Karate Kiba

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Karate Kiba
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Ryuichi Takamori Simon Nuchtern (US footage)
Written by	Ryūzō Nakanishi
Screenplay by	Ikki Kajiwara
Based on	Bodyguard Kiba by Ikki Kajiwara Ken Nakagusuku
Produced by	Susumu Yoshikawa Terry Levene (US footage)
Starring	Sonny Chiba Rinichi Yamamoto Masutatsu Ōyama Ryōhei Uchida
Cinematography	Yohio Najakima Yoshio Nakajima Joel Shapiro (American footage)
Edited by	Osamu Tanaka
Music by	Toshiaki Tsushima Maurice Sarli (American release)
Release dates	May 24, 1973 (1973-05-24) 1976 (1976) (American release)
Running time	87 minutes
Country	Japan
Language	Japanese

Karate Kiba or Bodyguard Kiba (ボディガード牙) is a 1973 Japanese martial arts film starring Sonny Chiba. It is based on an action manga by Ikki Kajiwara.^[1][2]

A recut version was released in the United States in 1976 as The Bodyguard, with added footage in the first ten minutes of the film.

Bodyguard Kiba was followed by the sequel Bodigaado Kiba: Hissatsu sankaku tobi, released later that same year. There were then three more film adaptations with Takeshi Yamato in the role of Kiba released in 1993, 1994, and 1995 by Takashi Miike at the beginning of his career.^[3]