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Martial arts

Martial arts
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.
Shaolin monk Yan Chen helps a student do a somersault during a training session at the Shaolin Temple in Ngwerere, outside Lusaka, Zambia, on August 8, 2026. Photo: AFP
Chinese culture

How Africa’s first Shaolin Temple shares Chinese martial arts and culture

The temple in Zambia has become one of the most visible symbols of China’s cultural footprint in a country where its influence already runs deep.

American cinema

Desk job to Jackie Chan stunts: martial artist Alfred Hsing’s rise in film

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Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

How Ronny Yu and Jet Li made Fearless (2006) a martial arts masterpiece

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Health & Fitness

Explainer: How to train at a Shaolin kung fu centre, like Victor Wembanyama

The San Antonio Spurs star and YouTube sensation IShowSpeed have both travelled to China to experience Shaolin martial arts – here is how you can do it too.

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama visited a Shaolin Temple in Zhengzhou, China, last June. Photo: @wemby/Instagram
Wellness

How tai chi energises these Chinese retirees: ‘everyone’s health has improved’

Tai chi practitioners at Beijing’s Temple of Heaven talk about learning the ancient Chinese practice and how it benefits health and spirit.

Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

Review | Kung Fu Soccer: Stephen Chow loses his touch with Shaolin Soccer spin-off

Dilraba Dilmurat and Zhang Xiaofei lead a team of female football martial artists in Chow’s film that falls far short of its 2001 predecessor.

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European cinema

Why flop movie Shatter is a perfect 1970s Hong Kong time capsule

Shatter, featuring Peter Cushing, Lily Li and Ti Lung, was a box office failure in 1974, but offered a glimpse of a Hong Kong in transition.

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Stuart Whitman in a still from Shatter, a collaboration between the UK’s Hammer Film Productions and Hong Kong’s Shaw Brothers Studio. Photo: Hammer
Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

6 surprising facts from Jet Li’s new book, including his near-death moment

From his many names to dishwasher woes, Beyond Life and Death shares things about the Chinese martial artist fans may not have been aware of.

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Asian Games 2026

Virtual taekwondo ‘is the future’ for young people ahead of debut at Asian Games

Athletes embracing the gamified combat sport that uses VR headsets to transport them into a digital 3D arena and motion-tracking sensors.

Fame and celebrity

California to institute Bruce Lee Day, in first for a Chinese-American

May 17, the day Lee returned to San Francisco after spending his childhood in Hong Kong, will be his annual namesake day.

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Street art of Bruce Lee in San Francisco. Photo: AP
Fame and celebrity

Meet Taiwan-born actor Justin Chien, who’s set to star in The Season

He comes from a prominent family and studied drama at USC before landing his big break in The Brothers Sun, alongside Michelle Yeoh.

Justin Chien is set to star in the Crazy Rich Asians-like Hong Kong drama, The Season. Photo: @justin_chien/Instagram
American cinema

When RZA cut his teeth as a kung fu director in The Man with the Iron Fists

The Wu-Tang Clan leader’s directorial debut with Russell Crowe and Lucy Liu was an ambitious ode to the martial arts films he grew up loving.

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Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

Review | The Furious: an instant classic if you like gory, bone-crunching violence

Generic, unfunny and emotionally hollow, The Furious will nevertheless delight those who simply want to watch people getting slaughtered.

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Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

The best car stunts in Hong Kong cinema: Police Story, Initial D and more

The most famous car stunt in Hong Kong movie history, and one that made its stuntman instantly famous, feature on our list of the best.

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Shawn Yue in a still from Motorway (2012), a cops-and-robbers revenge tale that puts car handling at its centre and one of the titles on our list of the films featuring Hong Kong’s best car stunts.
Fashion

Lu’u Dan x Bruce Lee collab celebrates Asian masculinity

The collection’s launch on May 14 coincides with AAPI Heritage Month and the release of the brand’s fall/winter 2026 collection, All Bets Are Off.

London-based Lu’u Dan has a new collab out... with Bruce Lee Enterprises. Photo: Handout
Wellness

Why tai chi and qigong are great for health, and English classes in Hong Kong

The Chinese ‘internal’ arts of tai chi and qigong offer a host of health benefits and are slowly becoming more accessible to English speakers.

American cinema

Review | Mortal Kombat II: Karl Urban leads brainless, outdated action sequel

Little more than a series of cartoonish ultra-violent vignettes, Mortal Kombat II feels as antiquated as the amulet the characters chase.

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Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

Why Angela Mao, aka ‘the new Bruce Lee’, was a better fighter than Michelle Yeoh

Angela Mao, star of hits like Hapkido and Lady Whirlwind, was billed as the ‘new Bruce Lee’ by Golden Harvest after his death.

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Angela Mao (right) and Carter Wong in a still from The Tournament (1974). Mao learned martial arts at a Peking opera school in Taiwan. Photo: Fortune Star Media
Hong Kong culture

Editorial | Hong Kong’s efforts to commemorate Bruce Lee should pack bigger punch

While the latest move to honour the late kung fu star is welcome, more must be done to acknowledge his standing as a pillar of Hong Kong heritage.

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong marks 85th anniversary of Bruce Lee’s arrival with statue and exhibition

Life-size bronze statue unveiled at former site of Lee family home on Nathan Road, alongside exhibition of rare photos and posters.

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Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

The bloody legacy of The One-Armed Swordsman film sequels

The two follow-ups to The One-Armed Swordsman are somewhat different to the original hit film but plenty of blood runs through all three.

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David Chiang Da-wei in a still from The New One-Armed Swordsman, a 1971 Hong Kong wuxia film directed by Chang Cheh.
Trending in China

China martial arts prodigy, 5, practises to point of tears for May tournament

‘Tenacious’ youngster brushes off mum’s worries about training too much; hones skills, boosts fitness under watchful eye of her dad.

A five-year-old girl in China, who is trained by her father, is causing a stir online with her impressive martial arts skills. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin
Lessons from China's history

Reflections | Imperial China’s armed escort services solved logistical problems – with swords

In imperial China, services of armed martial artists, or biaoju, ensured delivery on risky routes. Their image has since been romanticised.

Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

How director Benny Chan bridged old-school stunts and modern action

2003’s Heroic Duo and 2007’s Invisible Target were full of the director’s flair for action, reckless stunts and literal explosive scenes.

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United States

Action movie star Chuck Norris dies at 86

His epic fight with kung fu superstar Bruce Lee in ‘The Way of The Dragon’ helped turn Norris into an icon.

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Chuck Norris’ epic fight with the kung fu superstar Bruce Lee in “The Way of The Dragon” helped turn him into an icon on big and small screens alike. Photo: AFP
Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

This Hong Kong martial arts movie pioneered the superhero team in Chinese cinema

The Five Venoms launched the iconic run of the Venom Mob, a group of actors brought together by Chang Cheh that appeared in various films.

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Lo Mang (left) in a still from Five Deadly Venoms, Chang Cheh’s 1978 film.
Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

With Blades of the Guardians, Yuen Woo-ping revives the wuxia blockbuster

Hong Kong martial arts choreographer and director Yuen Woo-ping returns with an epic wuxia, starring Wu Jing and Nicholas Tse.

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Wellness

Singaporean started aikido in her 60s in poor health. Now 73, she’s a black belt

The Japanese martial art helped Lily Chan get off osteoporosis medication and massively improved her overall health and mobility.

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