Jackie Chan, The Matrix’s Yuen Woo-ping on martial arts choreographer’s role in Hong Kong action cinema

Many Hong Kong directors were not trained in martial arts and handed over the shooting of fight scenes to specialists, who were accorded unparalleled respect

Often, like Jackie Chan, martial arts choreographers started out as stuntmen; sometimes they went on to direct films themselves. Here’s how some saw the role

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Martial arts choreographer Yuen Woo-ping on the set of Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy (2018). The action scene choreographer played a unique role in Hong Kong cinema.

Published: 5:15am, 15 Nov 2020Updated: 5:15am, 15 Nov 2020

Martial arts choreographers are the unsung heroes of classic Hong Kong cinema. Many directors were not trained in martial arts, and handed over the shooting of the fight scenes to these specialised choreographers, who arranged them after consultation with the directors.

Sometimes martial arts choreographers would even man the camera for the fight scenes, temporarily taking control of the shoot and acting like the director. Similar jobs exist in Hollywood, but the level of independence and respect martial arts choreographers attained in Hong Kong cinema is unique.

According to a 1980 interview with venerable martial arts choreographer Han Yingjie, the title of martial arts choreographer was first used in the early 1960s, although the work was done in films made in the 1950s and earlier. In the 1960s and 1970s, many martial arts choreographers started off as stuntmen, and worked their way up to the position.

They tended to come from two main backgrounds. Some, like Sammo Hung Kam-bo, trained at Peking Opera schools, where they learned martial arts techniques and acrobatics. Others, like the late Lau Kar-leung, trained in combat techniques. Some martial arts choreographers, including Lau, Hung, and Ching Siu-tung, went on to become well-known directors.

Along with kung fu, martial arts directors need to know how to set up wires for the “wire work” which has traditionally been used to simulate flying. Nowadays, choreographers also need to know how to work with the special effects team.