Deadspin: martial arts

Boomer Esiason Will Sweep The Leg

Rick Chandler — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:05:00 EDT

Boomer Esiason interviewing Ralph Macchio on the enduring legacy of The Karate Kid? Yes, sign me up. Oh, and did you know they're doing a remake? Wax on. Wax off.

Daniel-San appeared on the Boomer and Carton show on WFAN radio on Tuesday, and it didn't take long for the topic to land on our favorite 1984 film. Macchio:

"I'm not so sure I'm out of that mold outside of the fact that I'm aging enough that I don't look exactly as I did twenty something years ago. That movie came about at a certain time and it was a pretty big hit and it sort of stood the test of time through generations. It's a tough thing to shake, I was in the films "The Outsiders" and "My Cousin Vinny" and these other films that found their place, but I think on my tombstone, The Karate Kid will be between my first and last name."

Of course you knew that Will Smith is directing a remake, to star his son, Jaden. Hmm, is this wise?

"So one day I get this phone call and it's Will Smith asking for advice. I told him that if you can find your own way to carve your own angle into the story, the story will work forever. It's whether you guys choose to do a copycat version. ... I think it's going to be a tall order and I think replacing what Pat Morita, the magic of Mr. Miyagi is going to be a huge task."

And who will play that role? Oh no.

Why must all of out favorite cult movies be despoiled? And more importantly, who will play Johnny Lawrence? Oh, this thing has disaster written all over it. I can't wait to see it.

Wax On Wax Off [Sports Radio Interviews]
WFAN
Will Smith Calls Ralph Macchio For Karate Kid Advice [StarPulse]
Jackie Chan: Karate Kid's New Mr. Miyagi? [The Huffington Post]

And So Another Member Of The Chess Team Is Born

Rick Chandler — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:00:21 EST

I can't count the number of times our inbox has been clogged with demands for more kid karate videos. Here, you maniacs! Now leave us alone for a couple of days.

Anyway, it seemed less painful than this (turn the volume down if you're at work):

When The Hand Of God Is Also A Registered Weapon

rickchand — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 15:00:51 EST

At last, the tyranny of Wrestling for Jesus may be over. Those guys will be running for the hills when faced with the might of Karate for Christ, a movement with more than 400,000 members who will turn the other cheek just so often. It is not known whether Jesus used The Crane technique in his teachings, but we do know that those money lenders' tables didn't turn over by themselves. And it brings us a little closer to God when we think that Christ may have spent idle hours with the apostles splitting boards with his head.

Jesus was, in fact, a brown belt, as we can see in this historical photo.

But can martial arts — which has its roots in Eastern philosophy — coexist with Christianity?

"They can work together," said Michael Rhodes, director of the Blue Ridge Karate Club. "We try to show [that] Christians don't have to be a humble doormat for people." Eight-year-old Tristan "Termite" Taylor delighted Saturday in using a cardboard paper-towel roll he found in the bathroom to practice sword moves. "I've been looking forward to making new friends," he said.

Karate And Christianity Make For An Unusal Pair [The Roanoke Times]
Karate For Christ
And The Lord Said, 'Matches Shall Be Two Out Of Three Falls, And No Gouging' [Deadspin]