Martial arts cinema has long been renowned for its exhilarating performances and seemingly impossible fighting skills. However, what if we were to assert that some of these stars were not formally trained fighters? Indeed, these actors relied on a blend of illusion, intensive training, and transferable skills from dance to master the art of martial arts on the grand stage.
Takeshi Kaneshiro, lauded for his performances in House of the Flying Daggers, initially rose to fame as a pop star in Taiwan before venturing into the realm of film. Despite lacking formal martial arts training, Kaneshiro made a profound impact on the film industry in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. His charisma and striking appearance earned him the accolade of being dubbed the “Johnny Depp of the East Asian film industry” by Time magazine.
Next, the influential Chinese actress Fan Bingbing, who topped the Forbes China 100 list of the highest-paid celebrities, secured prominent roles in both Chinese and international films, despite starting without any martial arts background. Although untrained, she underwent rigorous physical transformations and intensive training to prepare for her roles in martial arts movies.
Tony Leung Chiu-wai, recognised by CNN as one of the greatest Asian actors of all time, has made an indelible impact on the film industry without formal martial arts training. His incredible performances in martial arts classics like Hero and The Grandmaster showcased his impressive ability to deliver spectacularly choreographed fight sequences.
Zhang Ziyi, celebrated for her role in the Wuxia martial arts film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, commenced training at the Beijing Dance Academy at the age of 11. Her profound dedication to dance and the intricate choreography of martial arts filmmaking complemented each other well, enabling her to deliver extraordinary martial arts performances despite lacking formal training as a fighter.
Charlene Choi, who gained recognition as a member of the Cantopop group Twins, has also played significant roles in martial arts movies. Her commitment to roles, such as in Butterfly Lovers, necessitated intensive training in hand-to-hand combat and sword fighting, despite her lack of formal martial arts training.
Uma Thurman, renowned for her role in the American martial arts film Kill Bill, rigorously trained for three months to prepare for her role as the Bride. Her dedication to studying martial arts, swordsmanship, and Japanese for the movie proved that formal martial arts training is not a prerequisite for delivering an outstanding performance in martial arts cinema.
Likewise, Chow Yun-fat, known for his performances in John Woo action films and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, stated that he was not at all athletic and relied on illusion to pull off his martial arts stunts.
Maggie Q, who began her career in the Hong Kong film industry, managed to perform martial arts in action movies without any prior training. Her commitment to performance and intensive training throughout her career showcased her remarkable ability to excel in martial arts roles despite not being a trained fighter.
Cheng Pei-pei, known for her appearances in Come Drink with Me and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, was the first female action hero of cinema. Her background in dance and early years at the Shaw Brothers Studio enabled her to quickly transfer her skills toward martial arts.
Finally, Michelle Yeoh, acclaimed for her roles in martial arts movies like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and Everything Everywhere All at Once, relied on her dancing background and onset trainers to prepare for her iconic martial arts performances.
The journeys of these actors demonstrate that talent, commitment, and adaptability can enable performers to excel in martial arts roles, despite lacking formal training as fighters. Their dedication to their roles showcases that actors do not always need traditional martial arts training to become martial arts stars. Instead, they utilized their transferable skills, intense training, and sheer determination to master martial arts on the silver screen.