Jul 9, 2025
Gymkata (Robert Clouse, 1985)
seen from Japan
seen from United States
seen from Canada
seen from Singapore
seen from Malaysia
seen from Canada
seen from United Kingdom
seen from United States
seen from Italy
seen from Italy
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Germany
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Australia
seen from United States
seen from Canada
Gymkata (Robert Clouse, 1985)
That time when Robin was mugged just after he started at Hudson U in the 70's.
Well, this looks suspicious
Clearly making new friends during his first term at college and investigating criminal activities can't go hand in hand. How sad.
However... these foolish muggers have forgotten that not only is Dick a trained martial artist, but he is also knows...
Because when he DOES track these offenders down (by way of their unique orange sneakers) to the Kappa Zeta frathouse (Which is probably going on super secret double probation after this) he decides to do it by also putting on a bit of a show!
Dick clearly feels he has something to prove if he's going to make a name for himself as Hudson U's first actual superhero.
And when it's over....
Well, that would have been exciting to watch, wouldn't it kiddies?
Whilst I can't do that, I should explain the Gymkata reference, it's a fabulously awful movie from 1985.
And there is no way that this deeply, truly, wonderfully dreadful movie is not one of Dick Grayson’s guilty pleasure, as it concerns an Olympic gymnast turned martial artist is recruited by the Special Intelligence Agency for… reasons that are WAY too dumb for me to to explain.
Suffice it to say that a village in the fictional cliche-ridden country of Parmistan soon discovers how silly it was to put a pommel horse in their town square when a MASTER OF GYMKATA is present.
The lead actor was Kurt Thomas, a genuinely brilliant, Olympic competitive gymnast. Sadly his acting was... not so hot, but honestly, if ever there was a martial art which looked like I imagine Dick Grayson moves, it'd be this... case in point
And the fact I know this is also the reason that I remember being the only person to laugh out loud at this moment from The LEGO Batman Movie.
GYMKATA (1985) dir. Robert Clouse
On May 3, 1985, Gymkata debuted in the United States.
RIP Kurt Thomas, star of “Gymkata,” who passed on at 64 today.
(via R.I.P. Kurt Thomas, Olympic athlete and star of Gymkata)
R.I.P. Kurt Thomas
“RIP Kurt Thomas.”