Was James Ryan of Kill or be Killed a real Karate expert?

Simply brilliant in KILL OR BE KILLED & Sequel despite the A-holes who dump all over these brilliant movies.

Right on . inquiring mind wants to know Thank you brother

He is a martial arrtist in the same sense that David Caradine was ,he is a phenomenal actor who had good athletic background who learned enough to fake it but then later on studied it more throughout his life so yes he is a martial arts actor ,no he was nott a martial artist who became an actor .

🔷EEEEEEEEYAAAAAAHHHH

He was a South African Gymnastics Artist

Hi Reginald, some history - from the early 1970's was the period that we practiced at the Orange Grove Club in Johannesburg. We knew that James Ryan was more an actor than a karateka. Quite a few films were shot in the 1970's. This all happened around the time or just before the time of the Early Birds (Wednesday Morning training sessions). The real people of notable karate skill in these films were Malcom Dorfman, Dave Friend, Eddie Dorey (from Harlequins Club in Pretoria), Keith Geyer and Derrick Geyer and obviously Sensei Stan Schmidt. Those guys were the real ones. It was around the late 1970's and early 1980's that the Japanese teams from Okinawa in Japan visited the Dojo in Orange Grove. I can recall that James Ryan once visited the Orange Grove Club in the 1970's, but he was never considered of notable karate skill in my opinion.

As young karateka’s with purple and brown belts, the gossip was that he was more an actor than a karate man. If he was really a karate man I would have known him from dojo training and karate competitions. The real kumite karate champ in South-Africa at the time was a man called Al Mackintosh. Him and his brother Mike started a karate dojo in the early 1970's around 60 Kilometers South of Johannesburg. This is where the current chief instructor of JKA Karate SA, Johan Lagrange started his career as to eventually take over Sensei Stan Schmidt's Orange Grove Dojo. Unfortunately, Sensei Al Macintosh passed away in the late 1970's. The father of Johan Lagrange(Sensei Dries Lagrange) took over the dojo and he also passed away early due to a heart condition. The real kingpin around these films was Sensei Stan Schmidt and his club members.

James Ruyn also played a role in kick-boxer 5 and a lot of other martial arts movies

Back in 1981 the movie kil and Kill again was very popular in South Africa ,James Ruyn was a South African actor but also a karate student , wat I can remember of back in the day he practiced kickboxing or something close, I was just a little boy back then.

that film make me even sharper in my technique because I wanted to be better than my peers but also because Sensei Schmidt was an acquaintance of my neighbor, we wanted to impress him together with my neighbor's son

I heard the name Stan Schmidt a lot …… almost every day…I still didn't know him at the time

Sinsei Schmidt had a part in that movie aswell, he was the only South African Karate master back in the day, he was at that time the only western 7th dan or 8th dan karate master who studied in Japan and brought it to South Africa.

Sinsei Stan Schmidt did the choreography of the movie Kill and Kill again!
I’ve met this sinsei back in that period when I was a little boy of 8 years old because one of my neighbours went with him to Japan for his second dan,.
I’m 50 and paralysed because of a traumatic neck injury and wheelchair bounded , kill and kill again is and was very special movie for me back in the days even after 42 years , for me it was a movie to improve my karate skills at the time…back in that period I started karate at the age of 7 and met Sinsei Schmidt once at a bbq in my neighbours back yard . A little boy whom met his fan in a back yard in pretoria north

Of course he wasn't a martial artist. He was a private with the 101st Airborne during the Normandy landings. Duh ...

Really gets on my nerves when people down other people if you did further research like really deep deep deep research you would know that James Brian studied Shotokan Karate I doubt your skills cause you don't look like a practicing to yourself

Growing up in the early 80s, Kill or Be Killed & Kill & Kill Again were constantly on Cinemax, then constantly on WOR (ch. 9 in NJ) or channel 17 (out of philly). Any time they were on, my 8 year old self would watch James Ryan kick ass. I even had my mom watching and she doesn't like Karate movies, but there was just something about James Ryan that made him appealing. Neither film is a classic, however, they are of a time that was good clean fun and innocence. I miss that time.

I’m my opinion , James Ryan is a legit expert martial artist. I can tell by his technique, his physical condition, his strength, his quickness and his obvious focus. Was he a legendary martial artist like Bruce Lee or Rickson Gracie? No. But he is a legit Karate expert on my opinion. I can just tell by the way he kicks, punches and the way in which he moves. I disagree with this video. I think James Ryan moved, punched and kicked better than Stan Schmidt. He probably didn’t know as much as Schmidt, but he definitely executed his technique more skillfully.

Who played the fly

Yep. A fan of both of those old movies!

Very intelligent man. Well spoken, sir!!!!

James Ryan was not a Karate expert, he was a Shakespearean stage actor and a Flamenco Dancer ( due to his great movement ) -- He told me this himself when I worked with him on his first Karate Move called : "Karate Olympia" renamed for the information market as " Kill or be Killed" Ryan's real name is Jeffrey du Preez an Afrikaans speaking Actor strained in London England

it seems to me that the actors did their own stunts? Doesn't look like stunt doubles...

I've heard of James Ryan, south african actor but Ive never heard of Reginald Stroud...hmmmmm

How would you summon me then? !984-1990....black belt...yoseikan..then 1991 -1992 black belt go ju kai?

OMG!, I am so happy there is some discussion about James Ryan, I watched his movies at that time and thought he was going places. He had the right physique, but not the right charisma. He certainly had his chance.

James Ryan was an Olympic speed skater from South Africa who later became an actor. He trained in Shotokan karate with Stan Schmidt and Tanaka Sensei with the JKA of South Africa. Most of the cast in both films were actual JKA fighters. Ryan was awarded an honorary black belt as he learned quickly and had very good technique. He continued training in Shotokan for many years afterward and is considered a legitimate member of the JKA so yes, he is a martial artist.

He is awesome

You are approaching this with little to no information about Mr.Ryan I would refute your claims simply based upon watching his high technical performance but his kicks were very well executed.

James Ryan was not a martial arts but a gymnast and ballet dancer. He only had training prior tongue movies, but never a serious practitioner. He has since retired acting, and owns a vineyard from what I read. He was also tired of being typecasted for martial arts roles. Although, he did a great job in the Edgar Allan Poe series.

Note: James Ryan discusses his martial arts background in the audio interview on the 30th Anniversary S.E. DVD. James Ryan said he went through an arduous 7-month training program headed by 9th Dan Schmidt. He trained 6 hours a day, and learned in that time, years of normal study in Shotokan Karate. He says he still practices today and encourages young people to get into martial arts for the discipline, and health of mind and body.

I have never heard of you either

Actually James Ryan is (was) trained in Shotakan karate (like me). I can see it.....

So your primary source was Wikipedia? When I substitute teach school that is not an acceptable source for research.

Actually carradine on his wikipedia it says he was a martial artist but ryan and morita it doesn't

Thank you once again Brother Teacher. My husband was a black belt who has sinced passed away. I know he would have loved this conversation.

James Ryan, trained in shotakan karate, his teacher was the man that played the role as the Fly. Also the guy who played the role Gypsy Billy. He was also in Kickboxer 5 redemption.

He probably isn't a karate expert bro teacher...will have to research it to know for sure.