5 comments about Wing Chun - Self Defense.

1. Bit fast and hard to follow at first, but master wong gives it to you in fast and slow motion...and you can pick and choose the various levels of training (close in.....amber zone..green zone..etc).
   
   I am glad it is in my martial arts library



2. I thought the DVD was ok, but short. moves that where deminstarted where advanced. I was looking for a DVD with less skill needed. thank you. Kathy



3. There is a part in this DVD series where the "master" says something to the effect that maybe you want to hit this guy because you dont like the way he's looking at you". This goes against the philosophy for ANY martial arts and certainly for Wing Chun. Some of the techniques are also not Wing Chun.



4. Here is the deal folks. The Wing Chun that you see plastered across the internet is basically a joke. Very few people know the finer points of combat-effective Wing Chun and very few are willing to demonstrate it in a DVD. This is a look at real Wing Chun.
   
   There is no money in teaching legitimate fighting so mostly what is taught are heavy doses of Chi Sao, forms, and basic self defense. Essentially, all that most people know are Wing Chun movements and not Wing Chun. Get a good look at the real thing and enjoy.



5. I wanted to like this DVD. I'm a fan of Wing Chun and I appreciate Master Wong's enthusiasm in his presentation. I hold a black belt in Goju Ryu and I have an interest in Wing Chun because of some similarities I'm aware of across the two styles.
   
   However, as other reviewers have pointed out, there really is nothing in this DVD even vaguely resembling Wing Chun. There are some basic strikes, blocks, and kicks shown, some of which are not characteristic of Wing Chun (such as the side kicks and roundhouse kicks).
   
   But my primary problem with the DVD is that some of what's shown is really not even good basic self defense and, if the advice were followed, could lead the practitioner into serious problems.
   
   For example, there is the advice that when approached by a person who you think might attack you, you should first push this person away with a straight arm and then respond when the person comes back into you. This advice is counter to what I think almost any self defense expert would recommend. It puts you in the position of having made the first aggressive contact in the situation and with a move that has no defensive efficacy. Almost any self defense expert will tell you, I think, that your first move should serve to de-escalate the situation, not escalate it. Or, if you are going to make a pre-emptive strike, make it a good one (because you might not get a second chance)!
   
   Also, the advice to move straight back from an attacker to get distance is a generally bad approach. Generally you would want to move off the line of attack so you don't get run over by an advancing attacker (unlike the demo attackers on the DVD, a real attacker rushing in is not likely to stop in his tracks when you take a step back).
   
   Further, the move in response to a cross-arm grab of taking the elbow of the grabbed arm and turning it in to strike your attacker in the solar plexus has the doubly bad effect of moving your blind side into the attacker's power arm, while having your only arm that could protect you from that power arm still pinned.
   
   And I could go on (he consistently holds his arms out too far, almost straight out at shoulder level, offering no protection for vital areas of the body, there's no evidence of the forward pressure that is characteristic of Wing Chun, the demo attackers stop their attacks well away from Master Wong allowing him to execute techniques that there would be no time or space to execute in a real situation, and so on...ok, I'll stop now).
   
   The bottom line is that it's not Wing Chun and it's not good self defense. I did want to like it. Master Wong seems very personable and the production values are not bad. But I just saw too many problems with the content. There are many better options out there for either Wing Chun or self defense, or both.

5 comments about Wing Chun.

1. As a pure Kung Fu movie, if you enjoy the more comedic, wire-fu style, Yuen Woo-Ping (choreographer of the Matrix) delivers. Both Donnie Yen (a trained film fighter who plays Leung Bok-Cho) and Michelle Yeoh (not a trained fighter but a dancer who's consistently given great action on screen, who plays Yim Wing-Chun) personify their legendary characters with charm, grace, and ferocious martial intent.
   
   If you're looking for a Wing Chun movie that showcases the actual Wing Chun style, however, you're better served by Sammo Hung's Prodigal Sons and Warriors Two. This movie uses the characters and style mostly in name only, with a story drawn, but far removed from, any of the traditional versions, and a style far more high flying and stunt based.
   
   Still, I can think of no fan or exponent who wouldn't thrill just a little to see the beautiful landscapes and settings, and see the characters brought to life, and imagine what it might have been like in the days of legend.



2. Michelle Yeoh is Yim Wing Chun (Wing Chun), and she has unmatched fighting skills in her village. A well-to-do relative runs a Soya Bean shop, and during a local festival, a woman named Charmy has brought her sick husband to the village for medical aid. Bandits then appear and Wing Chun drives them off after the local male fighters fail miserably, and she also rescues Charmy. Charmy's husband dies and so she tries to sell herself to pay for the cost of the funeral. Wing Chun (with the help of her relative) gives Charmy enough money to bury her husband and in exchange Charmy agrees to become an employee of the Soya Bean shop. Charmy dresses in clothes formally worn by Wing Chun, as Wing Chun used to work for the Soya Bean shop. Sometime later, another skilled warrior, Leung Pok To (Donnie Yen), has come to seek Wing Chun, since they were going to get married. He finds the Soya Bean shop and mistakes Charmy for Wing Chun, because it has been a long time since he has actually seen Wing Chun. In the evening, one of the bandit leaders, Flying Monkey, returns to the village to attack Wing Chun (Charmy), and Leung Pok To saves her, and Charmy is greatful. However, the next day, when Charmy is alone with Leung Pok To attempting to express gratitude, he is feels something is not quite correct. Sometime later, the real Wing Chun goes to meet Flying Monkey outside the village and defeats him easily using a non-traditional method. Flying Monkey's master, Flying Chimpanzee, learns of the defeat, then seeks Wing Chun and challenges her. After a consultation with Wing Chun's master, Wing Chun and Leung Pok To fully reconcile their differences and travel to the bandits' hideout together with the intent to get married after the conflict. After a long battle, Flying Chimpanzee is subdued, and Leung Pok To and Wing Chun get married.
   
   Note-there are several misspellings with the subtitles, and for short periods, the image quality colors fade. Despite these cosmetic flaws, this is a well made "wire fu" movie directed by Yuen Woo Ping in 1994. There is a fighting style called "Wing Chun", but this film has NOTHING to do with that.



3. Michelle Yeoh is at her youthful best in this action filled movie. It could be favorably compared to "Magnificant Fighters." Worthwhile having in one's martial arts library.



4. This is one of my favorite old kung-fu movies and features some fun fight scenes and some comedy. It's hokey, but if you're expecting that you'll probably like it. Michelle Yeoh is great as the female heroine.



5. Martial arts expert Wing Chun (former Miss Malaysia, Michelle Yeoh, start of "Supercop" and "Tomorrow Never Dies") battles bandits in this magical film that provides as many laughs as it does wallops. Besides horse thieves, Wing Chun must deal with the men around her who simply can't handle a strong, independent woman. Untimately, she must dish out "lessons" again and again and again until the respect for her remarkable skills is finally won. Be careful though, if her stunning beauty does not bring you to your knees, her drop kick will.

5 comments about The Eye.

1. Amazon doesn't list Thai as one of the languages on the DVD. This movie is in Thai and Cantonese with English subtitles.



2. The story seems simple at first. Mun has her eyesight restored after a corneal transplant. After 18 years of being blind she has to learn how, not just to see, but to understand what she is seeing. She has to link things with names and understand what is happening around her. But when she starts to realize that many of the people around her are no longer living she has no idea how to handle it. Will anybody believe her? Will anybody help her? How can she explain what she is seeing when she was only blind a few days before?
   While the film has a few moments that did make my heart race and made me jump in my seat, most of the movie is a chilling thriller, in which the viewer comes to understand what is happening well before Mun and cheer her on. The end is both sad yet also a happy one.
   Extras include a making of the movie feature and the normal trailers. I would suggest it for anybody into Asian films, Hong Kong films or horror films.



3. 
   Yet another Asian masterpiece. If you want a frightening yet thoughtful movie, you have to really stick with Asian movies because no one does it better. The Eye is a perfect example. From the start of the movie to the end, I was completely enthralled. Kudos to the Pang brothers for creating such a beautiful, well-crafted movie. Angelica Lee is gorgeous and plays the role of the blind woman very convincingly. All the actors are perfectly cast in their roles. This is kind of a sad scarry movie because (without giving too much of the plot away) the psychic girl was considered a witch and what was her gift became her curse...which she passed on. There are several truly frightening scenes and one very unexpected horrific one.
   
   If you enjoy good ghost stories, intelligent storylines, great acting, and a visual masterpiece you will love this movie. Look for several Korean folklore symbols the Pang brothers have cleverly included in the film, such as the man standing in the middle of the road and the woman's face in the metro window!



4. A disquieting film more than a frightening story. A young woman, after a nearly total life of blindness, recuperates her eyesight after getting new corneas grafted on her eyes. But along with them she gets the visionary capability of the young woman who donated them, after her own death. The film does not try to frighten us or even terrorize us. It tries to convince her that this story is true with two doctors as main witnesses and extremely realistic shooting and editing. We are immersed into the story as if it were absolutely normal and true, without any special effects and extraordinary events. What's more it insists on the disturbing effect of this power onto the young woman, to the point of her preferring going back to blindness. Then we end up with extremely disquieting questions. Is eyesight responsible for our unhappiness or mishaps? Do we learn how to reject what we don't like along with seeing when we are children in a segregative not to say racist way? Is our seeing tamed and conditioned early in our life? And this creates in us an uneasy feeling that makes us shrink away from something that could very well be a true fact since our education is not to teach us to see everything but to see in the proper way. The film is trying to convince us of this brainwashing we have been through without even knowing it. Isn't it then better to refuse to see and lock ourselves into some kind of artificial blindness that will protect us from the nightmares of real life. What we do not see does not exist. Isn't that blindness nothing but the same thing as the selective seeing of normal people?
   
   Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne & University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines



5. Well Ill start by just saying the movie focused on once again what i love about asian thillers next to american is the story is very well done. Lots of jumpy parts and just a killer story line of which can only be found in asian folklore and untarnished by the american movie horror syndicates. Overall I gave it a 4 out of five because the story tended to drag a little and lost my attention for the most part. BUT I really like the story in a whole and thought is was very original and worth buying. Some parts even had my heart skip beats because of the no so obviously impacting moments where the ghost comes out of nowhere and well... SCARES YOU.

5 comments about JEET KUNE DO THE SYSTEM WITHOUT A SYSTEM(r).

1. Once again George has done an outstanding job on this version to say the least! This Edition is a revised version which still carrys his fire, passion , and enthusiasm for Jeet Kune Do!! He has also made it easy to follow along with professional quality DVD's for anyone to follow to increase their knowledge and skill of JKD'! Great job on a job well done!! Larry Milam



2. As a female practioner of JKD for the past three years, I have found this set of instructional DVD's to be of the utmost quality. Mr. Hajnasr's detailed, step-by-step instruction has helped me to develop a deeper understanding of the original art of Jeet Kune Do. I highly recommend this set for the excellent quality and extensive knowledge Mr. Hajnasr demonstrates. His passion for the art is contagious.



3. Like many people I reviewed the many favorable reviews with a certain skepticism. But upon reviewing the DVD I know why it received such favorable ratings. It a very complete representation of JKD. Which is what I wanted an overview of the many facets of JKD. I'm now taking classes but our instuctor is jumping around on so many different aspects that its tough to learn. I wanted some supplemental instruction and have received it in these DVD's. Dont be afraid to purchase if you want a good overall view of JKD. However if your really interested in becoming good at JKD you should take classes from a qualified instructor also.



4. this guy is a master and you will want this dvd because it's easy to follow and his teachings is that clear so i recommend this to all beginners and intermediates.



5. First of all I am a former Marine who is currently a student of Shun Hsin Dao (Heart, Mind, and Body's Way). This form of self defense was developed by my instructor who is the founder. He is also a former Marine who served in Vietnam as a sniper and is highy skilled in several types of self-defense including a black belt in Karate and weapons training which implements many Jeet Kune Do principles as well as his own. Yet my instructor's teachings are far more advanced than the instructor's teachings on his video by far. Such as, how to properly take the effectiveness out of a side kick and how certain hits will affect the internal organs in such a way that death is a probability. My personal feelings is that George Hajnasr's video is a marketing tool for his school and it shows he is full of himself. His techniques and teaching are repititous such as that of Karate. Anyone highly skilled will know that the body will not remain in the same position after being struck. Therefore, repititous drills are a waste of time. Bruce Lee planted a seed such as, "The attacker always gives himself away". In George's video he mainly demonstrates his skills as an attack and not as a "Good defense is the best offense" He lacks explanation in his demonstrations except for the Chinese names of certain techniques he managed to memorize so he could show off. There is no explanation about awareness, sensitivity, or forward progression following a block. I personally could counter several of George's attacks with my level of skill that would be quite damaging physically. There are many unwise techniques taught by George that invites very damaging counters. George also used a segment of this video to show off his 7 year old son which was a bunch of BS. This was not instructional at all. Another thing is that his movement in showing techniques is not that of instructor who is trying to teach. Many of his movements were so quick you have to make sure to press slow play to view his technique. Once viewed there are so many flaws that I am confident my training is far more advanced than his students. I personally hated how much time George wasted on his music videos showing techniques or drills in motion throughout the video. Now another thing is his instruction on taking an opponent to the ground is ridiculous. You may be able to pull these techniques on a drunk or someone who is physically dominated by your power but I do not recommend these. If you go to the ground with your opponent you are defenseless to attacks from bystanders who may be in defense of the opponent. Therefore, you should never go to the ground and if so you should do whatever it takes to get back to your feet such as biting, scratching, breaking fingers, gouging eyes, etc.... My instructor has written a book which is available on line which tells of his own background, concepts and training in regard to self defense. I assure you this book is a must which will definitely give anyone studying Jeet Kune Do a different point of view and will definitely take their level of skill to a more advanced level. The name of the book is Natural Martial Arts by Thomas Purtell. I am located in Tucson, AZ and if anyone is interested in contacting my instructor please feel free to contact me at spadude17@yahoo.com and I will forward your email to him.

5 comments about Wing Chun Kung Fu Vol. 1 with William M. Cheung.

1. I did buy the volume 1 of William cheung and I have to say I love it,and I will buy the next volume soon.
   
   Robert



2. I was more than surprised to see the poor quality of this DVD, especially after reading the positive reviews.
   Very very superficial DVD, which seems more an exhibition than a didactical tape.
   No explanation of the moves, just the two persons "dancing" around, performing moves at very high speed.
   This is clearly not an "instruction" video, since the techniques are not explained, just performed.
   I normally prefer books as a way to learn something, but I have found some very serious and valuable DVD as well. Not this one.
   Maybe if you are an advanced Winch Chung practitioner, with years of practice with a real Sifu, this can be for you. Otherwise, you will not catch much from these video.



3. I wanted to thank amazon for carrying this whole series. It is the most comprehensive collection of Wing Chun training DVDs on the market.
   
   Gratitude and respect to sifu William Cheung and his students for making this wonderful art available to everyone without any distortions.



4. I received this disc a couple of days ago, and did not have a chance to look at it until this morning. This is basically a very good instructional video. The only real problem I had with it was that the Sifu was going WAY too fast for someone to learn the techniques... this could be frustrating to a beginning student. Once I figured out how to make my machine play the disc a little bit slower (pause and then the fast forward key on my remote... might be different for yours), it was MUCH easier to follow along. You might want to watch each section through at full speed at least once, so you can hear the narration (on my machine, you cannot hear it in slow mode) and learn the names of the techniques. Then go back in slow mode and follow along so you can learn the techniques. I will definitely be getting the next disc in the series, when I finish with this one.



5. I have been practiced Wing Chun for a long time with different masters in different countries, and with different Wing Chun families, such as Vietnamese Wing Chun (created by Yuen Chai Wan), Hongkong Wing Chun (created by Yip Man) and Gu Lao Wing Chun (created by Leung Jan).
   
   I bought all 5 DVDs of this series out of curiousity, because I heard that the Wing Chun of sifu Cheung was very different with the current Hongkong Wing Chun system. The differences were the result of the constant changes that sifu Yip Man had created over decades of teaching Wing Chun in Hongkong.
   
   The end result of the changes is a simplified, but very scientific system that is currently being taught in Hongkong and various Yip Man Wing Chun schools in the world, including many schools in the U.S.
   
   The new system has a very good theory foundation, and is easy to learn and teach. However, without a good sifu who has deep and broad knowledge of Wing Chun, practitioners will end up learning only partial variations and applications of the theory and concepts. (still effective and deadly though)
   
   On the other hand, sifu Cheung had studied with sifu Yip Man from the very early time of sifu Yip Man's teaching. The system that sifu Cheung studied and teaches still contains alot of movements, more difficult to learn, and less scientific. But it preserves the Wing Chun traditions very well, with a lots of techniques, tactics, strategies and applications. Many of them were grouped together and simplified later on in Hongkong system, so after a few generations, only very thorough and serious practitioners with very good teachers of the new system know about them and can apply them.
   
   So this DVD serie is a very valuable resource for all experienced Wing Chun practitioners who have good understanding about Wing Chun concepts and theory and want to see them expressed from different facets and point-of-views. There are also many interesting drills and applications that illustrate the theory and concepts very well.
   
   You will need a firm knowledge about Wing Chun theory and concepts to get maximum bennefit out of thisDVD serie.
   
   The demontrationss of Sifu Cheung and his assistant in this serie are well organized, clearly performed and of the first rate Wing Chun.
   
   They can be very different from the Wing Chun systems that other people (including myself) learn from other families.
   But keep an openmind, with a good knowledge about Wing Chun theory, you will find that this DVD serie is truly a great resource.

4 comments about Drunken Monkey.

1. "Drunken Monkey" is a wild action comedy. Some of the humor does not translate from Chinese, but it is evident that the actors are having a great time. The plot is intricate. Two brothers are in business together. Biao, played by Lau Kar Leung (I think I have this right), is the older of the brothers. He discovers that the security business (similar to the wild west Wells Fargo) is being used by his younger brother for opium trade to the west. Biao has principles and insists his brother stop. This leads to an attempted assassination of Biao in what is a long and at times improbable martial arts romp. Although wounded, Biao is rescued from the river by Xiao Min, the ferry lady, played by Shannon Yao.
   
   Meanwhile the story shifts to a different group of characters. Chen Jiaye played by Lau Wing Kin is an artist who is drawing a martial arts manual for all of the poses of the Drunken Monkey kung fu style. Ah De played by Wu Jing is suspended in air on ropes and wiggles like a marionette as his master draws. Wu Jing is a muscular young guy who spends a substantial amount of the film with his shirt off.
   
   They bump into the ferry lady in town and follow her raft to the secluded house where she has been nursing the older brother back to health. Ah De copies a motion he observes from this master, AKA Man Bil (Biao) [I think I have this right]. The constable Hong Yi-Hu played by Gordon Liu reports it to the evil younger brother who now believes his older brother is alive. They follow Ad De & his artist master to the ferry lady's house where the final long confrontation begins.
   
   The film is fast paced. The emphasis is comedic rather than filled with gore. The poses Ah De gets immitating a monkey are hilarious. Watching this from the West, some of the comedy did not translate and the plot is so intricate that it strains believability. However, "Drunken Monkey" is not boring and often quite charming. Enjoy!



2. Maybe I would like this movie if I were young and stupid again. The fight scenes were pretty good. Gordon Liu was great as always. However, the "comedy" portions of the movie were terrible. You'd never know by the cover that this movie has a plentiful amount of mediocre Chinese "comedy." It was unfunny and stupid. It completely ruined the movie for me. 4-stars for the fighting, 2-stars for the movie.



3. If your looking for a fast paced excellent Liu Chia Liang movie, then this is the one to get. Its fast and one of their best. The Drunken style in the beginning of the DVD is sweet. You get to see Liu Chia Liang in action even through out the movie. Story line is good to. And the fights are fantastic. You wont be disappointedDrunken Monkey. Gordon Liu has a cameo in here but its very nice. And Liu Chia Liang is awesome as ever. Get this DVD for your Shaw Brother Collection. Its a must have must see DVD.



4. If you have a soft spot for 1970's style kung fu flix where first rate martial artist fought it out on solid ground with little reliance on wires, then DRUNKEN MONKEY is the movie for you!If you've wondered what ever became of stars like Shaw Brothers' greats Chi Kuan-Chun, Liu Chia-Hui (aka Gordon Liu), and master choreographer Liu Chia-Liang now that the youngest of them is well into his 50's, then DRUNKEN MONKEY is the movie for you!If you don't object to some laughs with your martial mayhem and some nostalgia with your kung fu kata, then DRUNKEN MONKEY is the definitely the movie for you!
   
   Directed and choreographed by Liu Chia-Liang ( in pinyin that's Lau Kar-Leung) and starring him as well, DRUNKEN MONKEY is just plain old fun from start to finish, with plenty of great fights and forms thrown into the mix not only by our old favorites mentioned above, but also by the younger generation represented by Wu Jing Jason, Lau Wing-Kin, and Shannon Yao.
   
   The plot centers on opium smuggling within Liu Chia-liang's delivery service, an operation somewhat like Wells Fargo. The smugglers are headed up by the hero's own brother who is in cahoots with the evil Chi Kuan-Chun. Liu Chia- Hui (aka Gordon Liu, in real life Liu Chia Liang's adopted Brother, an honorific title) plays a constable investigating the smuggling. The evil do-ers plot to kill the hero, and think they have succeeded, but his almost lifeless body is pulled from the river by our heroine (Shannon Yao) who becomes his prize student in monkey fist while he recovers from his injuries.Meanwhile elsewhere our two young heroes (played by Wu Jing Jason and Lau Wing-Kin) are obsessing over putting together a book of monkeyfist techniques.Eventually everybody comes together and things get really good!
   
   I simply can't recommend this movie highly enough. See it now!

5 comments about Wing Chun: Fighting Art.

1. I have over a hundred and twenty books on martial arts. I have around forty to fifty dvds and tapes on the subjects of Wing Chun, Tai Chi, BJJ, Baguazhang, Xing-I, and much more. Amongst the Wing Chun dvds that I have are the series hosted by Benny Meng. Which I consider to be an excellent work. Yet there were some blanks that needed to be filled in.
   In Mr. Michael Wong's dvd, some of these blanks were filled in. I purchased the fighting arts and self defense dvds, since the price was so good. Once I viewed them, I went and purchased the whole Wing Chun series.
   One thing that is important in Martial Arts is that it be "ALIVE". You learn the form, system, kata, movements or whatever you would like to call it and then you practice on someone. In Mr. Wong's dvds, he emphasizes this. He states that you must train with an opponent that is not just doing what you wish him to do. That is why in time past they invented push hands and sticky hands. They had no way to safely test their skills with one another. So they had to devise a way to work with an opponent in a safe fashion but still get the feel of an uncooperative adversary. This is why Judo, Aikido and BJJ does what they do. Almost all their moves are made so that they can be performed on a partner without killing the other person. Hence they get the feel of an opponent that is fighting them.
   When it comes to striking though, we have not been able to test our skills safely up until the past fifty or so years. With the advent of plastics and other essential materials, the striking arts can now practice with almost the same amount of intensity as a grappling art.
   (Sorry to go off on a tangent, but on with what I thought of about Mr. Wong's Dvds. )
   
   I believe that he sticks mainly within the parameters of Wing Chun. I don't believe that he chases hands (at least not too much), as one of the other writers said, yet I would say that one should investigate the art through several sources. In Benny Meng's DVDs (Who is the curator of the Wing Chun museum, by the way) he lists a side kick as part of the Wing Chun arsenal, so I do not see why anyone would think that a side kick is inappropriate for Wing Chun. Another issue that was brought up is simultaneous blocks and punches. This is not par for the course in any Wing Chun system that I have seen. With the exception of Bui Ji. True simultaneous blocking and striking must be preformed with one arm. If you are saying that Mr. Wong doesn't use Tan Sau while punching, or if you are saying that he doesn't perform Bui Ji in the right way. I must say that you are mistaken. If you wish an art with simultaneous blocking and striking, you would be much better off with Xing-I or Hsing Yi if you prefer.
   
   We have the internet, dvds, cds and other learning devises. The old masters of the past martial arts did not have these options. They had a teacher and maybe a book or two. The teacher said this and they did it. What option did they have???
   So I would purchase Mr. Wong's dvds if you are interested in Wing Chun. But I would also purchase from other recognized teachers ( such as the above mentioned, plus William Cheung, Garrett Gee and Randy Williams, etc.) on the art then compare and find the truth of the matter. Then see what works for you.
   On last thought (sorry for blathering on). A greyhound cannot be a good sled dog and a Siberian Husky will never be the fastest dog a the track. So go out and find what martial art is right for you and pursue it.



2. There is a part in this DVD series where the "master" says something to the effect that maybe you want to hit this guy because you dont like the way he's looking at you". This goes against the philosophy for ANY martial arts and certainly for Wing Chun. Some of the techniques are also not Wing Chun.



3. I am a student of Grandmaster Kenneth Chung, one of the best wing chun teachers out there. I have watched this dvd with my friend, and we both came to the conclusion that Master Wong is an absolute tool. His wing chun is sloppy and overpowered. He focuses way too much on banging on the dummy, instead of developing sensitivity and correct posture. On top of that, his stance is terrible. The best way to learn wing chun is to feel it, even a school that is kind of crappy is better then this dvd. Unfortunately, if you can't find a school, then your best bet would be to pick up the dvd by Wong Shun Leung. Stay away from William Cheung and Leung Ting, they are only trying to sell you a commercialized version of Wing Chun!!



4. The "Little Idea" was pulled apart, picked over, and repackaged into nothing even close to Wing Chun. The principles are shot to hell here. For example, you don't wail away and overpower your opponent with brute force, you feel your way over the bridge and strike efficiently. His movements are wasteful in the extreme, his stance and center of balance constantly leaving him wide open to a real wingchunner's strike. Whatever this guy is demonstrating, it is far closer to MMA than Wing Chun. Save your money.



5. Master Wong shows you why he is one of the great Masters of this martial art form.

5 comments about Ip Man (First Print Edition) DVD.

1. **This doesn't seem like the version of this movie you want to buy--check out the 2-disc edition or the "Dual Subtitled" edition instead, yo!**
   
   This movie blew me away- I expected a good "martial arts" movie, but was really surprised to find a rousing, heartfelt story about China during the Japanese occupation. The film effectively shows how martial arts is about so much more than just punching and kicking: in the film, and in the life of Ip Man, it becomes an embodiment of the Chinese national character, the expression of the dignity and spirit of the Chinese people, and a conduit for resistance to oppression.
   
   Donnie Yen does an excellent job of conveying the humility and dignity of the character. I found myself really getting caught up in his struggle to maintain his honor in the face of the wearying oppression of the Japanese.
   
   Of course, the fight scenes were terrific. The sets period costumes were also very well done and evocative, as was the music.
   
   The subtitles, as other reviewers noted, are rather iffy at least in the "Ip Man Dual Subtitled" edition I viewed. However, having lived through the years when the only subtitles available in most kung fu films were the British-mandated ones that old HK companies included in the film print, which were badly translated, and printed in white so it was impossible to read them, well, the bad translation was nothing new to me.
   
   In conclusion, this is a very enjoyable movie that not only features some fantastic choreography, but is also an inspiring and well-crafted Chinese national fable about war and resistance that is not simply a framework to hang some fight scenes off of- the fight scenes really are expressive of the theme and story.



2. Best martial arts movie I have seen in a long time! No over the top stuff - just true full contact martial arts action. Don't let the subtitles bother you - This is one enjoyable film!



3. The Legend of Ip Man is one of the greatest martial arts film ever
   created. Based on the life of the Gung Fu master of the late martial
   arts legend, Bruce Lee, it gives insight into the man who set Bruce
   Lee on his road to stardom. Donnie Yen's depiction of Ip Man was right
   on target. An A+ performance with incredible fight choreography by another
   martial arts great, Sammo Hung. I would recommend this film to anyone who
   loves martial arts films. Donnie Yen was beyond great in this excellent
   film about the man who spread the art of Wing Chun to the world.



4. For any fans of martial arts, this is a must have! This film seems to have flown below the radar, and I'm unsure how it never got a theatrical release in the United States. I was fortunate enough to first see it as part a special movie-marathon in a local theater. Ip Man was one of the most talked-about films of the night (and there were some amazing films that night). I strongly encourage anyone who loves martial arts to watch this.
   
   Based on a true story, there is a very human element and depth of character that is often lacking in action-packed movies. Donnie Yen's portrayal of the famous Ip Man is flawless. But do not fear, there are plenty of fight sequences that are thoroughly entertaining for those that just want to see people kick some butt.
   
   If you're shopping for a gift for anyone into Asian action films, you really can't go wrong with this one. It has a little of everything. Sure to please.



5. Overal, great story line and action scenes. Donnie Yen delivers another great fight scene. I recommend it to any martial arts movie lovers.

5 comments about Iron Monkey [Blu-ray].

1. Yuen Wo Ping has become synonymous with breathtaking fight choreography, and his distinctive style has been highlighted in films such as THE MATRIX and CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON. IRON MONKEY tells the tale of a small village in China that suffers under corrupt rule from the local governor who hordes grain for himself in the reserves while his people starve. A mysterious figure, dressed all in black and known only as the "Iron Monkey" (Yu Rong Guang), soon rises up and begins his Robin Hood-esque crusade to steal from the rich in order to feed the poverty stricken villagers. When the legendary enforcer Wong Kei-Ying (Donnie Yen) and his young son Wong Fei-Hung (Sze-Man Tsang) arrive in the village, the Iron Monkey finds that he has a very worthy adversary. As Wong Kei-Ying quickly discovers though, outward appearances can be very deceiving, and he soon must make personal choices as he begins fighting against the oppression in the village in order to save his own son.
   
   Yeun Wo Ping serves as not only the fight choreographer on the film, but also as the director as well, and stylistically, IRON MONKEY rivals any of Yuen Wo Ping's more widely known movies. Drawing upon the tradition of Hong Kong martial arts cinema to utilize wire work to allow kung fu scenes to take on an other worldly and supernatural feel, Yuen Wo Ping has since elevated that which had become gimmicky and expected in these films to that of a grace and beauty in artistic movement. Yes, the fight scenes later used in 2000's CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, are completely in the same style as those in IRON MONKEY, but with Yuen Wo Ping, they do not become just rehashed versions of similar themes, but rather have taken on their own distinctive artistic identity, just as one expects to see outrageous stunts in a Jackie Chan film or incredibly fast paced fights in one of Jet Li's movies. With Yuen Wo Ping's style, there is a calmness and grace in the choreography and it is illustrated beautifully in IRON MONKEY as characters chase each other and battle across rooftops. There is a lightness in this approach and an airiness that allows the film to breathe, never stifling the story's progression in sake of a stock action sequence.
   
   A key example of this in IRON MONKEY is a scene where the Iron Monkey and Miss Orchid (Jean Wang) are alone in an open two story room, defying the laws of physics as they both easily fly around to gather papers that were blown around by a breeze. Elementally they each move as light as the air that carries the papers, and while the scene is beautiful in itself to watch, it also serves as a parallel to the gentleness in the relationship between the two characters. Yuen Wo Ping's choreography does become very much like dance, and through it he is able to convey plot elements to the audience without dialogue, thus letting the story progress as opposed to getting bogged down as unfortunately happens in many action sequences in other movies of the genre.
   
   Known as well for his creativity and innovation within his choreography, Yuen Wo Ping likewise envisions some fantastical scenes within IRON MONKEY, including a battle atop a grid of freestanding poles that the main characters must balance upon as they are fighting while an inferno rages below. This sequence is the penultimate one in the movie, and much like the fight amidst the treetops in CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, establishes a defining imagery for the film.
   
   While the beauty of Yuen Wo Ping's choreography is central to the visual dynamic of IRON MONKEY, there are fantastic performances by some talented individuals that make the film more fully realized. Having tremendous athletes who can pull off the complex wire work sequences with apparent ease is one thing, but having them also be able to develop complex characters with multi-dimensional layers is what makes IRON MONKEY a success and does not allow it to be relegated to becoming just another superficially stylized picture. Donnie Yen (SHANGHAI KNIGHTS) is fantastic in his role as Wong Kei-Ying and brings a depth of emotion to the actual historical figure. Coupling this with his extraordinarily adept proficiency as a martial artist, Yen's performance is one of the best seen in recent martial arts epics.
   
   Playing Yen's son, the wonderfully talented young actress Sze-Man Tsang has absolutely amazing martial arts talent, and her ability to play so remarkably well off of Yen and her other adult co-stars further strengthen the core cast that Yuen Wo Ping has assembled for the film. This focus on character, and the incorporation of specific character traits into the fight choreography itself, helps establish a through line in which the audience can be drawn in and in turn empathize with the characters' struggles. This elevates IRON MONKEY into more than just a retelling of a tale from classic Chinese folklore, but something that is indeed timeless and that can be accessed by any audience. When paired with the innovative and distinctive style of Yuen Wo Ping, IRON MONKEY becomes a film that stands apart from its imitators.
   
   For the Blu-ray release, there are two small interviews that comprise the bonus features. The first featurette is a nine minute interview with Quentin Tarantino about his insatiable love for Hong Kong cinema and the other is a six minute interview with Donnie Yen on the making of the film. While not extensive in nature, both interviews provide great insight into the genre and feature clips from multiple other Hong Kong kung fu films to allow the audience to compare and contrast what it is they are talking about, thus making for an enjoyable look into the genre.



2. The martial arts sequences have been cut as well as other scenes. Worst off all they've yanked the original music score which added tremendously to the action scenes and fit like a glove. Now they've replaced it with an incredibly weak ineffective score that sounds like something from a hand soap commercial. Skip this version and look for one of the uncut import versions instead.



3. This is just more proof that Quentin Tarantino is a total A-hole. Why on earth would he allow Miramax to release this hack job? There are scenes missing, the action scenes are cut and worst of all the exciting heart-pounding music score has been replaced by what sounds like music from a hand soap commercial. Skip this version and look for one of the uncut import versions instead.



4. Although the product description relegates the tale of the Iron Monkey to the realm of "myth," it is actually based on the historical true life story of the very real Dr. Yang Tianchun and Nurse Orchid. Wong Fei Hung was also a real person in Chinese history and his later exploits in life are chronicled in both the old and more recent versions of Master Jackie Chan's "Legend of the Drunken Master."
   
   Just to clear up the confusion, "legends" are based on historical fact, while "myths" deal with imaginary 'supernatural' beings like Osiris, Odin, Zeus or Jehovah.
   
   "Iron Monkey" is a fun film to watch whether one digs kung fu or not; the humor is universal and the action sequences are well choreographed and beautifully filmed. The story line is uplifting and conveys a moral lesson as valuable today as when the real Iron Monkey fought corruption and decadence in Canton more than a hundred years ago.
   
   In the end, the viewer comes to realize that Chief Fox knows more than one thinks he does.



5. It was a fun gift...My fiance loved it. He has been trying to get this movie, so it was a good surprise.

5 comments about Ip Man [2 Disc Special Edition] DVD.

1. The story of Master Ip is quite the tale and I for one enjoyed it. Though the master does not go through what others may see as character development, one can cheer that he remains a man of integrity inspite of circumstance says volume of a man's character.
   
   But that's not what I'm excited about for this movie and I won't pretend either. It's the fights, the choreography and level was amazing. And in the past years where most kung fu movies have your fighters defying gravity and physics, Ip Man does the opposite. Up to a point where the Master unleashes his skills with such ferocity does not make me cheer but stand there in awe at the raw power. Donnie Yen has outdone himself here. One nitpick is the climatic fight of the film...could have easily been the first fight of the film because it really didn't add anything other than how strong Master Ip really was.
   
   All in all, I enjoyed the film for what it brought and I loved it. Though on the dvd product, the case is pretty flimsy and that should be worked on especially in closing the case with the assurance it's not about to pop open.



2. What a great movie. Any martial arts or kung fu fan will need this film in his library. Highly recommended.
   Amazon is a great company to shop with. Fast shipping and great prices.



3. Donnie Yen does a phenomenal performance of the late Grandmaster Ip Man. This film even tops The Prodigal Son and Warriors Two! A hand of applause to action choreographer Sammo Hung! Any wing chun practitioner must get this movie for it has the essence of this amazing kung fu style! I was also very impressed with the japanese style of karate. Overall great martial arts action from begining to end but was not happy with the inacurate death of this martial arts legend in the end.



4. are you kidding?! get this movie! only on blu ray though. im not gonna get into that but if your iffy about the dvd read some reviews about it, does this movie no justice, pretty much just cheap quality all around. anyway back to blu ray, this movie is the shiznit-O-bang! yeah just like that. its a pricey blu ray but well worth it i say. the english subtitles on this is B+ at its best. lets face it when it comes to the chinese trying to translate to english they do a crap job only because its an import. dont get me wrong, you still understand everything thats going on in the movie, its just some of the dialogue makes no sense. fight scenes, come on, its all about the fights. this is one of the best action ive seen in a long time trust me. this movie has a mix of everything in it. your gonna love my nuts.



5. The most favorite of my Donnie Yen Collection of dvds. The next one after this would be his Iron Monkey!