Black_Belt_-_October-November_2019

The master again stifles or evades and

again tosses the disciple, looking dis-

tinctly bored with it all. Repeat, repeat,

repeat until the disciple is in a gasping

heap on the floor — or on the ground.

It doesn’t matter whether this takes

place in some outdoor setting or in a

shadowy “temple” or dojo.

The master must never lose his

cool. Often, he never so much as ruf-

fles a hair. He toys with the disciple,

demonstrating how inadequate and

ineffectual the disciple’s abilities are.

O

F COURSE, we all know how

outlandish many of the

scenes and plots in martial

arts films can be. If most

of the fight scenes in them were

performed in real time, for instance,

the participants would need oxygen

to keep them from collapsing due to

sheer exhaustion.

There are other elements of these

movies, though, that are not quite so

theatrically implausible and mislead-

ing, and it’s possible some viewers

might actually internalize them and

expect the real world to work that way.

One such meme that seems to occur

in nearly every martial arts movie

revolves around the young disciple’s

initial encounter with the old master.

These scenes are quite predictable.

The master faces the disciple. The

disciple attacks clumsily. The master

responds, effortlessly nullifying the

attack and usually sending the disciple

flying. The disciple is confused — but

instantly comes in with another attack.

It’s Only

a Movie

That phrase was a cheesy

come-on for a 1970s horror

film — you were supposed

to keep telling yourself that

in order to not be overcome

with terror while watching.

These, however, are also

good words to remember

when it comes to movies

supposedly depicting the

martial arts.

BY DAVE LOWRY

22 BLACKBELTMAG.COM ƒ OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

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