http://www.karatemart.com/feeds/rss/rss.xml The KarateMart martial arts blog is where you can read up on industry related events as well as company news and information. en-us Copyright 2013 KarateMart.com 2013-05-20T22:15:01+01:00 service@karatemart.com Martial Arts http://www.karatemart.com/blog/new-international-trailer-for-the-wolverine-filled-with-ninjas-and-scruff

It's a good day for comic-book and/or ninja fans! The new trailer for the much anticipated reboot of everyone's favorite X-man, The Wolverine, is pretty much what you'd expect. It's full of action, exotic locales, ninjas, and a grizzly Hugh Jackman.

Check out the trailer above and then let us know what you think!So who's excited for this one? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. We love to hear from you!

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Ready for the latest slice of Ninja Turtles movie news? We've known for some time now that the Michael Bay produced movie is slated for a June '14 release, but we haven't heard much in the way of casting. The only detail to surface has been that Megan Fox will be joining the heroes in a half shell (shocker, I know). That is until this week.

Yesterday marked the day that Turtle fans could finally glimpse the faces that would be playing their favorite ninjas, and those faces are...totally unfamiliar. Continue reading for a breakdown of the actors and their limited roles.

(via FilmDrunk)Sometimes the casting of semi-unknown actors can actually help a movie that would otherwise be eclipsed by a cast of A-list names. If this is in fact the goal of the studio, well, they are doing great so far:

• Leonardo - Played by Peter Ploszek. Almost zero is known about him though he may have had a guest spot on a tv series or two.


• Donatello - Played by Jeremy Howard. Yeah...good ol' Jeremy...


• Raphael - Played by Alan Ritchson a.k.a. Aquaman from Smallville episodes.


• Michaelangelo - Played by Noel Fisher of Twilight...fame?

It's not quite clear whether this is a good move on the part of Bay (producer) and director Jonathan Liebesman (Battle: Los Angeles), but I guess we'll just have to wait and see won't we?

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These mark the last round of fights before the quarter finals begin, so it's not too late to cast your vote as the contestants dwindle. I for one have my money on Batman taking the whole show. Everybody loves batman. Unless of course the internet gathers up its collective consciousness to enact the devious plan of voting Aquaman all the way to the winner's circle. Mind you, this is an entirely plausible scenario and should not be dismissed outright.

Continue reading to check out the second fight featuring a showdown between Green Arrow and Hawkgirl.

What do you think of the game so far? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. We love to hear from you!

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Yeah, there may be very little martial arts in this new Iron Man 3 trailer, but it's Iron Man so just watch it and be happy.So how about it? Are you psyched for the movie or what? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. We love to hear from you!

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Even the charms of the newly added Megan Fox couldn't prevent yet another delay in the movie's production schedule. Previous delays saw the film's release date pushed back until May 16th, 2014. However, sources at famed celebrity gossip site PerezHilton have confirmed that the release has now been pushed back to June.

Man I love being a turtle...

(via PerezHilton)Thoughts on the upcoming disaster movie? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. We love to hear from you!

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Welcome to the Third Round of the ongoing tournament being presented by DC Comics to promote their new fighting game, Injustice: Gods Among Us. The winner of each round is being determined by internet votes, with each fight being played out after victor has been selected.

What that all boils down to is just an excuse to show you some pretty sweet footage from the soon to be released game. The above video features possibly the most loathed of all DC heroes, Aquaman, taking on Cyborg. I happen to have a soft spot for the watery warrior though, so I'll be keeping my fingers crossed.

Continue reading for the second matchup of the day: Green Lantern vs. Solomon Grundy!

Poor old Solomon Grundy can't catch a break. Oh well, at least you can make a sure bet that he'll just be back for more.

What do you think of the game so far? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. We love to hear from you!

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Anyone with even cursory knowledge of the main event's fighters would probably be able to make a safe guess as to who wound up taking home the victory in UFC 157 this weekend.

Rousey fans rejoice, the feisty female fighter continued her astounding streak of first-round, armbar finishes and shows no signs of stopping. Challenger Liz Carmouche did put forth a worthy performance for her part. Nearly managing to make it through an entire round with Rousey, Carmouche was briefly able to secure a vicious looking rear choke on her opponent before losing control of it. With Rousey able to take Carmouche to the ground, it wasn't long before the judo champion rolled her way to a signature armbar.

This marked the first time ever in which a UFC main event featured two female fighters, and judging by the amount of cheering going on in that arena, it won't be the last.Did you watch the fights? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. We love to hear from you!

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So, depending on where you stand, today's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles news may be awesome and worthy of both praise and a day one ticket purchase. Or it may have you running for the hills, hands covering the eyes of your imaginary children and/or ninja turtle action figures.

Apparently the rumor is that the two Transformers alum have reconciled their differences and can look forward to Megan playing the iconic April O'neil. Right now my hope for the movie being better than even Ninja Turtles III: Turtles in Time is about as thin as the storyline in Bad Boys 2.

Maybe after this Mr. Bay would like complete the circle of destruction surrounding my greatest childhood memories and cast Shia LeBeouf in a He Man movie reboot.

(via Gamma Squad)Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! We love to hear from you!

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It's a good thing you didn't have anything important planned tomorrow (other than catching UFC 157 that is), because Part III of the ongoing UFC Primtime: Rousey vs. Carmouche is set to air when the clock strikes midnight tonight. The documentary series (which we told you about here and here) has been following both female fighters in their final days before finally squaring off in the Octagon tomorrow evening. It also marks the first time in UFC history that the main even will consist of a women's match.

Ah how I miss the days when midnight merely marked Round Two of a late-night movie/game marathon. Nowadays, if I'm still up at eleven at night it's only because someone slipped some sugar into my prune juice before back-to-back episodes of Matlock.Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! We love to hear from you!

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On today's edition of Striking Stars we take a close look at one of the most entertaining directors to come out of the British Isles in the past fifteen years. Whether you're a fan of his stylish stories or not, one thing is for certain: he knows a thing or two about the martial arts.

Continue reading for the thrilling conclusion to this week's Striking Stars: Guy RitchieGuy Ritchie's first film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels landed quietly in the U.S. in 1998 and became an immediate cult hit. The movie was so well received that his next film, Snatch, managed to even get the attention of Brad Pitt. His filmography has since been comprised mostly of the 'caper' sub-genre, until finding a steady bit of success with the recent Sherlock Holmes reboots. He is a talented director who, at his best, can create without rival a stylish, well told, and entertaining story.

He can also submit you faster than one of his jump cuts.

His name is Ritchie. Guy Ritchie.

Today's Striking Star: Guy Ritchie

How Do You Know Him?

• Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) - Director
• Snatch (2000) - Director
• Rock 'n Rolla (2008) - Director
• Sherlock Holmes (2009) - Director









So that's why the fight scenes in Sherlock were so cool!




Why You Shouldn't Mess With Him:

• Began training in Shotokan karate at the age of seven.


• Holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.


• He brought us Snatch, one of the coolest British-crime capers to hit U.S. shores.








What's that? You didn't like Revolver? Sorry, can't hear you!


Final Thoughts:
Guy Ritchie is yet another celebrity of whom it is difficult to find a wealth of information regarding their martial arts activities. We can certainly confirm that he does have an impressive martial arts background. It's just too bad we can't find much more than the above picture of the old boy in action!


• Wikipedia
• NY Daily News


Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! We love to hear from you!

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You may or may not put off reading today's edition of The Mental Game. If you do, hopefully you remember to come back to it! Be sure you pay particular attention to the lessons when you do!

This week The Mental Game focuses on that nettlesome procrastination bug that seems to bite even the best of us.

Today on The Mental Game: Beat Procrastination For Good

Continue reading to find out procrastination at bay and your mind focused!

(thanks to Lifehack)Today's lesson could almost be considered a companion piece to our other martial arts mental exercise wherein we examined the best ways for a martial artist to manage his or her time. However, while that lesson took a broad stroke to fixing the problem of time management, today's focuses specifically on the problems of procrastination. In particular: ways to overcome it.

One of the most difficult obstacles you may face as a martial artist (new or old) is that of your brain's proclivities towards putting something off. It's quick, painless, and so easy to do. All you have to is...nothing. Of course, we all know that this is hardly the way to approach any sort of meaningful change in our lives. Martial arts success requires commitment and dedication though. Procrastinating for even a couple of classes can be a tremendous setback. We are here to help. So roll up those sleeves and get ready to lay a hurt on some of that Procrastination!



Learn the basic idea.

Learn It:

Did you make a New Year's resolution to enter the martial arts but still haven't followed through? Did you follow through but now find yourself floundering, looking for any excuse to put off your training?

While it may be the case that martial arts just isn't for you, it is most likely the case that procrastination is beginning to rear its ugly head your way. Don't panic. You're not the first person this has happened to and you are far from the last.

Read over the following steps to start properly arming yourself against the steadfast enemy of procrastination:


• Identify - This step is probably a given but we won't skip it. You need to be able to identify precisely why you're putting off what needs to be done. Maybe it's practicing or training at home, maybe it's getting to a class to begin with. Whatever the problem may be in you martial arts studies, you need to take a close look at why you are putting off what you're putting off. Are you scared to fail? Unmotivated? Intimidated? Unfocused? All of the above? Identifying what's stopping you from jumping into your training with enthusiasm is the first step towards fixing the problem.


• Plan - Once you've identified precisely what it is about your martial arts courses that your brain is wanting to avoid, start devising a plan to counter the procrastination. If you have larger fears concerning failure or a lack of confidence, think of ways that you can negate these emotions. Will using a friend for support help you focus your training efforts? Maybe you can try thinking of similar situations you have experienced in the past and recall how you managed to overcome and defeat procrastination at those times. Once you've worked up a model for best defeating your particular brand of procrastination, you can now set in in motion!




Find ways to apply it to your training.


Apply It:
Now's the fun part! Beating the procrastination bug with a well-implemented plan. Below we'll try to look at some common martial arts related examples of how you might look to rub out your procrastination altogether.


• Remove all temptation A vast amount of procrastination problems arise simply by having too many distractions available to us. Distractions are the food on which the procrastinating mind thrives. You have to starve it.
  
  To a certain extent, the brain is rarely going to want to do something that requires effort (particularly the physical variety). This means that martial artists can have it particularly rough. However, having access to that cell phone with its various alerts, alarms, notifications, rings, and even the distinctive 'hum' of a vibration setting can all be motivation killers that you can't afford to have around. Put the phone on silent, or better yet, leave it in the car/at home. Make martial arts time yours, free from any and all distractions.


• Exercise your prefrontal cortex This is the part of your brain that is assigned to the strategizing and decision making. Often referred to as the "CEO of the brain", it oversees your major cognitive functions, helping to influence an abundance of behaviors. It also gets tired easily and can fall to the more easily distracted portion of your brain, the limbic system. Train that prefrontal cortex like it's cramming for a belt test via constant repetition. Plan in advance your training sessions and do whatever it takes to see them through. In no time you'll have your brain working for you, incorporating your training into its normal routine.





Repetition makes perfect!

Repeat It:
As hinted at in the 'Exercise your prefrontal cortex' section, repetition is the key to most things when it comes to training your brain. We are all creatures of habit and as such are susceptible to routine. Routine is the blueprint for your brain's daily function.

Your brain has been doing things one particular way for so long that the only possible hope for changing the way it handles problems is through repetition. Pick a few, specific, ways that you can start changing how your brain handles procrastination and implement them, today. Then do it again tomorrow. And the next. Sometimes maintaining even positive changes in our lives requires us to stay on top things more than once!


Final Thoughts
In the war to attain your most desired goals, procrastination can be your greatest foe. Allow it to hit you with an extra evening of television or a skipped class, and the next thing you know you'll be struggling to remember what your goals were in the first place. Facing down procrastination is not for the faint of heart or weak of will, but it can be defeated. Maintain focus, exercise your mind along with your body, and remember some of the lessons you've learned today. You'll soon find yourself at victory's threshold, celebrating your greatest martial arts achievements, and laughing in the face of distraction.

Are you struggling to make it to classes lately? Do you suffer from procrastination in a particularly bad way? Feel free to talk about it in the comments below! You may find that someone out there has the same problem you do and has found a way to beat it! Don't be shy.

Did you enjoy what you just read? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! We love to hear from you!

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Ultimate movie news site The Hollywood Reporter has released the latest details concerning the brand new Bruce Lee biopic in the works. According to the site Birth of the Dragon will be penned by Christopher Wilkinson and Stephen Rivele of Ali and Nixon fame. So as far as biopics go, the duo's credentials would appear to be in order. The movie is said to center around the real-life fight between the martial arts legend and kung fu Master Wong Jack Man. Bruce Lee history buffs will recall that the legendary battle took place in San Francisco, 1965. So far so good, but then more details are revealed...

According to the latest reports:

"The writers are using this true event as a jumping-off point for a wider-canvas action movie in which Wong and Lee team up to battle a band of Chinatown gangsters."
...So it's at this point that my hope for the movie takes a gut-wrenching dive. Maybe it's asking too much, but I was looking forward to an accurate biopic centered around one of the most unbelievable rivalries of the 20th century. Instead, I get the premise for some alternate history, buddy action movie that would barely hold juice as a USA show. Man. I'm used to having my hopes raised and destroyed but rarely does it happen in the same article.

(via The Hollywood Reporter)Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! We love to hear from you!

We try our hardest to keep you up to date on the latest and greatest martial arts sports and entertainment news! If you've found something you've enjoyed, want to see more of, or just have a comment about, please throw us some feedback in the comments section below!

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Welcome to another episode of Fists of Netflix, the (mostly) weekly blog post where we take a look at the plethora of martial arts movies offered by everyone's favorite movie-streaming service, Netflix. Each week we try to select one, give it a viewing, and let you know whether you should rush it to the top of your movie queue or avoid it like a sweep kick to the leg. Continue reading to find out whether this week's selection is the former or the latter.

Today's Fists of Netflix pick: Mandrill, R, 2009 (90 min)



Revenge never looked so suave.

The Plot:

After witnessing the murder of his parents as a young boy, Antonio is raised by his caring Uncle Chone. Raised to believe that his father was a man similar to John Colt, a television action hero whose skill in combat is matched only by his skill with women, it isn't long before Antonio decides to follow in his father's footsteps.

Training himself in martial arts and firearms, Antonio becomes super-assassin Mandrill, targeting his parent's killers while building a strong reputation for himself. Things of course become just a little complicated once Mandrill finds himself falling in love with the daughter of his newest target. Will Mandrill be able to forgo revenge for the sake of love, or will he achieve his lifelong goal at the cost of happiness?

You'll have to tune in to find out, but either way, there's going to be some guys getting kicked in the face!



Behind those glasses is another pair of glasses.


The Styles:
Being that Marko Zaror has been training in both taekwondo and kickboxing since the age of six, you can bet you'll see some fancy footwork during the fight scenes. Oh, and did we mention he has a black belt in judo too?


• Taekwondo - The chilean-born actor may have gotten his start as a stuntman, but his real talent lies in his aerial kicks. Awesome, awesome stuff.


• Judo - The various transitions to judo groundwork were one of the many smile-inducing moments revealed in this martial arts movie.




Why, oh why, did I throw my banana peel THERE?!

Scenes To Jump To
Just looking to skip to the good stuff? It's okay, we've got you covered. Below you'll find a rundown of the juiciest fight scenes as well as where in the movie they can be found. Sometimes you don't have time for story, right?


• 0:05 - So far so good. Mandrill takes out a couple of bad guys with a well placed kick. Impressive.


• 0:12 - For our first big match up we have super assassin Mandrill taking on an older, balder assassin. It's a decent showdown that sets the tone for some of the fights to come. Most noticeably, the lack of ambient soundtrack noise that so many Hollywood-trained viewers are used to hearing. The surprisingly quiet fight scenes (most likely due in part to the film's modest 1,000,000 dollar budget) create a unique intimacy between the combatants as you realize you are watching two guys duke it out.


• 0:27 - A brief but action-filled chase scene that culminates in a great showdown between Mandrill and an unnamed assailant in a suit. The highlight is one of the aforementioned moments of taekwondo acrobatics melting into judo groundwork that any martial artist should be able to appreciate.


• 0:58 - A quick escape sequence involving more jaw-dropping flying kicks and some painful looking stairway brawls.


• 1:11 - What is pretty much the film's last big fight scene involving more of that awesome hybrid taekwondo and judo choreography. Here Mandril takes on not one but three villains who don't exactly fight fair as they look to bring down our beloved Don Juan of danger.



Is this how you train your TKD kicking?

Final Thoughts
As a martial arts film, the action in Mandrill can seem a little sparse at moments. It spends more time on characterization and relationship building than some action movie fans may be used to. This is by no means a bad thing! This is a great little movie that offers something for everyone.

Fans of film will be able to appreciate the creative approach to the tone of Mandrill as it successfully balances the fine lines between parody and farce to create a truly unique story. One of the most welcome surprises actually comes from watching Antonio handle the major relationships in his life. The relationship between a budding Mandrill and his Uncle Chone is handled with particular care, allowing a refreshing bit of heart to shine through its rough exterior.

Of course, none of this is meant to weaken the martial arts to be found in Mandrill. Marko Zuror is a delight to watch, never ceasing to amaze with his acrobatic prowess. The fight scenes are well handled and provide a strong look at a quickly rising star in the martial arts sphere. With a handful of movies under his belt and more in the works (including the role of a villainous sidekick in the upcoming Machete sequel), we're positive this isn't last we've seen of Marko's fancy footwork. Whether you're in the mood for a quirky action film (think James Bond meets your favorite seventies cop television show) or some awesome martial arts fights, Mandrill deserves a viewing during your next movie night.

Final Score:

Queue It Up!



Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! We love to hear from you!

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Kevin Tancharoen is back to keep the spirit of Mortal Kombat alive for fans everywhere, for one more season at least. The trailer to the second season of Mortal Kombat Legacy went live today and promises at least a few surprising cast changes for fans.

For starters, everyone's favorite martial arts narcissist is now no longer being played by Matt Mullins. This season Johnny Cage will in fact be played by Rico Casper Van Dien. Crazy right? To be fair I haven't seen much of Mr. Dien's work. For all I know he can throw a snap kick that would put me in traction. It still won't make up for The Omega Code.

The most welcome surprise in the cast change this season? Why, the inclusion of Cary Tagawa (a.k.a. the original Shang Tsung) of course! This casting choice is long overdue and will hopefully help to bring back that Mortal Kombat magic that fans of the franchise have been missing out on.

Continue reading for a funny video from Legacy director Kevin Tancharoen as he does gives a brief look at what you can expect from the Season 2 Kombatants.

It should be interesting to see them (hopefully) tell a story around the tournament itself rather than the series of genesis stories that comprised the first season. Keep checking back to stay in the old Mortal Kombat loop as we'll be throwing up the first episode once it roundhouses the interweb later this year.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! We love to hear from you!

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And don't forget to 'Like' the KarateMart.com Facebook Fan Page! (scroll down for the button)]]> http://www.karatemart.com/blog/mortal-kombat-legacy-season-2-trailer-promises-second-round-of-martial-arts-madness http://www.karatemart.com/blog/ufc-157-primetime-releases-second-episode

This second video in the three-part Primetime series from UFC is an excellent follow up the first entry we showed you last week. It gives an even deeper look at both of these impressive fighters and has me even more excited about their fight next week.

I also still have no idea who I'm going to be rooting for in this match! Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! We love to hear from you!

We try our hardest to keep you up to date on the latest and greatest martial arts sports and entertainment news! If you've found something you've enjoyed, want to see more of, or just have a comment about, please throw us some feedback in the comments section below!

Want to keep up to date on the newest KarateMart.com Blog Posts? Keep yourself in the loop by following our Google Plus Page!

Did you know we have a Google Plus Page now? Give us a +1 and throw us in one of your 'Cool' Circles. We promise we'll do the same for you!



And don't forget to 'Like' the KarateMart.com Facebook Fan Page! (scroll down for the button)]]> http://www.karatemart.com/blog/ufc-157-primetime-releases-second-episode