David Carradine takes you inside Shaolin Temple's secret 3,000-year-old qigong mysteries.
For centuries, only a chosen few learned the closely guarded secrets of the martial arts. Today, millions worldwide practice, from New York lawyers to African villagers-but few know the history of the esoteric disciplines they study. This action-packed program crosses the Orient to uncover the mystic origins of THE MARTIAL ARTS. Witness top masters of karate, judo, kyudo, and hapkido demonstrate their stunning skills and explore the many facets of the varied disciplines, including their rich spiritual heritage. Take an extremely rare glimpse inside China's Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of martial arts: within these ancient walls, monks demonstrate their unique style of kung-fu and perform astonishing feats through a 3,000-year-old practice called qigong. A&E takes an unforgettable journey into the enigmatic world of ancient combat, exposing the fabled origins and evolution of THE MARTIAL ARTS.
Practical Effects
Actual Shaolin monks performing genuine qigong feats rarely filmed.
Production
A&E budget somehow got cameras inside China's most restricted temple.
Director
Nancy Gimbrone
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Dan Inosanto was Bruce Lee's training partner and appears here carrying legitimate Jeet Kune Do credentials that outshine Carradine's acting background.
This 1998 release captures martial arts just before MMA dominance rewrote public perception—notice how no one mentions ground game or grappling effectiveness.
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