Shaolin Temple: ancient birthplace of kung fu. Fifteen hundred years later, this martial art is getting a facelift. As Shaolins kung fu rises to become one of Chinas most popular cultural exports, tourists flock to the temple to see the brand made famous in Hollywood movies. But another world unfolds beyond the reach of tourists cameras. National Geographic follows the private lives of three generations of Shaolin monks to reveal the past, present and future of kung fu. Experience the monastic sects most secretive training sessions and most time-honored rites of passage. From the commercially savvy abbot to the newest "hopefuls," Shaolin's modern-day monks know there can be no success without unflinching spiritual and physical commitment.
Fight Club Asia is a fly on the wall documentary that goes inside the world of Thailand's Muay Thai fight clubs and follows some of its toughest fighters into the ring. Fighters come from all walks of life. Each has a different story but as they lay their aching bodies down each night they all share the same dream - fame and fortune. Follow three ambitious characters and their trainers as they prepare for their next big tournament, stepping into the ring at poorly lit car parks and huge arenas.
Mysterious and legendary, Mount Wudang is the birthplace of some of China's most famous kung fu---Tai Chi, Ba Gua Boxing, Xing Yi Boxing and the various fascinating Wudang swordplays. An 11-year-old girl, Jade Dragon, and two 15-year-old teenage boys, Dutiful Dragon and Little Dragon, are among those young apprentices who come to Mount Wudang to undergo various tough trainings to become great kung fu masters. Devoting himself entirely to Wudang kung fu, sword fanatic Master Wang chose to live in complete isolation from the outside world for 10 years. What do these kung fu dragons seek in Mt. Wudang? What are Wudang styles of kung fu? How powerful are they?
Special Operation Forces are highly trained military units specialized in conducting high-risk missions such as reconnaissance, counter-terrorism and unconventional warfare. Many of these missions expose them to extreme environments that they must overcome by strategically controlling their own physiology. They combat scorching dessert temperatures, subzero climates, high altitudes and deep waters. Fight Science will test the superior skills of these legendary soldiers by subjecting them to the most severe environments the human body can withstand to reveal what techniques they use that allows them to excel beyond typical human limitations. A team of top physiologists, tactical experts and technical engineers conduct extreme experiments in a custom designed laboratory with cutting edge technology. They push a Marine Scout Sniper, an Air Force Pilot, an Army Ranger and a Navy SEAL to the breaking point to reveal the physiological and psychological techniques they use to accomplish dangerous missions.
Three men, one title, one dream. The K1World Max Championship determines the global master K1 a style that fuses Western boxing and Eastern martial arts, creating one of the most powerful and dangerous forms of fighting in the world. As the championship contestants prepare for their greatest challenge, Kick Fighters profiles three tournament favorites: Australian family man and three-time Muay Thai champion Wayne Parr; the hugely popular Masato, Japan's number-one kickboxer; and 22-year-old Buakow, Thailand's young hero and winner of the 2004 K1 Championship. From the sun-scorched shores of Queensland, Australia to the adrenaline-pumping ringside at Yokohama Stadium, Japan, these warriors all undergo grueling training, endure incredible pressure, and sustain astonishing injuries to earn their place in world history. But when 16 diverse fighting styles clash in front of 17,000 frenzied spectators for a $100,000 prize, there can only be one winner.
The primary responsibility of Law Enforcement is to save lives and protect the community. But it's not just the lives of the innocent they must protect - they must also save the lives of the perpetrators they're confronting. One of the most difficult problems is avoiding lethal confrontations in "the kill zone" - those moments of truth when it's kill-or-be-killed. Fight Science will use a team of top physiologists, engineers, and weapons experts to reveal how Law Enforcement personnel utilize cutting-edge technology and weapons, as well as their knowledge of human physiology, to save lives.
From iron claws and meteor hammers to deer antler blades and emei needles, ancient Kung Fu weapons range greatly in shape and design, yet they all have only one purpose-to attack. These exotic Chinese weapons became doubly deadly in the hands of some of the world's most skilled assassins. Many Kung Fu weapons are incredibly brutal, like metal-link whips or sickle-shaped spears. Others are ingeniously lethal: miniature swords disguised as tobacco pipes, fans edged with razor-sharp blades, and poison-tipped arrows hidden in the wearer's sleeve. Even common chopsticks can become savage weapons in the hands of a Kung Fu master. And while swinging rope darts could pulverize an opponent's skull, the most terrifying weapon of all-the legendary flying guillotine-could decapitate an enemy entirely. This countdown reveals the ten deadliest Kung Fu weapons of all time, uncovering the dark secrets of their creation and leading up to the unbelievable story of the ultimate Chinese killing machine.
The element of surprise is a critical part of all forms of combat. We tend to associate stealth with the modern weapons of war, but in this episode, Fight Science deals with the art of stealth in martial arts, both past and present. The art of stealth in martial arts involves four elements: disguised attacks; hidden defenses; infiltration and evasion. These elements form our framework for a series of tests designed to reveal the secrets of fighting with stealth. The Fight Science team of technical specialists, sports physiologists and biomechanical engineers will test the skills of a group of elite martial artists under extreme conditions to comprehend the stealthy skills they employ in their fighting techniques. Fight Science investigates Capoeira, the dance-like fighting style of Afro-Brazilian slaves. We look at the elusive nature of Qi (Chi) through the amazing feats of a Shaolin master. We examine the clandestine skills of Ninjas, and test the leaping mastery of Free Runners during our investigation into the art of stealth.
Four out of five people will be the victim of at least one violent crime in their lifetime. One of the main problems is that we don't have the knowledge or physical skill-set to turn the situation in our favor. Self-defense specialists have determined that there are two techniques that drastically alter those odds. The first technique is called Situational Awareness. Violent attackers often utilize the element of surprise to catch someone off guard. When surprised, a person's ability to affect a successful response is greatly hindered giving the attacker the upper hand. But what if you could predict most violent encounters seconds before they occurred? Paying attention to your surroundings and looking for visual cues of an impending attack can increase your response time.
Raised in a 1500-year-old monastery, warrior monk Shi Yan Ming is considered such an amazing martial artist that the Chinese government declared him a national treasure. But he shocked the world by moving to New York City in 1992, marking the first time that a Shaolin monk has ever defected from China. He soon opened a temple in Manhattan, teaching Shaolin martial arts and Chan (Zen) Buddhism. New Yorkers flocked to see the master and his unbelievable physical feats: Yan Ming can shatter bricks on his head, sleep standing on one leg, and lie on a bed of nails while a sledgehammer crushes concrete blocks on his chest. But while the fighting monk embraces pain, his message is peace. His spiritual teachings have attracted an incredible variety of students. He's even been embraced by hip-hop culture, including De La Soul, the Wu Tang Clan and rap impresario RZA, who call him their "Sifu" or master. Combining interviews with hip-hop artists and Hollywood actors and footage of the monk practicing martial arts against the backdrop of graffiti-covered walls, Kung Fu Monk is the remarkable story of how one man is transforming an ancient Eastern tradition into a stunning Western sensation.