Human Weapon (History Channel documentary)

Has anyone seen this series that was originally shown on the History Channel in 2007? It follows two men, one a professional mixed martial artist Jason Chambers and the other a former pro American footballer Bill Duff. The two travel across the world training in different traditional MAs, learning about the history and origins of the MAs and then finally facing off against an expert fighter. So far I have seen episodes on youtube on: Muay Thai, Okinawan Karate, Judo, TKD, Kung Fu, Pankration, Krav Maga, Ninjutsu and Eskrima. It is a fascinating series for martial arts lovers. The programmes gives insights into the training techniques and methods of the MAs, as well as explanations of the science behind some of the techniques and the history of the MA. The final fights are quite entertaining too (some more than others) - I was particularly impressed by the TKD fights - Bill actually gets KO'd by a spinning round house kick to the head: it was very impressive! The Krav Maga fight was also impressive - Jason has to go up against 14 elite Israeli Defence Force instructors in a melee attack. The Kung Fu fight and the Ninjutsu fights are a little disappointing - the Ninjutsu fight was fought with wooden weapons and Bill managed to score several (killer) strikes against a 13th Dan black belt!!! Just goes to show that when it comes to weapons the margin for error is incredibly narrow.

I highly recommend checking out some episodes on youtube - my personal favourites are Judo, Karate, Krav Maga and TKD.

Watched another episode on Sambo but the end fight was extremely disappointing - Bill won the fight 9 points to 0! Either the fight was fixed, but then even fixed fights are realistic to a point, or the Sambo fighter was really poor. I'm inclined to believe the latter. Still he should never have been allowed to represent his art on national television. I'm sure there were many embarrassed Russians and Sambo fighters out there!

I've actually watched the entire series & although I enjoyed it I much preferd Fight Quest. I found it went deeper into the history & culture of each art & both guys had to fight. I also liked the two guys from fight quest more, they seemed more down to earth, respectful & interested in what they were learning. I will post you a couple of links for whole episodes & you can find all the rest on youtube under this persons postings in the side menu.

Yeah I thought the ninja one was a bit naff, some of the guys seemed a bit geeky & in the fight as soon as the ninja closed in on Jason & grabbed I thought game over, Jason is an MMA fighter & has trained in BJJ amongst other things.

With regards to the sambo one I think the sambo fighter was a bit of a novice, I seem to remember reading something about it/him & Bill is a big guy who does have a bit of a wrestling background but even so I was a little surprised at the result.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJczv8Eq6wM&list=FLRtTESEEptJ5UmsoPzaSkeA&index=4 BJJ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGmPwpl498w&list=FLRtTESEEptJ5UmsoPzaSkeA&index=9 Kung Fu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ6OIfWdO9I&list=FLRtTESEEptJ5UmsoPzaSkeA&index=1 Kyokushin Karate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n81Skm7wOxs&list=FLRtTESEEptJ5UmsoPzaSkeA&index=111 Krav Maga

Hope you enjoy them when you get a chance to watch, I can post the rest if you want. I think you will agree its a superior production to Human Weapon.

have been watching a bit of MA/MMA stuff recently, HDNets 'The Voice vs' & 'In This Corner' aswell as some funny ones.

Thanks for those, SHN.

I love Jimmie and Doug!

What great programmes....I've just watched the Kung Fu one......Jimmie's fight at the end was vicious!

I might watch the karate one later.

Have just watched the kyokushin karate episode.......these two guys must be completey nuts to put themselves through this.

I'm going to watch one of the Human Weapon programmes now......I'll report back.

I've just watched this Human Weapon - Judo

I thought it might be a bit of a let down after the other two films but it was very good.

I'd never understood, or seen the point of judo until now......they went through some tough training.....practicing on a wooden floor must be horrible.

I think I prefer Jimmie and Doug.....I might watch their boxing one later....Mr.Sol is teaching me to box at the moment..I might pick up a few tips lol.

Hi solerina

glad you liked the Kung Fu & Karate episodes of Fight Quest, some of the training the guys went through was insane to say nothing of the shaolin monks performances. One of the things that interested me was some of the old school training/fitness/conditioning work they did, stuff many of us would never think of, everything had a reason & purpose. The reason I bring it up is all so often people keep going on about the latest nutritional supplement & sometimes on the boxing bored how fighters of old wouldn't stand with the modern generation due to advancements in the above & training methods. The monks & the Karate guys seem to being doing ok!

Maybe I missed the HW Judo episode, I'll check out your link. I did prefer Jimmy & Doug over the other two, especially Bill. He just comes across as the big all American bozo, you should check him out in the Marine corps episode, the all American comes out in him, seems its his proudest moment & then in the Sambo one in Russia he makes some tacky remark to do with the cold war, doesn't go down that well. Another quote I remember was 'American muscle wins everytime'! I think you get the picture. Overall I just think FQ was better, more serious & respectful, going into some more history & behind the scense a little more.

Have posted a link to the Indian art of Kalarippayat which I had never heard of, quite interesting, you see some ruthless as well as impressive stretching techniques & some massage techniques. It also has some weapon work. Enjoy

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNF9wCptUQI&list=FLRtTESEEptJ5UmsoPzaSkeA&index=7

Thanks SHN.

Yes...I thought Jason was ok it was Bill I wasn't so keen on.

I hadn't heard of Kalarippayattu....I can't imagine what that's all about.

I'll watch the programme tomorrow.....your link isn't working btw....it's missing the 'h'...this is it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNF9wCptUQI&list=FLRtTESEEptJ5UmsoPzaSkeA&index=7

Solerina wrote:I've just watched this Human Weapon - Judo

I thought it might be a bit of a let down after the other two films but it was very good.

I'd never understood, or seen the point of judo until now......they went through some tough training.....practicing on a wooden floor must be horrible.

I think I prefer Jimmie and Doug.....I might watch their boxing one later....Mr.Sol is teaching me to box at the moment..I might pick up a few tips lol.

Haha coming from a Judo background and being a Japanese MA specialist (not saying I'm an expert just my preference) I can say that while Judo is now almost purely treated as a sport, its roots are firmly in the Samurai tradition of JuJutsu (Jiu-Jitsu). Many of the throws have been adapted from JuJutsu just without the finishers, which the Samurai would have used on the battlefield to kill their opponent. It doesn't surprise me that the Kodokan Judoka beat the JuJutsuka in the Kyoto Police dept competition to decide which art to train in. Kano Jigoro Sensei developed Judo to be used to exercise the body and mind. Traditional JuJutsu is far more kata oriented with no kumite or as Judo calls it randori. My guess is that the JuJutsuka were just not used to actually applying their skills in a real fight. I practice Aiki JuJutsu and many of the throws we learn can be found in Judo, in fact we're even allowed to borrow throws learnt in Judo for gradings but the difference is we don't do any randori. With Judo even though it is supposed to be about superior technique sometimes (naturally) the stronger person wins. I remember going to Judo as a teenager and fighting bigger guys who just threw me across the mat, not because they were better at Judo than me but just because they overpowered me. Traditional JuJutsu focusses solely on learning proper technique, so even though the JuJutsuka were highly skilled, there is a possibility the Judoka didn't win by superior technique but through strength. Of course I am just guessing, but from my experience of both I think this is highly likely. Personally I think JuJutsu and Judo compliment each other well. I'm inclined to go back to Judo one day, once I have a firmer foundation in Aiki JuJutsu.

just watched the Fight Quest Karate episode, that kumite was brutal! Their bodies must have been destroyed by those training regimes then the final kumite! The moral of the episode - never pick a fight with a Kyokoshin Karate black belt!

sohotnot wrote:

Have posted a link to the Indian art of Kalarippayat which I had never heard of, quite interesting, you see some ruthless as well as impressive stretching techniques & some massage techniques. It also has some weapon work. Enjoy

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNF9wCptUQI&list=FLRtTESEEptJ5UmsoPzaSkeA&index=7

Have just watched this..... to Jimmie and Doug.

Poor Doug, he felt dreadful about cutting that guy's lip open.

Some of the unarmed stuff some of those guys were doing, in training, looked a lot like Capoeira.

You want to to watch this, TP, it's mental lol.

yeah I've watched the Kung Fu episode of Fight Quest as well, will get round to watching the one on Kalarippayat.

Although I think Jimmie and Doug are better presenters (?), I actually prefer the format of Human Weapon.