Audience Member
This has a pretty specific audience, which seems to be rallying the Ontario community around more officially supporting Karate. The group wants to unburden the athletes so they can focus on training and representing the region in their sport. Personally I had never really thought much about all the behind the scenes stuff involved in really propelling a sport in a region.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
01/29/23
Full Review
Audience Member
The Uphill Battle provides a great in-depth view and look at Karate, on how it relates to our modern lives in the West, as a sport, art, and philosophy. As someone who studied martial arts in the past we need more documentaries such as this that showcase and promote a sense of well being for our mental, physical and spiritual health. The director, Maria Morgunova outlines her film with very candid interviews and teachings, with some of the top talent in the Ontario area.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/15/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Karate in Ontario: The Uphill Battle is an in-depth look at the challenges facing those participating in karate, with a specific look at karate in Ontario, Canada. The film is highly educational and details the history of karate, as well as many present day challenges particularly in financing and in the lack of support from larger governing bodies.
I related to this film since I encountered some of these issues as a youth club soccer player for many years, but it seems like there are many unique challenges that face youth karate competitors, especially in Canada or Ontario specifically. The filmmakers clearly were very well informed on all subject matters relating to karate in Canada and it showed in the film. I found this documentary to be incredibly educational and it should probably be required viewing for any parent whose child is interested in youth karate.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/05/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Iâ(TM)m a big martial arts fan, having done Muay Thai for several years. Stumbling over this documentary it was a joy to watch, as it really explains the workings and insights of Karate, while capturing the fascination and fun at the same time.
If you consider venturing into Karate or any martial arts for that matter, or if you are just curious to see, how martial arts are merely just a sport, but can be a whole lifestyle, you definitely should watch this documentary.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
01/13/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Don't let the regionally-based title fool you: While Maria Morgunova's karate documentary does of course focus on the sport's proliferation specific to Ontario, her great storytelling skills allow us to better understand the intricacies of this long-lived sport, the challenges it presents to its participants, and ultimately its global impacts.
Beyond its core subject matter, Morgunova is able to tap into some universal themes here by illustrating how individuals once sparked can coalesce around a singularly shared endeavor and find intensely-shared purpose and a sense of community. While existing stereotypes within the general public often force karate to be seen as either a form of communal exercise or a series of defensive postures, we're reminded here that it's a sport transcendent enough to be honored as such in the Olympic Games. For those in pursuit of that quest, Morgunova does a wonderful job exploring the practical struggles within the Ontario community to rise to the level of relevance the sport commands on the world stage.
Karate In Ontario: The Uphill Battle is an earnest, deeply informative, and ultimately well-executed labor of love. Kudos to the director and her team for transcending provincial barriers in presenting this sport in a way that educates and endears us to its long-standing and nuanced history.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
02/18/23
Full Review
Audience Member
It's always interesting to see stories about overcoming challenges. Karate gives people strength and purpose. I wasn't familiar with any of this history and it gave me inspiration.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
01/30/23
Full Review
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