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Based on Pacific Street’s successful two-hour
broadcast special, MARTIAL ARTS:
THE REAL STORIES, will take the viewer further
into the little known world of secret martial techniques
– and their practitioners. From the legendary
“Beast of Amsterdam,” Jon Bluming, whose
fists are well-known to the denizens of the Red Light
District, to Nan Don Sken, a Thai Boxer whose high flying
kicks can easily fell an opponent twice his height,
this program wasn't about the Hong Kong myths and Hollywood
legends – it was about the “real thing.”
What’s the real thing? They’re fighters
who can’t afford to do endless re-takes on a Hollywood
set or who only put on padding and gloves to compete
in the ring. These are street hardened brawlers who
know that real fights are over in a matter of seconds,
and it’s the fighter who gets in the first blow
that will usually walk away.
MARTIAL ARTS: THE REAL STORIES
will draw upon the Pacific Street Film archive to
tell the stories of the practitioners who've mastered
the fighting forms of Chinese “grand ultimate
boxing,” T’AI CHI CHUAN; the deadly and
ancient art of Indian KALARIPPAYATTU, which some claim
may be the world’s oldest martial art; French
“foot fighting,” SAVATE,. which grew to
fruition on the tough Marseilles waterfront; and the
athletic Brazilian CAPOEIRA, which African slaves
disguised as a dance to fool their Portuguese overseers.
Original footage will take a hard look at the secret
practices of increasing "chi" or vital energy
through the technique of DIM MAK, the most ancient
and mysterious Chinese art, which translates as "death-point
striking". The aim of the practitioner is to
strike at vital body parts which affect the circulatory,
respiratory and nervous systems. Timing and accuracy
are everything. The origin of this method is often
attributed to an Indian prince, who, 5,000 years ago,
studied the fighting techniques of animals and then
practiced them on his slaves. Stories abound of DIM
MAK masters practicing their deadly technique in challenge
matches (allegedly, the last one was fought in 1936
in Macao). One incident is apocryphal -- A DIM MAK
master simply placed his hand on the chest of his
opponent. Two weeks later the opponent grew gravely
ill. An X-ray revealed an imprint of a hand on his
internal organs. Several bona fide practitioners (some
of whom have already been filmed) are still around
– from Japan to Australia. One is a distinguished
looking gentleman, who at one time managed an ice
cream parlor in the Madras Region of India and served
as an extra in many Bollywood movies. But his gentle
and shy manner belies a knowledge that is so deadly
that he has only imparted it to one student. It is
the secret art of MARMA-ADI, the striking of vital
points, and the deadliest of Kalari Payat techniques.
With this secret knowledge an opponent can be killed
instantly, or if needed, revived using the same techniques.
"Understand that you should use this art only
when your life is in danger, and you have no other
means of protecting yourself," the practitioner
remarked, "You should not use it in a fight."
MARTIAL ARTS: THE REAL STORIES
will be a compelling visual and visceral examination
of the secret techniques of martial arts where results
are more important than showmanship -- and where a
deadly blow can be landed with astonishing swiftness
by a 200 pound practitioner. Our martial artists,
drawn from cultures around the world, have reached
the highest levels of their art, and are the "best
of the best."
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