The martial arts films and food films, particularly King Corn, the Garden, and Grown in Detroit have one thing in common; getting back to the power of our root through hard work.  Kung fu, when translated, literally means hard work and this connects the rigors of martial arts training with the demands of growing real food.  As an avid urban gardener I can think of no two forms that require greater organic energy than a day working the fields and a day training martial arts, forms and sparring.  At the Green Dragons we think it's time to combine these two forces.

The food films say it directly: we have lost our roots and connection to the natural growth of crops and we need to take this power back.  The martial arts films reflect a deeper loss and call for the discipline and structure cultivated with strong training of martial arts.  In most of these kung fu films the main characters are having trouble at school (Daniel-san), overweight (Po), or just plain bored.  I see this a lot in our kids today and the positive response to these films shows me that this type of training is ready for a comeback.