The Top 10 Chinese Kung Fu Stars

In the history of Chinese film and television, there are many world-famous martial arts actors, who not only have excellent acting, but also have a solid foundation of the martial arts. People can really marvel at and admire the charm of Chinese martial arts from their marvelous works.

Below are the top 10 Chinese Kung Fu stars ranking, for your reference only.

 

No.10 Jason Wu 吴京

Chinese Kungfu

Jason Wu (吴京), hailed as Kung Fu boy, began to act in films and televisions from the year 1995. He started to learn and practice Kung Fu in sports school of Beijing when he was six years old, and he has won the champion of national martial arts competition. Jason Wu has acted in many televisions and some action movies, presenting skilled Kung Fu and impressing audiences a lot.

Jason Wu’s Movies and televisions: Tai Chi Master《太极宗师》, S.P.L.《杀破狼》, Seung Chi Sun Tau《双子神偷》

 

No.9 Ha Ling Chun 元彪

 

Chinese Kungfu

Ha Ling Chun (元彪), an action actor in Hong Kong , began to act in films and televisions at the age of ten. He has presented a number of well-known and excellent movies and televisions, among many of which, he cooperated with Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung. Ha Ling Chun has won the best Martial arts direction in Taiwan ‘s Golden Horse Awards.

Representative Movies and televisions: Enter the Dragon《龙争虎门》, Hand of Death《少林门》, Game of Death《死亡游戏》, Enter the Fat Dragon《肥龙过江》, Knockabout《杂家小子》, The Young Master《师弟出马》, Project A《A计划》, Wheels of Meals《快餐车》, Once Upon a Time in China《黄飞鸿》, A Man Called a Hero《中华英雄》, Dragon from Shaolin《少林七金刚》

 

No.8 Sammo Hung 洪金宝

 

Chinese Kungfu

Sammo Hung (洪金宝) is a humorous action movie actor, and he has had wonderful performances in many Kung fu comedies. Besides being actors, Sammo Hung has succeeded in working as the guidance of the martial arts and director. He has won the Best Actor in a Leading Role Award in Hong Kong Film Awards and in Asia Pacific Film Festival. Sammo Hung has cooperated with Jackie Chan in many films, giving excellent performances.

Representative Movies: Wheels on Meals《快餐车》,Dragon Forever 《飞龙猛将》,Project A《A计划》,Millionaire’s Express《富贵列车》,Eastern Condors《东方秃鹰》

 

No.7 Michelle Yeoh 杨紫琼

 

Chinese Kungfu

Michelle Yeoh (杨紫琼) is an international female action star famous at home and abroad. She has acted in many famous movies, acting as female knight-errant, showing her authentic Chinese Kung Fu. Her beauty, acting skills and skilled Kung Fu impress people a lot.

Representative Movies and televisions: Butterfly & Sword《新流星蝴蝶剑》,The Heroic Trio《东方三侠》,Esay Money《通天大盗》,Holy Weapon《武侠七公主》,Reign of Assassins《剑雨》, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon 《卧虎藏龙》.

 

No.6 Chiu Man-Cheuk 赵文卓

 

Chinese Kungfu

Man Cheuk Chiu (赵文卓) is a stylish man of strong build who is famous at home and abroad for his high-level Kung Fu and hearty personality. Man Cheuk Chiu has a good command of sword, spear and Chinese boxing. He is very skilled with over 300 kinds of fist positions, such as shadow boxing. He won a national martial arts championship in the year 1991.He has pursued a career in acting since the year 1992, and has presented marvelous performance in Kung Fu films and television programs. Man Cheuk Chiu was nominated the best actor in Golden Rooster Awards for his Sino-Dutch War 1661, and his movie True Legend got the best Asian action movie award.

Representative Movies: Once Upon a Time in China 4 《黄飞鸿四-王者之风》, Once Upon a Time in China 5《黄飞鸿五-龙城歼霸》, The Blacksheep Affair《碧血蓝天》, Sino-Dutch War 1661《英雄郑成功》, True Legend《苏乞儿》, Green Snake《青蛇》

 

No.5 Donnie Yen 甄子丹

 

Chinese Kungfu

Donnie Yen (甄子丹), born in a martial arts family, is the idol of numerous young people for his wonderful Kung Fu and good shape. He is a martial arts generalist who can digest Chinese and western martial arts. Donnie Yen has given perfect performances in many Kung Fu movies for both his Kung Fu and outstanding acting skills.

Donnie Yen’s Movies: Hero《英雄》,Tiger Cage II《洗黑钱》,Iron Monkey《铁马骝》,IP Man 1《叶问1》, IP Man 2《叶问2》S.P.L.《杀破狼》,Legend of the Wolf《战狼传说》

 

No.4 Bruce Leung 梁小龙

 

Chinese Kungfu

Bruce Leung (梁小龙) can be ranked as one of the most famous and influential Kung Fu stars in the eighties. Since the year 1973, he has acted in more than 70 action movies and a series of televisions.

Representative Movies and televisions: Chen Zhen 《陈真》, Blow Up 《怒火风云》, Kung Fu Kids Break Away《三毛流浪记》, Story Of Drunken Master《醉侠苏乞儿》, Shaolin Fighters《少林拳》,Big Boss《唐山二兄》

 

No.3 Jet Li 李连杰

 

Chinese Kungfu

Jet Lee is famous for his authentic Shaolin Kung Fu. He has acted as many degage righteous chivalrous men in lots of famous films. Jet Lee has won the best actor in the 27th Hong Kong Film Awards, and won 2008 You Bring Charm to the World Award.

Jet Lee’s Movies: The Shaolin Temple《少林寺》,Hero 《英雄》, Black Mask《黑侠》,Fist of Legend《精武英雄》,The Defender 《中南海保镖》,The Tai Chi Master《太极张三丰》,The Kung Fu Cult Master《倚天屠龙记之魔教教主》,Dragon Fight《龙在天涯》,Swordsman Ⅱ《笑傲江湖之东方不败》,Dragons of the Orient《东方巨龙》

 

No.2 Jackie Chan 成龙

 

Chinese Kungfu

Jackie Chan (成龙) is an outstanding martial artist famous across the world, whose films are loved by audiences of all ages. His breathtaking action, excellent driving skills and unique humor impress people a lot. Many of Jackie Chan’s movies can be ranked as Hong Kong ‘s biggest-grossing movies.

Jackie Chan Movies: Drunken Fist《醉拳》, Rumble in the Bronx《红番区》, Rush Hour《尖峰时刻》, Police Story 《警察故事》The Young Master《师弟出马》, Project A《A 计划》, Armour of God《龙兄虎弟》, City Hunter《城市猎人》, Who am I《我是谁》, The Accidental Spy《特务迷城》, Around the World in 80 Days《环游世界八十天》, The Karate Kid《功夫梦》.

 

No.1 Bruce Lee 李小龙

 

Chinese Kungfu

Bruce Lee (李小龙), a great master of Chinese martial arts, is also a famous and influential action movie actor both at home and abroad. As the pathfinder of action movies, Bruce Lee disseminated Chinese Kung Fu to the whole world. Bruce Lee is the first Chinese who goes to Hollywood, pushing forward the development of martial arts and action movies.

Bruce Lee Movies: Fist Of Fury《精武门》, Enter the Dragon《龙争虎斗》, Fists of Glory《唐山大兄》, Game of Death《死亡游戏》, The Way of the Dragon《猛龙过江》

There are various rankings by different sources though. Here is another ranking from youtube video for your reference.

by Xiao Xiao @ InteractChina.com

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38 thoughts on “The Top 10 Chinese Kung Fu Stars

  1. its a virtual treasure you have here. the collective & individual contributions of these men & women to the movie industry while relying on their kung fu & acting skills is highly appreciated. the world needs more from them & may their tribe grow more. salute

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    1. Thank you for your appreciation. These men and women truly deserve our respect. There are some things we could learn from them, not only their kungfu skills, but their martial morality.

      Like

  2. The only one I would have a particular issue of omission would be Zhang Ziyi, it could be argued that she is not a kung fu star, but instead has acted in kung fu movies and had a great fight scene in Hero that is one of the best shot scenes in wire-fu history.

    If I did this list in a million years I would have never added Sammo Hung… but I would have been wrong. He is such a good choice and always overlooked, at least by Americans, not sure how China and Hong Kong view his stardom.

    Hung’s role in Ip Man 2 was small, but the scene in the fight ceremony between Yen and Hung is the to fight of the movie and their interactions in the home are some of the high points. Far better than the fight with the boxer at the end.

    Great list, some guys we never see on lists.

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  3. as a strong fan of martial arts, I really believe that chackie chan is a great martial artist. he makes people love martial arts because he makes it look so easy

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  4. i am a ugandan i love kungfu,i regret de early death of de kungufu master bruce lee,that make me choose jacky as de best plus de fun he makes along action though l lov them all.

    Liked by 2 people

  5. I am a Nigerian, I like Chinese movies (cognfu). And I like the martial art and craft of Chinese. due to this am always busy watching Chinese movies from TV / made available CDs of Chinese movie.
    And I want the site developer to put the Name and picture, follow by list of Chinese cognfu films acted by each actor. so that we can easily get the films of our favorite actor or actress. thanks .

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I saw you never got a reply. I have been doing martial arts for over 10 years and met all kinds of people. Martial arts are not limited by age. You might not get into the competitive sports world, but there is much more to explore. I can especially suggest Tai Chi in case you want something that knows no limitation of age.

      Best regards,
      Joshua

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    1. Hi Henric,

      thanks for your comment! Our main focus for this top ten was our author’s personal favorites. Other factors she considered was a perceived fame and influence in the movie world. Internationally Jacky Chan is a name better known than Shue Man Chack, Donnie Yen, and Jet Li, which he largely owns the number of productions he worked in and the popularity of these movies. That does not mean that he is a better martial artist and it also doesn’t mean that he is acting is better. But one more thing that puts him ahead of Shue Man Chack and Donnie Yen is Jacky Chan’s great success in directing his own movies, referring to his Hong Kong productions. On those occasions, he was able to show that he combines multiple virtues encompassing not only acting, martial arts, and humor, but also a great understanding of his own style in leading the camera. If you want to know more about what makes Jacky Chan unique please check out this video on YouTube:

      Best regards,
      Joshua

      Like

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