American Ninja

American Ninja is a 1985 American action film directed by Sam Firstenberg, produced by The Cannon Group and Golan-Globus Productions. In the United Kingdom it was released as American Warrior, in Germany as American Fighter. Young Joe Armstrong is drafted into the US Army and stationed in the Philippines. There he clashes with ninja of the Black Star order and uncovers corruption linked to the arms trade. The story is set in the Philippines and, according to an article on the film, it was also shot there. Ninjutsu is at the core of the film, and the Black Star ninja are the main antagonists. It is, however, a cinematic depiction, not a documented example of traditional ninjutsu: none of the actors in the main fighting roles trained in ninjutsu. The fight scenes were prepared by choreographer Mike Stone, a karate expert, who also trained lead actor Michael Dudikoff for the shoot. The lead role was chosen by producer Menahem Golan and director Firstenberg from more than 400 candidates, and Chuck Norris had turned it down earlier. The film was followed by three sequels: American Ninja 2: The Confrontation (1987), American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt (1989) and American Ninja 4: The Annihilation (1990). Steve James returned in other roles in the second and third instalments.

Martial arts in this work

Fight choreography

Michael Dudikoff had no fighting training before filming, but he was very athletic. Choreographer Mike Stone convinced the producers that he would learn the necessary techniques quickly, and then prepared him for the roles. Steve James, who plays Corporal Curtis Jackson, was a long-time practitioner of the Chinese style Fu Jow Pai. Among the performers of the Black Star ninja, Tadashi Yamashita is named, who practises Okinawan karate Kobayashi Shorin-ryu and kobudo. The ninjutsu shown in the film is thus performed by people from other martial arts or with no prior training. Dudikoff only began to take up martial arts seriously after the film's success: he trained karate, aikido, judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which he began under Rorion Gracie.

People and martial arts

• Sam FirstenbergDirector
• Mike StoneFight choreographer· Karate (real practitioner)
• Michael DudikoffActor — as Pvt. Joe Armstrong· Ninjutsu (portrays the art on screen)
• Steve JamesActor — as Cpl. Curtis Jackson· Ninjutsu (portrays the art on screen)
• Tadashi YamashitaActor — as Black Star Ninja· Ninjutsu (portrays the art on screen)