First Post!

Hello and welcome to the first post in Asian Martial Arts Cinema Trends! In this blog I will explore the latest trends in Martial Arts/ Action cinema not only from East Asian countries such as China, Korea and Japan but also from Southeast Asian Countries such as Thailand and Vietnam which are gaining more and more ground in the international market every day.

The Martial Arts film genre is one that is widely established in Asia, and it is the style of Action and Choreography in these films which is widely imitated all over the world today. Now is an exciting time for Martial Arts films. As the older stars of the genre including Jackie Chan and Jet Li begin to transition to different roles, there is a new movement to find young talent to fill the gap left behind by legends of the past. This puts focus not only on young stars from Mainland China and Hong Kong, but to styles of Martial Arts from countries such as Vietnam and Thailand which are new to many moviegoers. Also, the ever growing popularity of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) has begun to exert its influence on choreographers not only in the US but in Asian countries as well. This gives rise not only to a diverse output but also to a global search for new talent not seen since the death of Bruce Lee.

In this blog I am able to draw on my own experience in Martial Arts, as well as my knowledge of different Martial Arts from around the world and how they are utilized in film. As a former film student, I am able to apply a critical lens not only to the cinematic techniques used by Asian filmmakers but also to the developing trends in Martial Arts movies. The Martial arts and Action genre is an exciting one with a long tradition in Asia. This diverse continent has produced films which influence not only their onscreen counterparts but popular culture in general as well as the audiences who watch them across the world. In this blog I will not just include the latest Martial Arts movie news, but examine new trends out of Asia which will continue to influence not only Martial Arts but all genres of film today.