Mind, Body & Kick Ass Moves [BBC3 Martial Arts Tour with Chris Crudelli]

Mind, Body and Kick Ass Moves with Chris Crudelli

"Mind, Body and Kick Ass Moves" examins the world of martial arts. Martial arts expert Chris

Crudelli travels through China, Japan and the Philippines in his search for the

original Masters of martial arts disciplines. He learns about ninja, tai qi, kung fu, the deadly dim mak and many more.

Chris Crudelli is a martial arts practitioner and teacher who has worked extensively in the UK and the Far East. He divides his time between Kung Fu (the dynamic, fast and focused art, famous for its debris of broken bricks and planks) T’ai Chi (ranging from the slow moves that hide the true form of fast, lethal fighting) and Chi Gong (where fighting style meets incredible power, healing and the intuitive arts).

Chris is 32 and was born in Birmingham of Italian/Irish parents. Aged 8 he began to learn Martial Arts. In his teens he lived with a Chinese family continuing his Kung Fu training. It became the all-consuming passion of his life, as it is to this day.

At the age of 17 he went to Hong Kong to study and he spent the next number of years travelling and studying with Martial Arts Masters in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland China. He speaks Mandarin and this has helped him search out the more esoteric and philosophical exponents of martial arts in China as well as perfect the physical side of his fighting styles.

Mind, Body & Kick Ass Moves has taken him on an extraordinary journey to meet new teachers. Travelling to Japan, The Philippines, Hong Kong, Beijing and Taiwan he has met a wide range of Masters, who have revealed techniques and skills that range from the obscure to the downright weird.

The complete 10 episode series.

A BBC production, 2004.

Number of files: 10

Run time: 10 x 28 minutes

Video codec: divx 5, 644 kbps, 512x288, 25 fps

Audio codec: mp3, 96 kbps, 44 kHz, stereo, cbr

Source: TV (16:9, PAL)

Episode Guide

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Episode 1

Presenter Chris Crudelli challenges a group of tough builders to knock him

down, sees how a sledgehammer can crack bricks on a man's head and

watches a van pulled by a penis.

Episode 2

Presenter Chris Crudelli visits a Taipei fight club and visits a film set in

Beijing, where he is taught how to fly in the 'Crouching Tiger' style. In the

UK, two female show wrestlers take Chris through their paces and in Hong Kong

the spirit of Bruce Lee is invoked by a sprightly 80- year old.

Episode 3

A deserted village in China is the setting for a Daoist sect to invoke

spirits that protect against blades, blows and fire. In the Philippines the

protective power of amulets is machete-tested on a man's stomach. Chris meets

Ushiro, master of the original Okinawan karate, in Japan.

Episode 4

Master Presas in the Philippines reveals the martial arts techniques hidden

in simple dance steps. Chris meets his match on the Great Wall of China, as the

Chinese Master of ancient Tai Qi uses him for target practice. Back in the UK,

we see life saving techniques on a beach in Cornwall and self-defence tricks on

the streets of Brixton.

Episode 5

Chris has a bone to pick with meat packers at Smithfield Market in London. In

Japan the ancient art of horseback archery is uncovered in a Shinto temple,

while in a busy Hong Kong kitchen, the Living Treasure of China teaches Kung Fu

cooking. Back in the UK, pizza delivery boys learn how to dish it out when it

cuts up rough and we reveal the secrets of Philippine machete fighting.

Episode 6

In Japan, two men fight with swords on a deserted beach. When Chris follows

them into their dojo the Master finger wrestles him on the ground. Also, how

animal moves inspired the Chinese Lion Dance, and in Wales rugby players are

effortlessly converted to Kung Fu drinking games. Meanwhile, the Taiwanese anti-

terrorist SWAT team engage in some real life martial mayhem.

Episode 7

Documentary series examining the world of martial arts. In Japan, Master

Tanaka and his daughter excel in the art of the sword. Chopping down arrows in

mid flight can only be done 'when you and the sword are one'. The same intuitive

relationship allows Master Presas in the Philippines to stick fight whilst blind

folded, and improving intuition is what drives the acolytes of Master Aoki in

Japan to stand under freezing cold waterfalls.

Episode 8

Documentary series examining the world of martial arts. In

the Philippines a weapon maker mixes deadly spiders with steel, whilst in Japan

Chris narrowly escapes a Ninja pole head trap. Animals continue to provide

inspiration as Chris eats scorpions in a Beijing market and the energy of the

snake and leopard are harnessed in the Hong Kong docks.

Episode 9

From samurai decapitation skill in Japan to the legendary death touch,

Chris Crudelli gets in the firing line of the most dangerous martial artists alive.

A Southend tattoo parlour becomes the venue for some serious 'Chi' work,

and while engaging in river fighting in the Philippines Chris learns how to invoke

the spirits from the dead and to protect himself with amulets.

Episode 10

In the Philippines, stick fighting has never been so fast and in Taiwan,

Chris Crudelli uncovers unbelievable physical feats involving bottle openers

and fingers, steel rods and eyeballs, cleavers and toes.