Originally Posted by IronMan @ MMAOpinion

In memory of David Carradine (1936-2009). A hero and icon, he will be missed.

It may be that the next generation of martial artists which see it as a sport, but it is worth recognizing that, to many, the martial arts came not as something built on competition and athleticism, but rather tied deeply to the entertainment industry and the flash of the Hollywood lights and the stars they shined on.

For those in the generation which follows MMA, there may be a sense that the value of martial artists on the silver screen has been, to a large extent, lost, but it is worth noting that it is those martial artists who brought their sense of discipline through combat to America, and helped teach that sense of respect, even if it was brought about through choreography.

These figures, like Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme, influence an entire generation who saw the martial arts as something to be valued and respected.