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Kick'em In The Ghoulies

"It's The Only Way To Survive"

Martial Art Masters

Kick'em in the Ghoulies Banner Star - October 2010

Grandmaster Loren Avedon

Born: 30th July 1962

Martial artist and Film Star 


9th Dan Taekwondo  -United States Taekwondo Federation 

9th Dan Hapkido - International Hapkido Federation

6th Dan Taekwondo - Kukkiwon 

2nd Dan - Iternational Taekwondo Federation



If your on this site reading this , then you most likely would have heard of 'No Retreat No Surrender' The film basically shot Jean Claude Van Damme to fame and gave a good vehicle for it's star Kurt McKinney.


But when both stars refused to return for the sequels, Ng See Yuen and Roy Horan needed to find somebody to take their places , phoning round dojo's in the States they got round to the dojo that  Mr Avedon was training in.

The guy that answered the phone did not quite understand what it was all about , so the phone was passed to Mr Avedon.


Alll he new was that Ng See Yuen was looking for someone with good skills to star in his latest film ''Raging Thunder''.


As Loren had answered the phone he was given a audition and ended up winning the part.


But that's the first time most of us would have heard of Loren Avedon , he had been a child actor starring in commercials and then also a model. As a matter of interest Loren is the nephew of Famous Photographer Richard Avedon.

Loren's Path to Taekwondo

Loren Started training at a reasonably young age  (Unlike myself finally getting my arse in to gear when 29).


Anyway he was 11 years old living in England and at that time Bruce Lee mania was everywhere , he saw one of Bruce's films and was hooked, but it was not until the summer of 1980 and  back in the States and finishing High School that he walked in to a Dojang ( Korean for Dojo)  and signed up .


He was actually training like every day. But was also lucky ( or at least I would say is mighty lucky ) he got to train with Masters  Phillip and Simon Rhee and Bill ''Superfoot'' Wallace who use to frequent the Dojang  as well as other top instructors of  including the Dojangs Chief Instructor Jun Chong.

What better grounding for your Taekwondo then to be taught by two of the finest exponents of it.


Loren Started training at a reasonably young age .(Unlike Me finally getting my arse in to gear when 29).Anyway he was 11 years old living in England and at that time Bruce Lee mania was everywhere ,he saw one of Bruce's films and was hooked ,but it was not until the summer of 1980 that back in the States and finishing High School that he walked in to a Dojang and signed up .He was actually training like every day.But was also lucky ( or at least i would say is mighty lucky ) he got to train with masters Phillip and Simon Rhee and Bill Wallace as well as other top instructors.

What better grounding for your Taekwondo then to be taught by two of the finest exponents of it.

Loren's Rise to Fame in Film

So film wise Loren got to star in some of the classics , of course 'No Retreat No Surrender 2 ' was the film that got him in the limelight within the martial arts scene.


Taking the lead role and having the likes of Max Thayer and Cynthia Rothrock alongside assured the film would get the showings and I know within the UK it was one of the big martial arts films of the late 80's.


But it wasn't Loren Avedon's first foray into Martial arts films. Grandmaster Jun Chong apart from being a Taekwondo Instructor also made films , he had his own production company . Grandmaster Chong would get his students to appear in the films for authenticity and who doesn't  want to be in a Martial arts film , especially in the 80's .


In 1985 Grandmaster Chong made a film called L A Streetfighters aka Ninja Turf.  It starred Grandmaster Chong along with his students Philip and Simon  Rhee , James Lew , Loren Avedon and the Legendary Bill Wallace.


I actually still have the original UK VHS release of of it to.



But after No Retreat'No Surrender 2  it did not stop there Loren had signed a 3 Picture deal with Seasonal and he followed this with Blood Brothers , aka No Retreat No Surrender 3 , in this film he got to star with Keith Vitali a well known and respected Champion Fighter and one many will know from Jackie Chan's Wheels On Meals.

Blood Brothers again was a massive video release and one that had cemented Loren's Action Star status.


The third film was King of the Kickboxers in this film Loren plays Jake a man who's past catches up with him when he finds out that the man that killed his brother in front of him ten years earlier is making Snuff movies in Thailand.

The film starred Billy Blanks as the main villain and also starred Keith Cooke from the China O'Brien films.

Basically King of the Kickboxers is very much like Jean Claude Van Damme's Kickboxer , but once you view King of the Kickboxers ,  Kickboxer will seem pale in comparison as it just doesn't stand up in the action stakes. 


Of course Loren has not only made 3 films he has starred in around 18 features.


 Films like Silent Force and Circuit with Oliver Gruner he made after his time with Seasonal  .

There are quite a few films out there but not all readly available , especailly in the UK.

Silent Force I managed to track down but  films like The Last Spy , Droid Gunner and Virtual combat still evade me.

Loren also starred in Tiger Claws 3 which he also Action choreographed and was the 2nd unit director for .

Now that's a film that goes for a pretty penny when it comes up for sale , I don't think many pressings where made of these on DVD as I have seen them go for £50.00 at times. 

On top of that Loren also writes films as well .


Another rarity is Manhatten Chase (2000)  which also see's him together with Cynthia Rothrock again.


Loren on TV

Loren has had his stint in TV as well , not just the commercials as a child. 

Loren has starred in quite a few American TV series Buffy , Martial Law , Thunder in Paradise with Hulk Hogan , Baywatch and Baywatch Hawaii.

 

A lasting legacy 

Who knows what time will bring, Loren Avedon is one of the top action stars of 80's and 90's martial cinema , each one of his films has showcased great martial arts performed by a man dedicated to the art .


If you have read about Loren else where you would have read about the deals he turned down hoping to get better deals and then losing the contracts to Don Wilson as the production companies did not want to budge.

Also the  incidents with Lorenzo Lamas and Sheri Rose , but then as I was once told by someone I worked for many years ago .

You go through life and be sure you are going to meet people that stab you in the Back or have no Honor .

It's just unfortunate that Loren met two in the same time frame .

Now Loren has many interests and apart from Film which we all hope he will return to in some form or another soon.

Loren spent some  years with his family residing in Hawaii where he  built a compound for them.


Then there's Loren's interests in Online media which he has developed with others like Online E commerce solutions and search engine tools .


Also while in Hawaii Loren opened a Martial arts studio in conjuction with BJ Penn to provide help to youngsters who have been on the wrong path .


By teaching them Martial arts and disapline and have respect for others and themselves.


On 27-08-2021 Loren was  inducted into the ''Ultimate Warrior Cup Hall of Fame '' by Shidoshi Ron Van Clief and Sifu Al Dacascos.


Loren Currently resides in Florida with his Family. 


To learn more visit Lorens official site .below or on the links page.

www.lorenavedon.com 


  • Loren as Jake Donahue in King of the Kickboxers -1991
    Loren as Jake Donahue in King of the Kickboxers -1991
  • Loren Avedon face of against Billy Blanks in King of the Kickboxers
    Loren Avedon face of against Billy Blanks in King of the Kickboxers
  • Loren Avedon face of against Matthias Hues in Raging Thunder No Retreat No Surender 2
    Loren Avedon face of against Matthias Hues in Raging Thunder No Retreat No Surender 2
  • Raging Thunder ' No Retreat No Surrender 2
    Raging Thunder ' No Retreat No Surrender 2
  • Loren giving it large in Raging Thunder ' No Retreat No Surrender 2
    Loren giving it large in Raging Thunder ' No Retreat No Surrender 2
Loren as Jake Donahue in King of the Kickboxers -1991
Loren as Jake Donahue in King of the Kickboxers -1991
 

Loren Avedon at Clash of the Titans 

 

 

Loren in Berlin in 2010

Our Thanks

Now all I have to do now is thank Loren for agreeing to be featured on my sites banner for a month .

I was lucky enough to meet Loren at the 2010 Martial arts movie Convention in Berlin ,where I asked him .

In true style and as a true martial artist he said yes and thanked me. 

Here  on this site we Honor Martial artists ,some have inspired others to achieve their goals and others have even lent a hand in a more hands on approach.

On this Page we Honor Loren Avedon a genuine Mr,Nice Guy and Friend .

Thanks Loren

I also have to thank Loren's official website , run by one of our very own members .

Thanks Saj .

The Snake meets the Master Loren Avedon 

 

Those Crazy Film Titles

As often with films of lower budget or from the Martial arts genre your find films have multiple titles across various regions.
When it comes to the No Retreat No Surrender films your find in Europe that they are known also as Karate Tiger . Also the Karate Tiger name is also used for Philip Rhee's Best of the Best films as well , so if you end up buying the same  film twice it's probably not your fault. Also you get different posters for films. In the UK the Poster for King of the Kickboxers did not have Loren Avedon on it, but some generic guy in a martial arts pose from the side. It's all crazy stuff we know , just to make it that more confusing when tracking down that elusive film.

 
The Films of Loren Avedon
 About
 Year
  Loren plays Scott whose out to free his Girfriend
  1987
    To avenge his father two brothers must unite
   1990
   Jake Donahue must face his past to survive
   1991
Frank Castle eat your heart out,Frank Stevens is here
   2001
  L A Streetfighters  aka Ninja Turf
  A film from Jun Chong , starring his students
   1985
 The Circuit 
 Loren is a FBI agent in the Olivier Gruner Vehicle
  2002
 Manhatton Chase
 Loren teams up with Cynthia Rothrock again
  2000
 

Page Updated August 2021