Martial artists are the individuals who practice any formal system of combat as a means of self-defense, for achieving better fitness and health or for mental and spiritual development. Martial artists also take part in competitions where they showcase their expertise in specific combat forms. The history of martial arts is an ancient one, various forms of martial arts originated in Egypt and China more than 4,000 years ago. In Europe, the earliest recorded account of martial arts originated in Greece. Even though martial arts have been around for centuries, it was only during the mid to late 19th century that they began to emerge as modern sports. Some of the most popular forms of martial arts are judo, karate, kendo, boxing and fencing. A true martial artist is a warrior who practices combat as an art. Martial artists need to possess a high degree of physical stamina and endurance along with mental agility, discipline, self-confidence and perseverance. A good martial artist is well aware of the history, traditions and values of the art he practices as they might be required to disseminate this knowledge to others. This section provides you information about the life and works of various famous martial artists from all over the world.
An iconic actor and martial artist, Bruce Lee, in his short life, gained international fame and developed his own form of martial arts, Jeet Kune Do. In films, he debuted as a child actor and became a huge Hollywood star after the release of his last film Enter the Dragon.
Jackie Chan is a martial artist, actor, film director, screenwriter and singer and is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing and innovative stunts in his films, which he performs himself. Rumble in the Bronx, Shanghai Noon and Rush Hour are some of his popular Hollywood films. He has a widespread following in both the Eastern and Western hemispheres.
A multi-talented personality, Steven Seagal started his career as a martial artist; he is the first foreigner to run an aikido dojo in Japan. He then showcased his skills in many of his films. Also a skilled guitarist, Seagal has worked with legends like Stevie Wonder. A well-known animal rights activist and environmentalist, Seagal holds American, Russian, and Serbian citizenship.
A black belt in Tang Soo Do, Brazilian jiu jitsu and Judo, Chuck Norris is an American martial artist, screenwriter and a popular action film star. He has won many martial arts championships. He later founded his own discipline, Chun Kuk Do. He has also written books on martial arts, philosophy, politics, Christianity, plus Western novels and biography.
A former mixed martial artist, Gina Carano went on to become an actress; she uses her martial arts skills to perform stunts in popular action movies. Before becoming an actress, she was quite popular in the MMA scene, being termed the face of women's MMA. In 2008, she was named in a Top 10 Influential Women list.
Jet Li is one of the most popular Asian actors to have made it big in the American film industry. A martial artist and former Wushu champion, he won a national championship before retiring from competitive Wushu to focus on his acting career. Also a well-known philanthropist, Jet Li is closely associated with the Red Cross Society of China.
