GAMERS DECIDE - Action Movies

Top 25 Movies Like Hitman (Movies Better Than Hitman In Their Own Way

Aaronnluke — Sat, 11 Feb 2023 15:10:33 +0000

Fans of the Hitman video game franchise might have been excited about the release of the Hitman movie back in 2007. Whatever your opinions are of this movie, it was exciting to see Agent 47 on the big screen, played by the talented Timothy Olyphant. Inspired by the games, this movie sets its story up as a different approach from the titles before it. At the same time, though, it’s obvious that the Hitman movie cares about the source material.

Without spoiling anything, the movie goes like this: Agent 47, a highly skilled assassin trained by the ICA, is sent by Diana Burnwood to eliminate Russian President Mikhail Belicoff. Everything goes according to plan until 47’s superiors tell him the assassination attempt failed, and how he must go out and eliminate a witness to the crime. Agent 47 then finds himself caught in the middle of a political conspiracy that spans throughout the whole world.

The Hitman movie is undoubtedly exciting and is a decent screen adaptation of the popular franchise. However, as an action thriller, there are many more like it. So, if you really enjoyed Hitman, or didn’t but want something like it, it might be worth it to check out these similar movies.

25. Hitman: Agent 47

Hitman: Agent 47 is very similar to the original Hitman film because, well, they share the same source material. Though not directly connected to the other movie, it’s another on-screen adaptation of Agent 47 and the ICA.

Both movies share a similar start: Agent 47 is a hitman working for the ICA and is set on a mission to kill someone. This time, it’s the daughter of the geneticist who created 47, who the movie mainly follows. A man named John Smith finds Katia and warns her of 47, and the two have a few close encounters with him. I think any fans of the original Hitman movie, or the franchise in general, would get a kick out of this one.

24. The Mechanic

The Mechanic is another movie with a very similar premise to Hitman. Though not inspired by the franchise, The Mechanic follows a hitman, played by Jason Statham, who specializes in making his hits look like accidents or suicides to fool police. It’s pretty similar to how a level of a Hitman game would play out.

The film follows this hitman, Arthur Bishop, after he takes out a Colombian cartel boss. He then meets up with his mentor’s son, Steve, and begins to train him. Bishop takes Steve on one of his hits, and the story really picks up when everything goes wrong. The Mechanic is a very enjoyable movie with great action that anyone would like.

23. John Wick

I have no doubt that any action fan has seen or heard of John Wick. This is a movie that captivated audiences upon release in 2014 and has spawned three more movies. People just can’t get enough of John Wick.

John Wick follows a retired hitman, John Wick, whose home is broken into by Russian gangsters. They tear up the place, steal his car, but most offensive of all, kill his beagle puppy, which was the last gift to him from his now-deceased wife. This causes Wick to hunt down the gangsters that broke into his home and seek revenge. Any fan of Hitman would enjoy this film not just by the action alone, but by the themes of revenge and taking down an evil organization. That is, if you haven’t seen this uber-popular film already.

22. Taken

Taken is another movie franchise that spawned a lot of popularity and sequels after its release. This is the first movie on this list that doesn’t follow a hitman, but that doesn’t mean Hitman fans can’t enjoy it.

Taken follows an ex-CIA agent Bryan Mills whose daughter and her best friend take a trip to Paris. Mills was hesitant to send them, and his worries come true as the two girls are kidnapped by Albanian human traffickers, and he overhears the whole ordeal during a phone call. The film then follows Mills as he must track down the traffickers and save his daughter. Agents, villains, mystery, and lots of action is all the similarity to Hitman one needs to enjoy Taken.

21. The Equalizer

The Equalizer is a great action film. Although it spawned mixed reviews, I never liked listening to critics. With great action and a great lead role, this one is surely enjoyable to Hitman fans.

The Equalizer follows Robert McCall, former Marine and DIA operative, who has turned to a quiet life in Boston. He meets and befriends a teenage prostitute named Alina, who he finds out has been trafficked by the Russian mafia. After Alina is badly beaten and hospitalized, McCall takes it into his own hands to guarantee her freedom no matter what. Again, lots of action, a former agent, and taking down a Russian mafia is what Hitman fans would love.

20. The Punisher

The Punisher is a movie inspired by the Marvel comics character of the same name. The plot was actually inspired by a few different comics and is one of the first screen adaptations of the character.

The Punisher follows Frank Castle, an undercover FBI agent who busts a smuggling operation which results in the death of the son of a mafia boss named Howard Saint. Out of revenge, Saint orders Castle’s entire family to be killed, and Castle as well, yet he survives. Saint sends out more men to kill Castle once he learns he’s alive, yet Castle kills them all and makes it his mission to kill Saint. This movie has many themes that are similar to Hitman, like a former agent taking revenge on a mafia boss, so any fans of the movie would surely enjoy The Punisher.

19. The Transporter

Yes, another Jason Statham movie, but what can I say, he has a lot of good movies. The Transporter, starring Jason Statham, is another series that gained lots of popularity and spawned many sequels.

The Transporter follows Frank Martin, a former special operations soldier turned drive-for-hire. Martin’s job is now to smuggle and deliver any item or thing for a price with no questions asked. He strictly follows three rules – never change the deal, no names, and never open the package. However, the plot picks up when Martin breaks one of his rules. This is another action-packed film any Hitman fan would love, as it includes a for-hire tasked with keeping a young woman safe.

18. Shooter

Shooter is a movie that I believe is similar to a beloved aspect of the Hitman franchise, which is sniping. Mark Wahlberg stars in this action-thriller any Hitman fan would love.

Shooter follows Force Recon sniper Bob Lee Swagger who has retired from his profession and is now living in Wyoming, United States. A retired US Army Colonel and his associates review Swagger’s file and convince him to use his skills for one more mission to protect the President from a suspected assassination attempt. However, Swagger soon learns that the job is a setup and is framed for the attempted murder. Swagger now must prove his innocence while in hiding. More agents, more espionage, and more action that any Hitman fan would love.

17. The Jackal

The Jackal is very similar to the two Hitman movies on this list. Starring Bruce Willis, this action-thriller is a worthy addition to this list.

The Jackal is the codename of a hitman who was hired by a mafia leader named Terek Murad in revenge for the death of his younger brother. The Jackal was hired to kill a prominent American figure, and after a few more hits, The Jackal reaches the radar of the FBI, who start a manhunt to find the hitman. It’s pretty obvious why a Hitman fan would enjoy this movie.

16. Die Hard

Die Hard is another movie franchise that I have no doubt you all have heard of. Its major popularity spawned a cult following, many sequels and adaptations, and some call it the greatest action movie of all time. Hitman fans would love this purely for the action alone.

Die Hard follows NYPD Detective John McClane who is visiting his wife and daughter on Christmas Eve in Los Angeles. He meets them at a holiday party at the wife’s work, but it is soon interrupted by a group of terrorists. McClane then discovers he’s the only person that can save everyone. Though there is a lot of argument about whether this is a Christmas movie or not, Hitman fans would certainly get a kick out of Die Hard, or any of its sequels, because of its great premise and action.

15. Bullet Train

Bullet Train is a movie that has just been released, so you might have seen it already or at least heard of it. It has an amazing cast of characters, with names such as Brad Pitt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Bryan Tyree Henry, Joey King, and many more. Fans of Hitman will enjoy this movie just because it probably has one of their favorite actors.

Bullet Train follows Ladybug, an assassin on a string of bad luck tasked with stealing a briefcase full of cash on a bullet train in Tokyo. However, he finds that on the train are other rival assassins from all over the world who are all connected somehow – even Ladybug – trapped on the world's fastest train. This movie has mystery, action, and assassins, which I think any Hitman fan would find familiar.

14. Max Payne

Max Payne is another movie based off of a video game series, one of the same name. There are many titles in the Max Payne series yet only one movie. Max Payne brings along another great performance by Mark Wahlberg, who plays the titular character.

Max Payne is an NYPD detective whose wife and child were murdered. The movie takes place three years later when Payne is transferred to the cold case unit so he can continue to search for the killer, and two individuals reach out to him saying they have evidence. Around this time many people are being found dead around the city, and Payne must team up with an assassin to find the culprit behind everything going on. Max Payne is an entertaining mystery movie with many themes that overlap with Hitman.

13. Crank

Crank is another movie that has a somewhat similar premise to Hitman but with an original twist. Yet another Jason Statham movie, I think you’ll enjoy this one as much as the last ones.

Crank follows a British hitman named Chev Chelios who was poisoned by the mafia to where he must keep his adrenaline flowing or he will die. Chelios now takes drugs and has public sex with his girlfriend all to keep himself alive. He now must find the man who poisoned him all while doing so in such an exciting way to where he doesn’t die. I love original concepts like this, especially ones that involve hitmen and tracking down mobs.

12. Pulp Fiction

Pulp Fiction is another move you most definitely have at least heard of before. It’s a classic, spawning great popularity even to this day as it is considered Quentin Tarantino’s greatest work. And for good reason, because there aren’t many movies like it.

Pulp Fiction follows three individual stories that seem to have no relation with each other, yet all connect through a non-linear fashion. It tells the story of two thieves, two hitmen, and a boxer through different segments. You’ll have to watch the movie to see how these unrelated stories connect, and I highly recommend doing so as Pulp Fiction is such a gem. Hitman fans might enjoy the hitmen storyline more than anything, but this movie is worth the watch.

11. Wanted

Wanted is another interesting movie with similar themes to Hitman. It also has a stellar cast with names such as Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman, so this one is worth the watch.

Wanted follows Wesley Gibson, a man working at a boring office job whose life is turned around when his estranged father is murdered. He finds out that his father was a highly trained assassin and joins the Fraternity, a secret society of assassins his father was in, in which he was recruited by a woman named Fox. Gibson now must learn to live with his new lifestyle and be trained in the footsteps of his father. Assassins and secret societies is all I needed to say for Hitman fans to jump on this hidden gem.

10. Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Coming in with another Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt movie, Mr. & Mrs. Smith is an action comedy sure to catch the eyes and roll a few heads of Hitman fans. It follows many of the same themes but with the addition of being a comedy centered around two amazing actors.

John and Jane Smith are a married couple whose marriage has turned shaky and boring. Though their marriage is real, in reality both are highly skilled assassins working for different agencies, unbeknownst to each other. Neither knows that their spouse is an assassin, but when they find each other working the same job, their agencies assign them to kill each other, spawning a lot of comedic hijinks with exciting action sequences. I like this twist to the common assassin trope, as though there is a lot of action, it centers around the comedic actions of a couple who don’t want to go through with their contracts.

9. The Bourne Identity

The Bourne Identity is a movie based on the Robert Ludlum novel of the same name. This movie proved great success, spawning four more titles in what is called the Bourne series. This movie delivers great action while telling a highly interesting story that is somewhat familiar.

The Bourne Identity follows Jason Bourne, played by Matt Damon, a man found almost dead and scooped up by a fishing boat. When Bourne awakes, he has amnesia, meaning he has no memory of who he is, but soon finds out that he’s highly trained in combat and other skills that suggest a past as an agent of some kind. Bourne now must try to uncover his identity all while trapped in the middle of a conspiracy with the CIA. There are many themes this movie shares with not just the Hitman movie but the games themselves, which is why I think The Bourne Identity is worth checking out.

8. The Hitman’s Bodyguard

The Hitman’s Bodyguard is another action comedy any Hitman fan would love, and not just because “hitman” is in the title. It contains some of the most beloved actors with Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson, along with an entertaining mix of jokes and gunfire.

The Hitman’s Bodyguard follows Darius Kincaid, an incarcerated hitman hoped to testify against Vladislav Dukhovich who is on trial. Interpol Agent Roussel is tasked with protecting Kincaid as he must travel from the UK to The Hague, yet Dukhovich has men to try and stop them around every corner. This is such an interesting movie as it puts law enforcement and hitmen on the same team, which creates some funny moments while sticking with those action sequences we all know and love.

7. Sicario

Sicario is an interesting movie, taking on more of a militaristic approach to this common theme we have been discussing. The name of the movie actually comes from the spanish word for hitman.

Sicario tells the story of Kate Mercer, an FBI agent who has recently risen the ranks in her field, who is put on a special anti-drug assignment. She was not given much information about the task force, but she knows she is supposed to help take down a drug cartel on the US-Mexico border. However, Kate soon finds out that the methods of her task force are not up to protocol, nor are they legal. This one’s a nice change from the other movies on this list, but with themes of special agents and taking down the elites, any Hitman fan would love Sicario.

6. Collateral

Collateral is a movie I don’t think many people have heard of, but with a premise as interesting as this one has, it’s worth the watch. Not only that, it has a stellar cast of characters with names such as Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, and Jada Pinkett Smith.

Collateral follows a cab driver named Max Durocher who lives a pretty mundane life. That is until a man named Vincent sits in his cab and offers Max $600 to make five individual stops. Max is inclined to agree, but Vincent soon after reveals himself to be a hitman, and each stop Max makes means another hit – and another person dead. Now, Max wonders if he will live to see another day as the duo are hunted by police. Such an interesting movie, as it takes the known hitman premise but tells it through the perspective of a cab driver basically held captive.

5. Colombiana

Colombiana is a nice entry slipping back into the roots of a conventional assassin film. But don’t let the word conventional make you think this movie is anything below great.

Colombiana follows Cataleya, a nine-year-old girl living in Bogota, Colombia whose parents were killed by a drug lord named Don Luis Sandoval. After Cataleya was sent to live with her uncle, a Chicagoan gangster, she grows up to be a cold-blooded assassin. Fifteen years later, Cataleya has left a trail of bodies in hopes of finding and killing Don Luis. With themes of assassins, revenge, and taking down drug lords, Colombiana is a movie Hitman fans would adore.

4. Assassins

Assassins is a somewhat older movie compared to the others on this list, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth checking out. Especially since it has such great performances from actors such as Sylvester Stallone, Julianne Moore, and Antonio Banderas.

Assassins follows Robert Rath, an assassin trying to complete his last few contracts before retiring. However, upstart assassin Miguel Bain keeps eliminating Rath’s targets before he can get to them and learns that Bain dreams of becoming the world’s best assassin. Rath teams up with a hacker named Electra who helps him track down Bain, since Bain has since been contracted to kill Rath. Assassins definitely has everything a Hitman fan would want out of an action thriller.

3. Léon: The Professional

Léon: The Professional is another underrated film. It’s the film debut of Natalie Portman, who was just a girl at the time, and has everything that a Hitman fan would love.

Léon follows Mathilda, a 12-year-old girl in New York whose father keeps drugs for a corrupt police officer. After a wrong move, the cop takes revenge on the father by killing him and his entire family – all except Mathilda, who finds shelter in the apartment of Léon. She soon finds out that Léon is a professional assassin, and though Léon knows nothing of being a father, takes in Mathilda and helps her avenge her family. Léon has many themes that align with Hitman, with not just following an assassin and taking revenge, but taking in and helping the innocent when needed.

2. The Bourne Ultimatum

The Bourne Ultimatum is a sequel to the Bourne Identity and the only sequel on this list. I just think that the Jason Bourne series is very similar to some of the stories told in the Hitman franchise, with this one in particular reminding me of a certain level in Hitman 3.

The Bourne Ultimatum again picks up with Jason Bourne as he continues his quest to recover his memories and find who he really is. With the knowledge that he was a trained assassin, Bourne is now being hunted down by a new generation of assassins and the people who trained him. Bourne now must travel around the world to places like London, Moscow, Madrid, and New York City to find out his identity, all while dodging bullets.

This movie reminds of the story told in the Berlin mission in Hitman 3, where Agent 47 is being hunted by special agents. Anyone familiar with that mission of the Hitman movie would enjoy The Bourne Ultimatum.

1. The American

As the last movie on this list, The American takes its spot as a great action thriller any Hitman fan would enjoy. Though it’s last, it certainly isn’t worse than any of the aforementioned movies.

The American follows Jack, a contract killer who had a job go wrong in Sweden. He has now retreated to Italy where he retires and tries to stay anonymous, following the rule of “no friends.” However, when Jack steps out of the shadows to befriend a priest and start a love-affair with a prostitute, his old enemies start hunting him down. With assassins, contracts, and hiding in plain sight, The American is a movie any Hitman fan would love.

There are a lot of movies out there with similar themes of assassination and action, so don’t be sad if there isn’t a movie on this list that interests you. However, I believe anyone that enjoyed the original Hitman movie would enjoy any of these 25 movies. I know I do.

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Hitman may have not been the most popular movie in the world, but those who did like it might be itching to watch another one like it

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Top 15 Movies Like John Wick

T_Passarge — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 23:40:59 +0000

What Are the Best Movies Like John Wick?

It’s hard to imagine a more successful action trilogy than the John Wick series.

The action trilogy follows the titular Mr. Wick, a retired hitman whose name comes with much respect and fear from those in the complex hitman community he once thrived in. John is brought back into the world of his violent past when a gang steals his car and ruthlessly murders his dog. His quest for vengeance opens pandora’s box as the intricate world of assassins drags him back into the fold of violence and mayhem.

With the simplistic fun of Commando and the sophisticated choreography of modern martial arts films, John Wick is a series that consistently gives audiences badass action that only intensifies with every passing series entry.

None of it would be possible without the sharp direction and series star Keanu Reeves’s dedication to intricate stunt choreography.

If you’re looking to find an experience like the one John Wick provides, then allow me to introduce you to the top 15 movies like John Wick.

15. Repo Men

Repo Men Official Trailer

This film is set in a future where people can acquire artificial organs through a credit system. However, when recipients of these organs begin to miss payments, agents known as Repo Men are sent in to track them down and repossess the organ in any way possible. One of these Repo agents finds himself in hot water when he is given an artificial heart that he ironically cannot make payments on.

Jude Law and Forest Whitaker star in the hit action thriller.

14. Blade (1998)

Blade Official Trailer

With advanced technology at their disposal, an unruly group of vampires seek to acquire a special form of blood that will awaken an ancient vampiric deity. If unleashed, the ancient vampire will wipe out the mortal world in a blink of an eye. The only thing standing in the group’s way is Blade (Wesley Snipes), a human with the powers of a vampire who has dedicated his life to protecting the human world.

Wesley Snipes headlines the film inspired by the classic Marvel character.

13. The Chronicles of Riddick

The Chronicles of Riddick Official Trailer

On the run from bounty hunters, a galactic criminal named Riddick (Vin Diesel) proves himself useful to a desperate ambassador. She tasks Riddick to go up against the Necromongers, a vicious army that has been responsible for the deaths of many innocent people. With the fate of the universe on his shoulders, Riddick is prepared to go head to head with the Necromongers and their unforgiving ruler.

Chronicles is the middle chapter of the Riddick trilogy headlined by Diesel.

12. Equilibrium (2002)

Equilibrium Official Trailer

Equilibrium Trailer

In the future, a tyrannical government has forbidden any form of emotions and has medicated their people to be unfeeling shells. John Preston (Christian Bale) is tasked with hunting anyone breaking the law and destroying anything that would inspire emotion. His dedication to government rule is challenged when he misses his daily dose of medication and begins to experience the forbidden emotions.

Long before his turn as Batman, Christian Bale starred in this action hit.

11. Jack Reacher

Jack Reacher Official Trailer

Mega star Tom Cruise stars as Jack Reacher, a mysterious, no-nonsense ex-army investigator who wanders the country solving dangerous cases. After an army sniper is arrested for a crime he claims he didn't commit, Reacher is brought in to investigate his claim. As Jack delves deeper into the case, he begins to see that this case may be more multifaceted than he initially imagined.

Based on the books by Lee Child, Jack Reacher was a hit for Cruise.

10. Sin City

Sin City Official Trailer

In the world of Sin City, the grotesque criminal underworld is the normal world and its inhabitants are forced to maneuver their way through it. Based on the graphic novel be Frank Miller, the film follows multiple characters and their personal battles with the criminals of Sin City. Whether it’s for revenge, love, or for the plain love of violence, the fight is never clean, and the outcome can open more wounds than it closes.

The Robert Rodriguez classic boasts an all-star cast including Bruce Willis and Clive Owen.

9. Dredd (2012)

Dredd Official Trailer

In Mega City One, the overabundance of crime is capped by Judges, a well-equipped, tactical police force. The toughest of the judges, Dredd (Karl Urban), is tasked with taking down a criminal commune controlled by the crime lord, Mama (Lena Heady). When Mama traps Dredd and a psychic rookie in the fortified commune, Dredd must mow through an army of criminals who live and die by the word of Mama.

Based on a series of comics, Dredd has become a cult hit.

8. Looper (2012)

Looper Official Trailer

In the future, time travel exists and is used by the mob to dispose of targets up for assassination. The hired guns in the past who are tasked to finish the dirty work are called loopers. When a looper accidentally finds that his target is his future self, he is set on a life-altering course of events that leaves him on the run from his boss.

The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis under the direction of Last Jedi director, Rian Johnson.

7. Taken

Taken Official Trailer

Brian Mills (Liam Neeson) longs to reconnect with his daughter after a long career as a government operative forced him away for most of her life. His attempt at reconnection is cut short when his daughter is kidnapped while on vacation in Paris with a friend. With only a short amount of time, Brian must use his skills to infiltrate a sex ring before his daughter is sold and never seen again.

The hit film jump started Liam Neeson’s turn as an action star and produced two sequels.

6. The Crow (1994)

The Crow Official Trailer

A year after him and his fiancée are brutally murdered, a musician (Brandon Lee) rises from the grave. His mission is to extract his revenge on the thugs that killed him and his fiancée under the mantle of The Crow. The supernatural vigilante’s quest for vengeance brings him face to face with members of various gangs and their ruthless leader.

The Alex Proyas directed film stars Brandon Lee, who was tragically killed on the set of this film.

5. The Bourne Identity

The Bourne Identity Official Trailer

After being rescued from a stormy sea, a man awakens with no memory of who he is or how he got there. As he sets on the path to find out who he is, the man discovers that he possesses an excellent skill in hand to hand combat and a flurry of men who are trying to kill him. As his shady past begins to emerge, the man desperately tries to find a way out for a better future.

Matt Damon stars in the first film of the Bourne series based on the books by Robert Ludlum.

4. The Equalizer

The Equalizer Official Trailer

Based on the hit 80s action show, The Equalizer stars Denzel Washington as a former black ops soldier who escaped his life of violence in favor of a serene one. He finds his retirement cut short when he decides to help a young woman on the run from a brutal Russian gang. The man’s fight only intensifies as he begins to act as a vigilante for those who can’t fight back against violent thugs.

Denzel Washington stars in this film and its hit sequel.

3. V for Vendetta (2005)

V for Vendetta Official Trailer

A mysterious masked vigilante named V (Hugo Weaving) stalks the streets of London in a future where fascism leaves its citizens oppressed. He finds an ally in an anxious young woman (Natalie Portman) after he saves her from a vicious attack. The two begin to grow close as V sets his ultimate plan into motion and helps his new ally overcome her fears.

Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving star in the film from the creators of The Matrix.

2. Kingsman: The Secret Service

Kingsman:The Secret Service Official Trailer

A member of a secret spy agency, the Kingsman, chooses to train a young street punk whose father was once a part of the secret organization. The rookie agent must set aside his trouble with authority to overcome the rigorous training program before him. His training is further complicated by a global terrorist’s plot against the world.

The film is based on the hit graphic novel and stars Colin Firth and Samuel L. Jackson.

1. The Matrix (1999)

The Matrix Official Trailer

Feeling lost and disconnected from his world, a hacker named Neo (Keanu Reeves) tries to track down an elusive man who may have the answer to his empty life. What he ends up finding is the Matrix, a virtual reality controlled by machines that has been created to feed off humanity. With the help of the resistance group that saves him, Neo learns how to use the Matrix to fight back against the oppressive machines.

Keanu Reeves stars in the groundbreaking action movie that spawned 2 sequels.

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Thor Ragnarok Trailer Shows Hela Destroying Thor's Hammer (But She's Not The Main Villain)

johndamico1243 — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 03:27:22 +0000

The new trailer for the upcoming 2017 holiday blockbuster Thor: Ragnarok features Hela (Cate Blanchett) destroying Thor’s legendary hammer early into the video. But apparently, this character is not going to be the main villain in the upcoming Marvel blockbuster.

So what exactly will her role be in the movie? And who will be the main villain?

Well, it’s hard to say at this point. Hela is the villain who appears the most in this one trailer we have. And Thor’s brother Loki is fighting alongside him this time. So he’s not the villain.

There’s a chance the film may not have one main central villain like most superhero films do. Maybe there will be multiple villains. Or maybe the main villain is a character who simply is not featured in the first trailer. They may appear in later trailers. Perhaps the movie will have a surprise villain.

When it comes to the comic books, Hela is known as the Goddess of Death, and takes on the role of both Hel and Niffleheim. She has no alter ego and there’s currently no information available about her origins, according to the official Marvel website.

The anticipated trailer for the sequel to 2011’s surprise hit Thor premiered a few days ago at San Diego Comic Con and has already gathered over 30 million views on YouTube with over 500,000 likes. To put that in perspective, one upload of the latest Justice League trailer has less than 4 million views.

Thor: Ragnarok comes out Nov. 3, 2017, and is directed by Oscar-nominated director Taika Waititi, according to IMDB.

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77 Best Martial Arts & Kung Fu Movies Worth Watching

Kat_Haas — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 15:38:39 +0000

Must Watch Martial Arts and Kung Fu Movies

Kung Fu movies, and martial arts films in general have a huge influence on American culture.

As martial artists became synonymous with badassery, the demand for action films with fighting scenes skyrocketed.

This rubbed off on us, making us crave that idea of power, the ability to transform our bodies into weapons. But the really dedicated ones watched these movies for more than just entertainment.

Just as books, and scrolls held ancient wisdom, films are being used to deliver powerful messages from strange lands.

If you are looking for that motivation to get out there and become a more focused, and serious fighter, then check out these movies.

77. Tai Chi 0 (2012)

I’m sure there is some Freudian reference about this.

An important aspect as a fighter is protecting yourself, and not hurting yourself in the process of improving. This movie touches upon that concept beautifully, presenting a young man whose devastating ability is also endangering his own life. He must seek out a special Tai Chi style that may save his life, but in order to train, he must gain the trust of the villagers that protect it. The film is produced in the unique Chinese fashion many Kung Fu enthusiasts will be familiar with.

76. True Legend (2010)

Some people need a little more personal space than others.

The all too familiar tale of a fighter finding the passion for fighting. “True Legend” encompasses the important points of martial arts: humbleness, redemption, victory, and inner strength. The story is told in two parts, the tail end of the dynasty period, and beginning of the colonial era in China. We find ourselves following the life of a general, who humbly passes on leadership to his step brother in order to find peace in martial arts. However, his step brother takes advantage of this new mindset to take revenge for a past grievance.

75. Dragon Eyes (2012)

This neighborhood watch is a little more active than the rest.

Street fighting is always brought up as the antithesis to martial arts. Well here comes a film that brings the grittiness of the raw brawl, to the elegance that can be found in a martial artist. Two rival gangs terrorize the citizens of St. Jude. One man arrives to bring down both forces using techniques learned from another inmate in prison. But as his efforts begin to show promise, he learns that the gangs are just puppets in a greater scheme beyond their own control.

74. The Man with the Iron Fists (2012)

Don’t worry, he says he’ll fight fair.

Concocted by the Wu-Tang Clan rap prodigy, RZA, comes a very off the wall movie that ties together the high flying expectations we have of martial arts films. It is about a blacksmith who creates weapons for rival clans in the “Jungle Village”, but is inadvertently drawn into their conflict. His original plan is to buy the freedom of his loved one from the Madam of the local brothel. However this simple task is complicated when he betrays his decision to remain neutral, and assist a young man seeking vengeance.

73. New Police Story (2004)

The sales in Toys’R’Us must have been insane back then.

Resiliency is the binding force of a great fighter. “New Police Story” tackles this with a powerful narrative. Chan was once hailed a hero cop, but after a deadly encounter with a new type of criminal enterprise, he finds himself disgraced and defeated. A young rookie enters his life and is eager to get him back on his feet. Chan finds himself back at it again with the same criminals, but this time with a lesson learned under his belt.

72. Saving General Yang (2013)

Whole lot of shirtless going on for a war, don’t you think?

Harking back to the warring Chinese era, comes this tale of a legendary family of generals. A film built on an old Chinese legend, the storytelling relies on drama to convey an important message about resolve and honor. General Ye Yang is abducted by the Khitan Army, who use him as bait to force his wife to send her sons to his rescue. Led by the eldest son, and joined by a small band of elite soldiers, they must brave the trap set for them, and bring their father back home.

71. Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame (2010)

Just from the look in his eyes, you can tell this isn’t a knighting ceremony.

Often compared to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “Sherlock Holmes”, Detective Dee is an original Chinese Kung Fu detective tale. Set in the Tang Dynasty, Dee Renjie is tasked by the first Empress of China with discovering the cause of several strange deaths. The victims are being burnt alive, and seemingly without cause. He is joined by the empress’ most loyal servant, and embarks on a strange tale through a turbulent China.

70. Ninja: Shadow of a Tear (2013)

Despite all the burning items in the background, this movie was not made in the 80s.

Ninjas have become synonymous with fighting, and the mastery of martial arts. In this sequel to “Ninja”, Casey Bowman has found the life he wanted, complete with a wife and a child on the way. This is cut short when his wife is murdered, throwing him into a depression. An old acquaintance offers to help him overcome his grief in Thailand, where he trains at a local dojo. Little does Casey know that this will push him headlong into an ongoing drug war.

69. Man of Tai Chi (2013)

None of that “Slo-mo” Tai Chi crap in this film.

Tai Chi is often ignored for more flashier martial arts, but this flick may make you take a second look. Tiger Chen is a gifted Tai Chi practitioner, having mastered the physical aspects of fighting. However, his Sifu suspects that he may not have the proper mindset needed to continue down this path. Regardless, Tiger enters the local martial arts competition, and is spotted by a ruthless kingpin, determined to add Tiger to his roster of underground fighters.

68. Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist (2014)

It’s crazy where $100, good friends, and extreme fandom can get you.

Hailed as the best adaptation of the global gaming sensation, “Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist” is a fanboy’s fantasy come true. The series explains many questions die-hard fans want to know, and it can do so because it was officially endorsed by Capcom. The story follows Ken and Ryu as they uncover the secrets of their master, and the Ansatsuken (Assassin’s Fist) fighting style.

67. Once Upon a Time in Shanghai (2014)

I’m going with “foot odor strike” on that one.

Character is important to a fighter. In this film, Ma stands up to criminals and bullies alike, not allowing them to pressure him into a risky life. He is just seeking to make an honest living in Shanghai, but the city is unforgiving, and he finds himself facing Qi Long, the gang boss who is carving up the district in his favor. When these two hard headed individuals clash, there is no way to know who will end up on top. Too bad it isn’t always as simple as a fight in Shanghai.

66. Rail Road Tigers (2016)

You can’t hide from the fashion police, Jackie.

A ragtag team of rebels fights against the Japanese occupation in China. Lead by a railway expert, Ma Yuan, they ingeniously sabotage the train system to divert supplies to their starving kinfolk, and destroy war assets. But their antics bring more and more attention to them, prompting the Japanese to retaliate heavily. Undeterred, Ma hatches his most dangerous scheme to date.

65. Kickboxer: Vengeance (2016)

You can measure a martial artist by the height of his kicks.

Following in the vein of the original “Kickboxer” story, this reboot takes us to Thailand, where Kurt Sloane seeks vengeance for his brother’s death at the hands of a skilled Muay Thai fighter. He is ejected from the compound after a failed assassination attempt, and links up with the local police. A local master urges him to return to the United States, but Kurt is determined to convince the master to train him.

64. Kick-Ass (2010)

Sometimes you need a set of balls, and boredom to be inspired.

Inspired by the comic book, “Kick-Ass” is a hilarious adventure through the world of a bored teenager who wishes to be more than just a citizen. Dave Lizewski is all around average, and is unnoticed in school. No tragedy has struck him, and there is only petty crime in his Staten Island neighborhood. But he is compelled to ask: Why hasn’t anybody tried to be a real-life superhero? His first venture leads to a life changing mishap, but it does not deter him from stepping out and making a name for himself as Kick-Ass.

63. Little Big Soldier (2010)

Don’t you hate it when you have to carry the team to victory?

Not surprising anyone, Jackie Chan shines in this cinematic element, retelling Chinese tales for future generations. Chan plays a soldier who had been fighting since he was very young. He is tired of decades of conflict, wanting nothing more than to return to a rural life. His strategy of playing dead for every battle finally pays off, as he, and the wounded enemy general are the only two left alive after a bloody battle. He seizes this opportunity to capture the general, and present him to his superiors, in return for a pardon from service. But no plan survives contact with the enemy, as he now must keep his prisoner alive, amid assassination attempts from the general’s own side. It becomes clear to them that they must rely on each other if they want to make it out of this mess alive.

62. Dragon Blade (2015)

Someone read my fan fiction, finally.

“Dragon Blade” touches on a rarely inspected part of history: the Silk Road, and all the nations involved in its trade routes. Set in China in 48 BC, Huo An is the captain of a group in charge of promoting peace by averting battles. These efforts are to preserve the Silk Road and its benefactors. However, amongst the group is a bad apple, and the government sends all of them to work construction at Wild Geese Gate Fortress. Once there, a Roman Legion arrives, seeking to assault the fortress for supplies. After a duel between leaders, the legion relents, forges a union with the inhabitants, and reveal the reason they are so far from home.

61. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Scenes like this add to the surreal beauty of kung fu films.

Nominated and awarded many times over, not many martial arts films compare. Detailing the love interest between two expert fighters, and their torrid relationships with external forces, the film is filled with tiny philosophical details. To fully explore the characters and their motivations requires a bit of open mindedness, and a full attention span. The powerful action scenes and detailed choreography help paint a vivid picture about the mindset of a skilled fighter.

60. Punch Lady (2007)

Never underestimate your opponent’s desire to destroy you.

A dramatic take on domestic violence, Ha Eun takes on her abusive MMA fighter husband after he assaults their daughter. Arrested after knocking him out with a frying pan, she is spurred into action after he kills an ex-boyfriend in a match. She publicly challenges him to a fight in 3 months on live television. Now she must train, not only physically, but prepare mentally, and emotionally.

59. Once Upon a Time in High School (2004)

Everyone has different a recollection of High School.

We get a look at the education system in Korea, and the problems that plague it, but the story is familiar. We have the new guy, who gets harassed by the designated bully. He falls in love with a girl, but has to compete with his best friend for her attention. At the same time he’s got to deal with his crazy dad, his authoritarian teachers, and the sense of hopelessness that accompanies you through your formative years. All that and he still has to make time for Jeet Kune Do.

58. Volcano High (2001)

The entire movie is just “subtle” about its intensity.

The stakes are high for High School student Kyung-soo, having been expelled from multiple schools. He can’t seem to get control over his powers, and Volcano High is the last school that will accept him. He tries staying low key, but the school has other plans for him. The school is currently locked in a 17-year battle for control, and legend has it that one person can end the war if they can get their hands on the “Secret Manuscript.”

57. Equilibrium (2002)

Gun Kata emphasizes the use of firearms as both a projectile weapon and a melee tool.

Bringing a completely fictional style of martial arts to the table, this dystopian future story is told through the eyes of John Preston. After WWIII, one small nation managed to rebuild, and in an attempt to end all conflict, forced its citizens to chemically abandon their feelings and reject anything that causes emotion. John is a high-ranking official in charge of seeking out “Sense offenders”, and destroying contraband. But one day he accidentally misses his daily dose, and enters the world as he has never experienced it before. Seeking to keep it a secret, he must now continue his duties without his offense being discovered.

56. The City of Violence (2006)

You either become a better fighter, or you get better friends.

Four childhood friends are reunited at a former friend’s funeral. They all had taken separate paths, one becoming a police officer, another taking up mantle as a crime boss, another a debt collector, and the last a school teacher. Their friend was murdered, and they begin to suspect that this was not just a random attack, but more like an organized hit. When more and more violence is brought upon them, their investigation into the murder seems to be making waves with the local community.

55. Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (2010)

Like a cannonball with limbs, Donnie Yen annihilates foes with savage attacks.

Chen Zhen is brought back from his previous exploits to battle the Japanese once again. This time Chen finds himself assisting local resistance forces in Shanghai against the impending invasion from Japan. He uncovers a plot to set local warlords against each other, and dons a superhero persona to sabotage the plans. This upset prompts the Japanese to publish a kill list, and their secret agency stationed in Shanghai goes to work. Chen must race to prevent these deaths, and stop the assassins before they can aid the invasion.

54. Taken (2008)

Do not come between a man and his family, especially if it’s Liam Neeson.

Bryan Mills, an ex-CIA operative, is attempting to bond with his teenage daughter, but things go awry fast. On her extended trip to Europe she is kidnapped, and the only clues he has to her whereabouts are in the hotel. He travels to France, and begins the frantic search for anything that could lead him closer to the attackers. When his only lead dies, he turns to a former colleague for help, and they carve a blood bath to the kidnappers. With time running short, Bryan is determined to find his daughter at all costs.

53. The Matrix (1999)

The spawn rate in the Matrix is ridiculous.

The movie that redefined action and fighting movies. The hacker Neo must make a choice: live his life in a fake comfort, or awaken from the illusion and fight for humanity. Prophesied as the savior to humanity, Neo accepts his role to defeat the Matrix, undeterred by the obstacles thrown his way. But will he be able to control the simulated world around him, as it is foretold? Mind blowing sequences, physics wrecking stunts, and a unique plot helped shape this movie as a fighting favorite.

52. Unleashed (2005)

The fight for freedom goes beyond physical chains.

Shot in Glasgow, UK, “Unleashed” is the story of Danny the Dog. Danny is the sub-human enforcer for a loan shark. Once his collar is removed, he is violent, skilled, and ruthless. With the collar, he is timid, and cannot think for himself. The loan shark realizes that he could make way more money using Danny for underground fighting, however, he is shot, and Danny manages to escape. He is taken in by a blind piano tuner and his musically talented step-daughter, who help him become more civilized. This period of peace ends quickly when he is spotted and returned to the loan shark, and forced back into the ring.

51. 13 Assassins (2011)

The markings of true warriors: covered in blood, sweat, and deadly intent.

A Japanese tale, loosely based on true history, taking place in 1840s Japan. A corrupt and ruthless warlord inflicts his own brand of justice on the citizens in his care. He enjoys immunity from his crimes due to his relation to the Shogun. The Justice Minister tasks Shimada Shinzaemon with carrying out the assassination, giving them access to financial assets. He hires 11 samurai, and they booby trap a village for the oncoming conflict, and ensure that the warlord will have to travel through the village. Meanwhile an old childhood friend has sworn loyalty to the warlord, and will stop at nothing to sabotage Shimada’s efforts.

50. The Karate Kid (2010)

A refreshing take at the teacher/student martial arts dynamic.

A pre-teen is transplanted from his home in Detroit, Michigan, and moved to Beijing, China. Tough enough as it is being the new kid on the block, Dre’s issues become worse when he is bullied by a young martial arts expert. He is spared by an older gentleman, who reveals himself to be an expert fighter. Originally rejecting Dre’s pleas to be trained, he is spurred to action when the local martial arts teacher refuses to reign in his pupils. He suggests that Dre enter the tournament, and stand up to the bullies there. “The Karate Kid” taps into the charm of its predecessors with quirky training mechanics, that teach the protagonist there is more to the art than just violence.

49. Chocolate (2008)

How far will you go to save the most important person in your life?

“Chocolate” is a movie about family. A Japanese Yakuza and a Thai woman earn the scorn of her Gangster ex-boyfriend, who in a fit of jealousy, mutilates himself to force her to leave the Yakuza. After the gangster intimidates her, she is mutilated as well, and seeks to distance herself from him. She moves into a building shared with a Muay Thai school, where her little girl, Zen, absorbs the techniques by watching the students. When the mother falls ill from cancer, and they cannot afford the price of chemo treatments, Zen goes out to collect on the debts owed to her.

48. Dragon/Wu Xia (2011)

There is no safe angle from this fearsome fighter.

The year is 1917 in China. An ordinary man named Liu Jinxi lives with his family in peace. When the local general store is threatened by two bandits, he fights and kills them. Turns out that one of them was a dangerous fugitive, wanted by the government, which has the village cheering for Liu. However, a detective in charge of the investigation senses there is more to the story, and discovers that Liu is a highly wanted criminal. As a man of high moral standards, he seeks out a warrant for the arrest of Liu, but is blocked and is forced to pay a bribe instead. The detective pays the magistrate for the warrant, unaware that his good intentions are about to have extremely negative consequences for himself and Liu.

47. Ninja Assassin (2009)

Who else will kill the world’s greatest assassins?

Raizo is an orphan taken in by the Ozuno Ninja Clan. All of his “siblings” are orphans, and they are all training to become ninjas to serve Lord Ozuno. Raizo is treated differently as he is selected to become the successor of the clan. When he witnesses his love interest attempt escape, and be publicly executed as a result, he hatches a scheme to escape as well. His attempt is successful, but the assassination of Lord Ozuno is not, and he is left for dead in a river. From this point on, he trains to intervene in the assassinations of the Ozuno Clan.

46. Rush Hour 2 (2001)

Down to their bare essentials, these two are still a dangerous pair.

The second installment in the “Rush Hour” series, sees the comedic duo Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan blaze through Hong Kong. Carter convinces Lee to take a break from work, vacationing in Hong Kong. An explosion at the US Consulate building drags Lee back into work, much to Carter’s disdain. Carter has to cope with the language barrier on turf that Lee is highly familiar with. Their investigation leads them to trouble, with Carter being ordered back to the United States. Lee accompanies him, and they continue their investigation with new leads.

45. Rush Hour (1998)

The character dynamic is genuinely funny, and complements the action well.

Detective Inspector Lee is assigned a major case. He is to investigate the disappearance of a diplomat’s daughter. However, the FBI do not want to take on responsibility for him, instead pawning him off to the LAPD. The LAPD assign him James Carter as punishment for his recent poor performance. Lee is unfamiliar with the ways of American culture, and it is up to Carter to keep him in the loop. As they pick up clues on the kidnapper, they get more and more wrapped up in the politics of international relations, until a botched ransom drop gets Lee sent back to Hong Kong, but Carter is not willing to just drop the case.

44. Police Story 2 (1988)

A master of his art and his environment.

The second installment of the wildly popular “Police Story” series, Chan is faced with the consequences of his actions from his previous adventure. The criminal he put behind bars is released due to medical issues, and vows to ruin his life for as long as he is alive. This leads to several attacks on Chan and his loved ones. He is enraged by the brazenness of the attacks, and takes matters into his own hands, viciously retaliating against the criminals responsible. His actions reflect negatively upon his character and he decides to resign from the police force, and take a vacation with his girlfriend. Little does he know that he is never too far from good police work.

43. Fearless (2006)

Every weapon can be yours, regardless of who is wielding it.

Not many films capture the magic that is the pride of a martial artist. “Fearless” does so using a historically based narrative to drive home a magnificent point. It tells the tale of Huo Yuanjia, a skilled martial artist whose excellent fighting skills helped build pride in China’s citizens. Beginning from his childhood, seeing his father defeated due to his honor, Huo vows to regain the pride of his family’s name. He trains behind his father’s back, and becomes extremely proficient, thus winning many matches. He becomes famous for his skills, but is arrogant and bloodthirsty. When a conflict between his rival, and one of his own students comes to his attention, he goes out of his way to teach him a lesson, but instead he sets off a chain reaction of dark events.

42. Dragon Tiger Gate (2006)

All you need are skills. And lots of skilled friends.

This complex tale is about two half-brothers separated by circumstance. Dragon, the older of the two, serves a triad boss as a bodyguard, whereas Tiger still resides at the Dragon Tiger Gate academy. Both were orphaned when their mother died in a fire, a two-piece amulet being the only thing that they have in common. While the triads wrestle for control of a symbolic plaque, Dragon encounters Tiger, both unaware of their relation. They meet under different circumstance later, realizing their relation due to their pendants. Their reunion is brief, as Dragon’s boss wants out from the organization, which means trouble for Dragon as well.

41. The Grandmaster (2013)

The title of Grandmaster is sacred to all arts, and Ip Man earns it thoroughly.

The legend that is Ip Man starts here, in this biographical view of his life. From his beginnings as a martial arts disciple, his ascension as a skilled fighter, to his eventual death in 1972, the movie covers the important factors. Central to his character is Gong Er, the daughter of a skilled martial arts champion, who challenges Ip Man to a fight after her father admits defeat by philosophical values by him. Embarrassed for this disappointing fight, she establishes a special rule for the fight, to which Ip Man agrees. He loses, but they remain on good terms, keeping in contact long after they’ve parted ways. This friendship is key to the lesson learned in “The Grandmaster.”

40. The Protector (2005)

Tony Jaa explodes on screen with his signature savage strikes.

An endearing tale about a man who goes above and beyond the call of duty to protect those sacred to him. Kham is the last of a long line of war elephant guards. He has formed close bonds with the elephant entrusted to him, and its calf. However, a corrupt Member of Parliament assists poachers in stealing her from him. Kham gives chase all the way to Sydney, Australia, where he is met with heavy resistance from local police and the criminal underground. He finds himself assisting a disgraced police officer, who is facing serious false charges. Nothing and nobody can stand in the way of his mission to find his beloved “family.”

39. Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (2003)

The price paid for being an obstacle in someone’s conquest.

From the heart of Thailand, home of Muay Thai, comes the debut of Tony Jaa. Wanting to share Muay Thai with the rest of the world, Tony worked hard to have this film enter mainstream media. Ting is the hero of the story, who is tasked with retrieving the head of the Ong-Bak buddha statue. He travels to Bangkok on a lead, and meets up with his cousin, who has since cast off his rural ways. Dragged into desperate situations, Ting must utilize his superior Muay Thai skills to overcome the obstacles thrown his way. Through coincidence he finds the people responsible for the theft of the statue head, and urges his cousin to assist him in the retrieval.

38. Warrior (2011)

He should have seen this coming the moment he started rocking a mohawk.

Tommy and Brendan are polar opposites. Tommy is a U.S. Marine, at odds with their recovering alcoholic father. Brendan is a high school teacher and former MMA fighter, struggling with bills after a medical emergency. Both enter the world of underground fighting; Brendan to make ends meet, and Tommy does so to make a point. Tommy has not forgiven Brendan for the circumstances of their abusive father, and not being there when their mother became terminally ill. This grudge is the driving force of the movie, following the fighters through the tournament, where they face multiple opponents, and must face each other in the end.

37. Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993)

There wasn’t a single muscle in Bruce’s body that wasn’t capable of murder.

There are so many things to say about Bruce Lee, but thankfully this movie says the most important parts. A biography about his life, and rise to fame, it focuses on his journey to the silver screen. It starts with his relationship with his father, and moves on to his struggles in America, his controversial marriage to an American, and his goal of establishing a martial arts school. When his idea for a TV show places another actor in the role meant for him, he returns to China, where his previous show has brought him moderate fame. But his greatest role is just around the corner.

36. Undisputed III: Redemption (2010)

The inmates compete for reduced sentences, pardons, or prison favors.

The third installment of the prison fighting franchise reintroduces Boyka as the protagonist. Boyka has simmered down since the events of the last film, but the enterprise of prison fights have only expanded. Boyka has failed his parole, but when he hears of the new tournament starting, promising cleared records and early release, he begins training again despite his old injury. He is transferred to another prison where he butts heads with an American boxer named “Turbo” Jones, who reminds him of his previous rival. But they will find little time to fight each other as they begin to uncover the futility of fighting against the new prisons champion?

35. Undisputed II: Last Man Standing (2006)

Finding himself outmatched, Iceman will have to improvise to learn the ways of MMA.

Rolling off the end of “Undisputed”, “Last Man Standing” has “Iceman” Chambers going to Russia for a boxing competition. But he is framed, and thrown in jail again, and once more finds himself in the prison fighting scheme. Originally refusing to participate, he is egged on by a mob boss looking to profit from the fights. He must face the champion Boyka, the seasoned veteran to the inmate fighting ring. But he quickly learns that his one-sided style for boxing needs to be supplemented, and he seeks the help of other inmates to train him.

34. Undisputed (2002)

Titles are just words. Put your money where your mouth is.

Prison is a tough place, so it’s a perfect place for an illegal fighting ring. Professional boxer “Iceman” Jones is sentenced to prison and finds himself faced with a world he does not understand. The prison’s current champion, Hutchens, is a quiet, reserved man, indeed the opposite of Iceman’s loud and boisterous personality. A well-connected inmate seizes the opportunity to bring forth a great fight between the undefeated Hutchens, and the skilled boxer.

33. Drunken Master (1978)

Pain is weakness leaving the body. Or a hangover.

Wong Fei-Hung is in big trouble. He repeatedly disappoints his father, who sends him to train with a raggedy old man with a taste for sadism. Fei-Hung runs away, but ends up right back into the hands of the old man. When he is confronted by a legendary killer, he doesn’t back down and is beaten severely. Humbling himself, he returns to his new mentor and commences the rigorous training program.

32. Blood and Bone (2009)

Bringing his unique style of crisp martial arts, Michael Jai White brings elegance to the street fighting scene.

Recently released from prison, Isaiah Bone is on a warpath. He goes directly to a LA Underground fight promoter, and signs himself right in. He sweeps his first opponents easily, but his attention is on the girlfriend of a mob boss. He sees her suffering, but he must bide his time. Meanwhile he climbs the rank ladder, and lands himself in the interests of an international fighting ring. Using this pull, he sets himself up for one of the biggest fights of his life.

31. Never Back Down: No Surrender (2016)

Killing intent has never looked this dangerous.

Case Walker is back in the MMA world, but he is weary of it. He has relegated himself to the amateur side, teaching his opponents better fighting philosophies. There he meets up with an old acquaintance, who is signed on to the biggest fight of his life, and want Case to train him. They leave for Thailand, and Case immediately starts butting heads with the other trainer. Amidst all the drama, he finds himself attracted to the marketing director, and taking in two youngsters under his wing. Everything seems manageable, but Case isn’t too sure that this fight is right for his friend.

30. Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown (2011)

The team has to get past their differences and find common ground to train.

The first movie directed by Michael Jai White, the film features four young adults finding their way in the martial arts world. Case Walker is there to teach them, but first he must figure out their character and motivations for fighting. As any situation with high testosterone, the group butts head frequently, and eventually finds that one of them isn’t here for noble intentions anymore. Many MMA fighters make appearances in the film, showing a grounded sense of realism.

29. Never Back Down (2008)

“Never Back Down” lives up to its name, never straying from the action.

New kid at the school, Jake, is hot headed, and quick to fight. He is constantly taunted about his late father who died in drunk driving accident. He is targeted by the school’s MMA prodigy, and publicly humiliated. To counter this loss, his only friend takes him to a local trainer who turns out to be a specialist in MMA. After the fruits of his labor are recorded and distributed around the school, the bully challenges him to work his way through the local MMA competition. Jake at first refuses, but after his friend is beaten to a pulp, agrees, and begins training harder than ever.

28. Wild Card (2015)

Nick Wild, smashing his way through a problem.

Nick Wild is a gambling addict who earns money as a bodyguard for hire. One night his presence is requested by a friend of his. An escort by trade, she was raped and dumped in a hospital parking lot, and she wants Nick to find out who committed this attack. Nick confronts the gangster responsible, and easily beats his henchmen. She seeks to mutilate the man responsible, but instead just steals cash from him instead and splits it with Nick. Nick immediately goes to gambling, and a strange run of luck makes him come to a chilling realization.

27. The Mechanic (2011)

Jason Statham hates babysitting.

A Mechanic is a slang term for a mafia hitman. Bishop specializes in making his hits seem like accidents. He is successful due to his meticulous and detailed nature. Unfortunately, he receives a peculiar task, to kill his former mentor. Despite his doubts, he fulfills the contract, and at the funeral, meets his mentor’s off the wall son, Steve. Steve is hell bent on getting revenge, but Bishop intervenes, and instead takes him on as a pupil. While possessing the focus required to be a ‘Mechanic’, Steve blunders the first hit, but continues his training. However, Bishop encounters a ‘ghost’, someone whom he thought had been killed by his mentor.

26. The Transporter 3 (2008)

The mark of a gentleman can be found in the flourish of his coat.

Frank Martin is back again, and this time in Europe. Another Transporter has gone rogue. Frank is reacquainted with him the same night, as he crashes his car into his home. The young woman in the backseat survives, but warns him not to remove her from the car, as both the driver and she are fitted with a device that explodes if they stray from the vehicle. A corrupt business man is demanding that the head of the Ukraine Environmental Agency renegotiate a contract that would allow him to import dangerous chemicals. He has something that the government official wants back, and now has forced Frank to transport the “Package” to him.

25. The Transporter 2 (2005)

He’s probably had worse first dates, though.

Frank Martin has moved from France to the United States. In Miami, Florida, he works as the Transporter for a wealthy family, whose son he builds bonds with. During a routine medical checkup for the young boy, Frank realizes they are deep in a trap, and all hell breaks loose. They narrowly escape the hospital, but he is forced to concede and drive to their attackers. They take the boy hostage, and he is sent off, but not without an attempt on his life. He manages to save himself, but is disappointed at his inability to save the young boy. However, after a ransom is paid, he is returned to his family unharmed, but loaded with a deadly virus. Frank must track down the kidnappers, and find a cure before it is too late.

24. The Transporter (2002)

Better watch where you’re pointing that thing. You could hurt yourself.

Jason Statham brings to life Frank Martin, a Transporter, a man that will take anything, anywhere, anytime. Pay his price, and he will be there on time. He lives by a simple set of rules, which guide him through his career. While on a job for an American criminal, he violates one of his rules and discovers a young woman bound and gagged. Nonetheless, he delivers the payload, and receives his next job. Through a stroke of luck, he survives an assassination attempt orchestrated by the American, and decides to retaliate.

23. Blade (1998)

Everybody finds themselves surrounded by people who sap their energy.

Marvel Comic’s first box office success, “Blade” showered the audience in violence, and clever visual effects. Blade is the Human Vampire Hybrid, who has taken a vow to protect humans from vampires. He expertly slashes his way through a nightclub for vampires, and as a result, has one of the vampires sent to the hospital. There, the vampire feeds on a young doctor, who Blade takes into his safe house to tend her wounds and spin her up on what’s to come for her. Meanwhile, the younger, less pure vampires are tired of living on the bottom of the social ladder, and their leader stages a coup against the elders that control them.

22. Southpaw (2015)

A man who has found that he has something to lose is still a dangerous man.

You make enemies when you’re at the top. Billy Hope is undefeated, and this attracts all kinds of contenders. His wife urges him to retire, due to an eye injury sustained during his title defense match. However, a hungry successful boxer intentionally goads him into fighting, and Billy falls for it. During the chaos, his wife is shot and killed. This leads to a downward spiral of drinking, losing fights, and losing his possessions. He can no longer safely care for his daughter, who is taken by CPS. Broken down, he finds a job at a gym, where a seasoned veteran of the ring resides. He is taken under his wing, and begins training again, hoping to find his way back to the top.

21. Rocky Balboa (2006)

There’s only so much CGI can do to make Stallone look less goofy.

The direct sequel to the previous “Rocky” franchise, this tale is warm, and deep in meaning. Rocky has been retired for over two decades, a widower, and estranged from his own son. He runs a restaurant, but it isn’t enough to fill the void in his life. In the boxing world, a new up-and-comer is undefeated, but his ability is in doubt as he has not had a real challenge. The idea emerges that he could face the once famous Rocky, and prove his mettle. Both fighters are reluctant to do so, but end up agreeing to this match. Rocky is not aware of how much this one match could change his life.

20. Creed (2015)

Lightning punches and quick feet keep you glued to your seat.

The latest in the “Rocky” Franchise, we find the illegitimate son of Apollo Creed, Adonis “Donnie” Johnson. He is released from prison, and is taken in by his father’s, now widowed, wife. He begins working a steady job, but soon quits to follow his dream of becoming a professional boxer. He attempts to join the gym owned by his half-brother, but is rejected. So instead he flies to Philadelphia to seek out none other than Rocky Balboa. The now elderly man agrees to training Donnie, but later learns that he is extremely ill. Meanwhile, Donnie makes a successful debut, and the world connects the dots between him and Apollo. He is urged to take on the “Creed” mantle, but is reluctant to do so.

19. Ali (2001)

Will Smith delivers a smashing performance as Muhammad Ali.

“Ali” is a biographical account of Muhammad Ali’s career, his ups and downs for the title of Heavyweight Champion. Beginning at his fight with Sonny Liston, the movie takes the audience through his conversion to Islam, his refusal to participate in the draft, and loss of title and boxing license. His conviction is overturned later and he makes a great comeback. But to regain the title of Heavyweight Champion he must face Joe Frasier, his first real challenge.

18. The Fighter (2010)

A film that paints its scenes with pain, and fills the air with drama.

Mickey is a boxer from Massachusetts, managed by his mother, and trained by his half-brother Dicky. His mother is manipulative, and Dicky is a drug addict. Mickey doesn’t see a lot of respect come his way as a boxer, and a fight with a mismatched opponent makes this ever so clear to him. He retreats and meets a woman he begins a relationship with. His mother and her siblings berate him for “losing motivation”, blaming his new relationship, whereas Dicky tries to dissuade him from finding better opportunities by offering him more money to stay. Their tumultuous relationship begins to crumble after Dicky lands himself in jail for a botched scam.

17. Anderson Silva: Like Water (2011)

Touted as one of the greatest fighters in the world, Anderson Silva is a destructive force to be reckoned with.

Anderson Silva has become a household name thanks to the widespread of the UFC. But what more is there to say about the man with the longest title streak in UFC history, which lasted over six years. He was born in Brazil, to a poor family, and involved himself in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at a young age, despite having little to no money. His rise through the cutthroat world of MMA is detailed, and highlighted with footage from actual fights, as well as his own personal anecdotes about the sport.

16. Unbeatable (2013)

Sometimes a man must make a choice, and live with this choice for life.

Fai is in trouble. A disgraced boxing champion, he now owes debts to the Triads, who will stop at nothing to get their money. When they torch his taxi, he escapes to Macau. Once there he is hooked up with a job at the local gym, and offered a room with a young girl who is taking care of her distressed mother. At the gym, a fighting newbie asks for his help, and he offers to train him. At the big tournament, Fai’s pupil makes steady progress, reaching the semifinals. This attracts the attention of the loan sharks, who attack Fai and the family he is living with. His pupil on the other hand is beaten, and suffers debilitating injuries, preventing him from continuing. Fai decides that it’s time to take this into his own hands.

15. Fight Club (1999)

Ain’t nothing like breaking the first rule of “Fight Club.”

The unnamed protagonist is a strange concept in films, but no other movie has gone quite to this length to impress us with the implications of not knowing who we are watching. After his apartment explodes, and he loses all his possessions, the Narrator gets in contact with Tyler Durden, a renegade soap salesman. He offers him a place to stay. The two have a strange dynamic, and Tyler introduces people to the “Fight Club,” where the everyday man can put out his aggression. But the Narrator starts questioning whether Tyler is taking things too far.

14. The Raid 2 (2014)

“The Raid 2” features heart pounding action and a complex plot.

An action-packed adventure in the heart of Jakarta, our story deals with rugged gangsters, corrupt police, vicious assassins, and a few people who want to set the world right. Honest cop Rama, is tasked with going undercover to uncover the shady dealings of a few corrupt officials in the police department. To gain access to the target gangs, he commits a “crime” and gets sent to the same prison where the gang boss’ son is incarcerated. Protecting him during a riot, Rama is released soon, and joins the gang in hopes of penetrating further into the trail of corruption.

13. War (2007)

Locked in a battle, the two must consider what they are fighting for.

The loss of his partner at the hands of the assassin ‘Rogue’, has CIA operative Crawford devastated. Rogue emerges years later amidst the chaos of an ongoing feud between the Japanese Yakuza and the Chinese Triads. He begins stoking the fires to incite a deadly war, hoping to destroy both in the process. Crawford gets himself involved in the case again, and is hell bent on avenging his partner’s death. The two of them chase each other around tirelessly, trying to maintain the upper hand on each other.

12. Rise of the Legend (2014)

Wong Fei-Hung is the legendary Chinese Martial Artist known for his “No Shadow Kick.”

The Chinese legend of Wong Fei-Hung, the master of Wushu, is well renowned in all of China. Part of his story is told in this Kung Fu epic. Wong Fei-Hung involves himself in a gang turf war, and his success lands him in great favor to the boss. He is highly revered and his skill even admired, and he is named a godson to the boss. But Fei-Hung’s ambitions do not stop there, as he attempts to ascend into a higher status.

11. The Hammer (2010)

Being deaf just means you can’t hear people criticize.

Based on a true story, “The Hammer” details the struggles of Matt Hamill, a deaf collegiate wrestler who went on to become a three time NCAA champion. He graduates high school as an accomplished wrestler, but finds it hard to cope with college life due to his disability. In addition to being socially awkward, his grades begin to fall and he must drop out. However, his amazing talent with wrestling earn him an opportunity to attend a college with a special program for people with disabilities.

10. Bodyguards and Assassins (2009)

Making sure you are remembered in history is just as important as staying low key.

A vital revolutionary is coming to town, and the locals have heard of the plot to assassinate him. Instead of sitting by idly, they band together and hatch a counter-assassination plan. They will need all the help they can get, as the days get closer and they witness their benefactors assaulted or killed. Despite the strong opposition, they continue to resist, and set up a distraction for the coming assassins.

9. Special ID (2014)

Donnie Yen revives an era of stunning visual feats, and violent encounters.

Dragon Chan is undercover in one of the most dangerous Chinese gangs. The gang boss suspects there are traitors in his ranks, and he will stop at nothing to weed them out. Dragon fears for his safety, but is more concerned about what would happen to his family, were his cover to be blown. Things start heating up for Chan when his other undercover colleagues are spotted one by one and eradicated.

8. Ip Man 3 (2015)

A clash of culture, as east meets west.

Ip Man is living life under the radar with his family in Hong Kong. He is introduced to Bruce Lee, who wishes to be mentored, but Ip is unsure about him and tells him to return at a later date. He witnesses the local Triad leader attacking the school headmaster, and intervenes, causing a cascading effect in which he is left no option but to protect the school with his pupils. The school is torched, but everybody comes away safely, with help from another martial artist. But the trouble has just begun, as the Triad leader does not take too kindly to being humiliated.

7. Ip Man 2 (2010)

The impressive skills of his adversaries are outshone by his sharp counters.

Now residing in Hong Kong after escaping the war antics of the mid 1940s, Ip Man wishes to establish a school, but he has no connections, and can’t seem to be able to attract students. This changes when he is challenged, and then ganged up on by a random martial artist. Defeating them easily, they all become his students, and bring in more disciples. As his influence grows, he attracts the attention of other martial arts schools and clubs. He realizes that the schools are under a protection racket run by the superintendent in charge of the district. Refusing to pay the dues, he is harassed until he decides to move his school away from the area. Unfortunately, his previous enemy turned friend invites him to view a boxing exhibition, featuring an arrogant and disrespectful boxer who issues a challenge that can’t be turned down.

6. Ip Man (2008)

When faced with unbeatable odds, become an unbeatable obstacle.

Ip Man is portrayed by Donnie Yen, in this biographical retelling of his exploits. He is faced with the Japanese invasion of China. Ip is wealthy, and the invaders take over his home as the headquarters for their military. He is forced to work menial labor to provide for his family. Meanwhile the Japanese General sets up a fighting competition, promising the winners one bag of rice per win. Ip enters for the sake of his family, and subsequently attracts the attention of the general. Ip refuses to return to fighting, prompting the general to take drastic measures.

5. Flash Point (2007)

Ma delivers a savage kick right to the table, served up hot.

Nothing gets past Ma Jun, Detective Sergeant in the Hong Kong Police Department. Tough as nails, and very stoic in his approach to police work, he must apprehend three brothers setting up a cross gang drug deal. As the brothers attempt to clean up loose ends by intimidation or murder, Ma must protect his partner that was placed as a mole in the gang. When his cover is blown, it becomes an all out race to stay ahead of the trio, and protect any remaining witnesses, lest they all be killed.

4. Kill Zone [Sha Po Lang] (2005)

Ma Kwan has never shied away from a fight.

Police inspector Chan has spent a significant amount of his career chasing a notoriously slippery triad boss. He hits his breaking point while escorting a vital witness goes wrong, and they lose all ground they had gained. In addition to this, he learns that he is terminally ill as well, which just adds more flame to his fire. Three years pass, and he is still no closer to nailing the Triad. He is to be replaced by Ma Kwon, a police officer from another district with a turbulent past. Ma steps up to the new role, but is appalled at learning that Chan’s team has gotten desperate, willing to misrepresent a crime to implicate the Triad Boss.

3. Shaolin Soccer (2001)

Stephen Chow fires this silly adventure at us full speed.

Sing seeks to share the arts and mystery of Shaolin Kung Fu with the world, but can’t think of any way to make it stick. He meets a crippled soccer legend who offers to help him promote his sport if he can infuse it with soccer. He gathers his brothers, and together they cause an upset victory over a local team, recruiting them for their larger matches. They blaze through the Hong Kong open cup competition, making it to the finals, where they must face the sinister Team Evil.

2. The Raid: Redemption (2011)

The mission is dangerous, and the survivability is low.

Urban raids are dangerous, close quarters engagements, where the uncertainty of the outcome is multiplied with the speed of the assault. We follow a police squad on the verge of conducting a raid on a building owned by a cunning gangster. Jakarta is dangerous already, and this building is filled with dangerous criminals, taking advantage of the refuge provided. As their raid begins to go sideways, they begin to question the motives of their colleagues, as well as to why the enemy is so well prepared.

1. Kung Fu Hustle (2004)

A weapon is as useless as its wielder.

A simple-minded thug named Sing tries to get himself and his friend inducted into a local gang. After they attempt to intimidate residents of a neighborhood, the gang leader sends his men to find Sing, and reestablish their dominance. The residents happen to be formidable martial artists, and defeat the gang’s henchmen. Sing and is friend are captured, but they prove to be incredible escape artists, impressing the boss, and he sends the pair out to free an unstable skilled martial artist from an insane asylum.

Did you find the right inspiration yet?

Just as the world of martial arts is vast and unbounded, so are the tales we tell of them. Without the infusion of culture, they would remain cold hard sciences. As we inflect these movies onto ourselves and future generations, we can be proud to preserve such awe-inspiring legends. And someday even our descendants will be inspired by them.

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15 Best Martial Arts Actors in 2017

Kat_Haas — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 14:51:11 +0000

Find out who has shaken up the martial arts action genre

There never seems to be a shortage of action movies with well-known fighters in its cast. No matter how good of an actor one may be, this is a skill that cannot be faked. These are the best martial artists to come chopping down the big screen in 2017. You may find your favorite, or be introduced to an up and comer.

15. Cung Le (Lê Cung), 45

In “Dragon Eyes,” Cung Le decides to take criminals head on.

“The Grandmaster” relives some of Ip Man’s greatest achievements.

Born in 1972 in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), this Vietnamese-American fighter was raised in conflict. At the age of three his mother had immigrated to the United States, settling in San Jose, California. However, due to American attitudes at the time of the Vietnam War, he was bullied, and sought out martial arts as a positive outlet. He began training in Taekwondo at age 10, and entered competitive wrestling at 14. His passion for martial arts expanded into Judo, Kuntao, Vovinam, Sambo, and Sanshou. Cung’s highly decorated fighting career led directly into the Mixed Martial Arts arena, when in 2006 he began participating in the Strikeforce MMA competition. He went undefeated before relinquishing the title of Middleweight Champion, due to having been signed to a movie deal. His first major role would be in 2009’s “Bodyguards and Assassins”, alongside martial arts film legend Donnie Yen. In between other minor movie roles, he would find himself in the Ultimate Fighter Championship, where he continued his MMA career successfully. His next remarkable appearance in film was in 2013’s “The Grandmaster”. He has now been retired from MMA competitions, but is still active in the kickboxing circuit.

14. Scott Adkins, 40

Taekwondo is known for its high kicks and rapid leg strikes.

Scott let his talent show in his villainous portrayal of Yuri Boyka.

Scott is a jack of all trades when it comes to martial arts. Hailing from Sutton Coldfield, United Kingdom, he initiated his training at age 14 with Taekwondo, moved on to Kickboxing, and earned his black belt when he was 22. Since then he has studied multiple martial arts and forms, including Ninjutsu, Karate, Wushu, Krav Maga, Capoeira, and Jeet Kune Do. His martial arts resume attracted the attention of a Hong Kong stuntman organization, and his acting career began to take off. His breakout role in western films was 2006’s “Undisputed II: Last Man Standing”, playing antagonist Yuri Boyka. He continued to appear in several well-known movies, even starring in a few himself, albeit some of them did not appear in theaters. Scott continued his role as Yuri Boyka in the successful “Undisputed III: Redemption”, this time as the protagonist, and will be reprising his role in the sequel “Boyka: Undisputed”, the fourth installment in the series.

13. Wu Jing (Wú Jīng), 42

Wu Jing gives his most savage kick in “Fatal Contact.”

Nothing is more devastating than the right dodge at the right time.

The Wu family has a history in martial arts, as Jing’s father and grandfather were martial artists. Jing was born 1974 in Beijing, China. He followed in his father’s footsteps and at 6 was sent to the Beijing Sports Institute. His skill was noteworthy as a young man and he was soon drafted into the prestigious Beijing Wushu Team. Many of the great martial arts actors from China had beginnings there, and it is no surprise that he caught the attention of a martial arts choreographer. This led to his first movie role in 1996, “Tai Chi Boxer”. Wu Jing became a household name in the Wuxia Chinese television scene, and caught his big movie role in 2005’s “SPL: Sha Po Lang”, or “Kill Zone” in the States. He made his first American film debut with 2008’s “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor”. During the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, Jing volunteered to bring supplies, food, and help with relief efforts. Jing continued to act in several Chinese films. He had returned for the Sha Po Lang sequel, in 2015’s “SPL II: A Time for Consequences”.

12. Keanu Reeves, 52

Neo faces the “Smiths” for control over the destiny of humanity.

Keanu is no foreigner to modern martial arts techniques involving weapons.

While not entering Hollywood as a martial artist, Keanu Reeves has picked up a multitude of real skills during his decades long career. Born in 1962 Beirut, Lebanon to multi-cultural parents, Keanu moved around the map for many years in his childhood. He officially is a naturalized citizen to Canada, but by birth holds citizenship to the UK. He has acted in a massive range of films, but his induction into martial arts began with “The Matrix” in 1999. He had to train with choreographers and martial artists both, which led him to begin studying other arts as well. He developed a friendship with martial artist and stunt man Tiger Chen, bringing us us 2013’s “Man of Tai Chi”, starring both actors. His latest action films, 2014’s “John Wick” and 2017’s “John Wick: Chapter 2,” had him training in Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, to help with the authenticity of both films. Keanu is often described as a hardworking martial artist, not particularly concerned with belts and titles, but instead with the philosophy and teachings of the art.

11. Michelle Yeoh (Yáng Zǐqióng), 54

Michelle’s experience as a ballet dancer lends her martial arts scenes inexplicable grace.

Even in her later years, she appears to have not aged a day.

Michelle was born in Ipoh, Malaysia in 1962. She aspired to perform ballet, but a spinal injury in her teens prevented it. Instead, she turned to choreography and drama. Michelle won the Miss Malaysia beauty contest and the Queen of the Pacific beauty pageant in 1983, which attracted a lot of commercial attention. A relatively unknown Hong Kong film production studio, D&B Films would bring her to the world of acting. The role that caught the attention of the world was her portrayal of Wai Lin in the James Bond 1997 film “Tomorrow Never Dies”. Described as the “female James Bond”, her acting and martial arts knowledge complemented the character, and she is often hailed as the “Best Bond Girl” in the series. Michelle would return to amaze audiences in 2000’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, where she co-starred next to Chow Yun-Fat. The cinematic display of martial arts was turned upside down, and the movie would rise to the top of the box offices in the United States, critically acclaimed for its martial arts sequences, cinematography, and deep story.

10. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, 44

The size difference is remarkable, even considering Dwayne’s massive frame.

The clash of these two titans stuck with audiences for a lifetime.

Many will; claim that professional wrestling does not constitute as a martial art, but what they forget is that what they see promoted by WWE is the art in its entertainment form. Dwayne Johnson emerged from the WWE as a superstar, a physical specimen, revered as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. He was born in California, USA in1972, and played football until he was cut from the Canadian Football League in 1995. From there he turned to his family’s legacy: professional Wrestling. He would be known as “The Rock” from 1996 to 2004 in the WWE world. He began to venture out into Hollywood, his first starring role in 2002’s “The Scorpion King”. He remained prominent in the acting business, using his fame with the WWE to help reinvigorate many forgotten movie series. His major hit, 2011’s “Fast Five”, part of the Fast and Furious series, helped propel his career to an astonishing level, and he continued his roles in the sequels 2013’s “Fast & Furious 6” and 2015’s “Furious 7”. At the end of 2016 it was announced that he was the highest paid actor in Hollywood.

9. Iko Uwais (Qorny Uwais), 33

Giving a new meaning to “fighting dirty.”

Iko is not one to shy away from graphic scenes like this one.

Iko has had a relatively humble beginning. He was born in 1983 in Jakarta, Indonesia, where he learned the local martial art of Silat in the school his grandfather established. At 24 he was working for a telecom company, and practicing at a local training hall, when he was approached by Gareth Evans, who happened to be shooting a documentary about Silat. He was immediately cast for the film 2009’s “Merantau”, and ended up becoming an instant hit. He starred in the highly successful film “The Raid” (US: “The Raid Redemption”) in 2011, and its 2014 sequel “The Raid 2” (Indonesia: “The Raid 2: Berandal”). Iko has had the honor of introducing western audiences to Silat, a martial art native to Indonesia, developed roughly around the 6th century in Sumatra. Despite his short movie career, Iko is destined to be remembered amongst the greatest martial artists to grace the silver screen.

8. Eddie Peng (Péng Yúyàn), 34

Eddie brings to life the legend that is Wong Fei-Hung.

Eddie has had the honor of representing a multitude of fighting styles.

Eddie Peng is a young Taiwanese-Canadian Actor, relatively unknown in the martial arts world. Born in 1982 in Penghu, Taiwan, his family relocated to Canada when he was 13. He dropped out of college to pursue his acting career, landing a few minor roles in foreign films beginning in 2002. His first martial arts role was in 2012’s “Tai Chi 0” and 2012’s “Tai Chi Hero”, where he played the role of the villain. These roles helped build his credibility as an actor, and moved him into more martial arts roles. He then starred in one of the biggest action roles, portraying the legendary Wong Fei-Hung in 2014’s “Rise of the Legend”. In addition to his acting, he is also a well-known singer in the Hong Kong industry.

7. Gina Carano, 34

No stranger to the ring, Gina knuckles up in “Blood and Bone.”

Gina delivers a cold and calculating performance in “Deadpool.”

Gina is widely known as the “Face of Women’s MMA”. Born in 1982 in Dallas, Texas, she grew up an athlete, competing in basketball, softball, and volleyball. She was introduced to Muay Thai, where she performed phenomenally and then fought in the first sanctioned female MMA fight. Gina began training with Greg Jackson, the inventor of Gaidojutsu, a martial art born from MMA. She retired from her MMA career with 7 wins and 1 loss. She then turned to acting, appearing in a few roles, such as 2009’s “Blood and Bone”. Her work in the industry allowed her to be cast for American Gladiator. She landed herself a hefty role in 2013’s “Fast and Furious 6”, and again in 2016’s “Deadpool”. She was set to star in an all female version of the Expendables, however the project is currently in limbo.

6. Tony Jaa (Japanom Yeerum), 41

Tony performs his own stunts, and refuses special effects.

There is no gentle way to win a fight with a Muay Thai fighter.

Tony’s portrayal of Muay Thai is incomparable in the cinematic perspective of martial arts. His movies are inspired by his personal experiences, and this is reflected by his involvement in the choreography. Born in 1976 in Surin, Thailand, he began training at age 10, and was encouraged attend college before embarking on a career in film. He worked as a stuntman for 14 years, all the while studying Muay Boran, the predecessor to Muay Thai. His intent was to develop a movie based on the martial art, and with the help of a senior stuntman, he was able to catch the attention of a director. This led to 2003’s “Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior”. Western audiences were enthralled with the insanely fast, and brutal sequences, and helped Tony achieve his goal of bringing Muay Thai to the mainstream. Tony followed up his success with 2005’s “Tom-Yum-Goong” (US: “The Protector”).

5. JeeJa Yanin (Yanin Vismitananda), 32

Jeeja followed in the footsteps of Tony Jaa, whom she saw as an inspiration.

No one likes being at work, but it's even worse when a young girl comes to beat you up while you’re there.

Jeeja is a Thailand native, born in 1984 in Bangkok. As a child she was frequently sick due to her frail nature, and her mother encouraged her to take up a martial art. She decided to study Tae Kwon Do at age 11, and has since earned the rank of 3rd Dan Black Belt. She is best known for her starring role in 2008’s “Chocolate”. In order to prepare for the role she studied medical cases of children with autism for 6 months. Jeeja’s dedication paid off, as “Chocolate” was well received, and it was noted that she was the first woman in 20 years to star in a Thai martial arts film. Wasting no time, she starred in 2009’s “Raging Phoenix”. Tony Jaa even cast her in a supporting role in 2013’s “Tom-Yum-Goong 2”, which was a great opportunity for her to work with one of her greatest inspirations. It was then revealed that she was pregnant and that the release of “Chocolate 2” would be delayed.

4. Michael Jai White, 49

Michael’s extensive knowledge of martial arts makes for extremely satisfying fight scenes.

It’s not always about the kicks and punches. Submissions are just as brutal.

Not many martial artists, actors or not, can compare to Michael’s extensive martial arts history. Holding eight black belts in several different martial arts, he is the epitome of a master. He was born in 1967 in Brooklyn, New York, and began practicing at age 7. He started with Jujutsu and later acquired skills and belts in Shotokan, Tae Kwon Do, Goju Ryu, Kyokushin, Wushu, Tang Soo Do, and Kobudo. Naturally his acting roles reflected this talent, as his first starring role was for 1995’s “Tyson”, where he played Mike Tyson. He became the first African American to play a major Superhero with 1997’s “Spawn”. His movie roles were plentiful, but none would make quite an impact as 2011’s “Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown”. It was here where he not only showcased his skills as a martial artist, but also as a director. He followed the film up with the smashing sequel 2016’s “Never Back Down: No Surrender”.

3. Jackie Chan (Chén Gǎngshēng), 62

The Police Story series was modelled after American style movies, which was new to Jackie at the time.

Despite not living up to the Bruce Lee moniker, Jackie blazed his own path in Hollywood.

There isn’t much more that you can say about Jackie Chan that hasn’t already been said. Born in 1954 in the British territory of Hong Kong, Jackie had an early introduction into martial arts. He attended drama school, where he excelled at martial arts and aerobatics. Jackie acted in small roles as a child, and eventually wound up working as a stuntman for none other than Bruce Lee. Despite his roles, he found very little success, and wound up moving to Australia with his parents where he worked construction for a while. It was there he started being called “Jackie”, a nickname that stuck with him for years. After reviewing Jackie’s stunt work, a Hong Kong film company decided to hire him to mold him into the image of Bruce Lee. This ultimately failed, as Jackie was not comfortable with the style of Bruce Lee. Undeterred, the company continued trying tocast him. His first commercial success, 1978’s “Drunken Master,” helped establish the kung-fu comedy genre, and showcased Jackie’s own style since he was allowed control over his own stunts. His first success in Hollywood is attributed to 1995’s “Rumble in the Bronx”, which gained him the fabled Hollywood status. He went on to star in the “Rush Hour” trilogy, and has begun to reboot one of his earlier series with 2013’s “Police Story 2013”.

2. Jason Statham, 49

Jason’s characters are often described as being something of an “antihero.”

Frank Martin brings the viciousness to his enemies.

Born in 1967 in Shirebrook, England, Jason is unique amongst martial artist due to his “average” appearance. He partakes in Wing Chun, Karate, and Kickboxing. He competed in England as a sports diver for over a decade until he was discovered by Guy Ritchie. Taking advantage of his everyman look, Guy cast him in roles that complemented his appearance. Jason is best known for his role as Frank Martin in 2002’s “The Transporter”, which through a mix of intense vehicle action and crisp fight scenes propelled him to the top of the charts. The Transporter went on to spawn three successful sequels. His latest blockbusting roles are 2011’s “The Mechanic” and 2015’s “Furious 7”.

1. Donnie Yen (Zhēn Zǐdān), 53

There is almost no art that Donnie Yen can’t adapt to.

Some say that Donnie’s kicks are so powerful they are used to fuel China’s film industry.

Donnie Yen is revered by many as having transcended the fame as an actor, and is now the face of martial arts in cinema. Credited with the introduction of MMA to China, his movies, and martial arts talent have inspired many actors such as Tony Jaa, Mike Tyson, Eddie Peng, and Iko Uwais. Born in 1963 in Guangzhou China, his family immigrated to Boston, Massachusetts when he was 11. His mother was a Tai Chi Grandmaster, and was his earliest influence in martial arts. He started Karate, and later moved to Wushu. He dropped out of school at 14, so his parents sent him to a two year training program with the Beijing Wushu Team, afraid that he would absorb negative influences. It was from here he would be discovered as an aspiring martial arts genius, and he would star in his first role, 1984 “Drunken Tai Chi”. He would later take over the role created by Bruce Lee, in the Fist of Fury television series. His connection to the history of Bruce Lee did not end there. Having multiple martial arts films under his belt, he would take on the role of Bruce Lee’s mentor in 2008’s “Ip Man”. Ip Man was a huge success internationally, and Donnie would follow them up with two sequels, which continued to amaze audiences.

Who do you plan to see more of in 2017?

There is no doubt these martial arts legends and icons will help usher in more talent. We are eagerly awaiting their next big hit, and they are guaranteed to deliver some powerful stories. The evolution of martial arts in cinema will only continue with their memories and contributions.

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10 Reasons Every Man Should Learn Martial Arts

Kat_Haas — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 14:32:30 +0000

You’re at a Disadvantage If You Don’t Train in Martials Arts. Here are 10 Reasons Why…

The world is tough, so you need to be tougher. There are millions of things in life ready to stop you, so you want to be prepared for as many as you can manage. But why pick a martial arts? What benefits could be stowed away in these teachings? There is a reason many have survived centuries of technological advancements, and why new forms are being developed every day. You may want to consider studying a martial art now, and reap the advantages they will offer you in the future.

1. To Protect His Girl

Sometimes the only thing between her and danger is you. Make it count.

Women like feeling secure in a relationship. Not just financially, or emotionally, but physically as well. A good way to fill that need is to learn a martial art. It is not just about feeling or looking strong, but actually being able to use your body correctly, and more importantly, effectively protecting your loved one from harm. If you’re not exactly Mr. Olympia, that is not a problem. Many martial arts deal with the difference in strengths by teaching techniques designed to counter disadvantages. You don’t have to fret over not looking like the protector, you just need be the protector. Not only that, it doesn’t just help knowing how to fight off an attack. Martial arts will teach you also how to not get injured yourself. Find a martial art that’s right for you, and be assured in your newfound ability to shield your loved one from danger.

2. Women Love Men Who Can Fight

Women are out there looking for the traits they like. If you have them, they will spot them.

Women find that the ability to fight is important as well as appealing. Self-defense is important, but going out of your way to learn to be a better fighter is a good sign of your masculinity. Women love a strong, aggressive man, seemingly fearless in his approach to life. Make sure that the martial art reflects ideas you can live up to. If you’re more of a passive type, find a more defensive martial art to participate in. If you’re energetic, find a fast and furious style to match up to. Remember, all martial arts are designed for fighting, so don’t worry too much about how it looks. Fighting is fighting, regardless of how it is performed. The end result should be you standing, and the other guy walking away, or lying unconscious. Remember to stay humble, though. You don’t want to go out looking for fights, because that’s simply a turnoff for most women. You want to be able to repel a threat when it approaches you, not become a threat to everyone.

3. To Give Yourself the “Bad Boy” Mindset and Build Self Confidence. Girls Love That

Let them know that it’s not your blood splattered everywhere.

Confidence is sexy. If you haven’t had much luck with the ladies lately, maybe you gotta give yourself a quick shakedown, and see if a lack of confidence is killing your vibe. Secondly, if you are confident, but you don’t look, or act confident, then you’re not going to get a second glance from prospective partners. Start training in a martial art. Most martial arts teach a very specific skill with every move: confidence. Nothing will make you seem more proficient at fighting than confidence. And this will bleed over to other aspects of your life as well. It will change the way you walk, the way you answer a question, even how you deal with the opposite sex. You need to be fearless in the way you approach life sometimes, and the feedback you get from training, sparring, and successful completion of techniques will boost your courage immensely. Moreover, this will also teach you how to deal with defeat. Lose a sparring match? No problem, dust yourself off and try again. The same applies to the ladies. One girl rejects you? No big deal. The sea is vast, there are plenty more fish.

4. To Teach Bullies They Messed With the Wrong Person

Make sure it’s the bully who comes away from this with a lesson.

Bullies are everywhere. They’re not always beating up on some innocent kids, but they exist in many forms today. Sometimes you need to get physical in confronting them. What better way to teach a lesson, than with pain? Well, you could dive into that mosh pit like a clumsy ragdoll, and hope for the best, or you can acquire some martial arts skills, and dish out the appropriate amount of agony. Not only will you come away largely unscathed (if you practice enough), but you will send a strong message. When you spend very little effort in dispatching of unruly individuals, it makes another incident very unlikely. Let’s say it’s not you who is getting bullied. You may have to step in and help protect someone else from harassment. You want to be able to confidently and intelligently engage your foes, allowing victims to escape. But if you’re unskilled in approaching threats, you might get yourself and someone else hurt. Dedicate some time and effort in a martial art, and this will not be a problem for yourself or others.

5. To Improve Your Fitness Levels

It’s your body, so give it some upgrades here and there.

Everybody is raving about fitness, and exercise. There seems to be a gym on every corner, jam packed full of meatheads, soccer moms, gym teachers, and yoga students. An environment like that alone can be exhausting. Your average dojo is small. There are like minded individuals, all gathered to partake in a mutual learning experience. Then to top it off, the workout is very balanced. Regardless of what martial art you partake in, total fitness is usually the common theme. Upper body for strikes and blocking, core for stability, and legs and glutes for movement or agility. You will feel better, and look younger due to the constant cycle of improvement you will be undertaking. You won’t have to guzzle protein shakes, measure pre-workout chemicals, or measure your carb intake. Not to mention, the overall process will be healthier for you than the entire physical stress you would be forcing upon yourself within 30 minutes of lifting.

6. It’s More Fun and Advantageous Compared to Other Sports

The military does not waste time with sports, trophies, or scores. Fighting is the best preparation for its missions.

In addition to the fitness component, another bonus to martial arts are the rewards they bring. Work at it long enough you will find yourself advancing steadily through the ranks, attaining skills, and learning from real scenarios through sparring and tournaments. What others sports lack in this regard is applicability. Sure you can dunk, throw a ball, or hit homeruns. But none of those skills have applicable meaning outside of the sport. But with a martial art the ends are limitless. Learning how to escape complex chokeholds in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? You’re applying on demand problem solving skills. Improving your Kung Fu stances? You’re working on your stability and balance, meaning you are less likely to fall or trip while walking. Reading the teachings of Aikido? Now you’re being educated on calming your mental state, which leads to a reduction in stress. All of these are life hacks are in martial arts teaching. Some may be blatant lessons, others are subtle improvements to your lifestyle, even reaching as far as changing your outlook in life.

7. You Don’t Know When You’ll Get Into a Dangerous Situation

Someday you may be faced with the choice of standing up to a challenge, or running. Give yourself the tools to stand.

The mindset of “that’ll never happen to me” is dangerous on its own. The world is treacherous. It is nobody’s responsibility to take care of you as an adult. Time to take that in your own hands. Buying a gun is an option but you can’t always have your gun within reach. So how about learning how to fend for yourself without a physical weapon? Simply put, turn yourself into a weapon, arm yourself with martial arts skills, and supplement that deadly combination with secondary measures. The only thing you will always have is yourself. Martial arts skills are the oldest known concealed weapons in the world. No one can take them from you. And you can have as many as you have time to learn. A common misconception about martial arts self-defense is that it is “impractical” or “unrealistic”. What those people tend to forget is that martial arts teachings are structured specifically to enable easier learning. It’s about the application of the combat intentions that makes the art “martial”. Never forget that most of these techniques were designed for dangerous situations, not sport.

8. It’s a Healthy Hobby With Many Benefits

Whether you are looking for inner peace, or to calm your racing mind, you can find it here.

There’s a reason many elderly people turn to martial arts. The health benefits have been proven. You don’t see too many athletes participating in sports past 50 or 60 years of age. But you will regularly find even older people practicing a martial art. First off, most are safer than sports since the focus is fighting, an inherently dangerous activity. To offset that, higher safety measures are in place. Secondly, most martial arts promote healthy living as part of the training. To fight at top most quality, your body must be in top notch shape. This means you must give your body the best in nutrition. And lastly, there is the mindset. Meditation, stress management, calm thinking. These are all tenets of learning to fight. Heavy emphasis on these aspects make for a better state of mind, which can lead to a variety of positive effects on your well-being.

9. Once You Are Good, You Could Make a Part Time Income Training Newbies

Some part time jobs are boring, and some let you beat up inexperienced fighters. Take your pick.

Every hobby should be somewhat of an investment. You put enough time and effort into it, and you can earn the right to teach your martial art. A lot of people will pay to have their kids come get whipped into shape by you. It’s a modest income, but it could fill your pockets fast. Many dojos and gyms will pay for assistants, or part time coaches for the martial arts. Other options are being sparring referees, or program coordinators. If you’re passionate about the art, you can train even more to be qualified to lead dojos/gyms, which can lead to some serious income if you find the right clients. Often the right reputation is a step in the right direction. You want to talk to a current teacher or coach about the skills needed to teach, and see if it fits your schedule. With the right kind of cooperation, you can find a good time slot, and the right kind of students, and be very happy with your commitment to the art.

10. To Build a Nice Muscular Physique

Get ripped, lean, and strong and stay that way for life.

Lifting weights, cardio, and diet plans are boring. They are targeted, routine exercises that don’t inspire a lot of creativity or evolve in anyway. But a martial art is packed full of different, unique and incredible fitness routines that help propel your body into a wicked shape. Strong, agile, lean, and flexible. If those attributes sound good to you, then you might want to find the closest dojo near you. Repetition is key to any good workout, but it becomes much more intuitive when working with your own body weight. Don’t be mistaken: if you want to look like a bodybuilder, you need to do bodybuilding. But if you want to look like Bruce Lee, Michael Jai White, or Chuck Norris, then you need to work out like a martial artist.

Attain the Body You Want, and the Mentality You Need

Your life depends 100% on your choices. You know what you’re going to do tomorrow, and the day after next. Why not change it up, by inserting some variety? Become a fighting machine, attain inner peace, or effectively relieve stress, all while gaining some life skills in the process. You may not need them now, you may not need them ever, but it is better safe than sorry. Your family will be proud, your spouse will thank you, and your friends will be impressed with the progress you make. But most importantly, you need to be committed to improving yourself all the way.

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10 Deadliest Martial Arts in the World

Kat_Haas — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 14:24:44 +0000

Where will you be when the fighting starts?

Just as fighting has been pivotal to the success of the human species, learning how to fight has been a staple in our development. Name a culture and you can find a fighting style or “martial art” associated with it. Some are centuries old, and others have only been developed in the last few decades. But what is the consistent theme in most martial arts? Lethality. The ability to kill, or maim, an opponent with your bare hands. As humanity evolved and discovered quicker, deadlier ways to fight, combat arts fell out of favor, some adopting a more sports like agenda. Let us have a look at some of the most brutal martial arts, their roots, and how they are used today.

10) Aikido (Japan)

The gentle whirlwind of pain.

Developed through the 1920s and 30s by a young Japanese martial artist named Morihei Ueshiba, Aikido employs tactical manipulation of an opponent’s movement and momentum to create openings from which to strike or disarm. Many of the strikes resemble bladed attacks, as swords and spears are the root weapon. Several variations of Aikido exist, from weapon styles to differences in underlying philosophy. What puts Aikido in the number ten spot is one of its core principles; avoiding injury to your opponent. Now this may sound contradictory in nature, but consider this: Aikido fighters learn how to modify their moves to avoid injury to the enemy in addition to learning how dangerous the technique is. This sets it apart from other martial arts, as it is built around a principle of moderating its own lethality. It is not uncommon for high ranking martial artists to incorporate Aikido techniques into their skill set due to its versatility. An observant martial artist can turn simple hip throws into bone crushing body slams, or glancing redirections into vital organ strikes. In addition to this, Aikido employs an interesting take on the role of the practitioners. Seen above the Thrower, Nage, performs the technique, while the Receiver, Uke, takes the blow. Aikido emphasizes on the role the Uke plays, teaching them how to take falls, and minimize the damage they would receive. Not only does a student learn to apply dangerous techniques, they also learn how to avoid those same techniques.

9) Savate (France)

From the streets to the Olympics, Savate was forged by a ruthless mindset.

Many fighting styles have militaristic origins that transition into civilian life. Very few street fighting styles have been readily accepted into sports practice. One of those styles, Savate, embodies the ideal of brutality combined with efficiency. Known also as boxe française, or chausson, it began in the 19th century as a fighting technique developed in the slums of Paris. Later it migrated to the port of Marseilles, where sailors adopted the form. The sailors modified the kicks and strikes, designing them around military concepts. The idea was to be able to use the simple kicks while on a rocking ship, and the open hand strikes while out in the streets, where closed fist strikes were considered a deadly assault. Savate is simple, described as a form of kickboxing, but it is also brutal and to the point. In competition, only four strikes, and four kicks are recognized. Street Savate (Savate de Rue), allows knees, shins and elbows as weapons. Since the style is primarily focused on kicks, the straightforwardness of Savate can be misunderstood. Any martial artist will recognize how a well placed kick can spell doom for your opponent’s ability to retaliate, and Savate specializes in landing those kicks. A broken opponent is a dead opponent.

8) SAMBO (Soviet Union)

A fighter’s oldest weapons: gravity, and the ground.

An acronym for SAMozashchita Bez Oruzhiya (self-defense without weapons), SAMBO was specifically developed for the Soviet Red Army in the 1920s. In an effort to improve their hand to hand abilities, the Soviet Union tasked Viktor Spiridonov and Vasili Oshchepkov with creating a conglomerate of fighting techniques akin to a Frankenstein’s monster of martial arts. The two worked independently, researching Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, catch wrestling, and traditional Turkish wrestling. Over the years, their pupils and ideas converged their separated work, and fused them into what is now known as SAMBO. True to its militaristic origin, the wrestling techniques are designed for quick incapacitation, rapid counters, and intuitive body control. The end result generally has the fighter in the more advantageous position, able to dispose of the opponent however they have to. Decidedly an effective form of fighting, even today Russian Commandos still use specialized forms of SAMBO.

7) Wing Chun (China)

Bring your enemy down, quickly, painfully, and effortlessly.

This legendary martial art’s origins have been intentionally shrouded in mystery. Due to its inception during the Qing Dynasty, the originators would not want to be known publicly. Wing Chun is described as a defensive martial art, designed around the concepts of close combat, and evading grasping opponents. The strikes are quick, and pack power, with emphasis on striking an opponent on their “blindside”, where they would only be able to retaliate with one arm. The Wing Chun fighter has some disadvantages, as do all martial arts, but the style makes up for them in the simplicity of its proces. Without focusing on offence defense becomes flawless, efficient, and sometimes even agonizing for the attacker. No energy is wasted, as the ability to counter and devastate an opponent is vital for success. An important factor to consider is the difference in speed and striking distance. Every block is a lead in to strike, the entire art being able to string multiple hits together. This creates a confusing pattern of strong successful strikes that whittle away at the opponent’s stamina. Alternatively, some variations have opted for a grappling approach, weaving through attacks to trap the adversary and perform swift takedowns.

6) Karate (Okinawa)

Karate does not specialize on any specific body part. Your body is the weapon.

By far the most famous example of a martial art, Karate has dominated global culture, and cinema. Adopted from China, and modified by the Okinawan locals, Karate had to undergo a few political changes before it was widely accepted by Japan. Many experts will shout to the skies as to how ineffective karate is, as the moves are robotic, unrealistic, and even useless in real life scenarios. The evolution of the art has proved them right. Karate as we know it today is governed by clubs and organizations that strive to reduce injuries and mishaps occurring while training. Many techniques have been removed or modified to be less dangerous. This does not mean they are forgotten. Find anyone who has been practicing for more than a decade, and they can show you. Karate stands out with its vast array of traditional weapons, incapacitating strikes, and underlying philosophies, but delve deeper and you will find an art that was fined tuned by necessity, and reinforced by continuous improvements.

5) Arnis (Philippines)

Some people play with knives, and others fight with them.

The Philippines are generally regarded as a “Blade Culture” where knives and daggers are commonly kept on one’s person. They are used as tools, weapons, and even status symbols. It should come as no surprise that the culture would have a fighting style built around knives. Arnis is a common name for a family of knife, sword, and baton fighting styles, which can also go by the name of Escrima, and Kali. The premise is simple: everybody can have a knife, so it is best to know how to use it, and defend against it. To emphasize the importance of the knife, beginning students are taught with the weapon first, and later on learn to fight empty handed. Its lethality was exemplified during a US military engagement with Philippine locals. Any fighter, policeman, or service member with a history of street brawls can tell you about the immense danger a knife presents.During its inception many demonstrations would host full contact blade on blade duels, the winners often heralded as legends as their supposed kills increased. Today, those types of displays are illegal, but the lethality of knife combat has not been forgotten. Arnisador also have no ranking system in order to protect fighters from being challenged for notoriety and fame.

4) MCMAP (United States of America)

The modern combat skillset for the modern warfighter.

Previously known as “LINE” Training, the Marine Corps’ Martial Arts Program incorporates a multitude of martial arts into one decisive package. The developers of the program found that the original LINE training was lacking in flexibility, and needed an upgrade in the form of escalation. Introduced in 2002, the program is a hybrid of the most effective martial arts known across the globe, with special attention paid to simplicity, and standardization. A 120lbs Marine will be able to apply these techniques in the same manner as a 230lbs Marine. Even protective gear was considered in rebuilding the program, and almost every move can be effectively applied with full combat gear. A truly modernized fighting style, it includes firearms techniques, weapons of opportunity, and a constantly evolving syllabus, updated culturally with the enemies the US is facing. Does your enemy commonly wear body armor? MCMAP develops a move to exploit its weakness. Does he wear unusual clothing that makes certain moves ineffective? MCMAP finds a workaround to maintain the technique. It is truly one of the most comprehensive martial arts styles in existence.

3) Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (Brazil)

The ground becomes a pivot point in a fight between the strong and the skilled.

Adopted from what became to be known as Judo to the modern world, BJJ is widely known throughout the mixed martial arts circles. BJJ flew under the radar for many years until Royce Gracie repeatedly won tournaments using its techniques. Now they are a staple in the competitive fighting arena, and their introduction served as a reminder that not all martial arts are equal. While many styles focused on powerful strikes, and crushing kicks, BJJ focused on an equalizing factor: superior technique over immense strength. It changed the entire perspective of a fight, and with that came a wave of bone crushing locks and holds. Familiar moves were transferred from Judo, as well as SAMBO, and the rest were developed by the Gracie family. As pioneers to the style, the Gracie Dojos maintain a strict discipline of self defense, retaining its roots as a combat style. Despite that, it is painfully obvious how lethal BJJ is, just by observing its sports variations. It does not take much imagination to see how easy it would be to take an armbar too far.

2) Krav Maga (Israel)

A weapon is only as dangerous as the wielder.

The often mystified and highly regarded combat skill set known as Krav Maga (contact combat) was developed in Israel by Imi Lichtenfeld. After witnessing the anti Semitic violence during the 1930s, Lichtenfeld migrated to Israel and began teaching the Jewish fighters. This landed him a job as an instructor for the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces), and he began constructing Krav Maga. An accomplished fighter in both boxing and wrestling, he quickly realized that while sport fighting was good, it did not realistically apply to real life. He needed a fighting style that resembled the chaos that was real life street fighting. Krav Maga’s slogan (It’s better to avoid than run; better to run than de-escalate; better to de-escalate than fight; better to fight than die) emphasizes the importance of survival. There are no withheld strikes. There are no “soft” blows. There is no escalation of force. Every single move is there to kill, maim, or disfigure the attacker. There is no room for mercy in survival, and giving the enemy another chance is out of the question.

1) Muay Thai (Thailand)

No strike is off limits in Muay Thai.

The national sport of Thailand, Muay Thai, is simply described as ruthless. Elbows, knees, fists, and feet all make up the weapons of the sport. Heavy conditioning exercises are part of the training regimen. Knees and elbows are extremely dangerous. They are hard, tough to block, and there isn’t much you can do to soften the blow. Muay Thai capitalized on these factors, building a historical martial art focused on a military heritage. It is also the pioneer of “clinching”, a standing grappling move that locks the enemies head in place, allowing for knee and elbow strikes to the head, particularly dangerous with no head gear, and no rules on ending clinches. 75% of Muay Thai competition fights end in knockouts, many needing to be stopped by referees due to other injuries. Some fighters are even aware of the deaths directly related to fighting in the ring, but given the sheer number of athletes involved in it as a sport, the death toll is relatively low. With any kind of death toll in a refereed fight, you know that no holds barred equals the most lethal martial art.

Our body is a weapon, to be used as such.

The rigorous process of creating martial arts baffles many scholars, as many spring from seemingly nowhere. The masters of these arts find an unlimited amount of inspiration for their craft, and sometimes are terrified of what they have created. As fighting is one of our most basic instincts, it is natural that we gravitate towards violent, even bloodthirsty methods. But through the grace of human evolution we found reason, and built socially acceptable boundaries around these fighting enhancements, a reminder that the greatest weapon we have is ourselves.

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15 Must Watch Action Movies in 2017

aleksandar2 — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 14:14:53 +0000

We Really Can't Wait to See These Movies

2016 has come and gone so now we have a full year to look forward to brand new movies. Today we feel like sharing a list of movies, in no particular order, that make us want to jump off our chair and cheer for the good guys. We are, of course, talking about action movies. 2017 seems like it’s going to be very action-packed with movies so let’s take a look at some movies we are most excited about.

1. Ghost in the Shell

A Beautiful SCI-FI World Filled With Cyborgs and Action, How Can We Say No?

We’re kicking off our list with an action movie that has us very excited and worried at the same time. On one hand, it’s based on an anime, but on the other hand, it looks gorgeous and it seems very faithful to the original manga and anime. Ghost in the Shell promises to take us on an epic trip through a futuristic Japan where we will follow in the footsteps of The Major (a half human, half cyborg hybrid) who will lead the fight against cyber-terrorism. If you’ve seen the anime you know exactly what a big deal this movie is going to be and how big are the shoes it has to fill. We can look forward to Ghost in the Shell coming to the big screen sometime in June 2017.

Ghost in the Shell Trailer

2. Justice League

After Their Little Quarrel Last Year, Superman and Batman Have Decided to Put Their Differences Aside and Save the World Together, Oh and They Also Brought Some Friends Along

Our beloved DC has had a rough year when it comes to movies, but their upcoming movies in 2017 give us hope that we are in for a treat. Something many of us DC nerds have been looking forward to is seeing all of our heroes fight side-by-side on the big screen and DC will grand our wish this year. The trailer maybe leaves something to be desired but we are still excited about seeing all of our favorite DC heroes soon. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Cyborg and , our favorite, Aquaman will try and steal some of Marvel’s thunder this year sometime in November 2017.

Justice League Trailer

3. Logan

If You Don’t Know Who’s Hand This Is, Then You Need To Re-educate Yourself About Superheroes

Oh yeah! Something many of us Marvel fans have been really looking forward to. A brand new Wolverine film starring none other than Hugh Jackman. Before DC and Marvel were duking it out with sequel after sequel we had our wonderful X-men saga that played by its own rules and didn’t care what people thought of it. Some movies were better than other, but Wolverine was, undoubtedly, one of the favorites. DC figured we were a little disappointed for not seeing Wolverine in X-men: Apocalypse, so they decided to give us a whole movie based on our favorite vigilante. The movie is set in the future where our aged clawed superhero (A.K.A. Logan) along with Professor X must defeat Nathaniel Essex before he, you’ve guessed it, destroys the world. Wolverine may be a little older in this movie but that won’t mean we will love him any less. We will be able to see Logan on March 3^rd 2017.

Logan Trailer

4. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

With So Many Superhero Movies On Their Way, We Are Glad Disney Hasn’t Forgotten That We Still Like Pirates

Pirates of the Caribbean is a series we hold very dear. It’s an epic adventure full of sword-fighting,
voodoo magic, sailing and, of course, booty. It’s also a series that has its share of funny moments as well as some romance. We are really glad to hear that Captain Jack Sparrow will come back in 2017 because it has been some time since we’ve seen this wonderful Pirate. Not only is Johnny Depp reprising his role as Jack Sparrow, but the entire crew from the first three movies is coming back, supposedly. As soon as this baby hits theaters on May 26^th 2017 we will be lined up to buy our tickets before you can say: “Why is the rum gone?”.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Trailer

5. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

The Sequel Brings a New Mix-tape, Hence the “Vol. 2”

We were really blown away by the first movie back in 2014. While we knew the sequel will undoubtedly be made, we were still crushed when we heard that it would appear in three long years. Well, 3 long years have passed and the sequel is here. Star-lord and friends are back, and they are going to guard our galaxy again. Oh, and if you were worried that you may not see Groot again, rest assured, that he is still very much part of the gang, except he is a little smaller. Marvel will release this wonderful sequel on the 5.5.2017 and naturally we can’t wait to see it.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 Trailer

6. Kong: Skull Island

King Kong Is Back and Maybe He Is Going To Steal a Pretty Girl and Climb a Tall Building Again

Holy cow! Some of us are really getting old because it seems only yesterday that we were in the theater watching a King Kong movie, but that was actually back in 2005. Time sure flies. Either way, It’s a new decade and it’s time for a new King Kong Movie and this one looks very promising. If you’ve never heard the plot to King Kong, we will tell you the gist of it. It’s a movie where a group of people go to an island where huge creatures roam to capture the biggest Ape in the world. Will they capture the ape, will they be able to show it to the world and will it all go according to plan is something we are sure you can figure out. Either way, we are looking forward to seeing this new installment of the beloved classic that will hit theaters on May 10^th 2017.

Kong: Skull Island Trailer

7. Thor: Ragnarok

Thor Was a Little Bit Busy During the Civil War, But He Is Back And He Is Ready For More

While Captain America and Iron Man were busy fighting, the long haired Thor was busy looking for the infinity stones. Luckily we will be able to see just how well his search is going in the new Thor: Ragnarok movie that is scheduled to come our sometime in November 2017. We still don’t know much about this one, but from what we’ve heard, Thor has been imprisoned while searching for the infinity stones and he has to escape and go back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok. Will the movie be any good? Well, it’s a marvel superhero movie, so chances that it will be good are pretty high.

Trailer not yet available.

8. Wonder Woman

The Amazon Princess Finally Gets Her Own Movie

It’s really surprising that this will be the first time we get a movie about Wonder Woman even though she is one of the best DC superheroes. Well, better late than ever, right? We will be able to enjoy Wonder Woman’s origin story from her early days on Amazon to her first real battles and we really can’t wait to see how well it all plays out on the big screen. With the last few DC movies not really living out to their potential, we hope that the Amazon princess can reignite the DC fire that really needs an oil refill.
Wonder Woman is supposed to hit the theaters sometimes on June 2^nd 2017.

Wonder Woman Trailer

9. The Fate of the Furious

Vroom, Vroom, Boom, Boom and so much more in the new Fast and Furious movie.

Do you like fast cars, guns and explosions? If the answer is yes, then chances are you are already a fan of the fast and furious series and you are probably looking forward to this one. Believe it or not, this is the eighth movie in the series. Surely the series is doing something right if they were able to make it number 8. For the fans of the series, here’s the synopsis: A mysterious woman appears and seduces Dom and leads him astray. Dom starts doing shady things with the mysterious woman and the crew is left facing their biggest challenge yet. If you’ve seen any of the previous Fast and Furious movies you will know exactly what you are in for. Lots of cars and explosions are coming again to the big screen on April 14^th 2017.

The Fate of the Furious Trailer

10. Alien Covenant

Xenomorphs are back and they are hungry for some space marines and scientists

If you were left feeling a little bit empty by the 2012 Prometheus, don’t worry because Ridley Scott knows what we want and he is going to give it to us later this year. When the crew of the ship called “Covenant” discover a potential paradise, they also discover the only survivor of the Prometheus expedition, David, and very soon things start looking a lot less like paradise and more like a Ridley Scott film. While we personally didn’t mind Prometheus, we are really glad that the, always frightening, Xenomorphs are making a come-back and that they are as ferocious as ever. The trailer was more than enough to remind us how scary these aliens really are. You will be able to get your Alien fix on May 19^th 2017.

Alien Covenant Trailer

11. Transformers: The Last Knight

Giant Robots With Swords? Sign Us Up

So far we’ve covered superheroes, aliens, fast cars, pirates, big apes but it looks like we are missing something. Well of course, we need some giant sword wielding robots with ridiculous names. Whether you like or dislike Michael Bay’s work, the man has given Transformers a place to call home on the big screen. The plot this time is that Optimus Prime has discovered his home-planet Cybertron which is now a dead planet. He has a chance to revive his home-world but he needs an artifact. Guess where the artifact is? Yup, our planet. Expect a lot of explosions, action and, naturally, giant killer robots in Transformers: The Last Knight which is coming on June 23^rd 2017.

Transformers: The Last Knight Trailer

12. Star Wars Episode VIII

We Have a Lot of Speculations About What Might Happen Next in the Star Wars Saga

Two years ago, we got a sequel we never knew we were going to get. While the seventh Star Wars movie was definitely not a bad movie, a lot of this about it seemed very… familiar. J.J. Abrams certainly proved to us that he can make a Star Wars movie but what we really want is to have our mind blown. We really want to see some unexpected plot twists, some surprises and basically some new stuff in the next movie. We want to gasp as hard as when we first discovered who Luke Skywalker’s father was. Are our expectations too high, certainly, but can you blame us, we ARE talking about Star Wars here. The next Star Wars movie is scheduled to be released on December 15^th 2017.

No trailer available yet.

13. Dunkirk

War Movies Can Be Extremely Gripping and Exciting at the Same Time

Up until now, we’ve covered fantasy and fictional movies. What about movies based on events that actually happened in the past. The battle of Dunkirk was a famous sea-based battle during World War II where the armies of Belgium, Britain and France were surrounded by the fierce German army. This amazing tale will be retold in theaters by Christopher Nolan on July 21^st 2017. So, if you know your history, or if you would like to learn a bit more about World War 2, you might want to give this one some of your attention, we definitely will.

Dunkirk Trailer

14. Blade Runner 2049

The World of Blade Runner Is One of Our Favorite Fictional Futuristic Worlds

When you talk about Ridley Scott, people usually think about the Alien Series. What people don’t always remember, at least not until you remind them, is the 1982 Blade Runner which was way ahead of its time. In case you don’t know, a Blade Runner is a futuristic assassin that hunts beings disguised as humans known as replicants, and yes, it is really hard to tell them apart from humans. While the 1982 movie has spawned a series of books that have kept the fans of the series busy, we never got a proper sequel. That is about to change on October 6^th 2017 where we will get a proper sequel to this beloved work of art.

Blade Runner 2049

15. King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

Temptation at its finest

The classic tale of King Arthur is getting another movie this year with King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. If you’ve never heard the story before, it’s about a young boy who, despite all odds, manages to pull the legendary sword Excalibur from the stone and become king by doing so. This story will, however, focus on Arthur’s life after he pulls out the sword and how he learns to wield its power. If you are in the mood for some classic medieval action, check out King Arthur: The Legend of the Sword which will appear in theaters on May 12^th 2017.

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword Trailer

These are 15 action movies we are definitely going to keep our eyes open for this year. If you liked what you read than you should keep your eyes open too. 2017 seems like it will be a great year for action movies.

For more lists like this check out these links:

10 Superhero Movies You Must Watch

11 Fantasy Movies Like Lord of the Rings

Top 10 Fantasy Films of 2016

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