Kim has been talking to Yamashita for about an hour. They are discussing what the future holds for films about martial arts. They both agree that there has been an upward swing in people’s interest in these type of films because of Bruce Lee. He is credited as the first one to bring authentic martial arts performances to the big screen, and his films are extremely successful at the box office.
Kim thinks that the time for television programs and movies about martial arts is now. He tells Yamashita that it will be gigantic for a few years. He believes that he and Yamashita need to get in on it right away. Kim says, “You and I are both experts in the martial arts. We could form a company and get a group of the most highly qualified martial art experts to join us.”
He then tells Yamashita that he has a vision for a company. He says, “The company would go into the offices of Hollywood producers and show them exactly what needs to be done for a martial arts’ scene right there in their offices.” Yamishita likes Kim’s idea and agrees to join him to form a company called, Instant Action Coordinators, Inc.
Kim feels lucky and proud that his friend, Yamishita, wants to join him in this venture. Yamishita was born in Japan and raised in Okinawa. He was Japan’s youngest 7th Dan in history and an Okinawan Shorin-Ryu expert.
Kim is also a high-ranking martial artist with black belts in Shotokan, Aikido, and Jujitsu. He tells Yamishita that together they will be the unbeatable, dynamic duo. However, it’s not long before other top martial arts experts join their company.
A few of their company’s credits include The Thrill Seekers TV shows, and many episodes of ABC’s Kung Fu. During this time, Kim also starts a production company called, Stunt Action and Safety Coordinators, Incorporated. The company runs second unit productions for major motion pictures and television programs.
In 1974, Kim opens the Kahana’s Stunt School in Chatsworth, California. It is a modern facility with motorcycles, high towers, artillery weapons, air bags, explosives, and trampolines. His school gives stuntmen a place to practice what they know and to learn other kinds of stunts. He also stresses in his teachings the safety procedures necessary to perform all kinds of stunts.
His school is successful and two years later, he decides to expand his school. He opens a branch of his school that will be open to the public. He teaches high falls, horseback riding, high speed driving with cars and motorcycles, shooting, martial arts, explosives, and hand-to-hand combat.
Kim has been an active member of the Stuntmen’s Association of Motion Pictures for eight years. He also serves on the Screen Actors Guild Investigative Team and their Stunt Safety Committee. Hollywood stuntmen and stuntwomen must belong to the Screen Actors Guild. The other organization they can join, that is under the umbrella of the Screen Actors Guild, is Stunt Men’s Association of Pictures.
The veteran stuntmen always liked and respected Kim until they find out that he opened his stunt school to the public. They are angry that Kim has done this. They believe that Kim will be teaching their professional trade secrets to his students, who are not working on the sets of Hollywood films or TV productions.
Kim is infuriated with them and does not understand their way of thinking. He believes everyone should be given an opportunity to learn. He wants to teach those who may want to enter the profession. His goal is to have them learn the skills, knowledge and respect for safety and the understanding of what it means to be a stuntman. He also wants to teach them why there is no room in the stunt business for reckless, egomaniac, daredevils.
Kim takes a lot of heat from some of the veteran stuntmen. Many of them shun him and others argue with him. He does not believe that he is giving away any of their trade secrets. He knows most of the veteran stuntmen learned their skills from the military, the rodeos, ranches, and as apprentices to veteran stuntmen.
Kim believes that the skills used by the Hollywood stuntmen should be taught to those who want to learn. He does not think that the stuntmen have any secrets that shouldn’t be taught.
He does not agree with their definition of the word, ‘secrets.’ He does not believe it falls in the realm of what a true secret means like the ‘Lua.’ The ‘Lua’ is the Hawaiian dreaded and deadly secret way of defense and combat, which has been in existence for hundreds of years. The secrets of the ‘Lua” were only taught to a select few.
Kim highly respects the Stuntmen’s Association and all the stuntmen. He has dedicated most of his life to the profession. He wishes that they would understand his point of view, but it looks like they never will.
There is mounting pressure from the veteran stuntmen for Kim to shut down his new branch of his school. He refuses to do it! He wants to keep it open to the public. He enjoys teaching and believes he is making a difference. He decides that he will not close the branch. His decision is confirmed for him when his stunt school becomes the only accredited stunt school by the California Department of Education.
He realizes that the only way to stop the controversy, ease the veteran stuntmen’s anger, and show his respect for the profession is to resign from the Stuntmen’s Association of Motion Pictures. After he resigns, he sighs with relief that his battle is over.
Through the years, most of the veteran stuntmen did come around. They began to see that the students from Kahana’s Stunt School, who entered the stunt profession were extremely knowledgeable, highly skilled, and not daredevils.