Taekwondo Life Magazine's Podcast

Keanu Reeves is one of the best known movie stars in the world. His pictures have grossed more than $6 billion dollars worldwide. The Matrix Trilogy and the John Wick Films have accounted for more than $2 billion in box office ticket sales over the past two decades. These are among the best and most influential films of a generation, and they make Keanu Reeves, potentially, the biggest martial arts movie star that ever existed.

While most people may not consider him a martial arts movie icon because, even by his own words he only knows, “movie kung fu“, there is a compelling argument to support the moniker, “#1 martial arts movie star in the world.”

While Reeves does not have a traditional martial arts background he began training in the martial arts for the first Matrix (1999) film, undergoing four months of daily intensive training prior to the start of shooting that blockbuster film. His work with Yuen Woo-Ping, Hong Kong’s acclaimed martial arts action choreographer, resulted in stunning fights and weapons scenes. Had it stopped there Reeves would still be responsible for one of the best martial arts and sci-fi films ever made; however, there was so much more to come.

Reeves went on to train intensely and release two more Matrix films, which were filled with martial arts action fight scenes. Neo’s fight scenes with Morpheus, Agent Smith, and The Agent Smiths are as good as any ever filmed. Reeves also paired with Woo-Ping to star in, and Direct, Man of Tai Chi (2013), a true martial arts combat film. The climax of that film involves Reeves and Tiger Chensquaring off in a classic, “old school’ fight scene.

2014 brought John Wick, a film by Chad Stahelski, in which Reeves again underwent 3-4 months of intensive training in martial arts and weapons to result in a stunning and pivotal film which transformed the genre and spawned two beloved sequels (with a 3rd in pre-production). The Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and weapons realism in those films set new standards in movie making, and martial arts fight choreography.

With Ten (10) martial arts action films, $6 billion dollars in box office gross, and serious martial arts training in Taekwondo, Kung Fu, BJJ, Judo there is no question that Keanu Reeves is not only a martial arts movie star, but perhaps, the biggest that ever graced the Silver Screen.

On this week’s program, Marc Zirogiannis explores the question of Keanu Reeves’ Martial Arts Superstardom.

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Will Fans Be Allowed At The Tokyo Olympics? The answer to this question can be found in the Statement on Spectator Capacities at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 issued on 21 June, 2021. The statement was issued by the five parties, namely the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) and the Government of Japan (GoJ), in a meeting to discuss spectator limits for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Marc Zirogiannis breaks down the statement of the 5 agencies and discusses the implications for Olympic fans. Check out all of our Olympic videos on our You Tube Channel Playlist.

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Taekwondo Life Magazine looks at the announcement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Refugee Team. Twenty-nine athletes competing across 12 sports and from 13 host National Olympic Committees (NOCs) will be part of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team (EOR) Tokyo 2020. The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today approved the composition of the team.

The athletes were selected from among the refugee athletes currently supported by the IOC through the Olympic Scholarships for Refugee Athletes programme. They will send a powerful message of solidarity and hope to the world this summer, bringing further awareness to the plight of over 80 million displaced people worldwide.

Addressing the athletes, the IOC President said: “Congratulations to all of you. I speak on behalf of the entire Olympic Movement when I say that we cannot wait to meet you in person and to see you compete in Tokyo. When you, the IOC Refugee Olympic Team and the athletes from the National Olympic Committees from all over the globe, finally come together in Tokyo on 23 July, it will send a powerful message of solidarity, resilience and hope to the world. You are an integral part of our Olympic community, and we welcome you with open arms.”

These include 3 players in the Sport of Taekwondo: Dina Pouryounes Langeroudi, Kimia Alizadeh, and Abdullah Sediqui.

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A discussion of the overhaul of the USA Taekwondo Officiating program and a look at AAU Taekwondo's latest Referee appointment.

From our April/May 20210 Issue-USA Taekwondo has completed its restructure of referee leadership following a comprehensive review and interview process, providing a strong platform moving forward for the recruitment, development and retention of current and future referees in the United States. Vastly experienced referee John Seiber has been named as the Referee Chairman for the two year 2021-2022 period, and is charged with making the program the most respected in the world and delivering the best educated and most talented referees in any country, along with developing the next generation of referees and referee leadership.

Marc Zirogiannis gives an overview of the USAT Taekwondo Officials program. He discusses changes in the structure and leadership. The episode also explores the enhancements to the AAU Taekwondo Officials program with the appointment of Grandmaster Kenny Kuek to an important role.

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Kickstart Kids is a martial arts character development program non-profit organization, formed by Chuck Norris on August 16, 1990 as the Kick Drugs Out of America Foundation. In 1992, with the help of former President George H.W. Bush, the program was officially implemented in four schools in the Houston area: Burbank, Central, Hamilton, and Hogg. Today, the program operates in over 60 schools throughout Texas. The program is taught in mostly middle/junior high schools and some high schools. They currently serve almost 10,000 of today's youth, making a positive impact in their lives by teaching character through karate. The stated mission of Kickstart Kids is to teach character through karate to empower youth with core values, such as discipline and respect, to achieve their greatest potential. Marc Zirogiannis talks with Martial Arts Master and Chief Director of Operations, John Kurek, about the organization, its structure, its mission, and its future. The audio component of the episode is available everywhere podcasts are heard. (Some connection issues caused some slight disruptions in the stream-my apologies)
To find out more about Chuck Norris' Kickstart Kids please visit:
Website: http://kickstartkids.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kickstartkidsorg

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kickstartkidsorg/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KICKSTART_KIDS

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/kickstartkids

Donate: https://give.kickstartkids.org/

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