Discovery Channel's

FIGHT QUEST

Every Friday at 10pm / Episode Schedule

 

(Silver Spring, Md.) – In the exciting the Discovery Channel series, FIGHT QUEST, which premiered Friday,

January 4, 2008 at 10 PM ET/PT, Champion fighter Jimmy Smith and newbie Doug Anderson travel the

world to investigate different schools of hand-to-hand combat, immerse themselves in each culture, train in

its traditional martial art and, ultimately, face off against a local fighter. The new 10-part series premiered

with a visit to Manila, where Jimmy and Doug try their hands in the weapons-based Filipino art of Kali - one

of the deadliest, most ancient fighting systems on earth.

 

Two very different personalities, both studious fighters with serious attitudes, who fight their way around the

world, Jimmy and Doug learn how the locals battle - sometimes an ancient art of combat, other times brutal

street fighting. In the end, only the best will win, and it's not always the hosts. Additional locations include:

China, Korea, Mexico City, Thailand, Israel and Brazil.

 

     

                                                                              Jimmy Smith               Doug Anderson

 

LA-based mixed martial arts fighter Jimmy Smith and New Jersey native, Iraqi War veteran Doug Anderson.

Smith is one of Mixed Martial Art’s rising cage-fighting stars. In the cage, Smith is known as a lightning-fast

grappler who can destroy opponents in under three minutes. A native of New Jersey, Anderson enlisted in

the United States Army in 2002 and served for three intense and highly decorated years in Iraq. It was during

his time in the Army that Doug first became interested in martial arts. He currently practices Jiu-Jitsu and

traditional and Muay Thai kickboxing.

 

FIGHT QUEST is a produced for Discovery Channel by North South Productions. Charlie DeBovoise and

Mark Hickman are executive producers. Jack Smith is executive producer and Liz Brach is Vice President,

Production for Discovery Channel.

 

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FIGHT QUEST Episode Schedule

Fridays @ 10pm et/pt

 

- The Philippines, January 4

  Jimmy and Doug head to Manila to try their hands in the weapons-based Filipino art of Kali – one of the

  deadliest, most ancient fighting systems on earth. Both men’s journeys culminate in a brutal, no-holds-

  barred showdown against the hardest Kali fighters the Philippines has to offer – two sergeants in the elite

  Philippine Force Recon Marines.

 

- Japan, January 11

  Jimmy and Doug journey to Tokyo to learn the brutal bare-fisted fighting style known as Kyokushin Karate.

  After five days of intense training, Doug is injured and Jimmy exhausted, but both fighters must fight five

  black-belts - one after the other - in a tradition known as a “Kumite.”

 

- Mexico, January 18

  Jimmy and Doug head to Mexico City to learn the rough and tumble world of Mexican Boxing. Training at

  over 10,000 feet above sea-level, Doug’s stamina is tested to the max. Meanwhile, Jimmy is overwhelmed

  he has to train alongside Olympic champions.

 

- Indonesia, January 25

  In the remote streets of Bandung, Jimmy and Doug learn the ancient fighting art known as Pencak-Silat.

  While training with one of Indonesia’s toughest Silat masters, Doug injures his foot and has to decide

  whether to fight in his final battle or not.

 

- France, February 1

  Jimmy and Doug are off to the hard-scrabble port of Marseilles to learn France’s contribution to the world of

  kickboxing – Savate, an elegant but brutal fighting form with kicks so dangerous they’ve been outlawed.

 

- Korea, February 8

  Hapkido is Korea’s gift to the world of martial arts and in this episode Jimmy and Doug learn the ins and

  outs of this deadly defensive art. After learning spinning kicks, flying kicks, and other Hapkido tricks, both

  guys head to a full-contact Hapkido battle.

 

- Brazil, February 15

  Our fighters land in Rio to experience the wildly popular world of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and train with the

  legendary Gracie family.

 

- Israel, February 22

  The Israeli military is one of the most highly trained and skilled forces in the world and their secret weapon

  is Krav Maga. In this episode, Jimmy and Doug train with the Israeli military and learn the secrets of this

  murderous fighting style.

 

- USA, February 29

  Kajukenbo is street-fighting gone legit. It’s a truly American martial art comprised of the most deadly moves

  from karate, kung fu, and other fighting styles. In this episode, Jimmy and Doug travel to the roughest

  edges of the S.F. Bay area to uncover why some Americans live to fight.

 

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Fight Quest Styles Synopses

 

Muay Thai

(Ayutthaya & Bangkok, Thailand)

Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand, and is also known as Thai Kickboxing.

It has a long history as a martial art used by the military and uses kicks and

punches in a ring and with gloves similar to those used in western boxing. Dubbed

"The Art of the Eight Limbs", the hands, shins, elbows, and knees are all used

extensively in this art. Our hosts will travel to Thailand to train in an especially

versatile, brutal martial art. Their journey will begin in Ayutthaya, Thailand’s

ancient old capital and Muay Thai’s birthplace more than five centuries ago; and

make their way to Bangkok, Thailand’s new capital and home of the Sor Vorapin

Gym, one of the most famous Muay Thai training gyms in Thailand.

 

Japan’s Kyokushin Karate

(Tokyo, Japan)

The most popular and extreme version of karate – Kyokushin, an aggressive, full contact

style of karate-do was founded by Masutatsu Oyama in 1964. Japanese for "the society for

the ultimate truth" it’s a very practical method of self defense, deeply rooted in the

philosophies of self-improvement and discipline. Doug and Jimmy will venture to Tokyo to

train under Kancho Yoshikazu Matsushima – 9th Dan, President of the International

Kyokushin Organization and Kancho Shokei Matsui – 9th Dan. named to carry on the task

of building and preserving the name of Kyokushin by its founder.

 

Tukong Moosul

(South Korea)

Tukong Moosul meaning literally "Special Forces Martial Art" officially began as the self-

defense system of the South Korean Special Forces. It is widely used by South Korean

special warfare units, such as the elite 707 Special Mission Battalion. The martial artist

is trained in four areas, based upon the distance theory. The four areas include Throwing

(leverage techniques), Punching (hand techniques), Kicking (foot techniques), and

Weapons (extended body  techniques). Doug and Jimmy will travel to South Korea, the

origin of Tukong Moosul to train under their skilled masters in the Dae Yeon Sa Temple.

 

 

Israel’s Krav Maga

(Netanya, Israel)

A brutal fighting system that employs punching, kicking, grappling and disarming in worst

case scenarios. It’s the official combative training method for all Israeli military personnel,

police and security forces. Doug and Jimmy will travel to Krav Maga’s birthplace, Netanya

on Israel’s historic coast to train with masters Eyal Yanilov & Avi Avisadon. Eyal has been

a teacher of Krav Maga for more than 30 years and Avi headed the Krav Maga unit of the

Isreali Naval Commandos.

 

 

French Savate

(Paris / Marseilles / Cassis, France)

Savate - also known as boxe française or French kickboxing, is a French martial art

which uses both the hands and feet as weapons and contains elements of western

boxing, grappling and graceful kicking techniques. The form is an amalgam of French

street fighting techniques from the beginning of the 19th century. Doug and Jimmy would

travel to Marseilles, Paris or Cassis to train at a combat level (the arts most intense

level) with some of the arts most experience masters.

 

About Discovery Communications

Discovery Communications is the number-one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion

cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Through TV and digital media, Discovery's 100-plus worldwide

networks include Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, The Science Channel, Discovery Health and

Discovery HD Theater. Discovery Communications is owned by Discovery Holding Co. (NASDAQ: DISCA,

DISCB), Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, Discovery's founder and chairman.

For more information please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.

 

 

- From the Discovery Channel with a little editing from us (color, etc...)

- Photos courtesy of the Discovery Channel

 

 

Subject to change

 

 

(1/8/08)