The MAIA has commenced a program of liaison with the various State Fair Trading Offices together with key media outlets to both publicise and deal with ‘Scams and Fraudulent Behaviour’ within the martial arts industry.
The MAIA has identified the ‘Top 8’ scams on its website. Check them out at
https://maia.com.au/martial-arts-scams
Report a scam by contacting Kevin on
vicepresident@maia.com.au
It has today been confirmed that MAIA President Walt Missingham will star in a new Australian/USA Co-production entitled
‘Return to Shaolin’
The film, which will be screened on a major USA Network, will tell the story of Walt Missingham – from being critically injured over 30 years ago and while still in recovery making the film ‘Kung Fu Pilgrimage’ about his training at the Shaolin Temple in 1983, to his creation of a multi million dollar earning film production company. Walt’s story will be overlayed with the story of the Shaolin Temple and martial arts in general – the growth the changes, the challenges of the past thirty years – the emergence of the ‘Shaolin’ brand, the impact of MMA seen through his eyes as he returns to the Shaolin Temple to once again train and learn.
Walt commented:
“I had gone away from documentaries, I thought for good, as the focus of our company has been feature films, we currently have three in various stages of production, but when this was put to me in Kuala Lumpur, two months ago, I said I would think about it and I decided it might be good to do. I have not been in front of the camera for a while so this will be a welcome change as well as a good story to present – I am frankly both flattered and humbled to be asked to make this film”
Further information on ‘Return to Shaolin’ will be released as the project proceeds.
Click here for ‘Walt at Shaolin’ video clip
Australian Writer/Producer Stuart Scowcroft has teamed with leading martial Artist and film producer, Walt Missingham to develop a martial arts/action film.
The Movie ‘KILL ME IF YOU CAN’ has been written by Stuart Scowcroft who is also Executive Producer. The film is being produced by Global Entertainment Media it has a multimillion dollar budget and will be filmed in Australia, Hong Kong and the Cook Islands.
Scowcroft, former General Manager of Television for Becker Entertainment and now MD of Global Entertainment Media has written the story of a lone-wolf martial artist imprisoned on an island to fight all comers to the death. “It’s like The Hunger Games for real”, says Scowcroft who points to the longevity of martial arts action movies in popular audience culture. “The key to martial arts action movies is authenticity,” says Scowcroft. “To have the support and advice of Walt who has produced many multi million dollar earning films and is one of the best martial artists and teachers in Australia is a huge advantage for me as a writer and producer”.
Walt will be producer and also the director of the fight sequences.
A more detailed outline on the project will be released shortly.
MAIA President, Walt Missingham, has advised that 2012 has been the most successful year ever in terms of accreditation uptake.
Its only September and we have conducted multiple courses in Sydney and Melbourne as well as Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Port Macquarie, Tamworth With many courses being fully booked out. Attendances of 50 to sixty instructors per intake being now commonplace.
Walt commented “the success of the MAIA accreditation program is a consequence of two things; firstly the industry recognises the needs and benefits of its own accreditation program and secondly the MAIA program is one of only two legally recognised accreditation programs available, the other being the NCAS program of the Australian Sports Commission. There was, regretfully, a period of time where a number of bogus accreditation providers attempted to exploit our industry but these people have all but faded away now.
The martial arts community has been greatly saddened when Grandmaster Lawrence Lee lost his battle with cancer on the 2nd of July.
Lawrence Lee was the founder of the kung fu system Tong Kune Do and was a foundation member of both the first kung fu organisation formed in Australia (NSW Kung Fu Association) and the first governing body for Chinese martial arts (Australian Kung Fu Federation Limited). Lawrence served as both President and Vice President of the AKF.
Rising to prominencein the early seventies with featured appearances in the record breaking documentaries ‘World of Kung Fu’ and ‘Kung Fu Killers’ Lawrence established a kung fu school network encompassing schools throughout every State and Territory in Australia as well as New Zealand, New Guinea and Malaysia. Even to this day it is the largest chain of kung fu schools to ever be established in the world.
Lawrence was one of the kung fu teachers responsible for the conduct of the first official kung fu tournament to be conducted in Australia, at Wisemans Ferry in 1974, but perhaps his most notable achievement was when he became the first Chinese instructor to openly teach Non Chinese students – his courageous and principled stand broke down the centuries old racial barriers that typified the teaching of kung fu, his public comment that “the difference between a racist and a fool is exactly nothing” quickly quietened his critics from the traditional Chinese kung fu community.
Lawrence has been nominated for a posthumous Life Time Achievement award.
A more detailed feature on Lawrence is currently being prepared.
Walt Missingham, one of Australia’s most successful documentary film makers, has released an article on The Forgotten Bruce Lee Film – The Wrecking Crew Click here for the full story.
Congratulations are in order for MAIA Vice President Kevin Blundell who has made the cover as featured martial artist in International Martial Arts Publication ‘EFC All Stars’ ( April 2012 Edition).
Congratulations to Kevin Blundell from KRMAS on an informative and interesting interview – its terrific to see the Aussies making an impact on the international martial arts world, well done.
Walt Missingham [R] with Garry Lutton (L) at his attendance at a recent Accreditation Course
New Zealand Martial Arts Instructor Garry Lutton recently became his country’s first ISO standard Accredited Instructor.
Garry commented: “Accreditation is the way of the future for our industry and I am very happy to be a part of that future, I look forward to the first such course to be held in New Zealand”
Walt advised “I feel Garry is to be commended for his foresight and professionalism, while he is the first from New Zealand to be accredited I am confident he won’t be the last”.
MAIA president has confirmed the rumour that the MAIA will be adopting an international role in the accreditation of martial arts instructors.
Walt Missingham, President of the MAIA, confirmed that accreditation courses this year will be conducted in North America, the Middle East and New Zealand.
“We have conducted international courses before but we are now formally placing ourselves in the international market. In addition to conducting accreditation courses we are acting as consultants to a number of countries regarding the establishment of Martial Arts Industry Associations in their respective countries. The concept of a ‘Martial Arts Industry’ was my own so it is extremely gratifying to see not only the acceptance it has gained but the increasing traction it is getting both in Australia and overseas”.
Mr. Jin-Song Han, a former member of the AKWF, commenced proceedings in the Supreme Court of Victoria in June, 2011, in defamation, and for an alleged breach by the AKWF of its rules. The action was taken against Mr. Walt Missingham, President of the AKWF, as well as against the AKWF itself, and another defendant. In late August, 2011, the AKWF filed a summons seeking that the defamation part of Mr. Song Jin Han’s statement of claim be struck out. That application was heard on 22nd and 23rd September, 2011. The decision was handed down 6th October, 2011. Associate Justice Mukhtar found that a large portion of Mr. Song Jin Han’s defamation claims were barred by statute, as the defamatory statements were made more than twelve months ago, and struck them out. One claim remains open, and the Judgment expressed doubt about the viability of that claim. The Associate Justice also ordered that Mr. Song Jin Han pay the costs of the AKWF and Mr. Missingham associated with that application. Mr. Song Jin Han was also ordered to redraft his pleadings.
