Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 106 Judo King Kong, Demon Slayer Hell Chariot

People with a background in martial arts are of course great at performing action scenes.

However, having martial arts skills does not necessarily mean that you can fight well.

Filming and actual combat are different!

As Jackie Chan later became an international superstar, who would have thought that he had never practiced martial arts?

Cheng Long started out as a Peking Opera actor, then became a martial arts stuntman. After achieving fame, he became a disciple of a master, learning the "White Eyebrow Fist." Prior to this, Cheng Long had no martial arts background. Yet, he is the only internationally recognized action star, and no matter how good others are, they can't match him.

Action actors like Jet Li and those who are second best, such as Zhao Wenzhuo and Zhen Zidan, can fight well but they cannot achieve the status and fame of Jackie Chan.

Gu Ming recognized Kimura Masahiko's achievements and admired his courage to embrace the bomb and die together with Private Tojo.

However, Gu Ming would not accept any questions from his disciples regarding the action design.

Masahiko Kimura did not answer, but just kept his gaze on Gu Ming for a moment, then raised his hand and pointed at Gu Ming in the air.

"You are a warrior."

Gu Ming shook his head: "I'm not, I'm just an action actor."

Watanabe Ryosuke felt that the atmosphere in the office was a bit depressing and wanted to speak up to ease it, but with his quick wit, he didn't know what to say for a moment.

Gu Ming spoke.

"We are actors, and we are only actors. We don't understand or know how to do anything other than filming. We are here because we received payment and responded to Mr. Watanabe Ryosuke's request. So, it's better not to do anything else."

Masahiko Kimura's eyes suddenly widened and he stared at Gu Ming.

Gu Ming was naturally not afraid and also looked at Kimura Masahiko.

"Those are some fierce eyes. I bet you hurt a lot of people when you were young!"

Those were a pair of eyes filled with competitiveness.

But in the end, Masahiko Kimura did not make any statement, but just nodded slightly to Gu Ming.

"It's time to do your part."

Then he turned to Watanabe Ryosuke.

"Then, this is the agreed upon reward for this time. From now on, if I'm not around, I'll let my disciple fulfill the advisory duties."

Then Masahiko Kimura left the office with several disciples.

Watanabe Ryotoku breathed a sigh of relief and jokingly said, "Luckily you didn't start fighting. Alas, I heard that Mr. Kimura's Kimura Lock is very powerful. It can break a person's wrist in one blow. That Kyokushin Karate master, Oyama Masutatsu, once praised it. Even though Mr. Kimura is sixty years old, no one can hold his own against him for sixty seconds."

Gu Ming smiled but didn't say anything.

Although he had no experience in fighting, Tani Ming was convinced that with his current physical fitness, he would not be afraid even of a judo master like Masahiko Kimura who was capable of founding a school.

However, since he is just an actor, it is better not to act rashly.

"Then the filming schedule is set. We'll officially begin filming tomorrow. By then, I hope Furuya-kun can work closely with Mr. Kimura and perform this work perfectly with judo moves!"

Gu Ming nodded naturally and said, "I won't let Mr. Watanabe down."

With that, several people left the office.

After much thought, Gu Ming still gave the young people some advice.

"If someone from the Judo Advisors provokes us, just bear with it and it will pass. There's no need to start a pointless conflict. We're actors, not martial artists. They won't want to be ordered around by what they consider to be outsiders, and they'll inevitably blame us. If they cause trouble, just bear with it."

Naturally, everyone believed Gu Ming.

Watanabe pursed his lips, but couldn't help but ask Gu Ming in a low voice: "Brother Gu Gu, what if they take action?"

Do it.

Gu Ming smiled. "If you fight, of course I'll fight back! Not wanting to start a fight doesn't mean I want you to be offended, but I just want you to avoid getting angry at verbal insults!"

……

……

The next day, filming of Judo Straight Line officially began.

Toei TV invested a lot of resources in this drama, and even invited a well-known judo master like Masahiko Kimura as a consultant.

The lead actor, Kenichi Sakuragi, is a popular young actor today.

Sakuragi Kenichi bowed to Gu Ming very neatly.

"The killing array matters to Gu Gu-kun. I've heard about your situation from Gao Feng-ge, so I believe it will be no problem for Gu Gu-kun to handle it."

Gu Ming was slightly startled: "Do you know Brother Gao Feng?"

"Yeah." Sakuragi Kenichi raised his hand to cover his forehead and smiled jokingly: "We have collaborated on some works."

Kenichi Sakuragi is two years younger than Keiji Takamine.

Originally, Sakuragi Kenichi was going to star in a TV series called "Criminal-kun" in 71, in which Saburo Shinoda would play a supporting role.

Keiji Takamine made a guest appearance in this work and was recommended to the Ace crew by Yoji Hashimoto.

The two became friends because they had worked together before and had similar interests.

Although Detective-kun has not appeared now, Sakuragi Kenichi is still good friends with Keiji Takamine, and has also heard Keiji Takamine talk a little about Gu Ming.

After listening to this, Gu Ming just nodded in understanding, thinking that Japan is indeed a small country where you can meet so many familiar people just by turning a corner.

Since we know each other, it’s easy. Just shoot as usual.

You have to read the script before shooting. A martial arts director is different from an ordinary martial artist. If you don’t read the corresponding script, you can’t design a perfect fight.

After getting to know the people in the crew, Gu Ming quickly flipped through the script.

Judo Straight Line is adapted from the manga of the same name. The protagonist is named Naoya Ichijo. His father was defeated and killed in a judo competition. Afterwards, Naoya Ichijo became a disciple of a judo master named Sha Shusaku in Tokyo, studied judo skills hard, and used various judo moves to defeat his enemies one by one.

Later, the drama was re-dubbed by Hong Kong's Li TV station and translated into Judo Little King Kong.

One of the soundtracks and the special move "Invincible Hot Wheels" were used in the movie "Lord of Destruction".

Many well-known Japanese action actors have performed in this work, such as Shinichi Chiba, Yasuaki Kurata, etc.

Two actors from Kamen Rider, Hiroshi Fujioka and Go Sasaki, have also participated in the show.

The first episode is titled 'カッコいいぞ緊車', which is a Judo move.

——The name is translated as Perfect 'Demon Slayer Hell Chariot', and its moves are roughly that when two people are fighting, one of them half-knelt down, used the weight and gravitational potential energy to pull the other person down, and then leaned back to throw the other person behind him.

The first episode is about Naoya Ichijo's father's death. Naoya Ichijo learns the skills of Demon Slayer Hell Chariot from judo master Kurumi Shusaku, and eventually applies them in actual combat.

Gu Ming closed his eyes and thought for a while, and he already had a rough idea of several scenarios in his mind.

Of course, you need to consult a judo consultant to see the specific movements of this action to avoid inappropriate postures.

Thinking of this, Gu Ming closed the script and walked towards the judo consultant over there.

Masahiko Kimura is already sixty years old and is mainly a figurehead. The person who comes to give guidance is his disciple, a young man named "Fuji Shusuke".

Gu Ming greeted him and explained his purpose directly: "Fuji-kun, I don't know much about judo. Regarding this move, the Demon Slayer Hell Chariot, I might need a demonstration."

Fuji Shusuke was slightly stunned, looking at Gu Ming, but the corners of his lips rose up, revealing a somewhat smug smile.

"Really? Of course I have no problem with that, but when it comes to moves, there's nothing better than experiencing them firsthand... How about letting me show you myself? Don't worry, there's a cushion, so you won't get hurt!"

(End of this chapter)