Sister Street Fighter

This week, Gavin and I are discussing the chaotic, kinetic, and colorfully crazy world of ‘Sister Street Fighter’! Starring one of the greatest martial arts actors you have probably never heard of, Etsuko (Sue) Shihomi, ‘Sister Street Fighter’ holds its own against the previously established ‘Street Fighter’ series starring the one and only Sonny Chiba. Take the hard-hitting, highly intricate fight choreography of Japanese martial arts cinema at that time, combine it with absolutely over the top villains straight out of a comic book, and then graciously add a splash of the 1960’s Batman television series, and you will get just a GLIMPSE of what this epically good time will have in store for you! A protégé of the aforementioned Sonny Chiba and his Japanese Action Club (JAC) program, Etsuko Shihomi was a pioneer for female martial arts stars in terms of her athletic abilities and martial arts prowess. Possessing powerful movements and a magnetic screen presence, Etsuko paved the way for future female action stars by not only holding her own against her male counterparts but also surpassing them in many facets. ‘Sister Street Fighter’ was the perfect launching pad for her solo career, giving her plenty of room to shine amongst a cast of absolutely insane characters and scenarios she must overcome. Oh, and the martial arts action? Let’s just say it goes from start to finish, with her character of Koryu (aka Tina) taking on a plethora of different henchman: Amazonian kickboxers, nunchuck wielding assassins, and a lead villain with an iron claw and penchant for keeping an army of ruthless killers in his backyard for his personal amusement!  After a successful career spanning just over a decade, Etsuko chose to retire and step away from the limelight to focus on her family, and then later a career in flower arrangement. Who knows what could have happened had she continued making movies, but we are grateful for the ones she did do and continue to enjoy them to this day! You can listen to The Martial Arts Mania Podcast on Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeart Podcasts! Don’t forget to subscribe, download, like, and share with your friends! Thanks again for the continued support and we hope you enjoy!