The Real Miyagi

The Real Miyagi (2015) is a wonderful documentary by Kevin Derek about the life of one of the greatest karate masters of all times. This documentary exquisitely reflects the highlights of the life of Fumio Demura from his beginnings to the present time. These highlights include not only the successes and challenges Demura has experienced through the incredible journey of his life and career, but also amazing stories of family, friendship, and loss. Fumio Demura is the Real Miyagi, the man behind it all. He is known to anyone who is involved with martial arts for being a true master of honor and precision. Kevin Derek does a fantastic job in presenting the life of Fumio Demura, beautifully depicted through photos, memories, and testimonies of several famous actors, a few masters of martial arts, and his many students and followers to people, such as myself, who are not associated with martial arts. I would like to thank everyone involved in making this film. Watching the documentary was a remarkable experience for me.

While I studied karate for a few years when I was a teen, I am not in the target market for this documentary. I am not a martial arts afficiado and think it's important you know this, as it definitely has a bearing on my review and how worthwhile it is for you. I have a few friends who are nuts about the subject and one who is perennially on the US national martial arts team...now THEY would be perfect folks to watch "The Real Miyagi".

This film is a biography of Japanese-born Fumio Demura, a man reputed to be one of the greatest practitioner of martial arts in the 20th century and a guy who had a huge impact on this in the States. Additionally, he was the stunt double for Mr. Miyagi in "The Karate Kid" and the film follows his life.

Overall, this is a very interesting film--made more so since Demura is still alive and participated in making the movie. This one probably won't change your life, though it's nice hearing so many people speaking so glowingly and fondly about the man.