Christine Cole is a martial arts instructor who holds blakc belts in multiple forms and had received instruction from Steven
Segal this month she decided to grace these pages to give us her take on what people should know when presenting martial artists as characters in their projects.
What do you think is biggest thing people get wrong in books and movies regarding martial arts in general?
How pretty technique looks in fights scenes and how impressive the enemy falls down. I also hate seeing fight scenes
when multiple people are fighting one person and you can see people in the back ground waiting to attack
Can you think of an example of a movie that got it really right and one that got it really wrong?
It’s hard to choose a movie that really got it right as far as a martial movie is concerned. But if I had to choose, I would choose the fight scenes in The Last Samurai. Although the fight scenes depict the use of a sword the concept of “one cut, one kill” is very
evident. The incorporation of Aiki-jujitsu in fight with hand and sword is very realistic and, of course, there is no wires used in a fight scene. Movies that really got it wrong. Any movie that uses wires to coordinate their fight scenes. It’s great for entertainment and flash value but is very off base when someone is literally defying gravity.
How long does it take to attain mastery in a martial art?
A life time.
How long does one need to train daily /weekly to maintain their fitness and form?
Tricky question. Training depends on the individual. Martial arts training takes place every minute of a person’s
life. For martial physical training, training should take place every day. For fitness, other regimens are required to maintain physical fitness. The body need’s to constantly be challenged in order to maintain top physical fitness.
What do you think are common characteristics that all martial artists have?
The drive to be something more than what we are. There is a special purity and enlightenment that can only come from the
physical, spiritual, and mental training of a martial arts. We all take different roads to reach the same destination.
what are good places for people to look to get more details in regarding to properly depicting martial artists?
Look for documentary footage on a martial arts/training. I’ve found Fight Science to be very enlightening and Ninja Warrior
interesting. Go to your local martial arts schools, talk to the teachers. Visit several different schools before making a decision.
Find out what it is you are searching for in a martial arts and chose one that most closely reflects your values and physical capabilities.
