Many of the actors that are now well known to martial arts fans often started their careers as unknown players in low budget, 'B' type films. Over the years their popularity grew, as did the box office earnings from their films. Blockbusters from the '70s such as Enter the Dragon showcased the supreme athleticism of Bruce Lee and this movie continues to thrill audiences today. More recent films such as Ong Bak, released in 2003, introduced Muay Thai expert Tony Jaa to the world and he has been a sensation ever since. Here's a short of these unique stars and their accomplishments.
Bruce Lee
Born in San Francisco in 1940 but raised in Hong Kong, one of Lee's earliest jobs in television was in the short lived series The Green Hornet. He got his first big break in the 1971 film Big Boss. The film was a success at the box office and Lee went on to make Way of the Dragon. In the film's final scene and one that is regarded as one of the most memorable in martial arts film history, Lee brutally punished his opponent Chuck Norris, whom Lee had met in 1964. Lee pioneered a new martial art called Jeet Kune Do and some notable students included Steve McQueen, James Coburn and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Bruce Lee, who at times was able to punch and kick so fast the cameras couldn't follow his movements, passed away suddenly in 1973. His last movie, titled Game of Death, had to be completed with the help of look-alikes and stunt doubles.
Jackie Chan
Born in 1954, Chan is famous for performing most of his own stunts. Over the years he has broken his fingers, toes, hips, ribs and both cheekbones multiple times. Unlike Bruce Lee, who always played stern heroes with an unwavering moral code, Chan has played goofy, likeable guys who through no fault of his own get into hopeless situations but eventually triumphs.
Chan's style of fighting is markedly different from Bruce Lee. While Lee was loose and let his arms and legs move freely, Chan is tight and choppy. He also uses improvised weapons, such as chairs, tables, doors and ladders, something Lee never did. Rumble in the Bronx, Shanghai Noon and the Rush Hour trilogy are some of Chan's most successful films.
Tony Jaa
A relative newcomer to the Hollywood scene, Jaa is a former stuntman who was inspired to study martial arts by watching Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan films. In his breakthrough film Ong Bak he did all of his own stunts without the help of ropes, stunt doubles or digital effects. In 2005 he made another smash hit called Tom Yum Goong, which showed Jaa's incredible agility and lighting fast, dance-like attacks.
He's not only a master of Muay Thai. Jaa is practiced in taekwondo, gymnastics, stick/sword fighting and capoeira.
Jet Li
Born in 1963, he's a native of Beijing, China and his first Hollywood role was as a villain in Lethal Weapon 4. Practiced in several forms of wushu, a full contact sport derived from Chinese martial arts, he appeared alongside Jackie Chan for the first time in the 2008 film The Forbidden Kingdom. The film received largely positive reviews. Li started The One Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting international relief efforts after his near death experience in the Maldives during the 2004 tsunami.
Author Sunil S.
Bruce Lee
Born in San Francisco in 1940 but raised in Hong Kong, one of Lee's earliest jobs in television was in the short lived series The Green Hornet. He got his first big break in the 1971 film Big Boss. The film was a success at the box office and Lee went on to make Way of the Dragon. In the film's final scene and one that is regarded as one of the most memorable in martial arts film history, Lee brutally punished his opponent Chuck Norris, whom Lee had met in 1964. Lee pioneered a new martial art called Jeet Kune Do and some notable students included Steve McQueen, James Coburn and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Bruce Lee, who at times was able to punch and kick so fast the cameras couldn't follow his movements, passed away suddenly in 1973. His last movie, titled Game of Death, had to be completed with the help of look-alikes and stunt doubles.
Jackie Chan
Born in 1954, Chan is famous for performing most of his own stunts. Over the years he has broken his fingers, toes, hips, ribs and both cheekbones multiple times. Unlike Bruce Lee, who always played stern heroes with an unwavering moral code, Chan has played goofy, likeable guys who through no fault of his own get into hopeless situations but eventually triumphs.
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Chan's style of fighting is markedly different from Bruce Lee. While Lee was loose and let his arms and legs move freely, Chan is tight and choppy. He also uses improvised weapons, such as chairs, tables, doors and ladders, something Lee never did. Rumble in the Bronx, Shanghai Noon and the Rush Hour trilogy are some of Chan's most successful films.
Tony Jaa
A relative newcomer to the Hollywood scene, Jaa is a former stuntman who was inspired to study martial arts by watching Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan films. In his breakthrough film Ong Bak he did all of his own stunts without the help of ropes, stunt doubles or digital effects. In 2005 he made another smash hit called Tom Yum Goong, which showed Jaa's incredible agility and lighting fast, dance-like attacks.
He's not only a master of Muay Thai. Jaa is practiced in taekwondo, gymnastics, stick/sword fighting and capoeira.
Jet Li
Born in 1963, he's a native of Beijing, China and his first Hollywood role was as a villain in Lethal Weapon 4. Practiced in several forms of wushu, a full contact sport derived from Chinese martial arts, he appeared alongside Jackie Chan for the first time in the 2008 film The Forbidden Kingdom. The film received largely positive reviews. Li started The One Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting international relief efforts after his near death experience in the Maldives during the 2004 tsunami.
Author Sunil S.
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