My First Kung Fu Lesson ( Read More...)

For a Filipino, knowing about kung-fu, karate, judo, aikido or any martial art is part of a norm in their growing up years in tough Manila Metropolis, where people during those times in the Philippines are also in their most trying years, MARTIAL LAW!

So people grab on to whatever entertainment they could, and among those are popular are asian-chinese action movies ( with english subtitle of course!) I can vividly recall specially during my childhood years where Bruce Lee, Jimmy Wang Yu, Shojii Karada were almost looked at as demi-Gods! Movie houses in Manila and elsewhere in Asia were full to the rafters when their movies have a roadshow presentation. And that's where I learned my first Kung Fu Lesson!

Let me see...that was about four decades ago; My Dad took me to a chinese movie top billed by Jimmy Wang Yu, it was about the One Hand Swordman ( see One-Armed Swordsman link ) mind you it was not a sight to see specially for a seven year old! Read on the links for a more macabre description of the movie which i wonder if they still have a digital copy available today.

The legendary Jimmy Wang Yu *then and now

I don't quite remember what and how scenes my father used cover my eyes but I guess he did it where the supporting cast ladies have their breast exposed or somewhere where the hero have to cut off someone's head, but I what i can vividly rememeber how the fight scences were beatifully choreograph where it can still compare with fight scenes from famous movies with digital effects nowadays like Chrouching Tiger, House of Flying Daggers and so on ...

After the movie, (huu head still spinning..) my Dad and I went on to a restaurant in China town to have our usual "noodle break" he then asked whether I enjoyed the movie and I said with a resounding "yes" it was quite good compared to the Sound of Music I watched a week ago with my grand mom (what a comparison isn't it), Then he asked me again "did you learn anything"? " I did" I exclaimed, "what was it"? my father asked in excitement. I stood up to him on a chair took a deep breath and soon as the young and sexy lady waitress asked whats your order, I suddenly jumped up at my Dad and covered his eyes and said, "you should not look at her for shes going to take our order! "

In retrospect to my real formal martial art lesson from my old sensei, he said "Blinding your enemy is the very key to your victory" and guess what I learned from the "Blind Swordsman"

*Shintaro katshu as Sato Ichi the Blind Swordsman