By Lance Necaise

Not many people would expect to find a Shaolin kung fu demonstration surrounded by millions of dollars of electronic equipment. But that is just what attendees of the National Cable and Telecommunications Association?s 53rd Annual Convention and International Exposition in New Orleans, LA witnessed. The Liu Institute was one of several participants in the demonstrations provided at the Martial Arts Channel booth at the NCTA convention on May 2-5, 2004. The Martial Arts Channel (MAC) is expected to launch in December on cable, satellite, and broadband channels serving viewers with 24- hour martial arts instruction and entertainment. Master Deru (Shawn Liu), 31st generation Shaolin disciple, and his students performed traditional Shaolin forms for conventioneers. The MAC booth also provided performances by Blanks, yoga instructors and karate and a women?s self defense demonstration hosted by Damaree Benoit, President of the International Martial Arts Association and the Louisiana Karate League.

Anthony Cort is the founder and CEO of MAC and Breakthrough Communications LLC, its parent company. Cort, a fourteen-year veteran of Tae Kwon Do, started construction of the channel four years ago but initially got the idea in 1996, an idea that he says has been tried time and time again but never with the right connections. ?We?ve known that there should have been a martial arts channel for ten years,? Master Brown says. ?A number of people had tried it, but it didn?t work out. Cort had more - the total package; he knew the cable networks.? Master Brown, a member of MAC?s Board of Advisors, was joined at the NCTA convention by fellow board members Billy Blanks (founder of Tae-Bo) and martial arts film star Cynthia Rothrock. The channel will air movies, how-to series, original shows such as Blank?s Fit 4 Life and Self Defense 101 - how not to be a victim. MAC also plans themed weeks of programming that focuses on a particular style of martial arts. The programs will consist of historical and training documentaries centering on the traditions of the style. ?Very much of our aim is the celebration of the cultural diversity of martial arts, from kids through adults to seniors,? Cort says. The network will also sponsor a Las Vegas theatrical show called Spirit of the Dragon which Cort describes as a cross between Cirque du Soleil and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. To request MAC in your area go to www.martialartscentral.com.

Click here for Feature Articles from this issue and others published in 2004 .

Written by Lance Necaise for KUNGFUMAGAZINE.COM

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