MAIA News

Recently I have been approached by a number of media organisations to comment on the portrayal of Bruce Lee in the latest Quentin Tarantino movie ‘Once Upon a Time In Hollywood’.  As the senior Jeet Kune Do person in Australia and as the producer of three documentaries on Bruce Lee I am often asked to speak about Bruce Lee – I generally decline such invitations however on this matter I feel I must comment.

Firstly let me say that I have enormous respect for Quentin Tarantino as a film maker but equally on this occasion he has simply got it wrong.

I absolutely support the comments made on this matter by Shannon Lee:
https://variety.com/2019/film/news/bruce-lee-quentin-tarantino-shannon-lee-interview-1203302850/

Kareem Abdul Jabbar:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2019/08/16/kareem-abdul-jabbar-slams-quentin-tarantino-bruce-lee-once-upon-a-time-hollywood/2033791001/

and Dan Inosanto:
https://variety.com/2019/film/features/bruce-lee-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-dan-inosanto-1203287237/

When I first viewed the film I was offended by the inaccurate and derogatory way Bruce Lee was characterised but as the film is a work of fiction I must cede to Kareem’s comments in that “Tarantino has the artistic right to portray Bruce any way he wants,”. This however does not wash when Tarantino, upon being criticized, defended his portrayal as being ‘accurate’!

So on the question of ‘accuracy’ let us ‘fact check’. The scene in question is an encounter between Bruce Lee and the aging stuntman Cliff Booth on the set of the Green Hornet (circa 1966).

* Bruce Lee’s hair style was not as presented for this period , the style featured is more 1972-73- i.e. the portrayal is inaccurate
* The Bruce Lee character speaks about Cassius Clay, in fact in 1966 Cassius Clay had already changed his name to Muhammad Ali and it is by this name that Bruce Lee referred to Ali –  i.e. the portrayal is inaccurate.
* The style of ‘fighting’ by the Bruce Lee character is a parody on his movie fights and bears no resemblance to what Bruce Lee practiced and advocated in real fights – i.e. the portrayal is inaccurate.
* Bruce Lee was particularly critical of flying side kicks in real fights and would never have used such a technique in a real fight – i.e. the portrayal is inaccurate

• The ‘cat calls’ made by the Bruce Lee character were not used by Bruce Lee until his Hong Kong films and were certainly not used by Bruce Lee in a real encounter – i.e. the portrayal is inaccurate.
• Bruce Lee was not the arrogant caricature presented by Tarantino in fact the characterisation is almost the opposite of what Bruce Lee was – i.e. the portrayal is inaccurate

There is no need for me to add to the personal experiences and knowledge of Bruce Lee already presented by Shannon, Kareem and Dan all of which highlight and recall an amazing man whose contributions are still being felt by many. I earlier said I have a great respect for the abilities of Mr. Tarantino as a film maker sadly that respect cannot extend to his capacities as a man as he is  so completely bereft of the capacity to admit that he is wrong.

Walt Missingham has released the following information about a new scifi action film ‘THE WHEEL’

“Great to be able to endorse ‘The Wheel’ directed by my good friend Dee McLachlan.
Recently the Winner – Best Martial Arts at the Urban Action Showcase Festival in New York, The Wheel – featuring David Arquette (Scream) and starring Jackson Gallagher (Playing for Keeps) is a a sci-fi, action film about a powerful biotech military corporation who promises paraplegic inmate Matt Mills the use of his legs back, in exchange for volunteering in a nano experiment – but in The Wheel no one survives. The film will please both action film and scifi fans.”

Any MAIA member and students will be able to attend the premiere in:

Melbourne 2 September at the Lido Cinema, Hawthorn
https://www.lidocinemas.com.au/events/the-wheel-premiere-screening-and-filmmaker-q-and-a

and Sydney 4  September at the Ritz Cinema, Randwick:
https://www.ritzcinema.com.au/Movie/The-Wheel

Walt will form part of an all star panel discussion at the Sydney Premiere

The official trailer is at https://www.thewheelmovie.com/trailer

The following story recently appeared in the Western Advocate. As it is likely that Paul Steadman will still seek to work in the Martial Arts Industry we are appealing to our wide network for anyone who may know his whereabouts, if you do please contact ‘Crime Stoppers’ and also our office.

” Western Advocate News (22 August 2018)
Former Bathurst karate teacher Paul Steadman one of the most wanted
A BATHURST man facing charges of sexually assaulting a teenage boy has been included on a list of Australia¹s most wanted criminals.
Paul Steadman, 50, was one of 10 people named as part of the NSW Police and Crime Stoppers Australia Operation Roam: Rogue Radar 2018, aimed at tracking down wanted people across the country.
The former Bathurst karate instructor was charged in 2015 with sexually assaulting child under the age of 16.”

Earlier this year an inaccurate and defamatory statement, about MAIA President Walt Missingham, was published on website controlled by Wellington martial arts instructor Ron Goninan.

Following legal intervention Mr. Goninan has removed the statement from the website and issued the following ‘Public Apology’:

“A recent Article appeared on this website apparently dated 16th April, 2016, and entitled “Oh before I forget”. The article contained statements which were defamatory of Mr Walter Missingham, and were both inaccurate and false. I unreservedly apologise for any mis-statement, hurt or distress caused to Mr Missingham by these false statements.”

Walt Missingham’s costs in this matter have been paid by Mr. Goninan.

It is noted that, on the 17th November 2016, Mr. Goninan announced: “have recently made a decision to withdraw from Social media and close down all current Facebook pages.”

MAIA President, Walt Missingham, has recently confirmed that the MAIA has

recently accredited it 2000th instructor.

Walt commented: “this is a significant milestone that it a good fit with

recent announcements by a number a venue providers that are now introducing

an ‘Accredited Instructors Only’ Policy. The vision by the previous MAIA

Presidents John Newman M.P and Terry McCarthy and Vice President John Halpin

was well founded. I should also take this opportunity to acknowledge the

work and foresight of current MAIA Vice President Kevin Blundell. I

anticipate we will pass the 3000th accredited instructor mark in a lot

shorter time that it took to reach 2000.”

Pleased to advise that there has been a change to the Accreditation Update Policy in that the 6 month period, after the expiry date of accreditation, in which an instructor can update his/her accreditation has now been extended to four years over the moratorium period (1 July 2016 – 1 July 2017).   During this time any person whose accreditation has lapsed, during the years 2014, 2015 & 2016 will be able to update their accreditation.

On 1 July 2011 the MAIA issued a ban on the acceptance of any qualification issued by a Victorian RTO (Registered Training Organisation).
https://maia.com.au/2011/07/04/maia-discontinues-recognition-of-victorian-issued-qualifications/

This matter was recently reviewed by MAIA National President Walt Missingham.
Walt has advised that the ban will continue, he commented: “the situation has not improved since our original ban in 2011. I note that in the past year almost 10,000 government funded vocational students in Victoria had their qualifications recalled because of concerns about poor training and standards breaches. While I note the Victorian Skills Minister Steve Herbert has said he is concerned about the extent of the poor quality and has flagged a further regulatory crackdown, I do not think it is in the best interests of the Martial Arts Industry to recognise Victorian issued qualifications until Victorian RTO’s are under the same quality control and scrutiny as RTO’s from other States. Accordingly our ban on the acceptance and/or recognition of Victorian issued qualifications will continue.”

This month the Senate passed a motion calling for a review of the open market model for training established by the Brumby Labor Government in Victoria.

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

‘Walt at Shaolin Temple’ © Copyright 2013 Phoenix Films Pty Ltd

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.