The Martial Arts Mania Podcast

His sword made him a hero. His courage made him a legend. When it comes to Zatoichi... justice is blind! This week Gavin and I are coming at you with a super in-depth analysis of Shintaro Katsu’s final outing as his iconic blind swordsman character in the visually extravagant ‘Zatoichi: Darkness is His Ally’ (1989). The 26th and penultimate film in the long-running series, this would be the last time we see Katsu’s classic portrayal of the wandering Yakuza, whose quick draw swordsmanship and prosperous gambling skills could be matched by none. Listen in as we breakdown the most unique entry in the series, directed by Shintaro Katsu himself. With a stunning mise-en-scène and abstract story telling style full of poignant and powerful vignettes, this film stands out from the crowd in the beloved chanbara チャンバラ genre of Japanese cinema. You can listen to The Martial Arts Mania Podcast on Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeart Podcasts! Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for your continued support and we hope you enjoy!

This week we are discussing the epic good time we had watching the 90’s cult classic ‘Surf Ninjas’ up on the big screen at Vidiots in Eagle Rock! Filled with fun, friends, and fans galore, this was one of the coolest screenings we have ever been to! With special appearances from cast members Nicolas Cowan and Ernie Reyes Jr., as well as an ultra cool ambiance that only a venue like Vidiots could provide, we were left with a nostalgic sense of awesomeness that can only be summed up in two words… KWANTZU DUDES!!!! Listen in as we break down this fan favorite film, what we love so much about it, and why it is truly an underrated comedic gem. Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for your continued support and we hope you enjoy!

This week we are reviewing the action extravaganza that is.…’Twilight Warriors: Walled in’ aka ‘Kowloon Walled City’! A MAJOR surprise for both Gavin and me, this is one of the BEST martial arts action pictures in years! A thrill ride from start to finish, it is a throwback to the classic Hong Kong films of old, both aesthetically and thematically. With incredible action sequences, AMAZING costume and set design, and a phenomenal cast, this movie has a little bit of something for everyone; whether you are a hardcore fan of the genre or new to martial arts cinema as well. Listen in as we discuss what we loved about this film, why we initially had some hesitations going in, and why you should watch it ASAP! And if for no other reason, you should check it out for the extraordinary, fun as hell, scene stealing performance from Philip Ng, who creates one of the most insane and maniacal martial arts villains we have seen since the glory days of Hong Kong cinema! We’re calling it right now, best supporting actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards and/or Golden Horse awards! Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for your continued support and we hope you enjoy!

The Martial Arts Mania Podcast is BACK! We have finally returned after our summer break hiatus, and we are super excited to share with you everything that has been going on in our busy lives! Listen in as we go over some major life changes, a couple of killer accomplishments, a few hurdles we’ve encountered along the way, as well as the awesome Bruce Lee double screening we just attended at the New Beverly Cinema! Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for your continued support and we hope you enjoy! #brucelee #thebigboss #fistoffury #kungfumovies #thenewbeverly #hongkong #martialarts #podcast

It’s been a little bit, and we apologize about the delay, but we ARE BACK! Listen in as we discuss one of THE BEST Kung Fu screenings we’ve been to in a while- the Jimmy Wang Yu double feature at the New Beverly last month! Featured were two BEAUTIFUL 35mm copies of both ‘The One Armed Boxer’ and ‘Master of the Flying Guillotine”. Not only that, but we were accompanied by the one any only Peter ‘Sugarfoot’ Cunningham, or was we like to call him… Sensei! Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for your continued support and we hope you enjoy!

This week, we are discussing one of the coolest, fun, over-the-top, genre melding action/adventure extravaganzas, ‘Big Trouble in Little China’! Not only that, we have a very special guest joining us in this deep dive of the John Carpenter classic, Randel Davis of the ‘Kung Fu Conversations’ podcast! Listen in as we nerd out about anything and everything martial arts, 80’s action, and Kung Fu movie related. Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for your continued support and we hope you enjoy!

This week, Gavin and I are breaking down our AMAZING Bruceploitation weekend in Los Angeles. It might have been our second time viewing the brilliant documentary ‘Enter the Clones of Bruce’, but it was our very FIRST time meeting the larger than life Kung Fu superstar, and one of the “Big Three” clones himself- Bruce Le! Listen in as we go over our action packed weekend, which included: workouts, Hong Kong themed escape rooms, beach trips, hanging with friends such as Michael Worth and Frank Djeng, and the MOST INCREDIBLE POPCORN WE’VE EVER HAD courtesy of the Alamo Drafthouse Theater!!! Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for your continued support and we hope you enjoy!

This week, we’re breaking away from the usual format of reviewing martial arts films and doing our very first Karate Combat recap/breakdown! Joining me for this inaugural episode is coach, trainer and multi-time kickboxing and MMA champion German ‘The Bat’ Baltazar! Listen in as we breakdown Karate Combat 45: Dubai- Karate vs. Muay Thai! This was an especially fun card with the contrast in styles, the special ruleset, and some of the VERY big names they had fighting on it. We give our honest critique of what we liked and didn’t like about the event, what appeals to us about Karate Combat, and what we think they still need to work on. You can listen to The Martial Arts Mania Podcast on Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeart Podcasts! Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Also, don’t forget to follow German’s AMAZING design company- the Union Designs!Thanks again for your continued support and we hope you enjoy!

New episode alert! This week we are tackling the brand new, pulse-pounding epic- Monkey Man! A cinematic experience like nothing you’ve ever seen, this non-stop thrill ride will keep your eyes glued to the screen from start to finish! Ultimately captivating from the beginning, but consciously aware of narrative structure, first time Director/ writer/star Dev Patel brilliantly creates a slow burning yet highly kinetic, viscerally mesmerizing, in your face revenge thriller! Deeply engrained in multiple cultures, genres, and cinematic modes- Patel proves himself as an all around powerhouse with one of the best directorial debuts in recent memory, and like the character he so passionately portrays, has been reborn as the ultimate leading man! Listen is as we break down the brilliance of this film, why we feel it is so good, and why you should immediately stop what you are doing and go see it in theaters! Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for your continued support and we hope you enjoy!

This week, Gavin and I are tackling the very difficult task of reviewing the new action picture Road House (2024), the remake of the beloved 80’s fight-fest classic. Reviews have been mixed to say the least, with some people loving it, and others absolutely despising it. We try to give as fair of a review as possible, sharing what we loved about it (*hint hint* a certain unhinged and absolutely maniacal Irish henchman) and what we were EXTREMELY annoyed by (*hint hint* a WEAK script and even WEAKER CG). Listen in as we dissect what the film got right, what it got terribly wrong, and what we can hope for if they do any sort of follow up. Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for your continued support and we hope you enjoy!