Pacific Street Films' Martial Arts Videos
Rare footage that premiered on The Learning Channel
From: Essential Sports and Fitness Video (Tai Chi) Channel
The complete DVD of Pacific Street Films' special "Martial Arts: The Real Story" (2000) is presented here.
There are 17 segments with famous masters that explore the roots of martial arts and include videos never before seen.
A subscription
has all the videos on this channel.
This includes punching and pushing hands instruction from Grandmaster William C.C. Chen,
fights from son and daughter, Max and Tiffany Chen, exclusive competition videos from world push hands champions Josh Waitzkin and Tuishou Chen,
and push hands instruction from Professor Cheng Man-Ching and Dr. Ping-Siang Tao.
2. What's behind a martial art that emphasizes internal energy & relaxation?
This segment introduces the "internal" martial art of Tai Chi Chuan, starting with demonstrations by Chen Yuen San, a master from Taiwan.
Experts, including Robert Smith, a CIA officer well known for his martial arts writing, discuss "chi" ("internal
energy"). There's footage of 20th Century masters, Wong Shu Jin and Cheng Man Ching, shown doing
the form and pushing hands with a young William C. C. Chen.
From: Pacific Street Films (00:07:18)
To subscribe / watch "Martial Arts: The Real Story", click on either picture
3. The relationship between Tai Chi, relaxation, mechanics, and fighting
Grandmaster William C. C. Chen, a senior disciple of Cheng Man Ching, explains and shows how the principles of Tai Chi apply to fighting.
His son, Max, and daughter, Tiffany, both of whom are champion martial artists themselves, help Master Chen demonstrate boxing, kicking,
and push hands.
From: Pacific Street Films (DVD) (00:02:24)
To subscribe / watch William Chen and all the other masters in "Martial Arts: The Real Story", click on picture
4. Development of Kung Fu from Shaolin monks and their animal styles
Lawrence Tan is an expert in Shaolin Animal Kung Fu, as well as a film fight coordinator, stunt man, and video
director. In this segment, he shows the application of tiger, snake, leopard, and crane styles.
We travel to the temple that is the birthplace of Shaolin Kung Fu, where we see monks practicing their art.
From: Pacific Street Films (DVD) (00:06:17)
To subscribe / watch Lawrence Tan in "Martial Arts: The Real Story", click on picture
5. Early martial arts history, starting from wrestling to judo
This segment explores the current martial arts scene, for example the distinction between internal and external
styles, and how we got here.
The focus first is on wrestling as the earliest martial art and then proceeds to judo and jiu jitsu. There are some very old
videos of Japanese judo experts, some of whom travelled to teach westerners, including President Teddy Roosevelt.
From: Pacific Street Films (DVD) (00:09:55)
To subscribe / watch "Martial Arts: The Real Story", click on picture
6. Combining different martial arts for effective street-fighting
John Bluming (a.k.a. the "Beast of Amsterdam) discusses and shows practical self defense, with an emphasis on street
fighting and mixed martial arts. He's a 10th degree blackbelt in Japanese karate and a 9th degree blackbelt in judo,
who demonstrates a no-nonsense emphasis on mixing strikes, kicks, throws, grappling, and leg locks.
This video includes one of his students, Chris Dolman, an MMA world champion.
From: Pacific Street Films (DVD) (00:11:20)
To subscribe / watch Jon Bluming in "Martial Arts: The Real Story", click on picture
7. Practical self-defense and the mental attitude needed
Master Robert "Sugar" Crosson teaches self defense in Brooklyn, New York City.
His focus is on a survival-oriented, no-holds barred style.
On the mental side, he emphasizes the importance of situational awareness, preparation through training, and
preventing escalation.
From: Pacific Street Films (DVD) (00:05:13)
To subscribe / watch Robert Crosson in "Martial Arts: The Real Story", click on picture
10. Isreali fighting system originally designed for the military
Rhon Mizrachi, the head of the Krav Maga Federation, demonstrates this system of hand to hand combat and self defense at
his New York City school.
Krav Maga combines western and eastern martial arts to deal with extreme attacks involving weapons, multiple attackers,
and life and death situations. This video shows the emphasis on doing maximum damage to the attacker as quickly as possible.
From: Pacific Street Films (DVD) (00:05:52)
To subscribe / watch Rhon Mizrachi in "Martial Arts: The Real Story", click on picture
11. Combining Asian martial arts for practical and balanced self defense
In this segment, Florendo Visitacion demonstrates the system he developed that combines Filipino styles of martial arts along with other
Asian systems of self defense.
His student, David James, carrying on his legacy at his school in Brooklyn New York, shows the locks and free-flowing moves of this style,
and discusses the state of mind needed for effective self defense.
From: Pacific Street Films (DVD) (00:03:26)
To subscribe / watch Florendo Visitacion in "Martial Arts: The Real Story", click on picture
12. Filipino stick fighting applied to police nightstick training
Arnulfo Cuesto specializes in the stick fighting arts of the Phillippines. In 1985, he won the first
national Filipino Escrima Competition. He's shown here at his Jersey City school training a Defensive Tactics Instructor of the
New York City Police Department.
From: Pacific Street Films (DVD) (00:03:16)
To subscribe / watch Arnulfo Cuesta in "Martial Arts: The Real Story", click on picture
13. Savate combines the kicks of Chinese martial arts and English boxing
This segment explores the origin and development of Savate (French kickboxing).
It features Nicolas Saignac, a French Cup Champion, who teaches in the Los Angeles California area.
We learn about Professor Saignac's early training and fights in France and the need to overcome fear and gain confidence.
From: Pacific Street Films (DVD) (00:03:06)
To subscribe / watch Nicolas Saignac in "Martial Arts: The Real Story", click on picture
14. Pretty spectacular kicks of apple off of a knife
Nan Don Sken, a Muay Thai champion and instructor, demonstrates the mix of punches, kicks, elbow and knee strikes, that characterize the
martial arts of Thailand.
He recounts his early memory of seeing his father killed and deciding to learn Muay Thai to take revenge.
He explains how the monks who trained him convinced him to change his path and how his refusal to throw a championship fight
got him shot by gamblers
From: Pacific Street Films (DVD) (00:03:39)
To subscribe / watch Nan Don Sken in "Martial Arts: The Real Story", click on picture
15. Brazilian martial art disguised as a dance
Edna Lima is a Capoeira champion, as well as a 5th degree karate black belt, who teaches Capoeira in New York City
and at seminars world-wide. In this video, she demonstrates the capabilities
of the kicks and head butts and discusses the emphasis on trickiness, causing confusion, hiding intentions, and
the role of fakes. This orientation is explained as coming from the development of Capoeira by African slaves who had
to disguise what they were doing from their Portuguese masters.
From: Pacific Street Films (DVD) (00:03:38)
To subscribe / watch Edna Lima in "Martial Arts: The Real Story", click on picture
16. Strikes against vital points and the accompanying responsibility
This segment explores Indian and Okinawan systems that involve striking vital points.
There is rare footage of Seiyu Oyata (1928 - 2012), the founder of a style of Okinawan martial art that includes strikes to the
body's weak points.
Paradoxically, the Indian system shown, Kalaripayattu, also teaches the use of these points for healing,
and Oyata's style, Ryu-te, emphasized effective self-defense while deliberately minimizing the harm to the opponent.
From: Pacific Street Films (DVD) (00:02:29)
To subscribe / watch "Martial Arts: The Real Story", click on picture
17. Japanese weapons techniques and mastering self control
This segment explores the Japanese martial arts and the underlying ethical code and mental state being sought.
We see training with sword and naginata, a weapon for women consisting of a sword-like blade on a long staff.
There is a clip of Donn Draper, an Americans who became an expert with the sword, and there's discussion
about the emphasis on self development, composure under pressure, and working cooperatively
with partners to develop skills.
From: Pacific Street Films (DVD) (00:11:18)
To subscribe / watch "Martial Arts: The Real Story", click on picture