https://www.scmp.com/rss/325634/feed Latest martial arts news, features and opinion, covering movie icons Bruce Lee, Jet Li, Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen, as well as the debate surrounding the practicality of traditional martial arts as a combat style in China in the wake of the rise of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Forms covered include boxing, wing chun, karate, taekwondo, Muay Thai, kick-boxing, kung fu, judo, wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Richard James Havis Richard James Havis A screen legend in the early 1970s, martial arts performer Angela Mao Ying, 75, is remembered for big hits such as the 1972 films Hapkido and Lady Whirlwind, and a small role in Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon (1973). Beyond these, the Taiwan-born highly skilled fighter made several other excellent martial arts films. Here, we discuss Mao’s The Invincible Eight (1971), The Angry River (1971), The Tournament (1974), Stoner (1974) and The Himalayan (1976) with film historian Frank Djeng, who provided... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3352099/why-1970s-hong-kong-film-legend-angela-mao-was-better-martial-artist-michelle-yeoh?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3352099/why-1970s-hong-kong-film-legend-angela-mao-was-better-martial-artist-michelle-yeoh?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 07:15:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Bruce Lee’s legacy in Hong Kong got a needed boost last month with the unveiling of a life-size statue of the late kung fu legend at the site of his childhood home. The tribute marking 85 years since Lee arrived in the city is to be welcomed, but also raises questions about why there is not more focus on one of Hong Kong’s most famous sons. Entertainment company hmvod and arts curator Heiman Ng organised the statue’s unveiling and an exhibition at the Prudential Centre on Nathan Road in Jordan.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352177/hong-kongs-efforts-commemorate-bruce-lee-should-pack-bigger-punch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352177/hong-kongs-efforts-commemorate-bruce-lee-should-pack-bigger-punch?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 23:15:10 +0000 Kristen Cheung Kristen Cheung An entertainment company and an arts curator have unveiled a life-size statue of late kung fu legend Bruce Lee at his childhood home in Hong Kong to mark the 85th anniversary of his arrival in the city. Organisers hmvod and curator Heiman Ng said the statue, unveiled on Monday, had been permanently installed at the Prudential Centre on Nathan Road in Jordan. The building is on the site of a now-demolished residential block where the Lee family lived on their return to Hong Kong in 1941, not long... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3351574/hong-kong-marks-85th-anniversary-bruce-lees-arrival-statue-and-exhibition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3351574/hong-kong-marks-85th-anniversary-bruce-lees-arrival-statue-and-exhibition?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:46:57 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis The 1967 film The One-Armed Swordsman changed Hong Kong martial arts cinema forever. Its two sequels, while less influential, remain well-regarded and highly entertaining. Here is how those two follow-ups kept the legend alive. Return of the One-Armed Swordsman (1969) The massive success of the original film made Chang Cheh a “million-dollar director” – and a sequel inevitable. Although leading actor Jimmy Wang Yu returned, this follow-up was a very different film. Screenwriting legend Ni Kuang... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3351007/how-one-armed-swordsman-sequels-took-hong-kong-martial-arts-films-next-level?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3351007/how-one-armed-swordsman-sequels-took-hong-kong-martial-arts-films-next-level?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:15:09 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A dedicated five-year-old Chinese girl is making a big impression online with her skilful and powerful martial arts performances. Huang Zijun from Maoming, in southern China’s Guangdong province, has marvelled countless netizens with videos of her performing Hung Kuen, a representative martial art in southern China. It is famous for its low and stable positions, powerful strikes with the arms and flexible hand skills. Many of its classic postures are named after animals, such as the tiger, snake... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3350163/china-martial-arts-prodigy-5-often-practises-point-tears-ready-may-tournament?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3350163/china-martial-arts-prodigy-5-often-practises-point-tears-ready-may-tournament?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 01:00:11 +0000 Wee Kek Koon Wee Kek Koon I was watching a “C-drama”, or Chinese television drama, on Netflix and found myself silently questioning why I had to sit through a sluggish 20-minute set piece that could have been done and dusted in two. At that moment, the person who had persuaded me to watch the period potboiler asked, “What is a biaoju?”, referring to a key plot device in the show. China’s armed escort services, known as biaoju, grew out of a very practical problem: getting from point A to point B without being robbed or... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3347993/how-imperial-chinas-armed-escorts-became-stuff-legend?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3347993/how-imperial-chinas-armed-escorts-became-stuff-legend?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 00:15:07 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis The late Hong Kong action maestro Benny Chan Muk-sing made his name with the hit triad love story A Moment of Romance (1990) and the acclaimed police thriller Big Bullet (1996), before going on to direct popular action extravaganzas such as 2013’s The White Storm. Bridging these two eras are two pivotal films from the early 2000s that demonstrate Chan’s unique flair for action – Heroic Duo and Invisible Target. Heroic Duo (2003) Shot before 2002’s mega-hit Infernal Affairs fully rejuvenated the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3347240/how-two-benny-chans-2000s-films-bridged-old-school-stunts-and-modern-hong-kong-action?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3347240/how-two-benny-chans-2000s-films-bridged-old-school-stunts-and-modern-hong-kong-action?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 10:15:11 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Chuck Norris, the US martial artist and Hollywood action star most famous for his role in Walker, Texas Ranger, has died, his family said on Friday. He was 86. The martial arts expert turned actor starred in a slew of action films since his acting debut with a cameo in a 1968 Dean Martin film The Wrecking Crew. Four years later, his epic fight with the kung fu superstar Bruce Lee in The Way of The Dragon helped turn Norris into an icon on big and small screens alike. “It is with heavy hearts... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3347388/action-movie-star-chuck-norris-dies-86?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3347388/action-movie-star-chuck-norris-dies-86?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 15:09:00 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis Hong Kong martial arts maestro Chang Cheh’s legendary acrobatic fighters, the Venom Mob, have remained firm favourites of genre fans abroad since their screen debut in 1978. The bedrock of that enduring popularity is The Five Venoms (also known as Five Deadly Venoms), the cult classic that launched their iconic run. For the uninitiated, the Venom Mob are not a fictional movie team like Marvel’s Avengers, but a group of actors – brought together by Chang – who appeared in different roles in a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3345671/how-five-venoms-pioneered-superhero-team-chinese-martial-arts-cinema?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3345671/how-five-venoms-pioneered-superhero-team-chinese-martial-arts-cinema?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 09:15:07 +0000 Daniel Eagan Daniel Eagan It has been more than seven years since Yuen Woo-ping last directed a feature film. Opening for Lunar New Year 2026, Blades of the Guardians marks a return to the kind of martial arts blockbusters that the Hong Kong cinema icon helped define with works such as Drunken Master (1978) and Wing Chun (1994). Based on a popular comics series, the new film follows bounty hunter Dao Ma (Wu Jing), the “second most wanted fugitive” in the Sui dynasty (581-618), as he tries to lead a rebel leader across... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3343880/director-yuen-woo-ping-revives-wuxia-blockbuster-blades-guardians?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3343880/director-yuen-woo-ping-revives-wuxia-blockbuster-blades-guardians?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 08:15:07 +0000 Sasha Gonzales Sasha Gonzales The passion that black belt holder Lily Chan has for teaching aikido at her family’s Singapore school shines through in her classes. She has been training in the Japanese martial art for more than a decade, and is proud to be a part of the “dojo” founded by her oldest son, Shamus, and husband, Patrick. Aikido was developed by Japanese martial artist Morihei Ueshiba in the early 20th century. This modern, non-aggressive and unique form of self-defence focuses on harmony and non-violent conflict... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343703/73-year-old-singaporean-aikido-black-belt-only-started-learning-her-60s?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343703/73-year-old-singaporean-aikido-black-belt-only-started-learning-her-60s?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 03:00:07 +0000 Edmund Lee Edmund Lee 3.5/5 stars Fans of Chinese-language martial arts movies could hardly have asked for a more satisfying revival than this ferocious wuxia epic, directed by the legendary Yuen Woo-ping (Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy) and anchored by a visceral turn from superstar Wu Jing (Wolf Warrior 2) as a master swordsman haunted by his past. Adapted from a popular Chinese comics series of the same name by a quartet of screenwriters, Blades of the Guardians is, as expected, crammed with so many semi-developed... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3343820/blades-guardians-movie-review-wu-jing-leads-star-studded-chinese-martial-arts-epic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3343820/blades-guardians-movie-review-wu-jing-leads-star-studded-chinese-martial-arts-epic?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 09:01:18 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng China’s box office presales topped 200 million yuan (US$28.9 million) by Saturday ahead of the coming Lunar New Year holiday, led exclusively by domestic productions – a decline of more than 60 per cent from about 600 million yuan over the same period last year, according to Taopiaopiao, the online ticketing arm of Alibaba Pictures. Presales are closely watched by distributors and investors as an early indicator of holiday audience demand. Long seen as a crucial pillar of China’s film market,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342186/chinas-box-office-presales-fall-over-60-last-year-crucial-lunar-new-year-window?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342186/chinas-box-office-presales-fall-over-60-last-year-crucial-lunar-new-year-window?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 02:00:09 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis To the uninitiated, the sight of a blood-soaked swordsman fighting on with an arrow lodged in his chest seems absurd. Yet, in the world of Hong Kong cinema, realism is rarely the point. Martial arts films, whether “kung fu” fisticuffs or “wuxia” sword-fighting, operate on a unique logic of physical poetry and historical myth. Below, to help find your footing, we punch out some commonly held misconceptions about this widely cherished tradition. Why the unrealistic fights and injuries? Martial... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3342311/beginners-guide-watching-hong-kong-martial-arts-movies-and-why-realism-doesnt-matter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3342311/beginners-guide-watching-hong-kong-martial-arts-movies-and-why-realism-doesnt-matter?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 09:15:07 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis Alexander Fu Sheng, who died in a car crash in 1983 aged 28, is best remembered for his Shaolin kung fu films, such as 1974’s Heroes Two. But the martial arts star, born Cheung Fu-sheng, also expanded his range through his short career, performing in modern-day actioners like Chinatown Kid and kung fu comedies. Here, we look at a few of Fu’s more unusual later works. Chinatown Kid (1977) A hit with fans abroad, Fu’s rare foray into modern-day action was a good fit for his cheeky persona and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3340777/3-hong-kong-martial-arts-legend-alexander-fu-shengs-more-unusual-movies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3340777/3-hong-kong-martial-arts-legend-alexander-fu-shengs-more-unusual-movies?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 09:15:08 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis Hong Kong filmmaker Ronny Yu Yan-tai’s little-seen The Postman Fights Back (1982) is a highly unusual martial arts film that plays more like an American Western than a traditional wuxia. It features Leung Kar-yan as a courier in Republican China tasked with delivering a mysterious cargo to a violent mountain bandit, whose motley crew of associates includes a young Chow Yun-fat. Here we discuss The Postman Fights Back with film historian Frank Djeng, who provided the commentary with Yu for the 88... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3340019/why-ronny-yus-postman-fights-back-starring-leung-kar-yan-unusual-wuxia-gem?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3340019/why-ronny-yus-postman-fights-back-starring-leung-kar-yan-unusual-wuxia-gem?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 09:15:09 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall A Japanese man has been arrested under a rarely used 19th-century law against duelling after a late-night street fight in Tokyo that police say was arranged in advance left another man dead, fuelling wider concern about Japan’s violent amateur fight culture online. Police said Fuzuki Asari, 26, from Yachiyo in Chiba prefecture, was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of duelling and causing injury resulting in death under a statute enacted 137 years ago. The case centres on a late-night... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3339625/fatal-tokyo-fist-fight-leads-rare-duelling-charge-and-fears-over-amateur-fight-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3339625/fatal-tokyo-fist-fight-leads-rare-duelling-charge-and-fears-over-amateur-fight-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 02:00:18 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis Hong Kong producer-writer-director Wong Jing churned out so many films in the 1990s that some were bound to succeed. The underrated gem The New Legend of Shaolin, starring Jet Li Lianjie, stands out as a highlight, marrying lighthearted comedy and above-average action to good effect. The storyline, while simple, is logical and tightly structured, with highs and lows hitting the right beats. Moreover, Wong’s signature penchant for lowbrow comedy is deployed with restraint. When the cheesy jokes... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3338386/why-jet-li-and-wong-jings-1994-martial-arts-movie-new-legend-shaolin-underrated?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3338386/why-jet-li-and-wong-jings-1994-martial-arts-movie-new-legend-shaolin-underrated?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jan 2026 08:15:09 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis Chen Zhen, a fictional character first played by Bruce Lee in the 1972 film Fist of Fury, became a cultural phenomenon in Hong Kong because of the way he stood up to the Japanese in Shanghai in the early 1900s. A scene in which Chen makes students at a Japanese karate school eat the paper on which they had written “China is the sick man of Asia” was especially popular, as was the scene in which Chen smashes a sign outside a Shanghai public park reading “No dogs or Chinese”. Here, we look at two... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3337793/how-stephen-chow-and-donnie-yen-reinvented-bruce-lees-classic-chen-zhen-their-own-ways?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3337793/how-stephen-chow-and-donnie-yen-reinvented-bruce-lees-classic-chen-zhen-their-own-ways?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Dec 2025 09:15:07 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis Hong Kong filmmaker Chor Yuen is known today for directing magical martial arts classics like The Sentimental Swordsman. Recently, however, a number of his rarer titles were made widely available again. Below we look at a few of his lesser-known wuxia gems. Duel for Gold (1971) Chor had only one martial arts film to his credit, Cold Blade, before joining Shaw Brothers in 1970. He had previously established himself by directing around 70 dramas and romances, many of which achieved both commercial... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3336890/how-chor-yuens-forgotten-hong-kong-wuxia-films-mixed-magic-realism-and-complex-heroes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3336890/how-chor-yuens-forgotten-hong-kong-wuxia-films-mixed-magic-realism-and-complex-heroes?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Dec 2025 09:15:08 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis Hong Kong cinema had many martial arts heroines beyond Michelle Yeoh, and some were bigger stars locally. Here, we look at some lesser-seen films featuring three of the city’s top female fighters. 1. Righting Wrongs (1986) – Cynthia Rothrock American martial arts expert Cynthia Rothrock, who had debuted with Yeoh in the cop hit Yes, Madam!, was on a roll when she starred in Righting Wrongs – also known as Above the Law. Directed by Corey Yuen Kwai, who had discovered Rothrock while scouting for... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3335995/3-female-action-stars-who-ruled-hong-kong-martial-arts-cinema-alongside-michelle-yeoh?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3335995/3-female-action-stars-who-ruled-hong-kong-martial-arts-cinema-alongside-michelle-yeoh?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Dec 2025 09:15:08 +0000 Danielle Popov Danielle Popov Humanoid robot maker Unitree Robotics has teased what it calls the world’s first humanoid robot “app store”, a developer platform designed to bring embodied intelligence into everyday life by allowing users to access and control robots directly through their smartphones. The Hangzhou-based robotics unicorn unveiled a centralised programme, dubbed the Unitree Robotics Developer Platform, offering functions such as datasets and remote control programmes for humanoids. Unitree called it the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3336380/chinas-unitree-teases-platform-allowing-users-control-robots-through-smartphones?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3336380/chinas-unitree-teases-platform-allowing-users-control-robots-through-smartphones?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Dec 2025 08:49:43 +0000 Natasha Rogai Natasha Rogai Kung Fu Artistry is a new work by the Hong Kong Dance Company (HKDC) that marks the 85th anniversary of the birth of the great Bruce Lee, one of Hong Kong’s best-loved and most celebrated sons. Subtitled Bruce Lee’s No Way as Way, this dance drama explores his philosophy as well as his life and martial arts prowess. Visually stunning and filled with evocative images and music, the production features thrilling martial arts choreography and a tremendous performance by Ong Tsz-shen as Lee. With... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3334993/thrilling-bruce-lee-dance-show-explores-hong-kong-stars-life-and-career?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3334993/thrilling-bruce-lee-dance-show-explores-hong-kong-stars-life-and-career?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 09:15:08 +0000 Andrew Whitelaw Andrew Whitelaw A unifying international governing federation for mixed martial arts will be launched on December 1, senior officials announced on Thursday at a press briefing. The new body aims to bring greater unity to the sport’s amateur structures and boost its case for Olympic inclusion. The Federation of Mixed Martial Arts (Fimma) was created in response to calls from athletes and national federations for a single cohesive body, said Gordon Tang, president of the Asian Mixed Martial Arts Association... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3334472/international-mma-body-formed-unify-amateur-governance-target-olympic-inclusion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3334472/international-mma-body-formed-unify-amateur-governance-target-olympic-inclusion?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Nov 2025 05:53:13 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Fans of Bruce Lee will mark the 85th anniversary of his birth with a new monument, adding another attraction to a decade-long memorial trail that celebrates the martial arts star’s Hong Kong roots. The plan was unveiled on Tuesday by Bruce Lee Club chairman Wong Yiu-keung, who said the group would construct the monument at Lee’s former family home in Jordan, Kowloon, to commemorate his early life there. “We hope to extend the trail, and the monument will serve as the starting point for this new... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334127/hong-kong-extends-martial-arts-star-bruce-lees-memorial-trail-new-monument?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334127/hong-kong-extends-martial-arts-star-bruce-lees-memorial-trail-new-monument?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 11:40:47 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis The year 1972 was when Bruce Lee rose to superstardom in Hong Kong. The Post’s roving reporter Jean Chan covered Lee’s rise – and much more – in her film column. Chan’s articles throw light on the state of the local industry in the early 1970s. Business was booming, and Hong Kong had become a hub for the Asian film industry, with Taiwanese stars being especially popular. Martial arts films dominated, but other genres remained popular. A challenger to Bruce Lee on the rise? In early 1972, Lee’s... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3333344/how-bruce-lee-hit-big-time-1972-and-other-hong-kong-cinema-highlights-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3333344/how-bruce-lee-hit-big-time-1972-and-other-hong-kong-cinema-highlights-year?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Nov 2025 07:15:08 +0000 Wee Kek Koon Wee Kek Koon The 15th National Games of China, jointly hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, just ended. I must confess that my only engagement with the quadrennial event was to impatiently scroll down whenever headlines or images of the games appeared on my screen. I have done the same for the Olympic Games, the Fifa World Cup, Wimbledon and everything in between, because I have no interest in sporting events – or sports in general. The skills specific to certain games, the complicated rules and the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3333375/how-china-embraced-physical-fitness-through-history-polo-todays-national-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3333375/how-china-embraced-physical-fitness-through-history-polo-todays-national-games?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Nov 2025 00:15:08 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang Chinese martial arts icon Jet Li made a rare personal video in which he appeared shirtless to quash rumours that he had undergone a heart transplant. On November 1, Li, 62, known as the “Kung Fu Emperor,” shared a video on Douyin, where he has nearly 5 million followers. The video, titled “An Honest Weekend,” shows him shirtless, practising casual kung fu moves, swimming in his private pool, and playfully interacting with his dog, Duoduo. Despite being in his sixties, the kung fu movie superstar... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3331905/chinese-martial-arts-icon-jet-li-goes-shirtless-dispel-heart-transplant-rumours?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3331905/chinese-martial-arts-icon-jet-li-goes-shirtless-dispel-heart-transplant-rumours?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Nov 2025 01:00:11 +0000 Mathew Scott Mathew Scott It’s been 14 years since he’s shaken the backboard in an NBA game, but Shaquille O’Neal still looms large – on billboards, social media feeds and in the purple and gold jerseys worn by fans who have made the trip from across China to Macau’s Cotai Strip. When America’s National Basketball Association (NBA) returned to China for the first time in over five years, the former Los Angeles Lakers star was front and centre. Not on the court, but as a business mogul, brand president and ambassador for... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3330888/shaquille-oneal-talks-martial-arts-films-friendship-and-doing-business-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3330888/shaquille-oneal-talks-martial-arts-films-friendship-and-doing-business-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Nov 2025 01:00:14 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis Hong Kong actor Chan Koon-tai may not have been the best-looking of Chang Cheh’s “second wave” of martial arts heroes in the early 1970s, but unlike his colleagues, he had studied martial arts before embarking on his film career. Chan had trained in the “Monkey and Axe Hammer” style since he was seven and was a regional kung fu champion. His exceptional martial skills saw directors put him to good use on the screen. Man of Iron (1972) This old-school kung fu movie is a follow-up to Chang Cheh’s... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3331054/how-hong-kong-actor-chan-koon-tai-bruce-lees-counterpart-wowed-his-kung-fu-skills?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3331054/how-hong-kong-actor-chan-koon-tai-bruce-lees-counterpart-wowed-his-kung-fu-skills?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Nov 2025 08:15:07 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis Sammo Hung Kam-bo began his career as a child star before moving into stunt work and martial arts choreography, often taking supporting roles in the films he worked on. But his ambition since the age of 14 was always to direct. He learned the craft by closely observing the filmmaking process on set. “Whether it was martial arts or operating a camera dolly, I was always up for the challenge,” Hung told the Hong Kong Film Archive. “Whenever the foreman asked me to do something, I showed myself to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3330049/how-sammo-hung-came-direct-his-first-film-then-complete-bruce-lees-game-death?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3330049/how-sammo-hung-came-direct-his-first-film-then-complete-bruce-lees-game-death?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Oct 2025 09:15:08 +0000 Sam Evans Sam Evans Feet pad on the mat as two Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitors cautiously approach each other at the beginning of a face-off. The pair’s cotton gi robes rub together as they become embroiled in a grapple. There is a thud as one gets the upper hand, rolling their opponent to the ground. These sights and sounds became familiar to veterinarian Anthony Hollis over months of watching his sons’ classes at Espada Studio in Hong Kong’s Sheung Wan neighbourhood. About five years ago, Hollis decided to go... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3329788/how-brazilian-jiu-jitsu-benefits-body-and-mind-and-martial-arts-rise-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3329788/how-brazilian-jiu-jitsu-benefits-body-and-mind-and-martial-arts-rise-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Oct 2025 03:00:10 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis Belgian action hero Jean-Claude Van Damme has always had a close association with Hong Kong. Besides appearing in John Woo Yu-sum’s Hollywood debut Hard Target and numerous films by Ringo Lam Ling-tung, the actor sometimes used the city as a de facto base for his Asian shoots. Here are four of his films with deep and sometimes surprising Hong Kong roots. No Retreat, No Surrender (1986) While he had a short scene as a gay karate expert in 1984’s Monaco Forever, Van Damme landed his first... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3329346/jean-claude-van-damme-films-hong-kong-roots-bloodsport-knock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3329346/jean-claude-van-damme-films-hong-kong-roots-bloodsport-knock?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Oct 2025 11:15:08 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Wushu exponent Lydia Sham Hui-yu has said she will feel different heading to the coming National Games next month carrying the tag of world champion. Sham, 25, won a Changquan gold medal at the world championships in Brasilia, Brazil, last month to add to the Duilian world championships title she won in Texas in 2023. “It wasn’t my first world title, but it’s not the same taking part in the National Games with this identity,” said Sham, who also won the Changquan-Jianshu-Qiangshu all-round gold... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3327877/hong-kong-wushu-star-lydia-sham-says-national-games-could-be-harder-world-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3327877/hong-kong-wushu-star-lydia-sham-says-national-games-could-be-harder-world-event?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Oct 2025 00:00:35 +0000 Matt Glasby Matt Glasby This is the latest instalment in a feature series reflecting on instances of East meets West in world cinema, including China-US co-productions. At the turn of the millennium, Jet Li Lianjie tried everything he could to crack the international market. The martial arts star took on the ageing Riggs and Murtaugh in Lethal Weapon 4, and tackled Shakespeare (of a sort) in Romeo Must Die. But nothing brought him the combination of critical and commercial success he had enjoyed back home in Hong... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3324275/why-jet-lis-kiss-dragon-was-banned-china-despite-being-global-hit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3324275/why-jet-lis-kiss-dragon-was-banned-china-despite-being-global-hit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Sep 2025 09:15:06 +0000 dpa dpa In China, some seniors hoping to stay fit and live longer are taking up weapons training – but not for lethal purposes. For some retirees, these unconventional sports tools are part of their daily routine. Take Mr Wang, for instance: in a park near Beijing’s Olympic Centre, he swings his whip with steady, focused precision. With each sharp crack, he drives a colourful spinning top through the humid summer night. Wang recalls that years ago, his doctor advised him to exercise more because of his... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3324040/how-chinas-elderly-stay-fit-tai-chi-swords-neck-swinging-and-dancing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3324040/how-chinas-elderly-stay-fit-tai-chi-swords-neck-swinging-and-dancing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Sep 2025 20:15:07 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong The Hong Kong Ballet will launch a new performance inspired by local kung fu legend Bruce Lee and present it on the global stage, the leading dance company has revealed, as part of the city’s efforts to share “authentic” cultural stories with the world. Septime Webre, artistic director of the Hong Kong Ballet, highlighted the plan during a panel discussion on Monday at the Redefining Hong Kong conference on Culture, Sports and Tourism, hosted by the South China Morning Post. “This is the kind of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3323889/ballet-inspired-hong-kong-kung-fu-legend-bruce-lee-set-global-spotlight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3323889/ballet-inspired-hong-kong-kung-fu-legend-bruce-lee-set-global-spotlight?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Sep 2025 06:58:32 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis Yuen Biao is not as well known today as Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung Kam-bo, his “brothers” at their teacher Yu Jim-yuen’s Beijing Opera school, but the Hong Kong martial arts actor certainly has his own style. Biao, the youngest of the trio known as the “Three Dragons”, was lean, flexible and acrobatic in his youth, often mixing somersaults and backflips with his kung fu. The actor, who is still working, was also known for being the best looking of the three – although he has noted that did not... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3322644/better-looking-jackie-chan-and-sammo-hung-yuen-biaos-rise-martial-arts-star?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3322644/better-looking-jackie-chan-and-sammo-hung-yuen-biaos-rise-martial-arts-star?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Aug 2025 07:15:11 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Artificial intelligence and video gaming company CreateAI is looking to develop China’s next blockbuster AAA title on the back of its global rights to the works of acclaimed Hong Kong martial arts novelist Louis Cha Leung-yung, also known as “Jin Yong”. CreateAI, formerly known as the autonomous vehicle firm TuSimple, aims to make Heroes of Jin Yong “one of the largest-scale triple-A, open-world role-playing games (RPGs)” in the market, president and CEO Lu Cheng told the South China Morning... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3321304/hong-kong-author-louis-chas-novels-form-basis-chinas-next-aaa-video-game?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3321304/hong-kong-author-louis-chas-novels-form-basis-chinas-next-aaa-video-game?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Aug 2025 02:00:12 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis Sammo Hung Kam-bo’s Wheels on Meals (1984) operates on a simple premise: unite three of Hong Kong’s greatest martial arts talents and let the magic happen. The action comedy, starring Hung alongside Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao, works brilliantly within its own parameters. It is entertaining throughout, has few cringeworthy comedic moments, and benefits from a surprisingly well-structured storyline. If that was not enough, the action scenes are superb, and the fights are rightly considered to be... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3321022/how-wheels-meals-featured-some-jackie-chan-and-sammo-hungs-best-action-scenes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3321022/how-wheels-meals-featured-some-jackie-chan-and-sammo-hungs-best-action-scenes?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Aug 2025 07:15:07 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Grace Lau Mo-sheung said she had finally mastered how to perform at her level amid all the accolades, and her status as a world-leading athlete was no longer putting her under pressure during competition. Speaking on Monday ahead of the second World Games of her career next month, the world No 1 karateka also said the multi-sport event was a competition she cared about. “I was learning how to deal with my No 1 title last year as I truly felt the pressure,” she said. “I am all good this year, and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3319046/karateka-grace-lau-cool-about-carrying-hong-kongs-gold-medal-hopes-world-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3319046/karateka-grace-lau-cool-about-carrying-hong-kongs-gold-medal-hopes-world-games?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Jul 2025 12:26:06 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis Lo Wei was one of Hong Kong’s most renowned directors in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but disparagement from Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan tarnished his reputation. Lee hated the way that Lo, who directed The Big Boss (1971) and Fist of Fury (1972), tried to take credit for his success. Chan disliked the way Lo tried to turn him into a clone of the deceased Lee in films like New Fist of Fury (1976). Below, film historian Frank Djeng discusses how it could be time for Lo’s voluminous body of work... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3316809/bruce-lee-and-jackie-chan-disliked-hong-kong-film-director-how-good-was-he?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3316809/bruce-lee-and-jackie-chan-disliked-hong-kong-film-director-how-good-was-he?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Jul 2025 04:15:08 +0000 Sean Tierney Sean Tierney The Hong Kong film industry’s output in the 1980s and 90s was kinetic, breathtaking, bursting with innovation and energy. Films of the era insisted on packing everything possible into the run time, as if they knew something we didn’t: the city’s economy was booming and filmmakers enjoyed the kind of artistic freedom and backing that was, like the period itself, never going to last forever. One of Hong Kong’s most memorable cinema fads of the era became known as Girls with Guns and, like all the... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3315907/girls-guns-hong-kong-cinema-staple-bygone-era?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3315907/girls-guns-hong-kong-cinema-staple-bygone-era?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Jun 2025 23:00:12 +0000 Cameron Dueck Cameron Dueck The hollow donnngg of a bell gently burrows into my sleep. It is a comforting, if unfamiliar, sound, accompanying the strange new dreams of a foreign place, a new bed, an unfamiliar night. Again and again, with increasing persistence, the bell calls me out of my sleep, sounding like a bullfrog in the woods. Donnngg … donnngg. I am still swimming towards consciousness when the ringing stops and the deep baritone chanting of a monk fills the predawn air. As I awake, I slowly remember where I am:... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3315158/mix-martial-arts-meditation-south-korean-temple-retreat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3315158/mix-martial-arts-meditation-south-korean-temple-retreat?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Jun 2025 23:30:11 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Husband-and-wife world-champion martial artists Justin Ortiz, 32, and Jewelianna Ramos-Ortiz, 26, laugh when they recount the story of their first audition in 2018 as stunt performers for the Netflix series Cobra Kai. They tell the tale with an air of absurdity as they describe just how foreign they felt in the land of film auditions. While they both had accolades as martial artists – Ortiz as a multi-world champion in karate and kickboxing, Ramos-Ortiz as a multi-world champion in sport karate... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3314920/cobra-kai-stunt-duo-how-they-went-martial-arts-hollywood?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3314920/cobra-kai-stunt-duo-how-they-went-martial-arts-hollywood?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Jun 2025 11:15:07 +0000 Cat Nelson Cat Nelson Last weekend, I was riding the tram (I know – a dead giveaway that I’m new here and have a kid under five) when I noticed some old lettering on a building I’ve passed dozens of times. It was the name of a stamp company that occupied the space decades ago. There’s a lot of that in Hong Kong: traces of the past that fade into the background, until something makes you look again. In a way, this issue’s cover story picks up where last week’s feature on Hong Kong’s tiles left off. Both explore the... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3315180/week-postmag-art-deco-hong-kong-meditative-martial-arts-and-street-dance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3315180/week-postmag-art-deco-hong-kong-meditative-martial-arts-and-street-dance?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Jun 2025 05:00:08 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A young Japanese woman has wowed social media with photos of herself dressed in cute girlie styles while performing intimidating Chinese martial arts moves. The woman known as Inami is in her 30s and lives in Yokohama, a Japanese city south of Tokyo. She has amassed 140,000 followers on a social media platform and runs a martial arts school. Inami often poses in classic Chinese martial arts stances while dressing in cute clothing. Sometimes she performs with weapons like crescent blades or... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3312885/japanese-martial-arts-woman-posts-cute-photos-herself-online-shows-impressive-moves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3312885/japanese-martial-arts-woman-posts-cute-photos-herself-online-shows-impressive-moves?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Jun 2025 10:00:10 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press It did not occur to Ben Wang right away that in taking on Karate Kid: Legends, he would be the franchise’s first Asian-American “Kid”. And that gives him a lot of optimism. “At first I didn’t even think about that,” Wang says. “That feels like a very cool and actually privileged position that I get to be in.” His casting happened, he says, in “a world where that’s normal enough”. Karate Kid: Legends unites original actor Ralph Macchio’s Daniel and Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han from the 2010 reboot to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3313126/why-so-few-asian-americans-karate-kid-series-how-new-movie-legends-addresses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3313126/why-so-few-asian-americans-karate-kid-series-how-new-movie-legends-addresses?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Jun 2025 03:15:08 +0000 Gavin Yeung Gavin Yeung Macau’s biggest indoor spectacle is making a splash yet again, as it returns to City of Dreams after a nearly five-year hiatus. House of Dancing Water, which debuted in 2010, made waves regionally and beyond for its ambitious scope and scale that required a boundary-pushing 2,000-seat theatre for what was the world’s largest permanent water-based show at the time. Directed by Franco Dragone, the show was forced to shut down in 2020 due to Covid-19. After Dragone’s death in 2022, his long-time... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3312380/macaus-house-dancing-water-returns-37-million-gallons-spectacle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3312380/macaus-house-dancing-water-returns-37-million-gallons-spectacle?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 May 2025 05:00:09 +0000 James Mottram James Mottram 2.5/5 stars Following the success of Netflix spin-off show Cobra Kai, The Karate Kid franchise rumbles on. The latest big-screen instalment, Karate Kid: Legends – the sixth movie since the 1984 original, which starred Ralph Macchio – is like a greatest hits compilation. We have Macchio back as Daniel LaRusso, now living in what appears to be a shrine to Mr. Miyagi, the serene war veteran who taught him how to use martial arts to defend himself. Jackie Chan returns as Mr. Han, previously... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3312282/karate-kid-legends-movie-review-jackie-chan-ben-wang-disappointing-sequel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3312282/karate-kid-legends-movie-review-jackie-chan-ben-wang-disappointing-sequel?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 May 2025 07:46:15 +0000