Karate Kid remake, er uh Kung Fu Kid, coming July 2010

The other day I was chatting with my students and I asked how many of them have seen the Karate Kid. I was in total shock that most of them had no idea what I was talking about...

The Karate Kid series of movies (I, II, III and IV) were iconic in defining an entire generation of Martial Arts that refocused on the real meaning of the arts and not just the simplistic view that MMA has promoted which is violence/competition. I had already been in Karate for a seven years when the Karate Kid I came on the scene in 1984. Up until that time most dojo were all adults with a few kids here an there. I was the only child in my dojo from the age of 7 (when I began) until the release of the Karate Kid. Then this boom hit. Parent's soon found out that the martial arts went way beyond the mere physical fighting aspects that they knew through movies and TV. It was a golden age to martial arts and millions of kids signed up to learn from supposed Mr. Miyagis world wide. It was a great thing to watch the Karate Kid movies and realize that fighting is not the main focus but rather self discipline, confidence and self defense were. In the last 10 years most people have come to believe that the martial arts are all about those cage fight matches they see on TV or at events held all over the place. In reality that is just a sport and nothing to do with real martial arts at all...but that is another story.

Recently it was announced that Will Smith will be producing a remake of the Karate Kid entitled the "Kung Fu Kid" and starring his son, Jayden Smith along side Jackie Chan who takes up the immortal role of Mr. Miyagi...well sort of. There are literally thousands of Karate Kid fans world wide bashing this film. The bashing became so bad that Hollywood forced them to rename it to the Kung Fu Kid because there will be very little actual Karate in it all. Instead it will focus on Kung Fu since it takes place in China.

Honestly I do not see anything wrong with this at all. The world needs a new, more positive message, about the reality of martial arts. It will be great to bring back the Sensei - student relationship messages of the Karate Kid where training transcends beyond mere physical ability and into a true life lesson. The real question is...can they pull it off?

The Karate Kid was developed, written and produced by people who had authentic martial arts training. They brought the history, tradition and philosophy of Karate Do onto the big screen like never before...and they did in an effective manner using names, ideas and realism in their messages. The new script is being developed as a movie...not as a story. It has a purpose to sell and make money whereas the origional Karate Kid was designed to tell a story with deep meanings by martial artists who really loved their art.

Regardless I will definitely watch it, buy the DVD and show it in my dojo on a movie night...BUT not until I show all my students the real Karate Kid movies beginning with I through IV. Let's face it when it comes to really explaining to people what the true reasons for their children to train in martial arts are about it does not get any better than the Karate Kid. Thank you Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita and all the people who brought it to life...long live the Karate Kid!