Becoming the star of a martial arts film requires more physical strength than most other genres, with many actors over the years delivering some truly impressive moves on screen without any special effects.
Some of the fight choreographies created by martial arts’ biggest stars are so impressive that scenes can look fake, whether they’re altered through green screen or careful editing. In fact, many of the signature moves of the most famous martial arts films have actually been performed, even if they seem too impressive to be believed.
10. Jackie Chan’s Flying Throat Chop
Drunken Master II (1994)
One of the most iconic films of Jackie Chan’s career, Drunken Master 2 allowed the agile stuntman to explore his martial arts skills at a young age. Showcasing his evasive drunken boxing style against John Ken Lo’s powerful taekwondo punches, Chan managed to land a stunning flying blow to the throat that both hit his weak spot and evaded his attacks. Like all of his many infamous stunts, Chan actually performed this move with nothing more than his own physical skills.
9. Michael Jai White’s Psycho Kick
Universal Soldier: The Return (1999)
A more underrated martial arts star, Michael Jai White’s innate on-screen charisma betrayed a genuine martial arts skill as a decorated kickboxer. In Universal Soldier: The Return, White made use of one of his most famous moves, the amazingly-named psycho kick, on Jean-Claude Van Damme. Seeming to defy gravity, Michael Jai White was really capable of performing this elaborate flying kick, which feinted its direction three times in the course of a single leap before finally striking true.RELATED:
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8. Lateef Crowder’s Capoeira Kicks
Tom-Yum-Goong (2005)
In Tom Yum Gung, actor and stuntman Lateef Crowder showed off his capoeira skills against Tony Jaa as a nameless killer. Crowder’s character’s high-pitched, acrobatic kicks showcased a striking, rhythmic style, accentuated by the water jets created by the half-submerged temple that served as the arena for the two fighters. After working hard enough in that scene to actually suffer a tendon injury in real life, Crowder has since recovered and became famous for serving as Din Djarin’s stunt double in The Mandalorian.
7. Scott Adkins’ Fakeout Kick
Undisputed II: Last Man Standing (2006)
An underrated martial arts actor, Scott Adkins may not be exactly a household name, but his actual skills are formidable. In a match against Michael Jai White in Undisputed II: Last Man Standing, Adkins’ character Yuri Boyka managed to land an impressive feint that confused his opponent, going from a traditional roundhouse kick to a last-minute kick with his other leg in the blink of an eye. eyes. When director Isaac Florentine slowed things down, it was hard to believe Adkins was actually up to the task.
6. Donnie Yen’s Double-Sided Kick
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (2010)
Donnie Yen, one of martial arts’ most iconic actors, has no shortage of hands-on experience with gravity-defying attacks. In Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen, the protagonist Yen immediately fought a horde of martial artists. Surprisingly, he was able to hit two of them at the same time, rising into the air and extending his legs in both directions. Considering that Ian once actually defeated eight opponents in a real-life street fight (via Goodyfeed), this scene may have been even more accurate than it seemed.
5. Benny Urquidez’ss Fire-Extinguishing Kick
Wheels on Meals (1984)
Despite just playing a nameless thug, Benny Urquidez managed to bring one of the coolest martial arts moves to the screen without breaking a sweat. During a fight in a luxurious dining room with Jackie Chan’s character, Urquidez threw a roundhouse kick so fast that the lit candles on the table went out. With such a display of raw talent, it is not surprising that the Urquidez-Chan fight became one of the most iconic scenes of Jackie Chan’s entire career, who later described the kickboxer with a sense of awe and reverence.
4. Bruce Lee’s Six-Inch Punch
Ip Man 4: The Finale (2019)
Being filmed far after Bruce Lee’s passing, the spirit of the martial arts legend lived on with Danny Chan’s performance in Ip Man 4: The Finale. In a demonstration, Chan’s Bruce Lee sent a student careening backward in a chair with a punch delivered from a mere six inches away. Emulating real footage of Bruce Lee beat for beat, Chan’s re-creation of Bruce Lee’s ability to generate staggering power in bursts of extremely short distances showed off his mastery of the Jeet Kune Do creator’s techniques.
3. Dolph Lundgren’s Heart-Stopping Punch
Rocky IV (1985)
In Rocky IV, Russian athlete Ivan Drogo opened the film with a mortal punch, hitting hard enough to kill Rocky’s longtime rival and friend, Apollo Creed. It seemed that actor Dolph Lundgren’s punches may have been just that deadly, with Lundgren nearly killing Stallone on the set of Rocky IV following a single blow that accidentally connected. After tending to him in the ICU, doctors remarked that Stallone’s injuries were reminiscent of a car accident, proving that Lundgren was capable of backing up his character’s deadly punches.
2. Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Split Punch
Bloodsport (1988)
With enough of his own signature moves to practically create a whole new fighting style, Jean-Claude Van Damme had no shortage of breathtaking martial arts moves in his films that were actually performed. The most common technique he used in his attacks was the use of splits, best demonstrated in his breakthrough role, Bloodsport. Making the most of his flexibility, Van Damme fell to the floor with his legs separated and then delivered a painful kick to his opponent’s groin, inspiring a moveset from Mortal Kombat’s Johnny Cage.