Final Fu
Encyclopedia
Final Fu is an American reality television show that first aired on MTV2
on July 17, 2006, and ran for a single season of twenty episodes The show was hosted by Ernie Reyes, Jr.
, and featured practitioners of various styles of martial arts
competing in one-on-one semi-contact point sparring matches and group competitions.
The point system goes as follows:
Warnings and point deductions are given for the following reasons:
Timidity (excessive lack of action/avoiding the other fighter) has occurred several times, but nobody has been punished for it.
Week 1: Jessica Mellon, Jonathan Phan, Bryan Rogers, and Hans Wikkeling
Week 2: Ilram Choi, Brian Hilliard, and Jackson Spidell
Week 3: Chris Brewster, Justin Cox, Michelle Spencer, Daniel Sterling
After the last challenge and the first round of fights, the four contestants who had the lowest overall scores departed on Wednesday, leaving six competitors. They were: Jessen Noviello, Jonathan Phan, Bryan Rogers and Michelle Spencer.
A six person competition continued the contest on Thursday. During this day the six remaining contestants had a 1 minute match with each of the other five contestants, leading to a total of 15 matches. The four individuals with the lowest overall scores departed the competition. They were:
Chris Brewster, Ilram Choi, Justin Cox, and Brian Hilliard
The two final contestants for Friday were Daniel Sterling and Jackson Spidell. One three round fight between these two determined fighters would decide the winner of the month long competition.
After a very close fight, with both competitors putting it all on the line, Sterling won the final match with a score of 126 points over Spidell's 118.
The win earned Sterling $25,000 dollars, trips to Japan, Korea, and China, and the title of the Final Fu.
, ground fighting
, or head strikes, which alienates a sizable group of traditional martial artists.
The show has also been criticized for having a very imbalanced roster. There are several practitioners of Karate
, Tae Kwon Do, and variants of Karate and Kempo
, but many other popular styles such as Muay Thai
, Jeet Kune Do
, and Sanshou/Sanda are not represented at all. The representation of styles are as follows:
Tae Kwon Do (16), Tang Soo Do
(10), Capoeira
(10), Shorei-ryu
(5), Red Dragon Karate (6), Shotokan
(2), Karate
(1), Okinawan Karate
(1), Sho Dan Karate (1), Isshin Ryu (2), Moo Duk Kwan
(1), Hung Gar
(1), American Karate System (2), Kickboxing
(1), Kempo
(1), Wushu
(1), Moo Yea Do (1), Soo Bahk Do
(1), Kōga-ryū
Ninjitsu Do (1)
Others have taken issue with the fact that while the show declares that its contestants are "30 of the world's best", they seem to be very unevenly matched. Many of the competitors are only first degree blackbelts while a number are third degree and others such as Brian and Jabari are world class champions, however all contestants are amateurs. The show also strives to match fighters of equal skill in the sparring portions through power matching. (i.e., Those in first and second place square off against each other, etc.)
Although the show is not without its criticism it has managed to find a solid audience in its key demographic. The show has scored consistently strong ratings for MTV and especially MTV2. However, no plans for a second season have yet been announced.
MTV2
MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...
on July 17, 2006, and ran for a single season of twenty episodes The show was hosted by Ernie Reyes, Jr.
Ernie Reyes, Jr.
Ernie Reyes, Jr. , is an American actor, martial artist, action choreographer, director, producer, filmmaker, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer.-Early life:...
, and featured practitioners of various styles of martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
competing in one-on-one semi-contact point sparring matches and group competitions.
Notable competitors
- Lauren CahoonLauren CahoonLauren Cahoon Hamon is an Olympic-style Taekwondo martial artist. Lauren was a competitor in MTV2's Final Fu reality TV show, but dropped out after deciding that she didn't agree with the way sparring was being run.-Competition Record :* 2006 Sr. National Team Trials : 1st* 2005 U.S...
- Ilram ChoiIlram ChoiIlram Choi is an American actor and a member of the Martial Arts stunt team Zero Gravity.He was born in Washington, D.C. of Korean descent. He states in his biography that "I was made in Korea by my loving parents Hwang il Choi and Kab Duk Choi but later was born in Washington, D.C." When he...
- Shannon Cosgrove
- Ruby LopezRuby LopezRuby Lopez is a Television Host, Actress, Producer and Model. Ruby has extensive on-camera experience and a list of credits to prove it. Ruby hosted the exclusive Videogame show for Yahoo.com called "Reset". In 2005 Ruby was able to put her passion for cars and hosting to use as a pit reporter for...
- Jonathan Phan
- Matt MullinsMatt MullinsMatthew "Matt" Mullins is a 5-time martial arts world champion. At the age of 16 in 1997 he had won his first WKA title in Dublin, Ireland, this would be his first of 5 championships in the next 3 years in his career...
Scoring
The reality competition is based on stand-up only, continuous point sparring. The target area is the upper leg and torso. No contact to the lower legs, back, groin, and head are allowed. There are also other areas where striking is not allowed, for instance, in one episode, a competitor is warned for striking the opponent on the left side hip.The point system goes as follows:
- 1 point for kicks to the target areas
- 2 points for "punching techniques" (i.e., punches) to the target areas
- 3 points for jumping kicks and spinning back kicks.
- 4 points for spinning jump kicks
Warnings and point deductions are given for the following reasons:
- Unnecessary roughness, Lack of control
- Striking the head, back, or outside the target area
Timidity (excessive lack of action/avoiding the other fighter) has occurred several times, but nobody has been punished for it.
Weekly
The Top 4 from each week move onto the final week, which aired August 7, 2006. The Top 4 from each week are as follows (Alphabetically):Week 1: Jessica Mellon, Jonathan Phan, Bryan Rogers, and Hans Wikkeling
Week 2: Ilram Choi, Brian Hilliard, and Jackson Spidell
Week 3: Chris Brewster, Justin Cox, Michelle Spencer, Daniel Sterling
Final week results
Two contestants, unbenounced to the fighters, would be eliminated after their first challenge on Monday, leaving ten competitors. They were: Jessica Mellon, and Hans WikkelingAfter the last challenge and the first round of fights, the four contestants who had the lowest overall scores departed on Wednesday, leaving six competitors. They were: Jessen Noviello, Jonathan Phan, Bryan Rogers and Michelle Spencer.
A six person competition continued the contest on Thursday. During this day the six remaining contestants had a 1 minute match with each of the other five contestants, leading to a total of 15 matches. The four individuals with the lowest overall scores departed the competition. They were:
Chris Brewster, Ilram Choi, Justin Cox, and Brian Hilliard
The two final contestants for Friday were Daniel Sterling and Jackson Spidell. One three round fight between these two determined fighters would decide the winner of the month long competition.
After a very close fight, with both competitors putting it all on the line, Sterling won the final match with a score of 126 points over Spidell's 118.
The win earned Sterling $25,000 dollars, trips to Japan, Korea, and China, and the title of the Final Fu.
Controversy
The show has received a negative response from a number of those involved in the martial arts community. Although some were simply happy to see their art gain exposure on TV, others viewed the challenges as trivial and the sparring matches as less than professional. A number of competitors have displayed an unfamiliarity with point sparring. This has ranged from having trouble properly taking hits to paying little or no attention to defense, instead going for as many body punches as possible. Although this strategy is common in sporting matches, it is frowned upon by many traditional martial artists. The sparring has also been targeteted for not allowing clinch fightingClinch fighting
Clinch fighting is the part of stand-up fighting where the combatants are grappling in a clinch, typically using clinch holds. Clinching the opponent can be used to eliminate the opponent's effective usage of some kicks, punches, and mêlée weapons...
, ground fighting
Ground fighting
Ground fighting is hand-to-hand combat which takes place while the combatants are on the ground, generally involving grappling...
, or head strikes, which alienates a sizable group of traditional martial artists.
The show has also been criticized for having a very imbalanced roster. There are several practitioners of Karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
, Tae Kwon Do, and variants of Karate and Kempo
KEMPO
KEPCO may refer to:* Korea Electric Power Corporation, a South Korean power provider* Kansai Electric Power Company, a Japanese power provider...
, but many other popular styles such as Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
, Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do is a hybrid martial arts system and life philosophy founded by martial artist Bruce Lee with direct, non classical and straightforward movements. Due to the way his style works they believe in minimal movement with maximum effect and extreme speed. The system works on the use of...
, and Sanshou/Sanda are not represented at all. The representation of styles are as follows:
Tae Kwon Do (16), Tang Soo Do
Tang Soo Do
Tang Soo Do is a Korean martial art promoted by Hwang Kee that has roots in various martial arts, including taekkyeon and Subak.-Etymology:...
(10), Capoeira
Capoeira
Capoeira is a Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, sports, and music. It was created in Brazil mainly by descendants of African slaves with Brazilian native influences, probably beginning in the 16th century...
(10), Shorei-ryu
Shorei-ryu
is a term which refers to the Naha-Te style of Okinawan karate. Shorei Ryu means "the style of inspiration". It is believed that the term Shorei is derived from the Shoreiji Temple in southern China. The teachings of this temple provided the basis for the Naha-Te style.The Shorei Ryu system was...
(5), Red Dragon Karate (6), Shotokan
Shotokan
is a style of karate, developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi and his son Gigo Funakoshi . Gichin was born in Okinawa and is widely credited with popularizing karate through a series of public demonstrations, and by promoting the development of university karate clubs, including...
(2), Karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
(1), Okinawan Karate
Okinawan martial arts
Okinawan martial arts refers to the martial arts which originated among the indigenous people of Okinawa Island in Japan, most notably karate, tegumi, and Okinawan kobudō....
(1), Sho Dan Karate (1), Isshin Ryu (2), Moo Duk Kwan
Moo Duk Kwan
Moo Duk Kwan is split into two groups. One is Soo Bahk Do, formerly Tang Soo Do, and earlier Hwa Soo Do. The other is Taekwondo Moo Duk Kwan. Soo Bahk Do was founded by Grand Master Hwang Kee, November 9, 1945...
(1), Hung Gar
Hung Gar
Hung Ga 洪家, Hung Kuen 洪拳, or Hung Ga Kuen 洪家拳 is a southern Chinese martial art associated with the Chinese folk hero Wong Fei Hung, who was a master of Hung Ga....
(1), American Karate System (2), Kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
(1), Kempo
KEMPO
KEPCO may refer to:* Korea Electric Power Corporation, a South Korean power provider* Kansai Electric Power Company, a Japanese power provider...
(1), Wushu
Chinese martial arts
Chinese martial arts, also referred to by the Mandarin Chinese term wushu and popularly as kung fu , are a number of fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as "families" , "sects" or...
(1), Moo Yea Do (1), Soo Bahk Do
Soo Bahk Do
Soo Bahk Do is the name of the martial art founded and taught by Kwan Jang Nim Hwang Kee, his successor Hwang Hyun Chul, known as H.C. Hwang, and instructors who are certified by member organizations of the World Moo Duk Kwan, Inc.- History :...
(1), Kōga-ryū
Koga-ryu
Kōka-ryū is a historical school of ninjutsu. It originated from the region of Kōka...
Ninjitsu Do (1)
Others have taken issue with the fact that while the show declares that its contestants are "30 of the world's best", they seem to be very unevenly matched. Many of the competitors are only first degree blackbelts while a number are third degree and others such as Brian and Jabari are world class champions, however all contestants are amateurs. The show also strives to match fighters of equal skill in the sparring portions through power matching. (i.e., Those in first and second place square off against each other, etc.)
Although the show is not without its criticism it has managed to find a solid audience in its key demographic. The show has scored consistently strong ratings for MTV and especially MTV2. However, no plans for a second season have yet been announced.
External links
- Does Final Fu Give Martial Arts a Black Eye?
- Article: The FINAL FU on MTV2 - Kung Fu Magazine