These Fists Break Bricks: How Kung Fu Movies Swept America and Changed the World
When a major Hollywood studio released Five Fingers of Death to thrill-seeking Times Square moviegoers on March 21, 1973, only a handful of Black and Asian American audience members knew the difference between an Iron Fist and an Eagle’s Claw. That changed overnight as kung fu movies kicked off a craze that would earn millions at the box office, send TV ratings soaring, sell hundreds of thousands of video tapes, influence the birth of hip hop, reshape the style of action we see in movies today, and introduce America to some of the biggest non-white stars to ever hit motion picture screens.
This lavishly illustrated book tells the bone-blasting, spine-shattering story of how these films of fury — spawned in anti-colonial protests on the streets of Hong Kong — came to America and raised hell for 15 years before greed, infomercials, and racist fear-mongering shut them down.
You’ll meet Japanese judo coaches battling American wrestlers in backwoods MMA bouts at county fairs, black teenagers with razor sharp kung fu skills heading to Hong Kong to star in movies shot super fast so they can make it back to the States in time to start 10th grade, and Puerto Rican karate coaches making their way in this world with nothing but their own two fists.
It’s about an 11-year-old boy who not only created the first fan edit but somehow turned it into a worldwide moneymaker, CIA agents secretly funding a karate movie, the New York Times fabricating a fear campaign about black “karate gangs” out to kill white people, the history of black martial arts in America (“Why does judo or karate suddenly get so ominous because black men study it?,” wondered Malcolm X), the death of Bruce Lee and the onslaught of imitators that followed, and how a fight that started in Japanese internment camps during World War II ended in a ninja movie some 40 years later.
It’s a battle for recognition and respect that started a long, long time ago and continues today in movies like The Matrix, Kill Bill, and Black Panther and here, for the first time, is the full uncensored story.
Reviews
"[E]ngaging and informative... Through interviews, photographs, and colorful illustrations, Hendrix and Poggiali take readers on an enjoyable journey through the martial arts film genre."
“A fascinating overview of martial arts movies.”
“Funny, fascinating, and encyclopedic.”
"This book has plenty of colorful anecdotes and flashy graphics but it’s the way it sneaks up on you with its narrative about different cultures inspiring and influencing each other that gives it staying power. It’s an achievement with multiple levels"
"Chris Poggiali and Grady Hendrix really have a special thing in These Fists Break Bricks, and I can't wait to suggest it to others."
"Beyond the insightful writing, this book is packed with gorgeous poster and ad art that will delight and inspire anyone who loves — or wants to get into — these movies."
“A set of interlocking historical narratives about how martial arts ingrained themselves into the world’s cinematic palette, and a starting point for further introspection and imagination . . . Highly Recommended.”
“Grab a cold one (I won’t ask of what), lounge on the patio or in an easy chair after dark, and practice your love of reading some cool, sexy and sleek looks at the stories, art and movies of a much more kick-ass time.”
“A must for diehard Kung Fu movie fans."
"Overall, These Fists Break Bricks: How Kung Fu Movies Swept America and Changed the World is an essential purchase for any martial arts fan or just fans of movie history as this is not only entertaining, but educational too helping us feel like a part of something even though we didn’t grow up in that place or time."
"The revised, expanded edition of These Fists Break Bricks: How Kung Fu Movies Swept America and Changed the World, is lavishly illustrated with posters and stills"
"These Fists Break Bricks is a total blast! Impeccably researched, it's perfect for both the Tarantino-level fanatic or a newbie who has only seen Enter the Dragon."Larry Karaszewski, screenwriter (Ed Wood, Dolemite Is My Name)
"These Fists Break Bricks is that rare combination of a fun read combined with true scholarship, complemented by an amazing collection of images..."C. Courtney Joyner, screenwriter (Class of 1999, From a Whisper to a Scream)
"This intelligent, witty, respectful virtual encyclopedia is as fun as the subject it covers. Marvelously designed and written by two experts, it is the book all kung fu movie fans have been waiting for."Danny Peary, author and film critic (Cult Movies 1-3, Cult Movie Stars)
"A fascinating and amazingly complete tome..."Larry Hama, writer/artist (G.I. Joe, Wolverine)
"Full of great illos and facts about the producers, directors, stars, distributors, theaters, and the endless retitles and rip-offs. This book is excellent."Michael J. Weldon, author/editor (The Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film, Psychotronic Video)
"These Fists Break Bricks is a bone-crushing blast!"Steven Puchalski, Shock Cinema Magazine
"This is no schlock-by-numbers quickie film book. Hendrix and Poggiali are twin ninjas of celluloid..."Donald Guarisco, Schlockmania!
"This book oughta be called KungFuPedia -- you can just look at the pictures and increase your martial-arts movie knowledge by a thousand percent. If you don't own it, you deserve to be whopped on the right side of your face by Billy Jack's right foot."Joe Bob Briggs, from the horror channel Shudder
“Truly a colossal effort . . . It's already the 'bible' of martial arts film.”Serafim Karalexis, producer (The Real Bruce Lee, Death Promise, The Black Dragon)
Awards & Accolades
The New York Times: 2021 Holiday Gift Guide
