The Avengers International Fan Forum

Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting:
The Rise of Martial Arts in Britain
Shown on BBC4 Sunday 24th February 2013 10.00-11.00pm - will be on BBC iPlayer and almost certainly be repeated on BBC4 soon.

A fascinating Timeshift documentary which takes a look at the rise of martial arts in Britain. From the early days of bartitsu, through judo and karate to kung fu, Britain has had a long and illustrious involvement with the martial arts.

Thanks martial arts, gold medals have been won, Sherlock Holmes's life has been saved, two Avengers heroines have thrilled the world and Hi Karate aftershave has been advertised. Its thought that one of the first occasions karate was ever seen on film was in the Spencer Tracy/Ernest Borgnine fight scene in the John Sturges' classic Bad Day At Black Rock - there are also clips of Bruce Lee from Enter the Dragon.

The programme includes very brief extracts of Honor Blackman as Mrs Cathy Gale fighting in judo gear, and Diana Rigg as Mrs Emma Peel at the Karate/Judo Club beating her female opponent in The Cybernauts.
Emma

Thanks for the heads up, Mrs. Peel!

Those cats were fast as lightning.

In fact it was a little bit frightening.

Timeless A-Peel wrote:In fact it was a little bit frightening.

never thought that the UK was a hotbed of that sport...

Timeless A-Peel wrote:In fact it was a little bit frightening.

Expert timing, expert Timeless

Meeoww!!

Frankymole wrote:

Timeless A-Peel wrote:In fact it was a little bit frightening.

Expert timing, expert Timeless

I couldn't resist.

Frankymole wrote:Meeoww!!

been years, since I heard that song...remember it was a big hit here in the states...