When Taekwondo Strikes

With a plot that’s pretty straightforward, WHEN TAEKWONDO STRIKES from 1973 is perhaps not quite on par with other works directed by Huang Feng and starring Taiwanese martial arts actress Angelo Mao, most notably ‘Lady Whirlwind’ which saw its cinematic release one year earlier. Nonetheless, Mao kicks and fights her way through the film in her unique fierce style, amply supported by Carter Wong. It’s also great to see the irrepressible Sammo Hung in an early role though here, he plays a villainous Japanese.

Set in Korea under Japanese rule during WW2, resistance fighter Jin Zheng Zhi (Carter Wong) falls foul of some Japanese oppressors, gets into a fight and ends up in a Christian church in order to escape. Which he doesn’t, because the Japanese follow him and burst into the church before Jin can pray for his safety. To make matters worse, the intruders capture the priest, a French man by the name of Father Louis (Andre E. Morgan). Unfazed, the priest reprimands the Japanese for interrupting prayers and peace in his church. Also in the church is Father Louis’ young niece Mary (Anne Winton) – quite the expert in martial arts herself - and his apparent gardener Lee (Jhoon Rhee), who really is none other than a Korean revolutionary and respected taekwondo Master Li Jun Dong! When Jin Zheng accidentally blows Li Jun’s cover, the incensed Japanese lead the priest away, although they fail to capture the others after some fighting. Now Mary joins forces with Jin Zheng and also with her friend Wan Ling (Angela Mao), a Chinese Hapkido expert who runs a canteen with her mother. Despite the trio being a force to be reckoned with, they can’t save the life of Father Louis after his captors torture him to death (quite an unsettling scene, this). To make matters worse, the dastardly Japanese also capture Li Jun Dong as the small group of saviours attempt to seek the help of Chinese allies…

Now it’s up to Wan Ling, Jin Zheng and Mary to outsmart the Japanese – a task easier said than done thanks to larger than life obstacle Sammo Hung - who here plays a meaner than mean Japanese villain who gets his butt kicked by Angela Mao – while Alan Chui, another Japanese villain, also doesn’t succeed, much to the chagrin of their leader Kenji Kazama. However, freeing Master Li Jun is an operation which demands sacrifice and occasionally, victims…
It’s fun to see the great Sammo Hung, usually associated with comedy roles, as a real bastard complete with five o clock shadow and later on in bandages after having received a much deserved trashing from Mao! Of course, this is Angela Mao’s film entirely and here she proves once again that she’s up there with the best of them! Unfortunately, the film’s first half is somewhat let down by the two American actors whose characters, although sympathetic to the Korean cause, don’t quite seem to fit in the overall plot, which is more Korean vs. Japanese.

As a special bonus feature, we are treated to the feature-length and very insightful documentary ‘The Best of Martial Arts Films’ (1990), presented by John Saxon (who played ‘Roper’ in the 1973 martial arts classic ENTER THE DRAGON starring Bruce Lee). The first 2000 copies of this 2K restored Blu-ray release are presented in a Limited Edition O-card slipcase plus Collector’s booklet. In Mandarin with optional and alternate English audio track.