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. When troubled teen Robbie moves to Cocoa Beach, Florida from Detroit after his grandmother has had enough of his antics, he soon realizes that everywhere he goes there is somebody who doesn’t want him to be happy… and in Cocoa Beach, that somebody is Bo Whitelaw, the toughest and most popular guy at the high school.
From the moment Bo gives Robbie a beat-down in front of Rina (the prettiest girl in school), we know Robbie’s chances of living in a happy neighborhood are just not realistic. To help Robbie stand a chance of survival in a dangerous teen world, his estranged Aunt Cindy and Uncle Glen (played by action legends Cynthia “Lady Dragon” Rothrock and Don “The Dragon” Wilson) are there to coach and train Robbie. Along the way, Robbie learns defensive skills that will give him a chance to defend himself… But will that be enough to protect himself from Bo in an all-out epic battle? And will Robbie ever be ‘the man’ in Rina’s eyes? Find out when everything comes to a head in a final showdown that pits legends of traditional martial arts against MMA fighters in a battle you will have to see to believe.
