Those of you who are martial arts film buffs know the film Bloodsport (1988).  A cult classic and Jean-Claude Van Damme's breakout role, it tells the story of Frank Dux, a renowned martial artist who enters a full-contact tournament called the Kumite.  The film is one of my guilty pleasures and features martial arts styles from all over the world.  So what does this have to do with the green dragons and food? 

In the beginning of the film we learn about how the young Frank Dux is caught stealing from Senzo Tanaka (played by legend Roy Chiao).  Tanaka tells the boy that he must learn martial arts or he will call the cops.  An interesting conversation occurs between Tanaka and Dux's parents when they ask about their son's new interest in martial arts (see the clip below). 

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.