Kiwi cage fighters win and take the first step on a road they hope will lead to a successful professional UFC career, in the final of a 3-part series.

Mixed Martial Arts or MMA fights are on the rise in New Zealand. Herald photographer Brett Phibbs takes a look at the action.

No sport has imprinted itself on the world as quickly or dramatically as mixed martial arts. Over the next three days, Steve Dean traces its roots.

He may be only 8 years old and 1.27m tall, but martial arts expert Matthew has his black belt in Shaolin Kempo.

Tricky's mother killed herself when he was 4 and an uncle spent time in jail for cutting off somebody's ear. Ahead of his Auckland show next week Tim Adams talks to the trip-hop innovator about his relationship with the dark side

"It's called The Karate Kid - you can expect a bit of karate," says Sony Pictures.

Just months after being crowned a NZ champion, a martial arts fighter collapsed in training and died, shocking his family and fellow fighters.

A kung fu "Grand Master" who left New Zealand after a scandal in which one of his students died was detained by police on serious weapons charges in Thailand.