10 Martial Arts Movie Techniques You Shouldn’t Try At Home

“Don’t try this at home” has become a staple warning for movies With intensely choreographed action scenes, but some martial arts techniques from movies really deserve that cautionary note. Martial arts movies Have long captivated audiences with thrilling action scenes and mind-boggling stunts, especially martial arts movies that seemingly have no rules. As awesome as these techniques may appear on the big screen, trying to practice them in reality, without the help of professional stunt people and choreographers, can lead to serious injury or even worse.

Any fighting technique from a movie should be attempted at home, But some of these are so incredible to watch that they deserve their own list, Whether they are from trained martial artists or actors. It is important to remember that all these stunts are performed by highly trained professionals. They are still incredible to watch and have provided some of the most memorable and iconic action moments in movie history.

10

Leaping elbow break

Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (2003)

Muay Thai is a martial art that places heavy emphasis on the use of elbows, fists, shins, and knees, and Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior Helped to popularize the discipline throughout the world. In the movie, Tony Jaa’s character Ting performs a jumping elbow smash, Sometimes known as a jumping downward elbow strike, on his opponent.

It is a move that knocks the opponent out cold, and has since become a signature technique associated with Ong-bak. However, although it looks easy enough in the movie, In fact, elbow strikes can be one of the most dangerous martial arts techniques to perform effectively.

Especially when the elbow strike is as brutal as the smash seen in Ong-bakTrying to replicate such a move in real life can lead to serious injury. Missing this goal can result in you smashing your elbow onto the ground rather than a softer surface, and especially if there’s a jump involved, The force required to execute such a move could lead to a broken bone or two.

9

Flying kick through a windshield

Good Guys Wear Black (1978)

A flying kick is one of the most iconic moves in kung fu movie history. It involves the fighter jumping up from the ground and kicking out with one, or in some cases, both of their legs. This is a martial arts movie technique that wouldn’t be recommended at the best of times, but its use in Chuck Norris’ major breakthrough, Good guys wear blackShould not be attempted at home under any circumstances.

In the movie, Major John Booker (Norris) performs a deep flying kick through the windshield of a moving car. This is understandably pretty cool to watch, but the combination of jumping in front of a moving car, In glass, with both legs outstretched, this is one of the most dangerous stunts to attempt at home.

Jumping through glass can cause major cuts and lacerations to the legs, and shards can embed into your skin. In this case, it is best to leave this technique to professionals, who often use trick glass, which is designed to break without harm.

8

Wall running

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Wall running is a staple of action in popular culture, being used across genres in video games, movies, and television shows. Perhaps one of the most famous examples of the use of wall running in a martial arts movie comes in the iconic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The movie is famous for its gravity-defying action sequences, Especially the scene that sees Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) chasing a masked thief across the rooftops, a scene that includes Shu Lien running up a wall with ease.

Needless to say, this is an incredibly unrealistic depiction of martial arts, but it looks insanely cool. Attempting to wall run in real life will almost always cause injury unless one is equipped with the special harnesses that are so often used in the movies. The human body simply doesn’t have the ability to pull off stunts like these and not get hurt, But that doesn’t make Michelle Yeoh’s martial arts trick of wall running in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Incredibly cool.

7

The one-inch punch

Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)

Kung fu icon and one of the most famous martial artists in history, Bruce Lee, popularized the use of one-inch punches at the Long Beach International Karate Championships in 1964. It is a technique that, as the name suggests, involves the fighter generating a huge impact in a punch from very close quarters. Perhaps its most famous use in popular culture comes in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill: Vol. 2Where a training montage shows the bride (Uma Thurman) being taught the one-inch punch by her master, Pai Mei (Gordon Liu).

Later in the movie, The bride uses this technique to break out of a coffin after being buried alive. As simple as it looks, the training montage in Kill Bill: Vol. 2 Demonstrates just how much training it takes to get right. Attempting a punch on any target from a short distance without the proper technique can lead to serious wrist injuries, as generating that amount of power safely is an extremely difficult skill to get right.

6

Dim Mak (Death Touch)

Bloodsport (1988)

Dim Mak (or “death touch” in English) is a legendary concept in Chinese martial arts folklore. It is a term that describes any martial art move or technique that can kill a person using a seemingly less than fatal amount of force. In the iconic 1988 martial arts movie Blood sportsJean-Claude Van Damme’s character Dux demonstrates a variation of dark mace to prove that he was trained by the legendary Senzo Tanaka.

Dukes strikes a stack of bricks in front of him with the utmost precision and specific force required only to break the bottom brick. Although this is an unforgettable martial arts movie moment, it should not be replicated by audiences under any circumstances. Hitting bricks without the proper training can cause serious hand injuries, and as Dim Mak when fighting other people is based on the importance of pressure points, can also seriously injure the opponent.

5

Flying armbar

Never Back Down (2008)

The flying armbar is one of the most technically impressive techniques of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It is a move that involves the fighter grappling their opponent by using their legs as a wedge through which they can bring the opponent to the ground. A flying armbar is incredibly difficult to pull off in the real world, a feat demonstrated in the 2008 movie Never back downWhere Jake (Sean Faris) tries to perform this move on his opponent during the party fight scene, and is instantly overpowered and beaten.

When done correctly, The flying armbar is a very effective fighting move that has earned it legendary status in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, But it takes years of professional training and experience to even attempt it safely. It is a movement that, when done incorrectly, can result in broken arms and dislocated shoulders, as well as the risk of spinal injuries if the fighters crash awkwardly to the ground. Overall, as Jake found, it’s best to leave this to the professionals.

4

Game Scorpion Kick

Yes, Ma’am (1985)

As the name suggests, the Scorpion Kick is a martial art technique that is inspired by the movements of a scorpion’s sting. It involves the fighter getting up close and personal with their opponentBefore lifting their leg above their head and kicking their opponent in the face. in Yes, ma’amCynthia Rothrock’s character Carrie performs an incredible scorpion kick on Willy (Dick Wye), cementing her status as a martial arts legend.

However, like a scorpion itself, the move is very dangerous for a non-professional to execute safely. A scorpion kick requires extraordinary precision and almost inhuman flexibility in order to achieve the range of motion required of it. It’s a move that can cause serious muscle strains, dislocations and back injuries just from the awkward positioning that the scorpion kick requires.

3

Bicycle kick

Mortal Kombat (1995)

This is a move that is simply impossible for a lover to even try and attempt. In the 1995 movie, Mortal KombatBased on the video game series of the same name, Liu Kang (Robin Shaw) engages in a fight with Scorpion (Chris Casamassa). During the fight, Liu Kang runs and jumps at Scorpion, kicking him repeatedly as he makes his way through the air, as if pedaling a bicycle. It may be unrealistic, but it’s always fun to watch.

In real life, The ability to kick multiple times while midair is pure fantasy. Attempting a series of flying kicks like this will certainly lead to dangerous falls and lost balance, potentially resulting in broken bones. Even if such a move were possible in real-life combat, it would leave the attacker vulnerable to strikes from the side and the back, as they remain airborne for an extremely long time. An homage to the 1995 original Bicycle Bridge is also included in the 2021 remake, Mortal Kombat.

2

Pole-assisted spin kick

The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

One of the coolest martial arts moments in cinema ever comes in The Matrix Reloaded. Neo (Keanu Reeves) is surrounded by a seemingly endless army of Agent Smiths (Hugo Weaving), armed only with his fists and a metal pole. In a moment of pure genius, Neo slams the pole into the ground, using it as an anchor from which he lifts himself up and kicks away at the onslaught of clones attacking him. The “Burly Brawl” has since become one of these The matrix The most iconic franchise.

With enough core strength, such a feat might be possible in the real world, but it’s also a move that would require incredible levels of training. The accuracy and precision alone would take months to prepare, with perfect timing being a critical element of any successful spin kick. Losing balance or falling from the pole would dislocate a knee at the very least, and it also creates an opening for one’s opponent to strike from behind.

1

The crane kick

The Karate Kid (1984)

unfortunately, The most iconic martial arts movie technique of all time would not be one that could be recommended to practice at home. In the climax of The Karate KidDaniel (Ralph Macchio) is fighting Johnny (William Zabka) for the All-Valley title, and needs one point to win. Daniel stands up on one leg and performs a perfectly executed crane kick, striking Johnny in the head and claiming the title in the most dramatic of fashions.

While not as unrealistic as some of the other martial arts techniques on this list, the crane kick is a deceptively risky move. Standing on one leg is incredibly precarious, especially in a fighting scenario, making it incredibly likely for the fighter to be knocked off balance. Even if the fighter is not knocked over, jumping like Daniel did can cause serious leg injuries if their feet land awkwardly, or if they miss the opponent. Nevertheless, it is an incredibly cool moment and solidified The Karate Kid Like one of the greatest martial arts movies ever.