the martial arts kid

Crowdfunding For THE MARTIAL ARTS KID 2: PAYBACK Launches At Indiegogo

Crowdfunding officially kicked off on Monday with a new Indiegogo campaign for The Martial Arts Kid 2: Payback. Action stars Don “The Dragon” Wilson and Cynthia Rothrock are back and co-producing, as well as rejoining a cast of returning and new faces led by title star, actor Jansen Panettiere, and once more with writer/director Michael Baumgarten who helmed the first film as well as last year’s Paying Mr. McGetty. Plot details are unknown for the sequel following the first installment centered on an embattled teenager struggling to face the odds in a new neighborhood with help of his martial arts expert sibs, Uncle Glen and Auntie Cindy. Returning are Brandon Tyler Russell, Matthew Ziff and martial artist TJ Storm to reprise their roles with Chuck Zito emerging for the sequel next to actor Sasha Mitchell and with award-winning stunt coordinator James Lew back to direct the action. Florida’s Cocoa Beach […]

Review: THE MARTIAL ARTS KID (2016) Brings Its Message To The Forefront Of Style

In the last eight years, we’ve been treated to not one but THREE different reimaginings of The Karate Kid: the official one (Karate Kid), the gritty one (Never Back Down), and now we have the family film. Who’d have ever guessed that The Karate Kid would become such a cultural staple? The Martial Arts Kid follows the story of Robbie Oakes (Jansen Panetierre), a juvenile delinquent who is forced to move in with his aunt and uncle in Florida after a run in with the cops. Fortunately for him, his aunt and uncle are portrayed by total badasses in the form of Cynthia Rothrock and Don “The Dragon” Wilson. At first, Robbie couldn’t be any less engaged with his new family situation and has almost no luck fitting in at school. What’s worse, within the first 24 hours he meets the girl of his dreams (Kathryn Newtown) and promptly gets […]

Screener Review: THE MARTIAL ARTS KID (2015)

Lee B. Golden III

The martial arts genre can be a thrilling one when it comes to movies. However, spectacle aside, every now and then it helps to get grounded a little more in what the overall practice of it really means, and we’ve seen that narrative several times in the past through different tones. This time, we get martial arts stars Don “The Dragon” Wilson and Cynthia Rothrock as they spearhead this newest effort in director Michael Baumgarten’s new movie, The Martial Arts Kid. Actor Jansen Panetierre stars in the title role of Robbie, a new face in a small Florida town where he goes to live with his Uncle Glen and Aunt Cindy, played respectively by Wilson and Rothrock. Robbie’s prior stints with the law have forced his grandmother’s hand, leaving his fate in the hands of his extended family while he struggles to balance teenage life and his own inner turmmoil. […]

Head's Up! The First Dates And Locations Are Set For THE MARTIAL ARTS KID!

Lee B. Golden III

Following the announcement a few weeks ago, the first locations and dates in New York and California have gone public for the forthcoming premiere of writer and director Michael Baumgarten’s family action drama, The Martial Arts Kid. The film has already earned the appeal of several critics with a narrative that bodes highly, both for fans of the genre, as well as advocates against bullying. Produced by martial artists, producer James Wilson and company president and veteran Hollywood stuntwoman Cheryl Wheeler with a script by Baumgarten and co-writer Adam Marsh, actor Jansen Panettiere leads the cast in the coming-story of a Robbie who moves in with his aunt and uncle in Florida following the death of his mother. Facing adversity in his new surroundings, his sibs begin to focus on teaching Robbie martial arts in an effort to channel his rage and anger, and essentially help put him on a path […]

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Traditionz To Release THE MARTIAL ARTS KID In Select Theaters Next Month!

Lee B. Golden III

Finally on par for release following a successful Kickstarter campaign last year and several promotional appearances since then is director Michael Baumgarten’s new anti-bullying action drama, The Martial Arts Kid from Traditionz Entertainment. The film’s release will be aimed at establishing Traditionz as a staple of martial arts film production and distribution, here and now piloting with a cast and crew brimming with well-known names like Don “The Dragon” Wilson and Cynthia Rothrock, and T.J. Storm with actor Jansen Panetierre in the title role opposite Matthew Ziff. Produced by martial artists, producer James Wilson and company president and veteran Hollywood stuntwoman Cheryl Wheeler with a script by Adam Marsh, Panettiere leads the cast in the coming-story of a Robbie who moves in with his aunt and uncle in Florida following the death of his mother. Facing adversity in his new surroundings, his sibs begin to focus on teaching Robbie martial arts […]

Don "The Dragon" Wilson Talks Going From 'B-Team' To BLOOD RAID!

Lee B. Golden III

Talk has been brewing notably since March of last year when action star and champion kickboxer Don “The Dragon” Wilson shared a photo-op with fellow action veteran Michael Dudikoff. The photo captioned some optimism in lieu of what would hopefully be a collaborative start toward production for a feature-length action movie headlined by a who’s-who of B-movie action stars once titled The B-Team. Since then, any and all updates have remained in limbo as Wilson and producers, co-star Cynthia Rothrock and brother James Wilson moved forward with the subsequent fundraising and production of Michael Baumgarten’s action-packed family drama, The Martial Arts Kid. The film is currently picking up steam following a trailer debut and publicity in November at the Urban Action Showcase and Expo in New York City with a release slated for next year, in addition to both appearing in director Toby Russell’s White Tiger alongside Matt Mullins and […]

Stockwell's KICKBOXER Adds T.J. Storm And Matthew Ziff

Lee B. Golden III

Updates are abound now that production is underway for In The Blood helmer John Stockwell‘s current remake of the 1989 martial arts thriller, Kickboxer. Progress has had its share of stops and starts in the past year or so as a few major names departed from the project this month, but now we’re finally getting a grip on what lies ahead for casting thanks to social media. Actor Matthew Ziff, lately known for his upcoming appearance in the action-packed family drama, The Martial Arts Kid, recently took to Twitter and Instagram to share a few images earlier hinting on a “big” project. That project just so happened to be the upcoming Kickboxer where it just so happens he will be joined by his fellow The Martial Arts Kid co-star, martial artist and actor T.J. Storm (Punisher: War Zone, Black Cobra). There aren’t any details yet on what their roles will […]

The Official Trailer For THE MARTIAL ARTS KID Is Here!

Lee B. Golden III

Action superstars Don “The Dragon” Wilson (White Tiger) and Cynthia Rothrock (Mercenaries) were on hand to conduct some very important business this weekend at the Urban Action Showcase & Expo in New York City, including granting an official presentation of the full trailer for the first feature-length film from Wilson’s Traditionz Movie 1, LLC label, The Martial Arts Kid. Made in conjunction with New Jersey-based anti-bullying organization, Kickin It, the film, directed by Michael Baumgarten, centers heavily on its upward message with lead actor Jansen Panetierre starring in the title role. Its all-too familiar plot notwithstanding, the film’s popular headliners, as well as its family-friendly tone are sure to garner the vast interest of action fans and moviegoers alike. Notably, the production was also made evidently possible thanks to the generosity of donors during the film’s crowdfunding efforts earlier on, led by co-stars/producers Wilson and Rothrock and producers Cheryl Marie […]

THE MARTIAL ARTS KID Gets A New Teaser!

Lee B. Golden III

Director and co-writer Michael Baumgarten‘s newest martial arts family drama has been on the receiving end of an intense promotional campaign this year headlined by martial arts action stars Don “The Dragon” Wilson and Cynthia Rothrock. Following a successful Kickstarter campaign going into the summer, The Martial Arts Kid marks the latest film project for Traditionz Movie 1, LLC in conjunction with N.J.-based anti-bullying organization, Kickin It, a move that puts the film’s very theme front and center with leading actor Jansen Panetierre in the title role. There isn’t a release date set just yet, but the film’s push remains on-going as it makes an appearance at San Diego Comic-Con this year. And on that note, the latest teaser for the film has been granted an online viewing. SYNOPSIS: When troubled teen Robbie moves to Cocoa Beach, Florida from Detroit after his grandmother has had enough of his antics, he soon […]

DRAGONFEST Returns This Sunday!

Lee B. Golden III

Following previous coverage on the revival of Martial Arts History Museum founder and president Michael Matsuda’s upcoming events for Dragonfest 2014, a fresh new press release was unveiled this weekend announcing more details on who will attend. The festival appears to have an amazing slate of programs and guests lined up, including a wide array of seasoned film and martial arts veterans, actors and filmmakers alike, including Dragonfest’s original founder, actor Gerald Okamura. Moreover, one of the biggest bookmarks of the festival also happens to be the screening of a scene from director Michael Baumgarten’s new film, The Martial Arts Kid, a drama-heavy action picture which just recently announced its partnership with New Jersey-based outreach program, Bullying…We’re Kickin It. The film co-stars Don “The Dragon” Wilson and Cynthia Rothrock, the latter who will be among other big names in martial arts cinema going to the event this Sunday. All of […]

THE MARTIAL ARTS KID Aligns With Heavy Hitters To 'Kick' Bullying

Lee B. Golden III

If you’ve been tuned in for the past several months to the recent effots of White Tiger co-stars, actors and action legends Don “The Dragon” Wilson and Cynthia Rothrock, chances are you caught onto the current development of their new cinematic labor of love, The Martial Arts Kid, to be directed by Michael Baumgarten. Wilson and Rothrock can currently be seen in their recent campaign video for the film’s Kickstarter platform which launched last month, and and with three weeks left as of this write-up, the film just recently announced young lead actor Jansen Panettierre for the title role. In light of this, a new press release is out that puts focus on the broader issue of the film’s message, partnering with a New Jersey-based non-profit charity organization Bullying…We’re Kickin It. It’s a message firmly backed by everyone involved, including one of the film’s co-producers, Hollywood stuntwoman Cheryl Wheeler-Duncan, among other major […]

Help Don "The Dragon" Wilson And Cynthia Rothrock Fund THE MARTIAL ARTS KID!

Lee B. Golden III

Following the recent launch of his new Traditionz clothing line, actor, world kickboxing champion and Martial Arts Hall Of Fame inductee Don “The Dragon” Wilson is teaming up with fellow actress, martial arts champion, action cinema superstar and 2014 International Sports Hall Of Fame inductee Cynthia Rothrock to produce the debut martial arts movie for Traditionz Movie 1 LLC titled, The Martial Arts Kid. As such, the new Kickstarter launched on Monday for the film’s funding campaign showcasing a team ready to take the next step in making this latest ambitious new martial arts family drama a reality, led by producer and director Michael Baumgarten. And based on the following premise, if you’re a fan of the genre, then The Martial Arts Kid may have plenty to offer for you with this familiar set up: SYNOPSIS: When troubled teen Robbie moves to Cocoa Beach, Florida from Detroit after his grandmother […]