Virtue Clashes In A Hail Of Ballistic Kung Fu In The New Shortfilm, THE RIVAL REUNION

This week, the team continues to reverb that very message with a brand new shortfilm this week featuring members Andy Le and Daniel Mah in The Rival Reunion, which you can now view on their YouTube channel at the bottom of the page. And while I have talked quite a bit about the team in the past year between our offical Facebook page and this site, Andy was gracious enough to take some time from his busy schedule share a few more statements on behalf of Martial Club about the team’s motives and its overall outlook as artistic performers on the stage and screen, as well as competitive athletes on a domestic and international level.

“This is our dream.”, he writes. “Ever since the team started, we have focused on training and learning as we are still students of the Martial Arts ourselves.” Later he adds. “…As far as career goals go, we hope to continue to genuinely carry out our mission through our own activities and create for ourselves new avenues to make it happen.”.

Being known as of late for their work on screen, fans of martial arts cinema and independent film may also be familar with Andy Le‘s most recent role alongside brother, fellow founding member, athlete and performer, Brian, in actor/writer/director Micah Brock’s epic mini webseries, Slug Street Scrappers, which is already up for a fourth installment this year. In addition, fans may also consider looking out for Andy and Brian joined by an amalgam of talented aspiring actors and martial arts film professionals in Dennis Ruel upcoming film, Unlucky Stars. In light of all this as I made my inquiry, Andy expressed the team’s humility, calling it an honor to be acknowledged as part of a community that has thrived for many years before Martial Club existed, namely among professionals like Vlad Rimburg and the folks over at The Stunt People, Lazy Brown Productions and Thousand Pounds Action Company. That said, Andy also conveyed his anticipation for the release of Unlucky Stars now that we are merely months away from the film’s opening.

“Unlucky Stars is going to be simply amazing!”, he writes. “Based on all the trailers and teasers we’ve seen thus far, we are very excited to see the finished product. It truly pays homage to the classic Hong Kong style. We are definitely going to be seeing a lot of action and crazy wrecks, and it makes me proud to see independent filmmakers on the rise and exposing Martial Arts action in a very much anticipated feature film.” Adding a little more insight from having been on set, Andy also spoke highly of the crew’s work ethic, telling Film Combat Syndicate, “Many things can go wrong on the set but these amazing filmmakers are very determined and they always find ways to make it work. I can guarantee it will be an amazing film and I can’t wait to see it.”.

Of course, with the release of Martial Club’s new shortfilm, The Rival Reunion, also comes a glimpse into how the team continues to flourish and evolve in the creativity of its kung fu choreography. Andy was very forward in talking to Film Combat Syndicate about what it is that makes Martial Club tick in designing action on camera. “We love being able to apply our training and giving exposure to authentic martial applications, while at the same time being able to freely create new things and bring them to life through film, and look cool doing it.”, he says. “We love to see the end result. It is very nice to see a simulation of fighting in the most glorious context possible. We get to see it presented in a perfection that’s virtually unachievable in the real world.”.

Speaking of “real”, many people have their opinions when it comes to how “real” action needs to look, and it is something that I have observed in the dialogue among fans. For Andy, however, while martial arts remains very much a real thing for him and his team like many martial arts practitioners in the world, “real” fighting and screenfighting are not one and the same. He expands on that particular point and more in the following statement, adding “Let’s be honest. No real-life fight will ever look as harmonious as what you see on screen. But through film, we can take the most intricate martial arts techniques and see their beauty, unhindered by the imperfections of the real world. We also love how film, much like Martial Arts, can be very expressive. Through screen fighting, we can freely express ourselves through movement and through film, we are able to tell a story and through that, communicate morals and philosophy. That is what we, as Martial Club, hope to do more of in the future.”.

On that note, Andy says the team will be ramping up its efforts this year to build on those exact observations and virtues they practice in their training and various public showcases in martial arts and tricking venues, while adding film to their resumè, all to “reflect the true essence of Martial Arts” and provide their respective observers and fans an experience they will remember. “If our pieces inspire at least one person to develop a better appreciation for the Martial Arts,” he says. “…then we have done our job.”.

Check out the Martial Club’s new shortfilm, The Rival Reunion in the embed below where you may also subscribe. You may also follow their endeavors on Facebook by CLICKING HERE, and stay tuned to Film Combat Syndicate for more info.