Kickboxing Academy
Kickboxing Academy is a 1997 film by Richard Gabai.
In this film, students from the titular academy face off against the rival school, Fatal Combat. The reason for that is because the Kickboxing Academy's lease will not be renewed, and the rival school plans to take control of it. Along the way, they also see Danny, a former kickboxer who decided to quit when he nearly killed an opponent. With that in mind, the students must convince him to help them defeat Fatal Combat and its leader, Captain Tarbeck, in order to save their school.
Largely obscure, though this film has developed a Cult Classic status over the years.
Tropes used in Kickboxing Academy include:
- Creator Cameo: Director Richard Gabai appears as the fast food manager.
- Cute Shotaro Boy: Jason.
- Fail O'Suckyname: Most of the students in Fatal Combat. Jam, Chet, Treck, Soupy/Marianne...
- Fat and Skinny: Stan and Barry.
- Follow the Leader: To every other Three Ninjas knockoff films.
- Heel Face Turn: Mr. Maddox at the end of the tournament.
- Incestuous Casting: Siblings Chyler Leigh and Christopher Khayman Lee co-starred in the film together as love interests. As a result, they shared three kissing scenes. This caused a great deal of controversy as well as squick.
- Loophole Abuse: Fatal Combat during the tournament, which later causes the Kickboxing Academy to use the loopholes to their own advantage.
- Real Life Relative: See Incestuous Casting.
- The Rival: Fatal Combat to the Kickboxing Academy.
- This Is for Emphasis, Bitch: "Hit the mat, bitches!"
- Title Drop: The kickboxing academy is literally called "Kickboxing Academy".
- Wham! Line: "Hurting me and hurting my students isn't gonna bring your son back, Mr. Maddox."
- In a more meta example: "Shut up. Kiss me."