Whenever kung fu comes up in conversation, the movies of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan are inevitably discussed, but in his native China, Jet Li is held in equally high regard. Born Li Lian Jie on April 26, 1963, the Beijing-native began training aged 8 after his gym teacher put him in touch with legendary Wushu master Wu Bin. He wasn't a "prodigy" student, however; in fact, becoming such an accomplished fighter was a real struggle. "It was my coach Wu Bin who helped me steer clear of all obstacles and encouraged me never to give up," Li said (via Kung Fu Magazine ). "His admonitions and his patience in guiding me along will always remain in my heart of hearts." Li lost his dad when he was a toddler, and Wu Bin is said to have become a father figure over the years, guiding him to greatness along the way. He made the national Wushu team and won several championships, but Li decided to retire at 17 to concentrate on a career in the movies. He kic...
Comments
Post a Comment