While some fighters combine all possible styles of martial arts, there are others that single out one of them and become the definitive cinematic portrait of this type of art. Many schools of martial arts teach their followers a whole philosophical way of life, and demonstration of skills during fights is only a small part of their practice. It is clear that many films about martial arts are more interested in getting to the bone.
Although the influential martial arts master and actor Bruce Lee was one of the first martial arts heroes to introduce this art to the Western audience, he was far from the last. Such stars as Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais and Donnie Yen amazed the audience with their acrobatic athleticism and amazing fighting skills. Each of these stars is a connoisseur of various forms of martial arts, although Lee offered what remains the definitive cinematic portrait of kung fu in his 1973 hit “Dragon’s Exit.”
Muay Thai – Ong Bak (2003)
“Ong Bak” is not an ideal film because of the predictable plot and unnecessary comic relief. However, the stunning skills of Muay Thai star Tony Jaa guarantee that the entire Ong Bak franchise is still worth watching. The story of Ong Baka tells about a modest master of martial arts who goes to the big city to return the stolen head of the statue of his village. However, this is all filler. All the appeal of Ong Bak lies in Jaa’s mastery of Thai boxing, a brutal and intense style of martial arts that allows you to use a lot of elbows and knees, a lot of real blows and some incredible tricks.
Wing Chun – Ip Man (2008)
“Ip Man” is a dramatization of the real life story of Vin Chun, the master of the same name. Becoming a master at the age of 20, Ip Man became famous for teaching Bruce Lee a lot of what he knew about martial arts. The widely known biographical film “Ip Man” includes several episodes emphasizing the effectiveness of Wing Chun. Vin Chun Ip Mana, a close combat style, became a long-awaited respite from both ballet fu on wire, popular in the early 2000s, and cartoon action from Stephen Chow’s films.
Kung Fu – Enter the Dragon (1973)
Bruce Lee remains the most famous movie star of martial arts, and kung fu still remains the most famous style of martial arts for a wide audience. Enter the Dragon could not have been a more accessible introduction to this type of art. Lee plays a secret agent in the style of agent 007, who has to penetrate the lair of the island in order to fight a manly villain. Lee’s amazing skills in martial arts meant that he was a master in many styles, but kung fu became his business card thanks to “Enter the Dragon”.RELATED:
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Karate – The Karate Kid (1984)
While karate has a long and storied history, there is only one movie that most viewers associate with this martial art. The teen classic The Karate Kid used the titular martial art style as the central focus of an inspirational underdog story. Ralph Macchio’s titular hero learns karate from his elderly neighbor, Mr. Miyagi, and uses it to defeat a local neighborhood bully in this iconic yet dated ‘80s hit.
Taekwondo – The Kick (2011)
While director Prachya Pinkaew is best known for his collaborations with Tony Jaa, including the aforementioned Ong Bak, he also gave Taekwondo some solid cinematic representation with 2011’s The Kick. Where Ong Bak focused on a lone martial artist, The Kick centers on an entire family of Taekwondo practitioners who become both celebrities and targets when their son foils an attempt to steal an artifact. While some American action movies utilized Taekwondo too, The Kick remains the best cinematic advertisement for the martial arts style.
Hapkido – The Young Master (1980)
Long before Jackie Chan became an American movie star, the actor starred in countless major Hong Kong action films. One of them was his first film with Golden Harvest, Young Master. In this 1980 action comedy, Chan played a young martial arts student who must make amends for his brother’s betrayal by embarking on an epic quest. This story allowed Chan to demonstrate his impressive hapkido skills.
Capoeira – Only the Strong (1993)
Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial arts style that combines dance and combat in a stunning display of physical prowess. Although capoeira has been seen in many martial arts movie sequences, including one of Jaa’s best fights, it has rarely been the subject of an entire film. However, the 1993 classic “Only the Strong” corrected this. In this one of the most underrated martial arts films, a soldier returns to his hometown and takes the law into his own hands to fight back against the traffickers… taking over his high school.
Silat – The Raid (2011)
While Ong Bak might have brought the brutality of Sonny Chiba’s movies back to the multiplex, viewers still weren’t ready for their grisly cinematic introduction to the Indonesian martial art Pencak Silat. The ultra-violent action movie The Raid sees its rookie cop hero take part in a bloody siege on a high-rise run by a crime syndicate. The entire movie acts as one long, incredibly well-choreographed set piece wherein Iko Uwais uses the martial art style.
Tai Chi – Man of Tai Chi (2013)
Man of Tai Chi marks the directorial debut of Keanu Reeves, a longtime martial arts enthusiast. Although tai chi is not always considered the most glamorous style of martial arts, Man of Tai Chi proved with its gripping story that the school was as cinematic as any other. The action scenes in Man of Tai Chi were praised, as was Reeves’ performance as the film’s main villain, but the actor’s first film was a surprise flop upon release.