The ‘branding’ of Shaolin
Hollywood’s connection to the Hong Kong film industry goes back to the late 1960’s. Warner Bros. had already successfully began distributing Kong Kong made kung fu movies in the US as well as exploring the possibilities of joint film projects. The ABC produced pilot and series was not only known and noticed by the Hong Kong film industry but in-fact triggered the hasty dubbing and adapting of Hong Kong martial arts movies for ‘West’ - to take advantage of the opportunity of it’s success.
Through out the 70’s the Hong Kong film industry produced many
“shaolin films” It was during this period the kung fu craze hit America. (This is not to take away any credit from Kwan Tak Hing and his earlier Wong Fei Hung films.)
Shaolin’s sudden and remarkable popularity in the PRC at the tail end of the cultural revolution was very much driven by the western style entertainment / fad phenomena. The investment and world wide marketing of Shaolin by the PRC is no accident. We saw the same sudden phenomena in the USA 10 years earlier. Although Hong Kong movies were already part of a the sub-culture in the US, the series was the real start of successful mass marketing of Chinese martial arts in the US. First aired in early in '72 by 1973 it literally became the no. 1 TV series in the US over night.
The PRC’s decision to invest in Shaolin was clearly influenced by a similar phenomena and marketing opportunity, i.e.. the Jet Li film. By the time the young Abbot came on the scene, the fad was well under way in the PRC.
That this fad bewildered and confused the few surviving old monks is understandable, but confusing Abbot Yongxin? . . . I don’t think so.
Where will this (fad) will be in the next 5 to 10 years? Well. . . a few die-hards will still be around. Aging die-hards :-))))
r.
Western influence on Shaolin
The western market, the US specifically, played a really minor role in the distribution of HK film. Sure, there was a wave of dubbed Shaw brothers movies and such, mostly to ghettos and thrid run theaters (remember this was before video), the whole kung fu wave in the wake of Bruce Lee, but it was minor in comparison to what happened in Asia. Places like India and and Indonesia were much closer and more accessible markets. Now I’m not saying that the US/HK film didn’t have some effect, but it was negligible and even moreso, the effect of the Kung Fu TV show. When it came to US TV show imports, Hong Kong was more into the Green Hornet.
Shaolin in cinema was more an effect of Shaolin in literature. References to Shaolin were quite common in late Ming literature - from classical tales to pulp fiction wuxia. This persists until today - just look at the impact of Jin Yong.
If anything, I think the Kung Fu TV show was more of an effect - or symptom - than it was a cause. It had tremendous impact here. But it’s a bit ethnocentric to think it had much impact over there, especially when no one really knows it over there at all. Look at that Carradine documentary again, when he goes to talk to Jackie Chan. Jackie tries to give Carradine some face, but it’s obvious from his priceless expressions that it’s a challenge, even for Jackie.
i lost something
Someone asked how i got into the movies.
I came to cambodia to write a book about Khmer Kung Fu. my khmer kung fu contacts were making an action movie, and invited me to participate. over night i became the first foreigner in a kung fu movie in cambodia. so they re-wrote the script, gave me more scenes, and gave me second billing on the posters. Now i have offers for two more movies.
it looks like i will be here for a while.
I feel a little guilty, though, because i hate kung fu movies. i am all about fighting, and am learning to respect people who do incredible feats of Wu Shu or Biao Yuen. but i dont like the movies. they cheapen the art and have people like kanue reeves doing things real people like Lee Lien Jay or Chun Long can’t do.
but i am also fighting professionaly here. so maybe that is just to compensate for the guilt of perpetuating the myth.
one of the interesting points i wanted to study, in writing my book, was how does a country with so much real fighting, Khmer Boxing is the national sport, how can they support kung fu at all? it is a mystery. thailand is the same way. They have so much good, real fighting, why watch kung fu movies?
but did we learn kung fu to fight and make movies? it all seems like a huge contradiction, and now i am part of it.
“They have so much good, real fighting, why watch kung fu movies?”
Because if you put “real fighting” in a movie, it turns out to be what people saw at the bar last weekend.
Kung fu on the other hand, in the movies, shows a lot of great skill (not talking Keanu here), technique, and the people that go and see movies wants to be entertained. If they want blood and “real fighting” they usually order UFC, Pride, etc. Big difference there…
Even the Thai movie Ong Bak can be seen as an example. From my readings here at the forum as well as other internet sites, Tony Jaa was using a “real” Thai style, yet it would have been d@mn boring if he just used a thigh kick / elbow combination in evey fight scene to knock his opponent out.
Brooklyn Monk
suksobye money
Do you live in the south of Cambodia? Its cool you found a place to teach you Khmer boxing, I assume it’s similar if not the same to Thai Boxing? My wife is Khmai and we hope to plan a trip either next year or 2006. I hope you keep posting some of your experiences so I can gain some insight and inspiration while I wait to go. Let me know when your movies become available overseas and I’ll check em out.
Maybe there’s a role in an Angelina Jolie movie in the future for you?
Good luck on your journey. Hearing that you adhere to budhist customs there implies that you adhere to Khmai customs as well, thats way cool. I am not buddhist but I follow along the protocols during bun and other services out of respect for my wife’s family and culture. The monks and others in the Khmai community here have all received me warmly. So I’m glad to hear it is not different there.
why have kungfu movies???
if nothing else, it promotes the arts for others or non practioners…
BM : are you sure the Jackies and Jets had no influence on your interest as a boy???..
nrother num,ber 9
i live in phnom penh. i think it is amazing that overseas khmers adn those associated with overseas khmers are always writing to me or writing about cambodia. it is a country with a real sense of community and where even the people who have left have stayed connected.
i do learn khmer boxing, but i ahve no intention of fighting khmer boxing for money. i will be doing western boxing professionaly here. beyond that i learn khmer kung fu and wusu for the movies.
someone brought out the point that the depth of kung fu is there to placate soccer moms. i think that is a funny statement, but dead-on accurate.
a lot fo yuo pointed out taht it was the movies which gave kung fu huge exposure to the world. this is true. but i believe that it is a doublke edged sword. the movies also sold people a bill of goods which teachers can’t deliver. for example, how many of you actualy do wire fighting or can run accross a lake while sword fighting?
Blooming lotus
it was actually david caradine who sparked my interest as a boy. when i was a boy, jet li was also a boy, so he wasnt making movies yet. jaki chan was basically unknown.
but i get your point, the movies are like a PR event for kung fu.
I hope that is right. I have never bee a fan of kung fu films. there are only a few i consider good movies “Dragon, the Bruce Leë Story” is amazing. I have watched it like 100 times. I appreciate “Enter the Dragon” for being a cutting edge classic. The newer Jacky Chan movies “Rush Hour” and “Shanghai Noon,” are excellent movies even if you don’t like Kung Fu. “Ali,” is also amazing. and of course, the original “Kung Fu” TV SHow.
LOL BM - Every movie you named I thought SUCKED. I’m an old Shaw Brothers fan, but we each have our own opinion 
man i’d love to make a movie in a foriegn country lol that would be hot yo.
…
The western market, the US specifically, played a really minor role in the
…
Although Bruce Lee was popular in Hong Kong before his role in the Green Hornet it was after Bruce Lee became an international star, that Chinese martial arts became popular internationally.
Underground to over-ground is very much part of how American consumer cultural has worked since the 50’s. Having said that, keep in mind that in 1973 Fists of Fury, Deep Thrust - the Hands of Death and Five Fingers of Death were listed in Variety as top box office draws - not too shabby. This would not have happened with out great success of the TV series both the ‘Green Hornet’ and ‘Kung Fu’.
Through Bruce Lee’s role in Green Hornet via the TV series 1966-67 and the comics (Green Hornet comics included bios and background on kung fu), many people in the west (including my self) were first exposed to the Chinese martial arts. If you look at the dates you will notice that most of the internationalization of Hong Kong cinema took place the 1970’s. I think that includes India and Indonesia etc. Bruce Lee became know there after his successful exposure in the US.
Kwan Tak Hing on the other hand, although big in Hong Kong long before Bruce Lee, did not have any impact on the internationalization of kung-fu.
In-spite of the PR spin that Shaolin monks have made the name famous through out the world, it was generations of lay students, lay schools organization and secular writers that have kept the name alive over the centuries. In more recent times it has been the entertainment industries both Asian and Western that accounts for much of the success Shaolin is experiencing.
…
YinYang Dagger wrote:
LOL BM - Every movie you named I thought SUCKED.
…
Although I agree the kung fu series was a caricature of Shaolin, it also had a positive side. Unlike the 'bloody action" of the Hong Kong kung fu movies, (parodied in the Kill Bill movies) Kung fu presented a ‘peace and brotherhood’
side of the martial arts. There was no spurting blood in the series. Villains were subdued and rarely killed.
r.
San Da vs. Muay Thai
Antonio,
A little off topic for this thread, but at least I know you read this one…
Just wanted to say that the San Da vs. Muay Thai article was (for me) your best yet. Nice one.
John
ditto…top article…In fact, kind of considering thailand now myself as a result. For ma of course…How about a run down
I know they speak english, but
Where should we go for best instruction, how much is cost of living, what facilities can we find …etc etc…Particularly inteested in the monestary teachng.how much is that, is it easy to get a shifu???..oh and food…what can we eat there??
Cheers BM
Ps…judging by your artice and lack of elbows at shaolin, that’d have to mean mizong is wushu???
Heh, heh. First you were all Gung-Ho for Shaolin, then you were returning to Australia to “pick up some Wing Chun certs”, now you’re considering Muay Thai. Got a little Attention Deficit Disorder going on there BL? 
By the time you get settled down, you’ll be well versed in “Chop Suey- Do”.
actually, it was a comment from yourself about hangng in there, good luck, soldier on etc etc that kinda made me review my plan…I just want to study gongfu, and at the mo, with the state of the temple and moves etc, it’s really not as viable for foreigner to study there full time until the Tianjin site opens in ‘08. I thought about WC in Aus, but generally speaking, western instruction is BS. Appologies to everyone I no doubt just offended. I did read Anthonys’ article and I think the throws and elbows he described would be a nice addition to my arsenal. God knows where I’ll end up…I’ll go where the gongfu is, and shaolin I will always always carry with me where-ever I am and return often.
Cheers C’bus 
After my 6/7 months in Shaolin, I came here to Australia to earn some hard cash to get back to Asia. Met some Southern Mantis folk in HK on my way, and have just started training in that here in Sydney - same people. There’s always kungfu.
Quality teaching matters, but so does what you put in. If you’ve got Shaolin with you - then I think you gain something from any class, anywhere.
And as to going lots of places and learning lots of things - all the better, just gives you a wider view of the world and a better understanding.
I did hear about Muay Laos on my way thru, and figured it was just the local Muay Thai - besides, there’s enough automatic weapons about in the countryside that no-one’d bother with kung fu..
Personally, something I’d like to learn more of is some of the Japanese locking / grappling stuff. Only, Japan’s a little expensive for me. It’s supposed to exist in Shaolin (“qi na?”, but it’s very hard to find anyone who knows much about it.
The best I managed was the stuff my Jiaolian used to teach to those army guys in the barracks on the way out to the temple. Powerful stuff, but not as smooth as some of the things I’ve seen Shorinji kempo (sp?) or Jujitsu guys do when they get hold of your arm…
Anyway, safe journey…
dong…I understand, and I think personally I’m looking at incorperating native Japanese arts ( more ninjitsu and ??? some judo type jazz), better elbows,hk aerials and whatever else I discover meantime… and if I can pick up some forms that’ll give me something I can apply real life or ring - wise, I’ll consider it a bonus.
kow the feeling on the budget, while being a foreign teacher or even a teachers teacher / lecturer is locally in asia quite lucrative, it comes at a price…you are expected to live breath eat and sleep work and on 3 hrs a night and off/on food poisoning and dodgey nutrition ( even the students complain)…training is twice the mission it should be…
cheers John, sure you’ll make it back and better equipped when you do ;)…
Ps…what did you find gongfu wise sydney side???
john greenhow
John,
good to hear from you again. please send me an email at my hotmail address when you get a chance. i was wondering if you were still in contact with anyone from shaolin.
i wish i had some answers about kung fu. now i am fighting professionaly again, and feel like i have never been further from where i started.
i may be fighting in australia soon. let me know where and when you will be there.
antonio_graceffo@hotmail.com
