Directed by Taim M. Adams, “Lion Fist” is an action film that deals with an ex-prisoner named Joe and his life after his release. Joe is a martial arts fighter, but his skills are not up to the mark. He has to partake in a competition in order to save his son, but he needs the right training to be able to win. His life takes a turn when he receives intense training from a former martial arts hero named Wu Dagang. During Joe’s training session, he also finds out the truth about the No Retreat Gym that earns him extra points.
Why Was Joe In Prison?
Kate, Joe’s ex- girlfriend, was a drug addict, and she was caught red-handed by the police. However, she did not go to prison because Joe had saved her by convincing the cops that the drugs belonged to him. Joe cares about his loved ones deeply and can go to any extent to save them if required. He is also a “stand-up” guy; that is, he tries to look out for everyone, even if they are strangers. Because of his ex-girlfriend, he spent five years in prison without any real cause. While Joe was there, he tried to establish amicable relationships with everyone; eventually, he won their hearts. One of the guys, Smoke, was fond of Joe because of his nature and outlook towards life. Smoke was a bully, but Joe did not face any sort of harassment from him because he was always standing up for what was right. On Joe’s last day in prison, he even tried to fight Smoke because he was about to bully a new prisoner. However, even though Smoke appeared to be bad, he was actually a good man because later on he helped Joe in his investigation against drug dealers.
Why Does Kate Want Money From Joe?
When Joe was incarcerated, Kate did not come to visit him except when she was pregnant with their son, Wyatt. She told Joe that babies were expensive, and she would not be able to afford the birth and everything associated with Wyatt. Hence, Kate made Joe sign over all of his bank accounts to her to support the new baby. Since this incident, Kate never visited Joe in the cell, not even once. It has been four years since then, and Joe has still not met his own flesh and blood. Once Joe gets released from prison, he takes up a job at a steel mill that pays $15 an hour. He has also found an apartment to live in. Joe desperately wants to meet with Wyatt, which is why he calls Kate to inform her that he is out of jail. Immediately after sending the voicemail, Kate comes to visit Joe but not with Wyatt. She informs him that she is in need of $50k because Wyatt needs an urgent operation for a tumor in his brain. Kate tells Joe that since he is the biological father of Wyatt, it is his responsibility to save his son. Her new partner, Butch, will not pay for Wyatt’s surgery, which is why Joe has to take the responsibility of curing his son. Joe fears that Kate does not use his money wisely because she has been a drug addict for a long time and is still not sober because she refuses to go to rehab.
What Is Wrong With The “No Retreat Gym”?
Joe goes to the No Retreat Gym to continue his martial arts training, but he gets brutally insulted and kicked out by the manager because he is unable to afford the fees. Since he just got out of prison, it is not possible for him to pay $500 per month for his gym subscription; he can only pay 50 bucks a month. Well, it is a good thing that Joe did not enroll himself in the gym because it is not a good place at all. The gym is run by Butch, Kate’s current boyfriend, and a Chinese man named Kang. Kang had a relationship with Wu Dagang, Mei’s father and Joe’s martial arts trainer. He used to run the Wushu team where Wu trained in China. It was because of Kang that Wu suffered a broken leg in his last tournament. Kang came to the US shortly after and became involved with the Triads. Both Butch and Kang are involved in drug dealings, and they use the gym as a cover-up to continue their wrongdoings. Their group of people intimidate commoners to extort money and brutally harm them. Joe and Mei get to know about their activity when they follow them to the gym and witness them dealing with money and drugs. Without wasting a single second, they immediately inform the police about what they have seen, but the police do not believe them at first. After Joe and Mei collect strong evidence against the gym and hand it over to the police, the officers believe them.
Why Does Wu Decide To Train Joe?
Wu does not want to train anyone since his wife, Mei’s mother, passed away. He deals with his own battles that he has to face after leaving his home country, China. Wu could have become the national combat champion of China, but he could not because of Kang. Mei convinces him to do some good work, and helping Joe could be one of them. There is an upcoming fight that is going to happen in town, and if Joe wins it, he can bag a $100k prize which will eventually help him cover his son’s medical expenses. Wu gets to know about this, and he decides to help Joe out. It is under his guidance that Joe starts to polish his martial arts skills and learns the technique of the “Lion Fist.”
What Is The Lion Fist?
Lions do not have fists, but this technique is called so because it means blending the spirit and the body as one. The Lion Fist is Wu’s secret technique that he has been teaching Joe since the very beginning of their training. He teaches Joe to focus and channel his energy into something as powerful as a lion’s attack. Wu tells Joe that he has to be patient, and has to channel his inner strength if he wants to defeat the final contestant of the competition.
What Happens To Joe In The End?
Finally, the day of the competition arrives, and Joe is all prepared for it because of his intense training. On the other hand, the police get ready to catch the drug dealing that happens at the No Retreat Gym. Wu and Mei help the police in their attack against the drug dealers, while Joe proceeds to the final round of the competition. Before Butch gets arrested, Joe requests that the police allow him to fight against him for the last time. Consequently, both Butch and Joe meet each other in the fighting ring. They indulge in an intense fight where Butch overpowers Joe, but the latter does not back off. He gets up from the floor and patiently channels his core energy and instantly strikes Butch with his Lion Fist. Within an instant, Butch gets flattened to the floor, and the ringmaster declares Joe the winner of the competition. After the win, Joe finally meets his son Wyatt for the first time ever, and tells Kate to go to rehab that the police have arranged for her, to which she agrees. Joe promises to save his son and also open a martial arts school of his own where he will be able to train kids to defend themselves so that they become stronger.
