FMA In the Movies?

[The Game]

Ok, I was involved in a discussion the other day with a few friends. One of them insists that many of the newer films were leaning heavily on the FMA for their fight scenes. Star Wars and The Scorpion King, as well as StarGate: Atlantis were mentioned heavily. I'm more of the opinion that it was the CMA or JMA at the core of them, especially The Matrix, and Star Wars. So, I have to ask, how much is Hollywood leaning on the FMA today?

 

[Jonathan Randall]

Ok, I was involved in a discussion the other day with a few friends. One of them insists that many of the newer films were leaning heavily on the FMA for their fight scenes. Star Wars and The Scorpion King, as well as StarGate: Atlantis were mentioned heavily. I'm more of the opinion that it was the CMA or JMA at the core of them, especially The Matrix, and Star Wars. So, I have to ask, how much is Hollywood leaning on the FMA today?

Didn't Steven Segal have Dan Inosanto play a bad guy with sticks? IIRC, Segal won the scripted movie match, but I seem to recall thinking that in real life, Inosanto would have torn him to shreds with his sticks.

What about "The Hunted"?

 

[Guro Harold]

Bourne Identity - Jeff Imada, fight choreographer (Inosanto Blend)
Bourne Supremacy - Jeff Imada - Jeff Imada, fight choreographer (Inosanto Blend)

 

[Guro Harold]

Didn't Steven Segal have Dan Inosanto play a bad guy with sticks? IIRC, Segal won the scripted movie match, but I seem to recall thinking that in real life, Inosanto would have torn him to shreds with his sticks.

What about "The Hunted"?

Hi Jonathan, The Game,

Please review these earlier threads on FMA in the Movies.

http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1243
http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84

Thanks,

Palusut

 

[Jonathan Randall]

Bourne Identity - Jeff Imada, fight choreographer (Inosanto Blend)
Bourne Supremacy - Jeff Imada - Jeff Imada, fight choreographer (Inosanto Blend)

The fight in the Bourne Supremacy was stunning. While watching it, I was trying to figure out how my linear kick/punch training would handle either fighter in real life. The answer was, it wouldn't, LOL.

 

[Henderson]

Didn't Steven Segal have Dan Inosanto play a bad guy with sticks?

Actually, the character's name was "Sticks".

 

[The Game]

Ok, digging around a bit, I saw one of the Modern Arnis Datus was also in several movies. But it lists him as stunts?

 

[HKphooey]

Though he is a kenpo practioner, Jeff Speakman does some impressive stick work in the Perfect Weapon.

 

[Phadrus00]

I have definately noticed that the FMAs are making their way into Film and Television more. I think it is appealing because it is not particularly well nkown and it does have a high WOW factor especially with weapons. Also a number of TV series (Like Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis) are filmed in Vancouver which has a very active FMA community. when they are casting for stunt and fight coordinators out there the FMA practiciioners have a great shot of getting in on the action.. no pun intended.

Rob

 

[The Game]

I'm impressed with the amount they have used it on Stargate Atlantis.

 

[kaliace]

Even in MI:3 there is a brief flashback scene where they are working sinawali with sticks.

Glad it is on the rise.

 

[kuntawguro]

The fight scenes in "The Lost Treasure of Sawtooth Island" starring Ernest Borgnine and "Folklore" were based off of Kuntaw hand, foot, sword, and knife techniques.
http://www.brauer.com/pages/prod/cinema/sawtooth/sti_nw.html
http://believeinfolklore.com/
http://www.record-eagle.com/2006/oct/20folklore.htm

 

[Cthulhu]

That would be Datu Inocalla. He was the stuntman in the Michaelangelo (I believe) costume for the TMNT movies. I'm pretty sure that's not the extent of his film work.

Cthulhu

Ok, digging around a bit, I saw one of the Modern Arnis Datus was also in several movies. But it lists him as stunts?

 

[DanJuanDeSiga]

Oh c'mon guys! I'm surprised that no one has even bothered to mention the movie, "The Hunted" featuring Tommy Lee Jones and Benicio del Toro. Lots of sweet knife battles in it as coordinated by them cats from the Sayoc Kali camp.

 

[DanJuanDeSiga]

Though he is a kenpo practioner, Jeff Speakman does some impressive stick work in the Perfect Weapon.

It's a shame how the Kenpo camp never bothered to acknowledge "borrowing" FMA stick skills and incorporating it into their system by calling it, "Kenpo sticks". I've seen videos of Kenpo instructors performing 6-count sinawali drills on a heavy bag and called them "Kenpo stick coordination drills".

 

[Brian R. VanCise]

FMA's are everywhere in Hollywood now a days. Just turn on any action show and you probably will see someone swinging some sticks/swords like a FMA practitioner!

 

[robertlk808]

I thought someone did mention The Hunted, lol.

Some clips Datu Shishir Inocalla from the movie The Ultimate Fight aka The Process:

Opening sequence

Rescuing Ernie Reyes Jr.

 

[kuntawguro]

It's a shame how the Kenpo camp never bothered to acknowledge "borrowing" FMA stick skills and incorporating it into their system by calling it, "Kenpo sticks". I've seen videos of Kenpo instructors performing 6-count sinawali drills on a heavy bag and called them "Kenpo stick coordination drills".

Just remember, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery- too bad they don't know the real art and they are just imitating. That just shows that they see the value of what we have in our FMA.

 

[JBrainard]

...many of the newer films were leaning heavily on the FMA for their fight scenes. Star Wars and The Scorpion King, as well as StarGate: Atlantis were mentioned heavily. I'm more of the opinion that it was the CMA or JMA at the core of them, especially The Matrix, and Star Wars.

Well, now I'm going to have to go track down "Arnis Sticks of Death." Plus, now I have a reason to watch "The Hunted."
As a side note: I did quite a bit of research, actually, and feel that I should point out that the sword work in the Star Wars films are based on traditional Western sword work, CMA, and JMA. No FMA there.