The Martial Arts Mania Podcast

This week, Gavin and I return with one of our fan favorite episode formats- Kung Fu Comfort Films Vol. 7! Listen in as we break down these favorites we come back to time and time again. Whether we need a film to sit down and watch, some background noise, or a little form of escapism, these movies always deliver an extra dose of nostalgia and entertainment! 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!

We have a first this week! With Gavin still out of town on his workcation, we have our first ever returning guest! Joining me this week is Wing Chun instructor, podcaster, and everyone’s favorite neighborhood bus driver, Randel Davis! Together, we are breaking down a suggestion of his, the moving, coming of age, martial arts anime epic- ‘The Boy and the Beast’. Listen in as we break down this magnificent picture, what we liked so much about it, and why you should watch it, even if you aren’t a typical anime fan! 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, while Gavin is out of town, I’ve got a very special guest helping me review a pretty epic movie! Joining me in the virtual studio is martial artist, podcaster, and Wing Chun instructor Topher Mowry aka that other Wing Chun guy! And you may be thinking “Ok, so they are going to review a Wing Chun film right?” Well, that would be too predictable! Instead, we are watching a movie about one of the greatest Karate masters of all time- ‘Karate Bullfighter’ aka ‘Champion of Death’! Based off of the HIGHLY fictionalized manga about Kyokushin Karate founder Mas Oyama, this Sonny Chiba film features everything we love about the Toei Karate films of the 1970’s. Zany, cartoonish villains? Check ✅ Over the top melodrama? Check ✅ Epic Karate training and fight scenes? DOUBLE CHECK ✅✅ Oh, and did I mention he fights a bull? Listen in as we break down what we love so much about this movie and the other works of Sonny Chiba, elements of Karate and what makes it so special, and why you should watch this movie ASAP if you haven’t already! 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!

2024 has been the year of surprises and films exceeding our expectations in terms of martial arts cinema. First, we had ‘Twilight Warriors: Walled In’ which ended up being an INCREDIBLE film that we honestly both went into expecting to be disappointed. Instead, we were treated to one of our favorite martial arts movies of the past decade! Then we had ‘Officer Black Belt’, which came out of NOWHERE and gave us one of the most moving and powerful narratives to ever be told in the martial arts film genre! Now, we have another contender for best flick of the year, and this one is going to BLOW YOUR MIND! Hailing from the land down under, and bringing some insane martial arts thunder, is one of the GREATEST straight to video films we’ve ever witnessed, ‘Life After Fighting’! Directed by, written by, and starring martial arts maestro Bren Foster, this explosive fight fest brings an onslaught of martial arts melees at the highest level, both in terms of choreography and execution, as well as a moving story with characters that you are truly invested in. Throw in an atrociously vicious and vile villain, and strong performances that exceed the expectations of the genre, and everyone can find something to enjoy in this truly compelling picture. Oh, and did we mention that there is a BALLS-TO-THE-WALL 25 MINUTE LONG FINALE?! Streaming stateside on Tubi TV, you must do yourself a favor and watch this one as soon as possible! Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for your continued support and we hope you enjoy!

Hot off the press, we JUST recorded this episode about an hour ago! We apologize about the delay this week, but we have a great episode where we talk about the KILLER double Chuck Norris screening at the New Beverly Cinema last week! We were privileged enough to get to see what can be considered Chuck’s two “horror” films in his vast library of work, ‘Silent Rage’ and ‘Hero and the Terror’. Listen in as we talk about this unique double feature, my epic weekend leading up to, and some of the fun activities that we participated in! Be warned- we go off on a lot of tangents this episode, ranging from: food, training, light beer, Hot Yoga, and so much more! 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 reviewing one of our FAVORITE Karate films of all time, the aptly titled Karate Girl! Starring real-life Shōrin-ryū black belt Rina Takeda, as well as featuring an appearance by Karate master Naka Tatsuya, this low-budget martial arts pic delivers high octane results! With a plethora of fantastic action scenes, manga inspired characters, and a story that embodies that true Bushido spirit, this film has a little bit of something for everyone! On top of all that, it has what very well may be the GREATEST Karate fight scene of all time! 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 talking about our return to the New Beverly Cinema for a double dose of Hong Kong action madness! Starting off with a Chow Yun-Fat heroic bloodshed entry with ‘City War’, and followed by an action adventure epic in ‘The Legend of Wisely’, listen in as we break down these two super fun films and all of our usual activities that go along with these bad ass screenings at Tarantino’s 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!

This week we are reviewing the biggest surprise of the year so far, a movie that left us completely blown away… ‘Officer Black Belt’! One of the most poignant, powerful, and triumphant tales of heroism in recent memory, this newly released Korean Netflix action picture is so much more than what it appears on the surface. Tackling an absolutely horrifying and unfortunately all too real subject matter, director Kim Ju-hwan manages to create a narrative of hope, compassion, and optimism in a world that is growing ever dark and full of despair. Filled with enjoyable and purely good-natured characters, going up against some of the evilest monsters in human form, this story is a reminder to us that there are courageous individuals left in the world, sacrificing everything to make it a better place for the rest of us. Kim Woo-Bin’s superb portrayal of our protagonist Lee Jung-Do is nothing short of amazing, and one of the most likable martial arts characters of all time. Pitted against the utterly heinous Kang Ki-Jung (magnificently portrayed by Lee Hyun-geol), Jung-Do must overcome insurmountable odds to bring to justice an atrocious crime ring hell-bent on hurting the vulnerable and innocent of our society. Combining perhaps the most moving and compelling story to ever be told through the lens of the martial arts film genre, with top-of-the-line action scenes as well, ‘Officer Black Belt’ has a little bit of something for everyone. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll be on the edge of your seat in fear, but ultimately you will leave knowing that at the end of the day, there are still real heroes out there, and the power of the human spirit can always prevail if you believe in it enough! Thanks again for your continued support and we hope you enjoy!

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!