This is a good thread, and one that can be really interesting. I will post, but I may have to come back to it because I’m going to have one of my famous “Ryu Groupie trips” with Japanese girls today! 
This time to a mall. (Is it bad to like your life? 
things can change so sudddenly… I digress)
Anyway, the thread.
There is a fine line between movie fighting and reality. This is obvious. Many actually believe martial arts give them the power to do such things, and then they get disappointed when in real life it doesn’t happen. A lot of people actually went through that with the first UFCs. They were untrained people watching obviously, but they wanted to see the flying kicks and jump spin kicks, etc.
Does it hurt the martial arts? Only if you buy into it I suppose. I don’t. But being a writer, I know the wonderful value that “story” has over our lives. “Story” has been a human creation since time began, and it has been one that is arguably the most powerful within us. It represents the “essence” of humanity at times. It can make us cry, laugh, feel anger, inspiration to accomplish our dreams, etc. Everyone knows that a good story can inspire for life. That is why I get so angry at Hollywood for making trashy films, degenerate story lines, etc. Because to me it was NOT simply entertainment (one should ask why some things entertain them anyway..where’s your mindset at?) What I watch is a ‘story’ and sometimes I feel the marketing and money changers of Hollywood can truly exploit and insult what a true story can do. Remember that stories are very powerful. I’m getting off track.
People sometimes need fantasy in their lives in order to take a break from reality. There’s nothing wrong with that. However, when it gets into your head in such a way that you cannot seperate them it can become very dangerous. The reality of fighting is a prime example.
While I would like to make a “film” that has REALISTIC fighting in it (while still being exciting), I will leave that for now, and talk about something else.
Reality can indeed be the “good versus evil” that you are talking about. It just needs to be seen in totality for what it is.
Let me give an example. Cops fight and apprehend dangerous criminals all the time. They are forced to fight people (sometimes hand to hand) in order to protect the lives of someone else. Now the actual physical fight may not be “Jacky Chan” but the result is indeed “fantasy”. He saves someone from the harm of someone else, and takes the “viliian” into custody. The concept of fantasy is there, but one can only achieve its good results from realistic application. And sometimes (unlike the movies, but LIKE a good story) The bad guys sometimes will win, and tragedy sets in. The “saga” has to continue.
The “fantasy” aspect of our lives is in how we live and feel about our own way of living. Reality will always be reality. If we get into a fight it will be realistic. There will be violence, fear, and uncertainty. Always. Fantasy then comes to us through our realistic approach to these things.
Another example. One a bit touched with ‘fantasy’ aspects so you can see what I’m talking about. 
You are a trained martial artist, but have never tested your stuff, and expect yourself to fight like Jacky Chan to outnumber hordes of bad guys that ever dare get into your way. On your way to a girlfriend’s house, you see something wrong. Her door is open, and upon getting closer, you notice a “disturbed” man being very hostile and forward to her inside. He will not let her leave, and the situation is fast becoming almost like a hostage situation. Without thinking you bust like lighting into her home thinking that you will take on the man by yourself. He turns out to be 260 pounds, and tall. Now you have scared him, and he fights to not “beat you” but “kill you.” Your kicks are more flash than anything else, and bounce off him. You strike him, but you feel like you are in a slow motion nightmare since you have never experienced the adrenaline dump before…your vision of fighting like Bruce dies as he strikes you again and again, and knocks you to the floor, where he gets on top of you and starts banging fists into your face. You don’t know what will happen to your friend. Your senses shut down, and everything goes black… you pray she’ll be okay.
In this “example” the fantasy of martial arts was smacked in the face with ugly reality. It is tragic, unjust, and makes us angry.
Real fantasy can’t exist can it?
Well here’s the same example.
While seeing the man holding your friend inside her home, you quickly asses the situation seeing if there is any neighbors around where you can call the police. None are there, but you do possess a cell phone. You dial and they are on their way.
Not wanting any harm to come to your friend you approach the house, only this time you do not buy into movie stunts, and have been training in realistic terms all your life. You’ve sparred countless times, been trained in firearms, chemical agents, and strategic tactics. Upon entering, you get the man’s attention away from the girl in a confident yet none threatening manner. (not trying to rile him up) He is “disturbed” and takes your presence as a threat anyway. he begins to come for you.
You hold your hands up, trying to diffuse the situation, but he comes for you! Ducking under his punch you slam him into a wall, knee him in the groin then break away picking up a fireplace poker in the corner as an equalizer. Having been trained in realistic weapon training, you use the poker effectively as an equalizer to down him. You are hurt, bleeding, and the fight was the ugliest thing imaginable. There was no flash, no heroic kicks. Only a man trying anything to survive and protect his loved one. From his realitic training, he was able to do just that. The police come, and things go from there. The friend is safe, even though she could not see any “martial art” from you at all, only violence.
It doesn’t matter to her, because your actions (be them realistic and violent) saved her from God knows what.
If you carry a gun the example may take a different turn. You may not fight at all. Maybe you order him on his stomach, and restrain him until the police come. Is this “Bruce Lee?” of course not…but you win. Your friend is safe.
You’ve protected someone just like the “movie heroes”
See what I’m getting at? Reality and Fantasy are dangerous if you don’t know what they really mean. One can achieve fantastic things through realistic application in their lives. Not just with fighting, but with anything in life.
The one rule about reality though, is that there is never any guarantees that the good will prevail. But we still try anyway. That’s what true human bravery is in my opinion.
Okay, I’m going out.
See ya all later
Ryu
