Eternal Wisdom

Who doesn’t love a good movie? Who doesn’t like a good fight scene? There are few things as great as a fun martial arts movie to motivate an aspiring martial artist to practice, practice and practice.

In between all that practicing, grab a snack and watch some of these great martial arts movies from my very own Top five list of Best Martial Arts Movies. The martial arts actors and at the same time masters are more or less the same ones we knew since childhood. I was always inspired by Bruce Lee, Jet Li, Steven Seagal till Jackie Chan stunts.

5. Enter The Dragon (Hong Kong, 1973)

Famous Bruce Lee vs Chuck Norris scene, this fight is the most legendary! The film was shot on location in Hong Kong. All scenes were filmed without sound: dialogue and sound effects were added or dubbed in during post-production. Bruce Lee, after he had been goaded or challenged, fought several real fights with the film's extras and some set intruders during filming. The scenes of Han's Island were filmed at a residence known as Palm Villa near the coastal town of Stanley in Hong Kong.

Bruce Lee with legendary master Ip Man

Bruce Lee's martial art training with Master Ip Man in Hong Kong

4. Fist of Legend (Hong Kong, 1994) Jet Li vs Japanese General

Later films have also been influenced by Fist of Legend. Hitman also has a scene involving him using a belt as a weapon as seen previously. The more realistic and less wire-driven fight choreography seen in Kiss of the Dragon was a result of fan criticism of Corey Yuen's choreography in Romeo Must Die and preference for the style seen in Fist of Legend.

3. The Big Boss (Hong Kong, 1971) Bruce Lee

The Big Boss is a 1971 Hong Kong martial arts action film written and directed by Lo Wei, with assistance from Bruce Lee, and was Lee's first major film. It stars Lee, Maria Yi, James Tien and Tony Liu. Originally written for Tien, the leading role was given to Lee instead when the film's original director, Ng Kar-seung, was replaced by Lo. The film was a critical success and excelled at the box office. Lee's strong performance overshadowed Tien, already a star in Hong Kong, and made Bruce Lee famous across Asia.

2. Best of the Best (USA, 1989)

Best of the Best is a 1989 American martial arts film directed by Bob Radler and produced by Phillip Rhee, who also co-stars in the film. The film also starred Eric Roberts, James Earl Jones, and Chris Penn. The plot revolves around a team of American martial artists facing a team of South Korean martial artists in a karate tournament. Several subplots pop up in the story - moral conflicts, the power of the human spirit triumphing over adversity and the meaning of life are some themes. Set and filmed in Los Angeles, California, and Seoul, South Korea, between February 13 and April 6, 1989, Best of the Best was released on November 10, 1989.

1. Bloodsport Frank Dux vs Paco (USA, 1988)

Bloodsport is a 1988 American martial arts film directed by Newt Arnold. It stars Jean-Claude Van Damme, Donald Gibb, Leah Ayres, and Bolo Yeung. The film is partly based on unverified claims made by martial artist Frank Dux. It sold well at the box office, grossing $65 million on a budget of $2.3 million. Bloodsport was one of Van Damme's first starring films and showcased his athletic abilities. It has since become a cult film. Van Damme plays Frank Dux, a man who goes AWOL from the U.S. Army to compete in the Kumite martial arts tournament. The character and story are purportedly based on the real-life Frank Dux. He is also credited in Bloodsport as the fight coordinator — who claims to have served in the military in Southeast Asia.