![]() They likened his career to an aircraft, which likewise "takes-off" as quickly, so they placed the name Jet Li on the movie posters. Li acquired his screen name in 1982 in the Philippines when a publicity company thought his real name was too hard to pronounce. The fame gained by his sports winnings led to a career as a martial arts film star, beginning in mainland China and then continuing into Hong Kong. Li's hand print and autograph at the Avenue of Stars in Hong Kong Acting career Chinese and Hong Kong films ![]() Li's martial arts prowess would eventually contribute to his domestic and international fame. Li retired from competitive wushu when he was only 18 due to a knee injury, but became an assistant coach of the Beijing Wushu team for a few years. He has also mastered wushu's main weapons, such as Sanjiegun (Three Section Staff), Gùn, Dao (Broadsword), Jian (Straight Sword). ![]() He did not learn Nanquan (Southern Fist), because his training focused only in the Northern Shaolin Styles. He has also studied other arts including Baguazhang (Eight Trigram Palm), Taijiquan (Supreme Ultimate Fist), Xing Yi Quan (Shape Intent Fist), Zui Quan (Drunken Fist), Ying Zhao Quan (Eagle Claw Fist) and Tanglangquan ( Praying Mantis Fist). Li is a master of several styles of wushu, especially Chángquán (Northern Longfist Style) and Fānziquán (Tumbling Fist). When I grow up, I want to defend my one billion Chinese countrymen!" Li replied, "I don't want to protect any individual. It must have been quite a sight.Īccording to Li, once, as a child, when the Chinese National Wushu Team went to perform for President Richard Nixon in the United States, he was asked by Nixon to be his personal bodyguard. During the awards ceremony, as I stood on the top step of the podium, I was still shorter than the 2nd and 3rd place medalists. I was 12 years old, and the other two medalists were in their mid- to late twenties. My winning first place caused quite a sensation because I was so young. A very young Li competed against adults and was the national all-around champion from 1975 to 1979. Wu Bin even bought food for Li's family in order to boost Li's protein intake. Renowned coaches Li Junfeng and Wu Bin, made extra efforts to help the talented boy develop. He then attended a non- sparring wushu event, followed by joining the Beijing Wushu Team which did a martial art display at the All China Games. Li was eight when his talent for Wushu was noticed as he practiced at a school summer course. When he was two years old, his father died and his family then lived in poverty. Li was born in Beijing, China and was the youngest of two boys and two girls. He co-starred in The One (2001) and War (2007) with Jason Statham, The Forbidden Kingdom (2008) with Jackie Chan, all three of The Expendables films with Sylvester Stallone, and as the title character villain in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008). He has gone on to star in many international action films, including in French cinema with the Luc Besson-produced films Kiss of the Dragon (2001) and Unleashed (2005). Li's first role in a non-Chinese film was as a villain in Lethal Weapon 4 (1998), and his first leading role in a Hollywood film was as Han Sing in Romeo Must Die (2000). He went on to star in many critically acclaimed martial arts epic films, most notably as the lead in Zhang Yimou's Hero (2002), Fist of Legend (1994), and the first three films in the Once Upon a Time in China series (1991–1993), in which he portrayed folk hero Wong Fei-hung. After retiring from competitive Wushu at age 19, he went on to win great acclaim in China as an actor, making his debut with the film Shaolin Temple (1982). Īfter three years of training with acclaimed Wushu teacher Wu Bin, Li won his first national championship for the Beijing Wushu Team. Li Lianjie ( courtesy name Yangzhong born 26 April 1963), better known by his stage name Jet Li, is a Chinese film actor, film producer, martial artist, and retired Wushu champion.
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