Top 5 Most Popular Martial Arts Actors Born in the UK or US
Whenever there’s action, that means there’s not just car chases, explosions, gunshots, and guns, but also punches, punches, and kicks. Many of the martial arts actors in the Funny Action Movie genre master a large collection of deadly techniques, which they use in hand-to-hand combat scenes.
In fact, most of these martial arts actors used to compete in official tournaments at the dawn of their acting careers and later used the fame they gained to establish themselves in the film industry. More or less (in most cases more) martial arts are taking a very important role in their lives.
What better way to become an action star when there’s some real, heart-pounding action in your life, right?
Here’s a list of the top five martial arts performers, aka killing machines, who can kill you with their bare hands. These males have a proven track record in the world of real-life fighting and have based their film careers on a knowledge of martial arts.
1.Bruce Lee (1940-1973)
A lot was said and written about probably the most influential figure in the martial arts film industry. Sometimes it can be hard to pinpoint where exactly fiction meets reality, but one thing leaves no doubt: Bruce Lee had kung fu in his blood. The man breathed martial arts.
Many people don’t know that Lee Jun Fan (as his real name was) was an accomplished cha-cha dancer and championship winner. Officially, he only had five years of formal martial arts training under the guidance of another legend – “Sifu Yip Man”.
Yip Man taught Bruce the art of wing chun kung fu, a hand-to-hand combat self-defense technique. By the way, if you haven’t seen all three of the Yip Man movies starring Donnie Yen, you’ll definitely want to check them out. Trust me, it’s worth his time.
Due to his short temper and police problems in Hong Kong, his parents suggested that he try his luck in the United States, where he was originally born.
While living in the United States, Lee opened a kung fu school and eventually became associated with many key figures in the United States martial arts scene. He was soon noticed by famous Hollywood producers. The rest is history.
His genuine talent and incredible speed have established him as a leading authority on the mixed martial arts and movie scenes.
Among the most memorable movies that reveal his magical martial arts techniques are “Operation Dragon”, “The Way of the Dragon” and “Fists of Fury”. And yes, those are great fun action movies.
2.Michael Jai White (1967)
3rd Degree Black Belt in Shotokan Karate, 3rd Degree Black Belt in Goju Ryu, 3rd Degree Black Belt in Kyokushin, 2nd Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo, 1st Degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do. Are you still wondering why Michael Jai White is part of this prestigious list of martial arts actors?
If you still do, then let me tell you, the muscle-built international box office sensation has eight black belts in eight different forms of martial arts. Pretty impressive, right? The man is no joke at all.
Honored with the title of Man of the Year by the popular “Black Belt” magazine in 2014 and inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2015, Michael Jai White is reputedly America’s most successful and best-trained action star.
Michael also often does comedy and drama movies, which makes him quite a versatile performer.
I highly suggest you check out Blood and Bone, Never Back Down: No Surrender, and Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing.
3.Chuck Norris (1940)
Don’t worry, it’s on the list, don’t rush to kill me, please.
By the way, did you know that Chuck Norris has already been on Mars and that is why there are no signs of life?
OK let’s get serious here.
It is simply impossible not to list the first Westerner in the history of Tae Kwon Do, honored with the rank of 8th Degree Grandmaster Black Belt.
During his impressive martial arts career, Carlos Ray Norris has won numerous tournaments. His name is also in the Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame. He appeared several times on the cover of Black Belt magazine and in 2000, Chuck Norris received the Golden Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Karate Union Hall of Fame.
He also has a rich and successful military career with many different medals and honorary awards.
In his movies, he rarely gets hurt and kicks hard ass for breakfast.
In case you haven’t seen the legendary on-screen fight between Chuck and Bruce Lee in the hilarious action flick “Way of the Dragon,” check it out. it’s excellent
Other mythical action titles (the list is huge) starring Chuck Norris are “The Delta Force”, “Missing in Action” and recently “Expendables 2”.
4.Steven Seagal (1952)
Surely you remember how brightly The Master of Aikido shines in “Under Siege” and “Above the Law”. Steven can easily break your arms like toothpicks.
Lord Steven, as is one of his nicknames, has a seventh degree black belt in Aikido, a Japanese martial art that teaches how to harmonize your movements with the movements (or attacks) of your opponent’s body. The idea of this form of martial art is to defend yourself without hurting your attacker.
Well, at least in his movies, Steven Seagal doesn’t follow this rule because all his opponents die painfully.
What is interesting about this iconic actor is the fact that he is the first foreigner to open a dojo in Japan where he is a respected Aikido instructor.
Steven is also a well-known musician who travels the world with his band and some time ago was deputy reserve chief in the Louisiana sheriff’s office.
5.Scott Adkins (1976)
The most complete fighter in the world “Yuri Boyka”, aka Scott Adkins, was born in the United Kingdom in 1976.
He has a black belt in kickboxing, which he achieved when he was just 19 years old. His spectacular martial arts skills come from his knowledge of ninjutsu, judo, karate, jujutsu, wushu, Krav Maga, capoeira and Jeet Kun Do. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty impressed!
Scott Adkins is best known for his amazingly beautiful and complex fight choreography in the smash hit “Undisputed 2: Last man standing” and the sequel “Undisputed 3: Redemption.”
Fans eagerly await the fourth installment of the franchise and the third with Scott as the lead. The direct-to-video film will arrive on January 17, 2017 in the US (“Boyka: Undisputed IV”). All four films were shot in Bulgaria.
Scott’s martial arts skills have earned him mainstream success and roles in various blockbusters such as “Expendables 2”, “Doctor Strange”, “The Bourne Ultimatum” and many others.
So here was the list of the TOP FIVE American or UK born martial arts actors. Stay healthy by not messing with these good tough guys.