Karate in culture
Films, books, historical sources and other works connected with the martial art Karate (Japan). 19 works (including sub-styles).
← Back to martial artFilms 9
1972The Way of the DragonHong Kong action film from 1972 that Bruce Lee wrote, directed and choreographed himself. In Rome it pits his hero against karate fighters, including Chuck Norris.1973Enter the DragonBruce Lee's last completed film from 1973, a Hong Kong-American co-production about a tournament on an island; according to sources, Lee himself assembled the fight scenes.Jeet Kune Do1981Enter the NinjaAmerican action film from 1981 about a mercenary trained in ninjutsu. The ninja Hasegawa is played by Sho Kosugi, who, according to the English Wikipedia, really did practise ninjutsu.Ninjutsu1984The Karate KidThe 1984 American film by John G. Avildsen about a teenager who learns karate from Mr. Miyagi. The fights were choreographed by Pat E. Johnson, a Tang Soo Do black belt.Goju-ryuTang Soo Do1986The Karate Kid Part IIAmerican 1986 film by John G. Avildsen, the second in The Karate Kid series: Mr. Miyagi travels with Daniel to Okinawa, and the film presents Okinawan Goju-ryu karate.Goju-ryu2004Fighter in the WindSouth Korean 2004 film by Yang Yun-ho, loosely based on the youth of Masutatsu Oyama, founder of Kyokushin; its source was a Korean comic.Kyokushin2007Black BeltJapanese 2007 film by Shunichi Nagasaki about three karate pupils in 1932; the leads are real karateka from three different schools.KyokushinMeibukan Goju-ryuShotokan2008Ip ManHong Kong biographical film by Wilson Yip from 2008 about the Wing Chun master Ip Man in Foshan; Sammo Hung led the action, Donnie Yen plays the lead.Wing Chun2019Ip Man 4: The FinaleFinal film of the Ip Man series from 2019: Ip Man travels to San Francisco, where Bruce Lee teaches; Yuen Woo-ping directed the action.Wing ChunTai ChiJeet Kune Do
TV series 1
Documentary series 3
1983The Way of the WarriorEight-part BBC documentary series from 1983, whose episodes present Asian martial arts one by one, from Shorinji kempo and kalaripayattu to karate, kung-fu and iaijutsu.AikidoEskrimaKalaripayattu+42007Fight QuestAmerican Discovery Channel documentary series (2007–2008) in which Jimmy Smith and Doug Anderson train five days with martial arts masters and then demonstrate the art.BoxingBrazilian Jiu-JitsuEskrima+102007Human WeaponAmerican History Channel documentary series from 2007 in which Jason Chambers and Bill Duff explore martial arts from muay thai to ninjutsu, each episode ending in a fight.BokatorEskrimaJudo+12
Anime 2
1973Karate Baka IchidaiJapanese animated series (1973–1974) based on Ikki Kajiwara's manga, loosely inspired by the life of Masutatsu Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin.Kyokushin2001Grappler BakiJapanese animated series from 2001 in two seasons based on Keisuke Itagaki's manga, in which the characters represent various martial arts.AikidoJudo