The South Side of Chicago is notorious as one of the largest areas of urban poverty in America. Yet in the shadow of the massive housing projects, a vibrant martial arts tradition has been flourishing since the 1950s. Featuring the late Sensei Jaco, the father of Wasalu Jaco aka Lupe Fiasco, South Side Warriors is the first documentary to examine the vibrant martial arts scene on Chicago’s predominately-black South Side. Focusing on two different schools with long histories on the South Side, the film chronicles how the Asian martial arts have been adopted and adapted by African Americans to cope with life in some of America’s poorest communities.

Run time 30 minutes
Producer Robert Wyrod