous line, "Break the wrist, walk away," has become iconic in pop culture. While purely comedic, "Rex Kwon Do" went on to inspire real-life parody martial artists like Master Ken, creator of the fictional style "Ameri-Do-Te." This entry reminds us that sometimes, it's good to laugh at ourselves and the quirks of martial arts culture.
Here is Rex in all his glory:
S = Shaolin Kung Fu: The Shaolin Temple (1982)
"The Shaolin Temple" is a classic film that in many ways helped bring Shaolin Kung Fu to a wider audience and the modern collective awareness. Set in ancient China, the movie tells the story of Jue Yuan, a young man who seeks refuge at the Shaolin Temple to learn Kung Fu and avenge his father's death.
Starring Jet Li in his breakthrough role, it showcases the rich tradition of Shaolin martial arts with impressive choreography and historical context. The film's depiction of the rigorous training and formidable techniques of Shaolin Kung Fu is extremely interesting. Meanwhile, the variety of weapons and techniques displayed in the movie, alongside the skills of a young Jet Li, who even then would clearly go on to become a superstar, make it a martial arts classic.
T = Taekwondo: City of Violence (2006)
For an explosive showcase of Taekwondo, "City of Violence" offers an exciting modern take on Korean martial arts. The story revolves around two friends who return to their hometown to attend a funeral, only to uncover a web of corruption and violence that leads them on a path of revenge.
The director Ryoo Seung-wan stars alongside renowned choreographer and martial artist Jung Doo-hong. City of Violence is an action-packed movie that features some of the most dynamic and innovative fight scenes in Korean cinema. The movie brilliantly demonstrates the powerful kicking and acrobatic techniques of Taekwondo alongside contemporary street fighting, creating unique visuals that are both brutal and stylistic. In particular, one scene in which the protagonists battle against a small army of gangsters is a tour de force of Korean martial arts cinema.
V = Vovinam: The Rebel (2007)
"The Rebel" is an historical martial arts movie set in 1920s French-occupied Vietnam. The movie follows a Vietnamese agent working for the French who has a change of heart and joins the resistance movement against colonial rule.
The film stars Johnny Tri Nguyen and highlights the range of dynamic techniques and principles found in Vietnamese martial arts. With its blend of historical drama and intense combat, "The Rebel" provides an engaging look at these lesser-known martial arts. The movie doesn’t strictly feature Vovinam (which was still being developed at the time) but instead a blend of martial arts from the region, including Nguyen's family fighting style, which comes from the same area and period as Vovinam, making them very closely related. This movie also features a lot of the similar themes of Vovinam, which embody resistance fighting and defense for the people.
Johnny Tri Nguyen still teaches his family style and runs an MMA gym in Ho Chi Minh City. You can see my recent interview with him about the development of MMA in Vietnam here:
W = Wing Chun: Ip Man (2008)
"Ip Man" is simply one of the best martial arts films of the 21st century. Set in 1930s Foshan, the movie follows the life of Ip Man, a Wing Chun master (and the real-life teacher of Bruce Lee), during the Japanese occupation of China. As he faces personal struggles and the brutality of the occupying forces, Ip Man uses his martial arts skills to defend his community and preserve Chinese dignity.
Donnie Yen's portrayal of Ip Man captures the essence of Wing Chun with its elegant, efficient techniques and close-quarter combat. Meanwhile, the film's choreography, camera work, lighting, and directing enhance this making it an absolute standout of martial arts cinema.
While there are undoubtedly strong ideological messages embedded within the film, and it is far from being factually accurate, these aspects should not stop you from enjoying it as a great cinematic tale of risk and rebellion.
Here is one of my favorite martial arts scenes in all of cinema:
X = Xing-Yi Quan: The One (2001)
"The One" is a millennial, sci-fi martial arts adventure featuring Jet Li as a character who discovers a version of himself from the multiverse (124 parallel universes) is killing the other versions of himself to steal their power and eventually become 'The One'. The film follows the final two remaining versions of Li (Gabe and Yulaw), as one tries to kill the other to become a demi-god.
In the movie, the good Jet Li (Gabe) utilizes Baghuazhang, an internal martial art that emphasizes soft, rotating movements, while the evil version (Yulaw) uses Xing-Yi Quan, a far more aggressive style that utilizes powerful strikes in a straightforward approach. Li's portrayal of Xing-Yi Quan and its powerful nature offers a great dynamic and engaging representation of this martial art and also allows Jet Li to showcase both his range in fighting styles and acting abilities.
Y = Yabusame: The Last Samurai (2003)
"The Last Samurai," starring Tom Cruise, tells the story of Nathan Algren, a disillusioned American Civil War veteran who is hired to train the Japanese Emperor's troops in modern warfare. He eventually becomes immersed in the world of the samurai, learning their ways and fighting to preserve their culture.
While the film certainly has its flaws in terms of historical accuracy, one area it does well in is the representation of Japanese mounted bowmanship, known as Yabusame. It features several memorable scenes depicting training and fighting using the martial art, which emphasizes precision and the Zen-like state of harmony between horse, rider and bow. While not a martial art in the traditional sense, the portrayal of Yabusame in the film offers an authentic look at this unique aspect of Japanese warrior traditions.
Here are some highlights:
Z = Zui Quan: Drunken Master II (1994)
Jackie Chan's "Drunken Master II" (also known as "The Legend of Drunken Master" in some regions) is the perfect finale for our list, showcasing Zui Quan or Drunken Fist Kung Fu. The film follows Wong Fei-hung, a Chinese folk hero, as he uses his unique style of martial arts to fight against foreign colonialists and corrupt businessmen.
This style imitates the movements of a drunk person to confuse opponents and create unpredictable attacks. Chan's performance is a masterclass in physical comedy and martial arts prowess, demonstrating the style's swaying, staggering techniques with incredible skill and humor. The film's elaborate fight scenes and Chan's commitment to performing his own stunts make it a classic in the martial arts genre.
And there you have it - a journey through the alphabet of martial arts in cinema! Feel free to share your thoughts or suggest any other films that you think represent these styles well. Happy watching!