Move over Jackie Chan / Jet Li

here comes the next Martial Arts Movie Star

Well what an amazing compettion or should I say reality show. The Shaolin Culture Co (Shaolin Temple) and the Shenzen Satellite TV company have created a global compettion to find the next Jackie or Jet to fill the ever increasing demand for martial arts stars.

Australia was luckily enough to be chosen to join the 6 other countires China, Russia, Italy, France, Germany, America in the search for the next star. With only a few weeks notice to do the impossible in such a short time frame, Martial Arts Australia and the MC Media Group pulled it off. By creating an asian movie set the atmosphere was set at the temporary home of the IMA and Ultimate Martial Arts & Fitness in Knox City, Victoria.

Graham Slater explains the rules and proceedures to competitiors


Competitors ended up with a ONE in TEN chance of training at the Shaolin Temple, (2 weeks all expenses paid). Hard to believe but a reality, yes just 30 competitors from around Australia plucked up the courage to perform in front of an amazing line up of judges.

Once in China participants have possibly a ONE in TWENTY chance of obtaining a 10 year Film & TV contract. Got your attention? So who won?

For all those people that thought they wouldn't be looking for someone like you because you don't study Shaolin Kung Fu think again. Three Australian winners were chosen a karate guy, kung fu guy and a capoiera guy. I bet you wouldn't have picked that and neither would I but boy did these guys worked hard because the competetion was fierce. Okay here are the names of the three very lucky and very skilled martial artists:
Danny Owen
Zac Hare
Chan Griffith

Australia and Chinese Grandmasters assess the competitors

Lets just recap on what these guys had to do to become winners. First of all they were selected from their written application to get into the first of the physical rounds. In the first physical round competitors performed a form either with or without a weapon. Some just went balistic with amazing physical feats of strength, power, speed and acorabatics that appeared to be spontaneous/unrehearched but neither the less a pleasure to watch. Next competitors had to demonstrate some form of acting or entertainment to grab the judges attention, the more humerous the more points in this case. The final 11 were padded up ready to enter the combat zone where they fought it out to show real fighting skill. Safety was paramount and I was asked to referee to make sure the competitors didn't get too over zealous with the contact. It was certainly eventful with a few hard blows being delivered as frustrations boiled over but thats entertainment and makes for good ratings.

It never ceases to amaze me when dreams can be granted many recipients do not have the courage or foresight to go out and grab it, yet complain they never get given a chance. This event was a once in a lifetime opportunity to live a dream that will make someone the next martial arts movie star!

One of the competitiors Master Sun Dafa demonstrates his Chi power by bending this metal bar held at his throat, a scary sight.

Master Fumin from the Shaolin Temple motivate competitiors

The following is a section taken out of Paul Strutt's article when he visited China. Go to full story
The Shaolin Temple is two hours by bus from Deng Feng (Tung Fung), surrounded by a huge mountain range it rests in a small town whose sole purpose for continued existance is Martial Arts. Hundreds of small shops some no wider than the length of a spear, all selling the same goods, swords, poles, fans, knife, statues etc lined the main road leading to the Shaolin Temple. .

The temple was built around 400A.D. with a tree in its grounds estimated to be 1,500yrs old. The old monks emit an air of relaxed detatchment. The younger monks have an intensity in their eye that has to be seen to be believed, but they all seem quite friendly, laughing and joking around. One monk asked if I would like to free spar him. I declinded gracefully as I wanted to finish my trip with 100% use of my body. As part of their fund raising the monks put on a display of some of their training practices. Hanging by the neck 4mtrs off the ground, bricks smashed on ..........