Sky1 makes moves with Kick Ass Kung Fu

Sky 1 is to screen a six part series which sees the ancient discipline of kung fu meet the hardcore street culture of Modern Britain.

Shaolin monk and martial arts master Matthew Ahmet will mentor a group of young men and women from inner city estates across the UK.

Kick Ass Kung Fu follows Matthew as he attempts to teach the youngsters how to avoid a life of crime and violence through the use of self-control, respect and restraint. Filmed on location in the UK and Hong Kong, the series promises a risky and controversial approach to combating the UK’s rising ‘hoodie culture’ and anti-social behavior.

Matthew Ahmet says: “I want to show these kids that the choices they make affect not just their lives, but those of their families and others around them. The goal of life – happiness – is in their hands and only they are responsible for reaching out and finding it.”

At the age of 16, Matthew moved to China, leaving behind his troubled life in London to train with a shaolin monastery, choosing a strict regime of sacrifice, hard work and punishment. He returned to the UK several years later to tutor youngsters and offer them an insight into the beauty of Shaolin philosophy in a bid to focus their aggression in more positive ways.

Each week Matthew will visit one of the UK’s toughest areas and select three residents, all under the age of 25, to take to Hong Kong where they will live and train like Shaolin monks. They’ll learn from some of the world’s deadliest kung fu instructors in a bid to teach them how to avoid conflict back at home by channeling their aggression into amazing feats of inner strength and confidence.

It will be Matthew’s role to impress upon his recruits that with this power comes a responsibility to be true to themselves, as well as others around them. Ahead of them lie gruelling twelve-hour days, basic living conditions and physical endurance training that will test their mental attitude and commitment. They may be able to perform jaw-dropping feats and gravity-defying stunts if they make it to the end, but will they be able to make some figurative leaps in their lives by returning to college or getting a job? And will they heed Matthew’s advice and use their new-found power and restraint for the greater good?

Kick Ass Kung Fu begins on Monday 27th May at 8pm