The Men Who Stare At Goats

[Yao Sing]

I just got done reading a short article about the true story this film is based on and it turns out the guy who actually killed the goat was 5th Special Forces Group hand-to-hand combat instructor Mike Echanis.

Somewhere around here I have an old MA magazine, Karate Illustrated maybe, with an article on Mike Echanis. You guys would really enjoy this read. I'll see if I can find it or find something else about him.

Or maybe someone here is familiar with his story.

[TaichiMantis]

from another forum...

I remember reading a little bit about Echanis in Black Belt a while ago. Echanis was an Army SF Operator during the 60's and 70's and an expert in the art of Hwa Rang Do. Echanis studed HRD under GM Joo Bang Lee and put it to use while conducting ops in Vietnam and South America.

but then I found this...http://www.hwarang.org/Warning.html and this...http://www.pirateballerina.com/files...of_fortune.htm


hmmmm...may have to see this movie afterall

[mawali]

ESI is one of the best training venues for PSD and dignitary protection anywhere!

The title of move is kind of odd but comical based on the previews.

[MartialDev]

The documentary covers Echanis, Savelli, and other interesting topics.

[Jimbo]

I read the book a few years ago, and it's a good read, IMO better than the movie.

I still have an old issue of Black Belt magazine from back in 1978 that featured Echanis as the cover story. He wrote a couple of books for Ohara publications on close combat as well. He was killed in the line of duty not long after.

[Zenshiite]

^It was my understanding he was killed on a mercenary mission in Panama. Not while he was still in service.

[Xiao3 Meng4]

I just came from watching it in the theatre. It's hilariously awesome... I recommend watching the documentary posted above first.

Two things come to mind after watching the doc and movie:

First, that ZEEK, the author of the book Shen-Ku, was a member of the 1st Earth Battalion at some point. I base this on both the content,format and intent of the book, as well as the illustrations - the drawing style is very similar to the illustrations depicted in the 1st Earth Battalion handbook, shown both on the doc and in the movie. I'd say they were drawn by the original creator of the handbook, or by someone who sought to emulate the style.

Second, that an entire generation, perhaps more, of special forces personnel were exposed to 1st Earth Battalion doctrine, who upon discharging from the army decided to teach what they learned within the context of Martial Arts Schools, quite possibly churning out instructors, and amplifying the colourful world of "psychic/Ki/Qi power" martial arts, with Dim Mak, No touch knockouts, and Kiais, etc.

Imagine if General Stubblebine ever taught a Martial Arts class.

[KTS]

holy crap, i actually read that art of shenku book. seemed pretty ****ed useful when i read it. interesting, even if it somehow seemed a bit "out" there. i think i still might have it in a box in the closet. maybe i will flip through it again.

so good reviews on the movie?

i still have crows zero i have to watch/rewatch, and a few more movies - kinda overwhelmed with movies right now. but, if enough good reviews, i will check it out.

[ghostexorcist]

The separate documentary videos have been taken down due to violation of copyright. I had to download a torrent of the shows. I'm watching the first one now. I also bought the book. I'll hopefully go see the movie before it's out of theaters.

[Xiao3 Meng4]

Here's a link to the training video mentioned and shown briefly in the video during Guy Savelli's interview.

The characters in the movie are composites of the real people in the documentary, which is why it's good to watch it first. It's still available via torrent.