the best martial arts tricks almost perfect balance

Chan is well-trained in Wushu-which he produced a film about it in 2008-and Hapkido, and the 64-year-old has cranked out so many movies (more than 150) and engaged in so many wild stunts over the past 57 years that it’s dizzying to contemplate. The difference between Jackie Chan and everyone else on this list comes down to two things: comedic timing and crazy stunt work. He has been suffering from hyperthyroidism over the last decade, a condition which can severely alter one’s appearance, but he’s still active, working, and scheduled to be in the live-action remake of Disney’s Mulan next year as The Emperor. In recent years, Li seems frail and appears to have aged a lot. His Hollywood breakthrough came with Lethal Weapon 4 in 1998, and Western audiences have come to know him well through titles like Romeo Must Die, Hero, War (with Jason Statham), and The Expendables trilogy.Īlthough his movies provide plenty of action, Li is a pacifist at heart who believes in an honorable use of martial arts. His first film in 1982, Shaolin Temple, reportedly became one of China’s biggest blockbusters ever, and he’s had a busy career since then, both here and in his homeland. He mastered several styles of Wushu and also learned Baguazhang, Taijiquan, Ying Zhao Quan, Tang Lang Quan, and other Northern Shaolin styles. He won his first national championship at age 11 and traveled to more than 45 countries with the Bejing Wushu Team. Like many of his screen brethren, he started training young in the martial art of Wushu. In reality, a real fight could be over in less than two minutes, as opposed to the epic brawls we often see on screen. A Chinese peer of Yen’s who is the same age, Li is a realist when it comes to onscreen fights.

The best martial arts tricks almost perfect balance