heeheehee
someone dug up this ol thread for me.
Well hero's been out for a while now, what did everyone think? or have you been there done that?
i cired at the end of house of flying daggers. :o( sob sob :(
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heeheehee
someone dug up this ol thread for me.
Well hero's been out for a while now, what did everyone think? or have you been there done that?
i cired at the end of house of flying daggers. :o( sob sob :(
House of Flying Daggers was better than Hero mostly - but the end scene in Hero was cool :p
Jet li moves inspirationally. Regardless of his skill as a fighter (which he would likely be the first to tell you he has not particularly tried out) the man is one of the main influences that lead to me starting martial arts. Also he is a rarity: an actor who has maintained some humility despite being famous.
Wow, lots o' peeps giving their opinion on Jet Li here, some of them conflicting with others which is only natural :rolleyes:
About The One, I think that movie hauls sooo much @ss ;)
Jet Li's english accent makes me laugh because its so very cool and composed. The scene where Gabe's in the attic and says to his wife:
"Just so you know, I'm going to take that gun from you....." you all know the rest
it was something along that line anyway
big up to jet li
Peace!!
hero whooped up on house of daggers
You have to check out the interview with tarantino on the hero dvd. he says, "ok jet, you've been doin MA movies for like ten years now", jet li says 24. Also the way jet says martial arts is hilarious.
SINCE HERO HAS COME OUT, I HAVE NOT SEEN A BETTER MOVIE
...but I think this is the biggest, so I'll ttt it with this:
Quote:
Jet Li Invited to Join Oscar Voters
2008-06-24 20:37:00
Chinese martial-arts star Jet Li is among 105 film personalities who have been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, it was announced on Monday.
Li's membership will entitle him the right to help decide Oscar winners. He also joins the ranks of Chinese stars such as Jackie Chan, Joan Chen and Vivian Wu who have previously been invited to join the academy, Chinese news portal Sohu.com says.
Other invited stars this year include "Borat" creator Sacha Baron Cohen and the latest Best Actress Oscar winner Marion Cotillard.
The invitees' fields span acting, directing, producing, editing and writing.
They will bring the academy's voting members to nearly 6,000.
Jet Li's combines Wushu and Yoga for Wuji. I was going to put this in New Hybrids, but it's Jet...
Quote:
Jet Li blends martial-arts with yoga to keep fit
Posted July 7th, 2008 by Nina Sahu
New Delhi, July 7 : Chinese actor Jet Li has introduced a new system of exercise called "Wuji", which is a blend of martial-arts moves with yoga positions.
The martial-arts superstar attended a press conference in Shanghai on July 6 to promote the exercise, Sina. com. cn reports.
For Li, the healthy balance between exercises for one's body and mind is what he considers as having made an important contribution to his success.
With finding the perfect balance for himself, he now wants to help others find it also, and at the press conference Li and some other fitness professionals demonstrated the exercise with several hundred bodybuilders on site.
The 45-year-old actor believes that Wuji can help long-term practitioners reach tiptop conditions both physically and mentally.
With joint creation by Jet Li and sportswear brand Adidas, Wuji also inaugurated a three-year-long cooperation between the two to promote new fitness concepts among urban Chinese. (ANI)
Good think we carry Adidas now. ;)
Quote:
Jet Li Introduces New Way to Fitness
2008-07-07 09:16:31
Martial-arts superstar Jet Li considers the healthy balance between exercises for one's body and mind an important contribution to his success, and now he is helping others to find that balance.
At a press conference on Sunday in Shanghai, Li introduced a new system of exercise he calls "Wuji," which blends martial-arts moves with yoga positions, Sina.com.cn reports.
Li and some other fitness professionals demonstrated the exercise with several hundred bodybuilders on site. He believes that Wuji can help long-term practitioners reach tiptop conditions both physically and mentally.
With joint creation by Jet Li and sportswear brand Adidas, Wuji also inaugurated a three-year-long cooperation between the two to promote new fitness concepts among urban Chinese, Sina.com.cn says.
Yes. Yi Jing Jing from Da Mo was considered a form of yoga.
stretching, and strengthening your tendons, ligaments and joints.
I meant these posturing will help your health and wushu/fighting ability.
--
Wuji gives rise/birth to Tai Ji.
---
health benefits from yoga or yi jing jing do not happen overnite.
we have to practice them daily for 7 or 8 years.
or just practice them all the time.
--
:)
Gong Li did the same thing last year. I've been to Singapore. It's very nice.
Quote:
June 17, 2009
Jet Li buys $20m bungalow
ACTION star Jet Li and his wife, Nina, have bought a coveted good class bungalow (GCB) on Binjai Rise for $19.8 million last month, The Business Times (BT) reported on Wednesday.
The bungalow, in the Bukit Timah area, works out to cost $871 per square foot based on the freehold land area of 22,723 square feet, said The BT report.
GCBs, with their stringent planning requirements, are the creme de la creme of Singapore's housing market. There are only about 2,400 such bungalows in Singapore.
The move is seen as a sign that Li is sinking deeper roots in Singapore, after he announced plans to set up a base in Singapore for his charity and disaster-relief group One Foundation.
The Jet Li One Foundation Singapore was registered in June 2008 and the Beijing-born Li is understood to have taken up Singapore citizenship, following in the footsteps of fellow China-born superstar Gong Li, who became a Singapore citizen last November.
According to BT, Mr Li told a Forbes Global CEO Conference here in September last year that Singapore offers the right conditions for grooming future NGO leaders.
Earlier media reports also said that Mr Li moved his two daughters and wife to Singapore in 2007 for his children's education.
Mr Li led a life of hardship as a child (his father died when he was two) but he persevered to emerge as China's overall national wushu champion for five consecutive years in the 1970s. He began his acting career in the early 1980s, starting with Shaolin Temple and today has about 40 movies under his belt.
He became a US citizen in the 1980s.
When contacted by BT, a spokeswoman for Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority declined to confirm if Mr Li is now a Singapore citizen, saying 'due to reasons of confidentiality, the ICA will not discuss individual cases publicly'.
I want one of those cool Jet Li belts. ;)
Quote:
Action movie superstar Jet Li opens Kung Fu classes
www.chinaview.cn 2009-08-10 13:35:26
BEIJING, Aug. 10 -- Olympic gold medal fencer Zhong Man, actor Peter Ho, and dozens of exercise enthusiasts attended a Kung Fu training class launched by action movie superstar Jet Lee.
Kung Fu star Jet Li was in Beijing on August.11th to promote his body training class inspired by the Chinese martial art. Olympic champion Zhong Man and actor Peter Ho were invited to join the first batch of students for the class.
Jet Li said, "Some people are very healthy in mind, but not in body. Others may boast a healthy body, but a sick mind. I hope to create a platform that builds the harmony of healthy body and mind with wisdom gleaned from Kung Fu."
Li and his team spent eight months developing the endeavor, entitled "Kung Fu and Tai Chi Body and Mind Training Class."
Jet Li, who achieved huge success both in Kung Fu and action films, has long been an idol for youngsters, as the popularity of his class attests. Some have suggested that he open a Kung Fu training hall, but the superstar has a different vision.
Jet Li said, "A Kung Fu training hall has limited capacity. You can only teach fifty or one-hundred people in one class. Teaching five classes can exhaust you. I want to take advantage of high technology and new media, such as the Internet, to promote the class. Let the simple, but great, Kung Fu ideas spread to the world. This benefits more people by incorporating both physical and mental health."
Jet Li has been active in charity in recent years, rarely appearing on screen, but he will return to theaters soon. For now, though, he's staying tight-lipped about the progress of his new film.
There's a pic of the mansion in the article below. Follow the link.
Quote:
Jet Li’s New Singapore Home
Sneak peek: Jetli’s new $20 million home in Binjai Rise, a wealthy area in Singapore.
World acclaimed action star, Jet Li and his wife, Nina Chi, purchased a $20 million home in Binjai Rise, a wealthy area in Singapore. Jet Li has since became a Singapore citizen after setting up his Jet Li One Foundation in Singapore. A sneak peak at Jet Li’s new Singapore home. It was reportedly that Li spent close to $20 million Singaporean dollars on his 22,723 sq feet bungalows in a ritzy district in Singapore. It was revealed that the primary reason to relocate to Singapore was for his daughters’ education. They are expected to attend Singapore American School.
...you might as well live there, yes?
Quote:
Kung fu star Jet Li becomes Singaporean citizen
(AFP) – 7 hours ago
SINGAPORE — Chinese kung fu superstar Jet Li publicly confirmed on Tuesday that he has become a Singaporean citizen, saying he wants his children to receive a bilingual education in the city-state.
Li -- whose film accolades include Hollywood blockbusters "The Expendables" and "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" -- said his decision was also influenced by the absence of paparazzi in the strict island-republic.
"My children can have good bilingual education with social stability, and my children will not be harassed by journalists and reporters," he said in Mandarin.
Li, who was in Singapore to attend a philanthropy conference, also expressed amusement at the massive public interest in his latest migration.
"This is funny because I have been holding a US passport and staying in the United States for 20 years, nobody said anything about it. Now I come to Singapore, everybody seems to be curious to know why I'm coming here," he said.
The Beijing-born Li did not say whether he had renounced his US and Chinese nationalities, but Singapore law forbids citizens from holding dual passports.
He said he decided to settle down in Singapore because of its security and education system, which places equal emphasis on the teaching of the English and Mandarin to its Chinese students.
Singapore's other attractions for celebrities and other wealthy individuals from around the world include its reputation as one of Asia's safest cities and its low tax regime.
Rumours of the film star settling down in Singapore and buying a Sg$20 million ($14 million) house in an upscale district surfaced in June 2009.
He follows in the footsteps of leading Chinese actress Gong Li, who shot to fame with her roles in "Farewell My Concubine" and later "Memoirs of a Geisha."
Gong Li, who is not related to Jet Li, became a Singapore citizen in 2008.
In December 2004, Jet Li and his family had a brush with death as they were in a Maldives hotel which was flooded during the tsunami that swept across the Indian Ocean.
Following that incident, he turned to philanthropy and started a charity called One Foundation, which aims to help victims of natural disasters.
Anyone in striking distance of these events?
Quote:
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Jet Li kicks it up a notch to promote kung fu
By: Katy Adams and Nikki Schwab | Examiner Staff Writer Follow Her @KatyAdams | 08/08/11 8:05 PM
Hollywood martial arts master Jet Li will join a group of the world's top wushu kung fu athletes to promote the ancient discipline at the World Champion Wushu Kungfu Show at George Mason University's Center for the Arts on Sunday.
Li will perform with more than 20 kung fu masters to show his support for the sport. His visit to D.C. comes right before he travels to New York, where he will participate in a cultural celebration in honor of China's 40th anniversary as a member of the United Nations.
The former kung fu national champion was named honorary kung fu ambassador to the U.N. and was invited by the Chinese ambassador to the U.N. to perform with other champion athletes at the organization's Manhattan headquarters.
Tickets to Sunday's event start at $20 and are available for purchase online at cfa.gmu.edu/calendar/799. The performance begins at 3 p.m.
I have the USAWKF announcement in my email but that's on our firewalled email computer. When I get over there to do email, I'll c&p it here. The USAWKF site seems to be down at the moment. :confused:
Quote:
Jet Li attending World Champion Wushu Kung Fu Show this Sunday in DC
Violet Li, Tai Chi Examiner
August 10, 2011
World Champion Wushu Kung Fu Show probably is one of the biggest events this year in the world for Chinese Martial Arts (CMA). There will be 20 top martial artists from China to perform and renowned action movie star Jet Li will also attend this event, which will be hosted in Washington D.C. this Sunday Aug 14.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of China’s membership in the United Nations. To celebrate this historical event, the United Nations invited the Chinese Wushu Championship Team to perform in front of the members of the United Nations on Aug 18. Twenty top Chinese martial artists along with Jet Li are invited to showcase to the world’s leaders a true Chinese heritage.
Featuring high-flying action, breathtaking fighting routines, masterful wielding of deadly weapons, mesmerizing fluidity and grace of an award winning Tai Chi performance, this top caliber event will allow the audience to witness stunts that you have seen in action movies like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Jet Li’s Fearless, and Kung Fu Panda live with real people without wires or gimmicks.
Advertisement
The United States of America Wushu-Kungfu Federation has been a long time CMA promoter in the U.S. Along with O-Mei Wushu Kungfu Center, they have acquired one of the rare opportunities to host a performance in Washington D.C. prior to the show in New York. The magnitude of the performance, featuring the sport’s best athletes will without a doubt elevate the public’s awareness of Wushu and Chinese culture. They believe audience will be amazed by the power, precision and grace of Wushu just as the leaders of the world will be. Don’t miss this lifetime experience to understand what Wushu or Kung Fu is really about.
Event Details:
Date: Sunday August 14, 2011
Pre-show news conference and meet & greet with Jet Li: 1:00-2:00pm (by invitation)
Performance time: 3:00pm-5:00pm
Location: George Mason University's Center for the Arts 4400 University Dr Fairfax, VA
Tickets: Prices range from $20-$40, click here to purchase tickets. Or, email kungfushowusa@yahoo.com .
For more information on the event please visit: http://www.omei-wushu.com/wushuShow.php. If you have any question, please send mail to kungfushowusa@yahoo.com or Call 571-208-4441 or 301-983-0838 or 301-340-3258 or 301-919-3836 or 240-506-1663
Did his Wuji thing ever take off?
JamesC: I've heard Jet's Wuji project was well received in PRC, but I've not been able to verify that, nor have I seen any of the materials so far. Beyond that hearsay, I haven't really heard much about it since the news posts above.Quote:
Jet Li and World Champion Wushu Kungfu Show Coming to the DC Area - Sunday August 14th, 2011
Dear USAWKF Members,
To celebrate 2011 marking the 40th anniversary of China's membership into the United Nations, the Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations has chosen to showcase Wushu to honor the country's rich heritage. The Chinese Wushu Association is sending 20 world-class Wushu practitioners to travel to the United States from China to perform live at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City on August 18th. Prior to the UN show, USAWKF member O-Mei Wushu (Kung Fu) Center is also organizing a once-in-a-lifetime, must-see live performance in the DC area featuring these impressive athletes. USAWKF is co-sponsoring the above two demonstrations.
The Sunday August 14th performance, taking place at the George Mason University's Center for the Arts, will feature high-flying action, breathtaking fighting routines, masterful wielding of dynamic weapons, as well as the mesmerizing fluidity and grace of an award winning Tai Chi performance. On top of that, international movie star and former Kungfu National Champion, Jet Li, will give a pre-performance news conference which will include a meet and greet opportunity for his fans. Between the world-class performance and an opportunity to meet Jet Li, this event is sure to be unforgettable. For more event details, including how to purchase tickets, see below.
Event Details:
Date: Sunday August 14, 2011
Pre-show news conference and meet & greet with Jet Li: 1:00-2:00pm (Free for ticketed patrons)
Performance time: 3:00pm-5:00pm
Location: George Mason University's Center for the Arts 4400 University Dr Fairfax, VA
Tickets: Prices range from $20-$40, click here to purchase tickets. Or, email kungfushowusa@yahoo.com.
.
United States of America Wushu Kung-Fu Federation, Inc.
More to come...;)
Quote:
Jet Li drums up support for wushu in Olympics
BY JENNIE L. ILUSTRE
FAIRFAX, Virginia. – As in the movies, so in real life: Jet Li to the rescue. Li is the star of "Hero," a foreign language film that was a box-office hit in the US, and in real-life, he’s a hero and philanthropist.
The United States of America Wushu Kungfu Federation is drawing on Li’s star power–he also appeared in "The Forbidden Kingdom" with Jackie Chan, "Lethal Weapon 4," and starred in "Romeo Must Die"–to enable wushu champions to perform in the 2020 Summer Olympics. Wushu (martial arts) is better known as kung fu.
It’s not too early to start the campaign, C. P. Ong, USAWKF executive vice president, said in a press conference here last Sunday.
"Wushu is on the International Olympics Committee’s short list of eight sports to be featured in the 2020 Summer Olympics," he added. The IOC will hand down a decision in September 2013.
He said wushu faces stiff competition from other more popular sports disciplines under consideration, such as baseball, softball and karate. "That’s why we have to ‘borrow’ Jet Li’s superstar status to make sure we make it to the Olympics," he stressed.
The USAWKF is the official US representative to the 139 member-nation International Wushu Federation.
Li is in the East Coast as one of the invited performers at a celebration marking the 40th anniversary of China’s membership to the United Nations. UN secretary-general Ban Ki Moon has chosen wushu champions from China to perform with American champions at its headquarters in New York on Thursday.
Li, who started taking wushu lessons at age 8, is a popular national champion in Beijing. The actor, a Buddhist, talked with humility about wushu "as like a religion."
He said wushu has three levels. "The third level is very close to religion. You don’t have a sword in your hand (first level). You don’t have a sword in your heart (second level). You love people, you love your family. You love the enemy."
On the third level, "You don’t have an enemy, and that I think is a real hero," added Li. "I try to work for the global family."
He lamented that young people spend hours on video games, the Internet and other technology. "People should focus not just on wushu’s physical element, but also as a philosophy," he said, adding it’s about being "healthy and happy."
Talking about a life-altering experience, he said: "In 2004, I almost died in the Maldives desert. Since then, I started a foundation in China" to help in international relief efforts.
According to the wikipedia, Li formed The One Foundation in 2007, and contributed 500,000 yuan (US$62,500) of box office revenues from his film "Fearless" to the Red Cross to support disaster aid and mental health awareness.
USAWKF member O-Mei Wushu, based in the neighboring state of Washington, the US capital, held a show Sunday. Li did not perform but spoke at a press conference, and later watched the show.
Still more to come...Quote:
Chinese martial art performs at UN
English.news.cn 2011-08-19 14:38:43
UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese martial art (wushu) show starred dozens of world champions and Olympic medalists performed at the UN headquarters in New York Thursday night.
The performance, with the theme of "peace, friendship and health," was jointly sponsored Chinese Wushu Association and the Permanent Mission of China to the UN.
Wang Min, deputy permanent representative of the Chinese Mission to the UN, said at the opening of the performance that martial art embodies the peace-loving Chinese culture.
"The ultimate goal of martial art is to stop violence, end conflict, and foster peace and harmony. This concept coincides with the ideal of peace advocated by the United Nations," he said.
Beside, martial art is meant to improve people's health, said Wang. "This dovetails nicely with the UN millennium development goal of promoting health of mankind."
Some 1,600 people from diplomatic missions, the UN and other circles watched the performance at the General Assembly Hall, including UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro and well-known Chinese martial artist Jet Li (Li Lianjie).
In a two-hour performance, more than 20 wushu champions from China and 70 local wushu-lovers showed various styles of wushu with different training weapons like sabre, sword, spear and others. The splendid performance won continuous applauses from the audience.
"It was just amazing, from the start to finish, "said UN staff member Fabris Wowo.
Wowo, who has been learning Chinese for two years, told Xinhua that the show prompted his interest in taking Wushu, in a bid to further understand the profound Chinese culture.
Originated in China, wushu has been referred to as martial arts, "guoshu", as well as "gongfu" in some areas. It has a number of fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in China.
Read Can Jet Li Be a True Hero in Real Life? by Violet Li.
Jet Li at the U.N. 2011
World Champion Kung Fu Show 2011
18 August 2011 Jet Li and the China World Champion Wushu Team ring the NYSE Closing BellQuote:
Wushu Martial Arts Exhibition/Performance
18 August 2011
With a theme “Peace, Friendship and Health”, featuring 80 performers from various countries (sponsored by the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations Chinese in cooperation with the International Wushu Foundation)
The event will open with brief remarks from a Representative of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations, the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General and Jet Li, Goodwill Ambassador for W.H.O
Running time: 01:55:03
Language(s) available: English
I'd love one of these watches.
Hublot & Jet LiQuote:
Fighting talk
Updated: 2011-12-22 07:43
By Gan Tian (China Daily)
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/at...105cc0ee38.jpg
The 1982 film Shaolin Temple featuring Jet Li (right). Twenty-nine years later, Li uses every opportunity to promote tai chi and his charity. Provided to China Daily
Jet Li says he'll focus more on combating injustice through charity and promoting tai chi, and less on kungfu flicks. Gan Tian reports.
Kungfu superstar Jet Li says acting is just a hobby now. He has seldom appeared in public to promote his films in the past three years. But he has seized every chance to discuss tai chi and his charity. And he espouses a new philosophy about martial arts - that traditional culture should be commercialized to survive.
In his recent partnership with Swiss watchmaker Hublot, the 48-year-old designed a luxury watch under its Big Bang series. It features a Shaolin Temple window on the front and the yin-and-yang pattern with Li's signature on the back. Only 200 were made.
"It is all about yin and yang in tai chi, as it is a combination of the advanced Western watch-making technology and traditional Chinese culture," he says.
Li believes few young Chinese people pay attention to their own culture and heritage - not because they are not fascinating but because they need to be more merchandized, he says.
"We can't wait for the world to come to see our culture," Li says.
"We have to promote it to the world. To merchandize tai chi is a new way to promote it."
He says he has been pondering this for nearly 30 years. When he was in the United States in the early 1980s, he met a Chinese kungfu master and a South Korean taekwondo master.
The Chinese opened three martial art clubs. He taught several hundreds of apprentices himself. But the South Korean master hired his students to start a business, and has more than 10,000 clubs all over the US.
"It suddenly occurred to me, at that moment, it (commercialization) would not work in this way," Li says.
"Our culture could not be duplicated and turned into business. We have to find solutions."
It was at that time Li founded his first company promoting kungfu and tai chi, but it wasn't profitable.
"At the beginning of the 1980s, people were not familiar with the market-oriented economy, and they thought I was 'promoting capitalism'. That's why I failed," Li says.
But he is starting again 30 years later. To explain his approach to promoting tai chi, Li used the traditional Chinese adage "tianshi, dili, renhe", which literally translates as "good timing, geographical convenience and good support from the people".
The domestic and foreign markets for tai chi exist, and public understanding is forming. But most importantly, China needs a cultural signature, Li says, and he believes that should be tai chi.
He partnered with sportswear giant adidas in 2009 to launch the tai chi-inspired Wu Ji collection.
This April, Li founded the company Taichi Zen with Alibaba Group's chairman Jack Ma. The martial artist tries to promote tai chi as a fashionable sport for young people like India's yoga, Japan's judo and South Korea's taekwondo.
At the same time, Li believes tai chi is not only a sport but also a complicated philosophy about the balance that exists in everything, including the military, politics, culture and economics.
Li adopts some principles from tai chi's philosophy in running his charity One Foundation, whose central concept is "One Person + One Dollar + One Month = One Family".
He's currently in discussions with China Mobile about launching a special One Foundation program through which users can donate 1 yuan (16 US cents) a month. China Mobile has 500 million to 700 million users, so the foundation could generate that many yuan a month, he says.
Li believes One Foundation will change people's stereotypes about charity.
"My goal is to prepare for the future," he says.
"No matter what natural disasters happen, we have enough money to help people. It's the same with the traditional Chinese philosophy of, moving keeps people alive and always be prepared."
When asked whether he still practices kungfu daily, Li laughs, and says: "You mean physically or mentally? Physically, I do not. But mentally, I never cease."
Quote:
Hublot Unveils Limited Edition Jet Li Timepiece At Tai Chi-Infused Event
Tuesday, December 20th, 2011
http://www.jingdaily.com/kaizhi/jing..._1-380x250.jpg
Hublot Jet Li watch release event in Dalian
The Swiss luxury watchmaker Hublot, which counts actor Jet Li and the popular Chinese blogger Han Han among its brand ambassadors, held one of its largest promotional events of the year this month in the northeast Chinese city of Dalian. Held to launch the new limited edition Jet Li model, the “Art of Fusion” event was marked with a performance by 100 tai chi practitioners, bringing together two of Li’s non-acting-related activities: promoting both Hublot and the art of tai chi. Present at the launch were Li and Hublot execs like managing director, Ricardo Guadalupe.
The limited edition Hublot Jet Li watch, jointly designed by Li and Hublot, is limited to 200 pieces globally, with pricing as yet undetermined. Featuring a black open-worked frame with accents inspired by traditional Chinese screens on the watch face, the rear cover includes a yin-yang symbol and Jet Li’s signature. Extending Li’s philanthropic activities, Hublot will donate a portion of sales from the watch to Li’s One Foundation.
As Ricardo Guadalupe said at the event, “The collaboration between Hublot and Jet Li represents a fusion of Eastern and Western cultures, marking the very highest status of watches in China while making a significant contribution to charity. This is a truly invaluable partnership for us.”
Remarking on the partnership, Li — who became Hublot’s first-ever Asian brand ambassador in November 2010 — said, “I truly admire that as a luxury brand, Hublot also remains incredibly active in its support of charity initiatives worldwide with its ‘Sharing and Caring’ philosophy, sharing its success with individuals who need care the most.”
While tai chi and Swiss luxury watches may seem like an odd fit for an event, Jet Li is currently working to promote tai chi worldwide via his new Taichi Zen institutes, announced at Alifest in Hangzhou this past September. As Jing Daily wrote after attending the event:
Jet Li said that the combination of tai chi and Zen (Chan) Buddhism to be taught in his Taichi Zen schools can become something of a “cultural product” of China, one that appeals to people around the world. Li likened this type of readily identifiable cultural product to Hollywood for the U.S., yoga for India, and espresso for Italy, adding that he thought a country can’t be truly “great” until it becomes a cultural, rather than simply an economic, force domestically and globally.
For its part, this is not Hublot’s first charity linkup with its Asian brand ambassadors. This past April, a Hublot F1 watch customized by Han Han was put up for auction, eventually raising US$160,000 yuan (US$25,000) for Jet Li’s One Foundation, and last month the watchmaker released a “Han Han Hublot Limited Edition” watch, with all sales proceeds going to support F1 driver training for young Chinese racers and reward outstanding young talent.
http://www.jingdaily.com/kaizhi/jing...20114616_2.gif
http://www.jingdaily.com/kaizhi/jing...20114616_4.gif
http://www.jingdaily.com/kaizhi/jing...0114616_31.gif
http://www.jingdaily.com/kaizhi/jing...20114616_5.gif
Since they only made two hundred, I am sure it will be very affordable.
I only need 1.
Quote:
And The Most Beautiful In The World is... A Dog!
By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman
Published: March 24, 2013
http://www.mb.com.ph/images/article/...23_01_0432.jpg
Filipina title holders the likes of Venus Raj, Janine Tugonon, and Shamcey Supsup may have failed to bag the highly-coveted Miss Universe crown but someone else from the Philippines did it for them.
Enter Philippine-Italian Canton Jet Li, a locally-bred Pomeranian who bested more than 200 other Pomeranians from all over the world and bagged the “Mr. Universe” crown for dogs. And proved once more that the Philippines is not just home to beauty queens but also to the most beautiful canines. Jet Li’s cunning abilities, stance, styles, talents, and tricks have again brought pride to our country in international contests. This also demonstrates the skills of the breeder in producing today’s dog champions.
The recently concluded global dog show competition, American Pomeranian Club (APC) Nationals held in Kentucky, USA last March 10-13, bestowed the championship award to the three-year-old Philippine-bred Pomeranian in the Best of Breed (Best in Specialty Show) category. The dog champion, Philippine Italian Canton Jet Li, bested more than 200 Pomeranians, 50 of which were earlier American Champions.
Hundreds of owners and breeders from all over the world displayed and paraded their charming and pudgy Pomeranians in front of the international judges and Jet Li captured their hearts because he has the closest characteristics in keeping with the global criterion.
The criteria of choice are how closely the specimen comply with the breed standard, which is the breed type (breed bible), sound body and mind (how the dog moves and its temperament) and showmanship (yabang).
The recognition is conferred to the sole dog which, at the end of the all-breed dog show, has successfully defeated the other dogs of all kinds of breeds. The Best of Breed contest evaluates dogs and *****es on how well they conform to their breed type in harmony with the APC standard.
According to the 1997 APC benchmark, the “major faults” of Pomeranians are “round head, domed skull, under-shot and overshot mouth, lack of soundness in hind legs or stifles, and soft or flat coat.” Obviously, Canton Jet Li is nothing but these.
Our very own Champion had experienced setbacks before the competition began. He had just arrived the night before the contest and had no American title to back him up. Before bagging the championship and eventually winning against the 200 Pomeranians, Jet Li had undergone the Open Dog Class competition (a contest for red, orange, sable, and cream Pomeranian breeds). After winning under this title, he had to vie against the Winners Dog before he can become eligible to fight for the ultimate Best of Breed competition. Eventually, he won.
Prior to Jet Li’s winning, the last Pomeranian to win the Breed from the classes was an Open ***** Cenla Annie Laurie O’ Friday in 1991. At that time, competition was so much less in numbers. Accordingly, a win like this at the Nationals from the classes, only happening again after 22 years is indeed historical. It brings great pride to the Philippines since the winner was a Philippine dog.
Special recognition also goes to the former old time Pomeranian breeder and international judge Jackie Stacy who had the courage to follow her convictions regardless of the psychological pressures to put up the more popular dogs. Indeed, a non-political win.
This accomplishment serves as an inspiration to other Filipinos that we can! No matter what we do, whether it is big or small, the pursuit to excellence eventually has its own rewards and recognitions.
Did You Know That...
The most publicized and largest dog show competition is the Westminister New York followed by the Crufts in United Kingdom. However, for breed specialist the most prestigious is the US' Breed Nationals, which is equivalent of the Miss Universe contest.
Pomeranians or Pom Poms are ****y extroverted small dogs that have heavy lion mane-like furs. The fur should be harsh and profuse as they get older. The highly commercialized attractive soft cotton candy may be attractive but discouraged as it is a major fault in dog competitions. Look for harsh textured coats instead because they will get better when Pom Poms grow.
For future Pomeranian owners, stay away from cotton candy-like fur because it is prone to baldness. Look at the puppies' sire (male parents) to see if it still have its coat. Many breeders who use black-skinned dogs as studs will always find an excuse not to show the sire of their puppies.
Pom Poms weigh four to seven pounds and have 12-15 years of life expectancy. They have fox-like expressions and are very competitive because of their natural showmanship. They also come in all colors, patterns, and variations although red and orange are the popular colors.
I confess. I have a Pomeranian.
HBD Jet Li!
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Jet Li pays birthday visit to Mount Wutai
( chinadaily.com.cn )
Updated: 2016-05-03
Famous kung fu star, Jet Li, paid a visit to Mount Wutai in Shanxi province on the occasion of his 53th birthday, 13 years after his previous visit.
Master Changshan, the director of the Buddhist Association of China and other eminent monks warmly greeted Li upon his visit to the mountain.
During his stay, Li exchanged his ideas about Buddhism with the monks as well as sharing his birthday cake. In addition, he also lit candles to pray for his family and friends.
The hero star was introduced to Master Changshan and expressed his understanding of the Buddhist doctrine and willingness to popularize Buddhism at home and abroad.
Jet Li has had a lifelong attachment with Buddhism. In 1982, he rose to fame in his first kung fu movie "The Shaolin Temple". In 2003, Li visited Mount Wutai to study the Buddhism. He is also the founder of the One Foundation, China's first private charitable fundraising organization.
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Jet Li poses with a monk in front of the temple of Mount Wutai. [Photo/ weibo.com]
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Jet Li exchanges ideas on Buddhist doctrine with Master Changshan in the meeting room. [Photo/ weibo.com]
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Jet Li pays birthday visit to Mount Wutai
Still not sure what happened to Taijizen.com but if that dead horse don't trot, beat it some more.
Quote:
Chinese Kung Fu Actor Jet Li Launches Martial Arts Video Platform
PAN YUE
February 22, 2017 — 11:34 HKT
https://www.chinamoneynetwork.com/wp...jetli.com_.jpg
Jet Li, a Chinese Kung Fu champion and film actor, has launched an online video platform, Jetli.com, to nurture and develop martial arts around the world and gain entry into the booming sports sector in China.
Li announced the official launch of the video site yesterday via his Weibo account. Jetli.com, English-language website, aims to tell the story of Kung Fu and Kung Fu masters, as well as other martial arts, including extreme sports, boxing and Taekwondo.
"Founding Jetli.com is a continuation of my dream, not something I did from an impulse," Li wrote in an earlier Weibo post. "Kung Fu is not just about the movements of arms and legs, it is also about pursuing your dream with persistence and patience."
Chinese investors have poured billions into sports ventures, as people in China become more health-conscious. A total of 63 investments with an aggregate deal value of RMB11 billion were recorded in the sports sector during the first half of 2016, up nearly 300% in terms of deal value compared to the RMB3.6 billion registered for all of 2015, according to data from ChinaVenture.
Sports video took the largest share in terms of total deal value, driven by a RMB8 billion series B round completed in April by LeSports, LeEco's sports unit. CMC Holdings, IDG Capital, Legend Capital and Everbright Sports Culture Fund are some of the most active investors in sports.
Jetli.com, which translates into Jie Li (street power) in Chinese, will strive to discovery and help young people pursuing their dreams and share their spirit with others, Li wrote.
Jet Li's video portal is operated by a commercial entity, Shanghai-based Zaomengzhe Development Company that was established last April with RMB2 million (US$280,000) in registered capital.
The business is permitted to operate in multimedia design, website design and computer technology, according to the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System.
I copied the post above from our Jet Li's TaijiZen International Cultural Development Company thread (I suppose I could've added Jet Li’s ONE Foundation too) but I'm going to continue with jetli.com posts here, assuming there are more to come.
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Jet Li Launches Kung Fu Video Site
2:05 AM PST 2/23/2017 by Patrick Brzeski
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Courtesy of Getty Images
Jet Li
The actor and martial arts master said his goal is to share his "passion for bringing the philosophies and lifestyle of Kung Fu to people all over the world."
Veteran Chinese actor and kung fu master Jet Li has launched a video website dedicated to martial arts.
Li unveiled the official launch of the site, Jetli.com, on Chinese social media service Weibo on Tuesday, saying his purpose is to share his "passion for bringing the philosophies and lifestyle of kung fu to people all over the world."
"Founding Jetli.com is a continuation of my dream, not something I did from an impulse," he wrote. "Kung fu is not just about the movements of arms and legs, it is also about pursuing your dream with persistence and patience."
The English-language site is dedicated to sharing the stories and practices of kung fu masters, as well as other martial arts practitioners, including boxers, Taekwondo masters, healers and others. Segments on the site currently include pieces on the traditional martial arts weapons and their modern-day benefits, female masters of Wuxia cinema, the history of Karate, Star Wars and martial arts and even a story about the whitewashing issue in Hollywood.
The video site is operated by Shanghai-based Zaomengzhe Development Company, which was established last April with $280,000 (2 million RMB).
Been looking for news on this but the only thing I've found was on Jet Li's own website. That's been much more active since TaijiZen went dark.Quote:
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Jet Li Gave Speech in United Nations and New York Times Square to Promote Wushu and Taiji
By jetli.com 1 day ago in Jet Li
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Chinese Wushu Delegation participated in cultural exchange last week in the United States. This activity was organized by General Administration of Sport and International Wushu Federation (IWUF). This was the 2nd time that Chinese Wushu delegates performed in the United Nations since 2011. The theme of the event was “Harmonious, Healthy, and Sharing”.
Jet Li Promoted Wushu and Taiji in United Nations
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Jet Li, as the ambassador of IWUF and China Wushu Association, gave a speech in both United Nations and in New York Times Square.
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Jet Li first visited the United States in 1974, when he was one of the members of the Chinese Wushu Delegation. He had the chance to perform wushu in front of President Nixon (Former US President) and Henry Kissinger (Former United States Secretary of State) at the White House.
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In 2011, China Wushu Association and Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations organized an event “Peace, Friendship, Healthy” at the United Nations Headquarters. That was the first time Chinese Wushu delegates performed in the United Nations. At that time, Jet Li once again expressed his thoughts about wushu philosophy and promoted Taiji to the world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehT27wDkvNg
Jet Li Promoted Wushu and Taiji in New York Times Square
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Jet Li believes Taiji is a representation of wushu. It is not only a healthy exercise, but also learning Yin Yang philosophy as well as heaven and earth, peace and balance. He strongly believes that practicing wushu can make a person happier and healthier.
“Currently there are more than 100 million people practicing Taiji around the world. As an ambassador for IWUF and China Wushu Association, what I did in the past was not enough and I will continue to promote wushu to the world,” Jet said.
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Sad to see. Hoping for the best.
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Jet Li’s Aged and Frail Appearance Sparks Concern Among Fans
3:48 AM PDT 5/21/2018 by Karen Chu
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Frederic Nebinger/Getty Images
Jet Li at the 2011 Venice Film Festival
Li revealed in 2013 that he was suffering from hyperthyroidism as well as a heart condition, and a litany of on-set injuries also have affected his health.
Jet Li’s appearance during a recent visit to Tibet has sparked concern for the martial arts legend's health. Pictures of an aged and frail Li shocked his fans online. Many people on social media in China and Hong Kong have been drawing unfavorable comparisons between the 55-year-old Expendables star and someone 20 or 30 years older, according to a report in Hong Kong’s Apple Daily.
Li revealed in 2013 that he was suffering from hyperthyroidism as well as a heart condition. Quoting his doctor, Li said at the time that he could “either continue making [action] films or spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.” Earlier serious injuries to his legs and spine sustained on film sets over the years had also limited his movements, and he admitted he can no longer stand for a long period of time without hunching.Quote:
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View image on Twitter
simón
@StxNaty
So, apparently, Jet Li is suffering from "hyperthyroidism and spinal problems" and this is him now ❤️😓:=
2:50 PM - May 19, 2018
1,035
2,037 people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy
Reluctantly withdrawing from filmmaking, Li has in the last few years dedicated his time to his charity, The One Foundation, which mainly focuses on disaster relief and children’s welfare in China.
A devout Buddhist, Li was spotted at a temple in Tibet in a recent photo and was allegedly addressed as “grandpa” by a group of school children due to his elderly appearance. He has credited his religious belief with helping him cope with his illness.
Li has practiced wushu since the age of eight, winning numerous awards, and once went to the U.S. to perform as part of the China national wushu team for then U.S. president Richard Nixon. After retiring from wushu at the age of 19, he made his name in the movie business with his debut, Shaolin Temple (1982), which became a hit in Greater China, earning more than US$2 million in Hong Kong alone. Famed for his kung fu skills and boyish good looks, he attained Hollywood stardom in 1998 in Lethal Weapon 4 against Mel Gibson, and went on to star in Romeo Must Die (2000),The Forbidden Kingdom (2008) with Jackie Chan and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008).
Li and his family were vacationing in the Maldives during Christmas 2004 when the Indian Ocean tsunami hit. Although the actor was unharmed, the experience prompted him to start his work in philanthropy, setting up The One Foundation in 2007.
Amazing how viral images can start rumors.
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'Jet is completely fine': Jet Li's manager denies 'Expendables' star is in poor health
Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY Published 10:03 p.m. ET May 21, 2018 | Updated 10:46 a.m. ET May 22, 2018
After a supposed picture of Jet Li hit Twitter, his fans were worried about his health. Keri Lumm shares the good news from his manager that his health is "completely fine". Buzz60
https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/be1...251-Jet-Li.jpg
(Photo: Courtesy of Steven Chasman)
Action star Jet Li is "completely fine," despite viral Internet concerns about his health, according to his manager.
Steven Chasman tells USA TODAY that Li, 55, is in good health, calling the online discussion "much ado about nothing."
"We appreciate everyone’s concern. But Jet is completely fine," says Chasman. "There’s nothing wrong with him. There’s no life-threatening illness. He’s in great shape."
The Expendables franchise and Lethal Weapon 4 star sparked health concerns after he was pictured in Tibet over the weekend, looking frail in a fan's photo. The outcry of concern on social media has spilled into the media.
Hong Kong's South China Morning Post asked in a headline, "Is this the same Jet Li we all know? Martial arts legend battles illness and injuries as fans express shock."
Chasman sent USA TODAY a recent photo of Li, saying the picture in Tibet has been taken wildly out of context.Quote:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ddl1T3kUwAEBwI7.jpg
View image on Twitter
simón
@StxNaty
So, apparently, Jet Li is suffering from "hyperthyroidism and spinal problems" and this is him now ❤️😓:
2:50 PM - May 19, 2018
234 234 Replies 2,827 2,827 Retweets 2,038 2,038 likes
Twitter Ads info and privacy
"It’s one picture and people are making these interpretations from it," he says. "If you took a picture me at the wrong angle and wrong time of the day, I could look frail as well."
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Jet Li as "Yin Yang" in a scene from 2014's "The Expendables 3." (Photo: Phil Bray, Lionsgate)
The funny thing is that there were a ton of links that I removed from this article leading to other articles like: 1 Fans of Jet Li express concern as martial arts superstar battles illness 2 Jet Li fans share personal battles with illness that has stricken martial arts star 3 Martial arts superstar Jet Li has been plagued by injuries for many yearsQuote:
‘I’m feeling great’: martial arts legend Jet Li breaks his silence after his shocking photos
The 55-year-old action movie star publishes his first Facebook post since photos of him visiting a temple worried millions of fans and went viral around the world
https://cdn2.i-scmp.com/sites/defaul...?itok=wYYIlkfW
PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 23 May, 2018, 10:41pm
UPDATED : Thursday, 24 May, 2018, 12:02am
Unus Alladin
Unus.alladin@scmp.com
Martial arts superstar Jet Li Lianjie has taken to Facebook to allay fears of his fans that he was in ill health after shocking recent photos revealed the extent of his hyperthyroidism and spinal problems.
The 55-year-old star of Lethal Weapon V and Kiss of the Dragon broke his silence days after photos revealed a frail-looking Li while he visited a temple in Chengdu recently, and not in Tibet as widely reported.
Last week, Chinese netizens prayed for the action star’s health and news of his condition spread right across the English-speaking world, including the US, where he has millions of fans. Many expressed disbelief that they were seeing the same Beijing-born actor, who has appeared in dozens of action movies spanning four decades. Many hoped for Li to make a quick and complete recovery.
Opinion: How actor Jet Li will overcome his devastating illness
Li also took to the Chinese social media network Weibo to thank fans for their concern over a photo that made him look “80 years old”, adding that “someone” had offered him a magic potion to cure his ills and give him a long life.
Li had remained silent on the matter until Wednesday evening (Hong Kong time) when he published his first Facebook posting in three months, saying that he was “doing great” and “feeling great”. He also posted three photos of himself, one with a monk.
“I would like to thank all my fans who have expressed concern about my health. I’m doing great and feeling great!” Li said on his Facebook page.
“I’m excited to share with you a few projects I am working on in the near future. For now, thank you all for your concern!”
Within 30 minutes of posting his update, his fans responded with more than 10,000 likes. Many sent their best wishes and shared comments, and were happy that he appeared healthy – a far cry from his temple photos.
“Thank you for sharing this Mr Lee, your movies were a big part of my childhood and my heart sank when I read the news yesterday, hope you and your family are well,” Facebook user Michael Thomas said.
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Jet Li visits a temple. Photo: Weibo
Another Facebook user, Renne Thomas, said; “Jet, I’m so glad you are doing great my precious brother from another mother! I watched your movie Heaven’s Ocean! OMG so so so beautifully done and outstanding acting on everyone’s part! I cried but cried good tears! Be well my brother and you and the family are always in my prayers! All Praises to the Heavenly Father for your life and healing.”
Jet Li fans share their personal battles with hyperthyroidism, as martial arts icon’s health problems continue to shock
Another Jet Li fan, Tami Richardson, was delighted that he appeared healthy.
“I am just glad to know that you are out there doing the world some favours. It really needed it. Thanks for being the one. ”
THREADS:Quote:
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TRENDING
Jet Li says he rejected The Matrix because he didn’t want his kung fu moves digitally recorded
Martial arts superstar explained the decision in a recent interview with Chinese media
Remember Seraph from The Matrix? The kung fu fighting Guardian of the Oracle could have been played by Jet Li… until he realized the filmmakers might have wanted to digitally preserve all his martial arts moves.
The role of Seraph went to Taiwan actor Collin Chou. No offense to Keanu Reeves, but Seraph’s moves are so much more fluid that those of Neo’s.
In his latest interview with famed Chinese anchor Chen Luyu, Li revealed his reason for turning down the big role in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolution.
“It was a commercial struggle for me,” Li said, “I realized the Americans wanted me to film for three months but be with the crew for nine. And for six months, they wanted to record and copy all my moves into a digital library.”
He added, “By the end of the recording, the right to these moves would go to them.”
Li said back then, he was already worried that future technology would allow US filmmakers to digitally reproduce his moving body and superimpose the face of any actor onto it.
“I was thinking: I’ve been training my entire life. And we martial artists could only grow older. Yet they could own [my moves] as an intellectual property forever. So I said I couldn’t do that,” Li said.
This isn’t the first time that Li has talked about his decision to reject the role.
In 2002, he told the BBC he thought the movie was going to be great with or without him. The next year, he told CNN that he wanted to use the time to film the martial arts epic Hero instead.
Li’s recent appearance followed news of his declining health earlier this year.
The 55 year-old Beijing-born actor has been suffering from hyperthyroidism and spinal problems. Pictures of Li’s almost unrecognizably frail appearance emerged on Weibo earlier this year, sending shockwaves across the web.
Li’s manager later came out and said Li was “completely fine” despite his battle with hyperthyroidism.
https://cdn1.i-scmp.com/sites/defaul...?itok=uxGhxnrG
Jet Li before and now. (Picture: SCMP/Facebook)
Li did appear to be in high spirits during his recent interview. That could bode well for the Hollywood icon who is slated to be part of Disney's upcoming live-action Mulan.
Li Lian Jie (Jet Li)
The Matrix Reboot
continued next postQuote:
The untold truth of Jet LI, Chinese movie superstar
By Lloyd M’bwana / Saturday, 05 Jan 2019 03:49PM
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Jet LI
By Phil Archbold
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 kicked some serious ass in his 1982 debut feature Shaolin Temple, and went on to make a name for himself overseas (The Guardian called him “the Fred Astaire of kung fu”), but today Li is more of a lover than a fighter.
His passion is now in philanthropy, though he’s been in need of some help himself over the years. From near-death experiences to sham marriages, this is the untold truth of Jet Li.
He was a pre-teen street performer
In 1973, the legendary Bruce Lee passed away under mysterious circumstances , leaving China, America, and the rest of the movie-loving world in shock. The following year, Li (just 11 years old at the time) was doing a kung fu demonstration in Hong Kong when he was approached by a movie producer and asked how he felt about becoming the next Bruce Lee. Speaking to TalkAsia (via CNN ) in 2003, Li (whose English wasn’t quite as accomplished back then) recalled the encounter.
“When movie studio producer talk to me, ‘Hi, little kid, when you grow up, you want to become action star?'” Li said. “I say, ‘Okay, why not!’ So since then, every year the producer came to me to look at me. Says, ‘Okay, you are still a little boy, can’t make movie. I want to wait [for] you.'”
He greatly admired Lee, but as a young boy he couldn’t imagine that his name would ever be mentioned in the same breath.
“I remember I found him very talented, a very talented actor and martial artist,” Li added. “But I don’t know how to make movie, I don’t know how to become this, I didn’t think of it that deep. I was just 11.”
Li had turned 17 by the time the producer decided he was ready to make his debut feature film. He was cast in Shaolin Temple, the first in a series of movies that established him as a star in China.
President Nixon asked him to be his bodyguard
1974 turned out to be quite the eventful year for Li. Not only did the 11-year-old find himself on the watchlist of Chinese movie studios, he also got to perform in front of the U.S. president. Li and the Chinese national Wushu team were invited to the White House, where they put on a show for Richard Nixon, whose time in the Oval Office would soon come to an end because of his involvement in the Watergate scandal. Nixon wasn’t very popular at the time, and after he saw what Li could do, he apparently offered him the job of protecting him.
According to We Are The Mighty , the president jokingly (we assume, at least) asked if Li would consider becoming his personal muscle once he was old enough to work. “Young man, your kung fu is very impressive,” Nixon reportedly said. “How about being my bodyguard when you grow up?” Li’s extremely loyal reply reportedly left those in attendance stunned. “No, I don’t want to protect any individual,” he said. “When I grow up, I want to defend my one billion Chinese countrymen!”
The silence that fell over the room was broken by then-Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger. “Heavens, such a young boy and he already speaks like a diplomat,” Kissinger quipped. A generation of hostility between China and the U.S. seemed to be coming to an end, but some foul play is said to have taken place on the Chinese Wushu team’s tour of America.
He thinks the U.S. government bugged his hotel room
During his candid 2003 interview with
TalkAsia (via CNN), Li was asked if there was any truth to the rumors that his hotel room had been bugged during his first visit to the United States, and his answer was shocking. The Nixon administration were found to have spied on their political rivals using hidden mics, and the Chinese government were apparently very wary about sending the Wushu team on a tour of America, knowing that they could potentially be targeted for information. They were so wary, in fact, that they warned the traveling team members to be careful about what they said at all times, including while they were in the privacy of their hotel rooms.
“It’s true,” Li confirmed when asked about the bugging. “At that time, China and America just started [a] relationship between the two countries. It is so funny! When I went there I wanted to try [to see if] they have a bug or not. So in New York, a big hotel, I talked to the mirrors.” Li claims that he said out loud that he would really like some chocolate and ice cream. To his surprise (and amusement), the sweet treats he wished for in his private quarters miraculously materialized.
“So, next day, I opened the door,” he continued. “Chocolates, ice cream, bananas — everything is on my table!” Li also discussed the incident when he returned to the States to promote his
disappointing English language sci-fi actioner The One in 2001.
He married his first wife out of duty, not love
Li has four daughters — two with his ex-wife, Huang Qiuyan , and two with his current wife, Nina Li Chi. The action star and Chi (a former Miss Asia) will be celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary in 2019, and they appear to be as happy as ever. Li has managed to remain good friends with his first wife, despite the fact that he openly admitted he only married her out of a sense of duty.
Li and Qiuyan (a teammate from the Chinese national Wushu side who also became a martial arts actor) had known each other from childhood. Their long friendship took an unexpected turn when they were filming a movie called Martial Arts of Shaolin together. Li broke his leg on set, and he was blown away by the level of support his co-star gave him. She remained by his side as he returned to full health, at which point Li felt it was only right to propose. Plus, she was loaded.
“My family was poor, her family was well-off,” Li explained (via ContactMusic ). “She often took care of me. That’s how it happened. I didn’t know what love was. In terms of how much emotion each person devoted, she maybe gave 90 percent or 80 percent. At most I gave… I still haven’t figured out. When we parted, we were really like friends.” According to
QQ (via Jayne Stars), Li gave Qiuyan $50,000 as a gift when she remarried in 2005.
I'm only posting this here because it quotes KungFuMagazine. :cool:Quote:
He was almost killed in the 2004 tsunami
The devastation caused by the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004 cannot be understated. On December 26, a 9.2 magnitude earthquake shook the seabed off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, sending 40-foot waves hurtling towards land. In the end, a staggering 230,000 people lost their lives across 14 different countries, one of which was the Maldives. Li and his family were vacationing on one of the 26 ring-shaped atolls that make up the South Asian republic when the tsunami struck, and they had a very lucky escape.
“The waves came really quickly and formed swirls,” Li explained during a Hong Kong fundraiser (via SantaBanta). “I carried my daughters and pulled my maid and ran. I’d only walked three steps when I realized that the water had already come up to my waist.” In a matter of seconds, the idyllic setting turned into something from a nightmare. “When I looked back, everything I saw minutes ago was gone,” Li continued. “Everything was surrounded by the ocean. The houses collapsed. I continued to run but the water was already up to my mouth.”
Luckily, Li, his family and his maid all survived to tell the tale, which the actor apparently intends to do. In 2017, reports suggested that he was planning to star in a film about the tsunami, a China-Indonesia co-production. The story of fellow survivor Maria Belon and her incredibly resilient family was given the
big-screen treatment in 2012’s The Impossible.
The experience changed his life
Surviving the tsunami changed Li’s outlook on life. The actor had an epiphany following the disaster, deciding that he wanted to dedicate himself to philanthropy after being “deeply moved” by the treatment he and his family received from total strangers. If it weren’t for the actions of four brave men who swam to Li’s aid after he screamed for help, his two youngest daughters would have likely drowned.
“The experience of surviving the chaos and witnessing the devastation caused by this natural disaster has changed me forever,” he told Alliance . “During the recovery period in the Maldives, I was deeply moved to see that everyone who was able to help willingly pitched in. Never once did anyone ask ‘Where are you from?’ or ‘What nationality are you?’ I wondered: was it possible to keep that spirit alive and transcend traditional boundaries to help humanity at large?”
To satisfy his curiosity, Li set up his own foundation. “I realized that all the money and power in the world would not have saved me from the water,” he said in a detailed piece for Newsweek . “That night I decided that I couldn’t wait until I was retired; I had to do something right away.” The whole ordeal put life into perspective for him. “I had spent the first 41 years of my life thinking about Jet Li first, wanting to prove I was special, wanting to prove I was a star.”
Aaliyah’s death hit him hard
Li’s first appearance in a Hollywood movie was as the villain in 1998’s Lethal Weapon 4 , but he wasn’t used to playing a bad guy, especially one that kicks ladies in the face . He got his chance to play the hero two years later when he was cast as the male lead in 2000’s
Romeo Must Die , starring opposite
Aaliyah . Like Li, the R&B singer-turned-actress was trying to earn her stripes in Tinseltown. Sadly, she died before she really got the chance to establish herself.
On August 25, 2001, the 22-year-old boarded a small plane headed to Miami. The aircraft would never reach its destination. Aaliyah and several staffers from her record label (who had been with her in the Bahamas filming a video for her song “Rock the Boat”) perished when the plane crashed. The pilot reportedly warned Aaliyah and her party that the small aircraft was dangerously overloaded, but he apparently relented and took off anyway, possibly with a
faulty engine. For those that knew Aaliyah, the circumstances took second place to the grief.
When Li returned to Vancouver (where
Romeo was filmed) for the movie Rogue , he found being back there hard. “I have some memories of this very beautiful city but it still makes me think about Aaliyah,” he told IGN. “We worked together here for a few months. She was such a talented girl and some locations when you pass by every day, you still think about her.”
He turned down a role in The Matrix
Romeo Must Die didn’t blow the critics away (it only managed 33 percent on the (Tomatometer ), but Li was considered one of the highlights. The box office numbers were a little more convincing. The film managed to rake in $91 million worldwide from a budget of $25 million, which was seen as a pretty decent haul at the time. All things considered it was a success for Li, who felt so comfortable with his future prospects that he turned down a role in the Matrix sequels.
Speaking to TalkAsia (via CNN ), the star explained that he had to make a choice between The Matrix (he was reportedly offered the part of Seraph ) and Hero . “Sometimes you get something and sometimes you lose something,” Li said.
He claimed to be a fan of the Wachowskis, but he wasn’t a fan of what the sibling directors did to the action genre. “After The Matrix , everybody do action movie with people fighting while flying around,” Li complained. “Suddenly everyone can fight. Man can do, girl can do, little boy can do, even cartoon can do the same thing. In this movie, everyone really can do.”
His decision to favor Hero over The Matrix sequels paid off, as the Chinese
wuxia film won wide approval. “With death-defying action sequences and epic historic sweep, Hero offers everything a martial arts fan could ask for,” Rotten Tomatoes critics concluded. The movie was Certified Fresh with a score of 95 percent.
He renounced his American citizenship
After his breakthrough in America, Li found himself spending more and more time in the States. He decided that it made sense to apply for American citizenship, which he was duly granted, but he renounced both his American and Chinese citizenship in 2009 in order to move to Singapore, which doesn’t allow dual nationals. The actor reportedly spent around $15 million on a swanky three-floor property and moved his family to the tax-friendly island, following in the footsteps of Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin and fellow martial arts movie legend Jackie Chan.
The fact that he likely pays half the amount of tax he would be paying in the States was surely a factor, but according to Nomad Capitalist, Singapore’s excellent education system also influenced Li’s decision. But how did the people of China (the ones he swore allegiance to while a guest at the White House) take the news? Traditionally, Chinese celebrities that ditch the homeland for Singapore are dubbed traitors and lose major credit (actress Gong Li was pilloried online when she became a Singaporean in 2008), though this didn’t happen with Li.
According to the South China Morning Post, polls revealed that only half of the Chinese citizens asked about Li leaving China objected to it, with one fan even suggesting that they would like to do the same. “It’s [his] right to live where [he] wants to,” the blogger wrote. “If I could, I will follow suit. [Singapore’s] passport is better.”
Is his health failing?
Rumors that Li was in grave health spread like wildfire in 2018 after a photo of the actor looking old and worryingly frail went viral, forcing his manager to respond. Steven Chasman told USA
Today that the story was “much ado about nothing” and Li was simply in a bad light when he posed for a quick snap with a fan. “It’s one picture and people are making these interpretations from it,”
Chasman said. “If you took a picture [of] me at the wrong angle and wrong time of the day, I could look frail as well.”
Fans were quick to blame Li’s grave new look on his hyperthyroidism, a condition that makes the thyroid gland produce too many hormones.
He was diagnosed in 2010, and while he’s been able to keep it under control using medication, his hyperthyroidism has often been a cause for concern among fans.
“The web has been abuzz with news that I’m going to be wheelchair-bound,” Li said in 2016 (via The Straits Times ). “Even my friends are concerned and are asking how I am.”
The action star joked that a wheelchair company had been spreading the rumors to boost sales and reassured fans that he was a-okay. “There is nothing to worry about my health,” he said.
Li looked capable as ever in behind-the-scenes footage from a 2017 short film, and Disney is clearly happy with his health, as the Mouse House has cast him in its upcoming live-action remake of Mulan.
And I often look 'weak and dishevelled, and almost bald with grey, thinning hair' Well, maybe not that grey but definitely thinning. :o
THREADSQuote:
Jet Li looks in much better health alongside Jack Ma at Alibaba chairman’s awards ceremony
Martial arts legend in fine fettle at Rural Teacher Awards in Sanya
Li caused concern among fans with his frail appearance in 2018
PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 15 January, 2019, 2:11pm
UPDATED : Tuesday, 15 January, 2019, 2:19pm
Nicolas Atkin
https://twitter.com/nicoscmp
https://cdn1.i-scmp.com/sites/defaul...?itok=u67JDQwr
Jet Li has given his legion of fans an early present ahead of the Lunar New Year after appearing to be in much better health at an awards ceremony alongside Jack Ma in Sanya.
The martial arts superstar, who suffers from hyperthyroidism, caused concern last year after a photo of him looking frail went viral.
But on Monday night, Li was pictured chatting and smiling with Ma – chairman of the Alibaba Group, which owns the South China Morning Post – at the 2018 Rural Teacher Awards, an event launched by the Jack Ma Foundation, in Sanya, Hainan province.
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Jack Ma, chairman of Alibaba Group, with Jet Li at the Rural Teacher Awards, an event launched by the Jack Ma Foundation, in Sanya. Photo Imaginechina
The 55-year-old Li was sporting his old black hair, with some trendy black-rimmed glasses and a cool dark blue denim jacket, as he cut a low-key presence.
His appearance was in stark contrast to a May 2018 picture that showed him visiting a temple in Chengdu looking weak and dishevelled, and almost bald with grey, thinning hair.
Hyperthyroidism is a rare condition that accelerates the body’s metabolism, causing unintentional weight loss and a rapid or irregular heartbeat.
Such were the fears for his health, the Lethal Weapon 4 and Kiss of the Dragon star took to Facebook to reassure his fans he was “feeling great”.
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Jet Li at the presentation ceremony of the 2018 Rural Teacher Awards. Photo Imaginechina
His manager, Steven Chasman, also said “there’s nothing wrong with him, there’s no life-threatening illness, he’s in great shape”.
“If you took a picture of me at the wrong angle and wrong time of the day, I could look frail as well,” Chasman added.
Li had also sat alongside Ma at last year’s awards, and the difference is plain to see, with Li looking in much better health this time around.
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Jet Li and Jack Ma at last year’s Rural Teacher Awards ceremony. Photo: TopPhoto/Alamy Live News
Romeo Must Die star Li was in the front row again with former teacher Ma to watch all of the evening’s festivities on Monday.
Guests were treated to performances and speeches from Chinese celebrities such as singer Zhang Yuning, comedian Song Xiaobao, and former Chinese volleyball star Hui Ruoqi.
Talk show host and musician Gao Xiaosong also gathered award winners and celebrities alike to take a group selfie.
And Li was all smiles when he took to the stage during the show to present prizes to some of the award-winning teachers.
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Chinese volleyball player Hui Ruoqi speaks to village teachers. Photo Imaginechina
Li, who will feature in Disney’s live action remake of Mulan next year, is good friends with Ma – the two starred together in 2017 short film Gong Shou Dao.
Ma, the billionaire founder of e-commerce giant Alibaba, plays the role of an unbeatable martial artist who gets the better of Li and other martial arts legends such as Donnie Yen and Wu Jing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfS9Uf5SKu8
Ma, who announced last year he would be stepping down as chairman of Alibaba in September 2019, has awarded prizes to rural teachers in Sanya every year since 2015.
The 54-year-old also gave a speech on stage at the awards ceremony and hosted a “Back to the Classroom” event on Sunday as part of the celebrations.
Li Lian Jie (Jet Li)
Jack Ma & Alibaba
Jet Li is about 10 days older than I am. Of course he's going to look older than in his movies, because he IS older. He's also had his health issues (I believe hyperthyroidism?), so he looks a bit older than he would have otherwise. He still looks great...much better than the vast majority of 55 year-olds.
It's weird, but apparently there are many (young) people online who seem to think that people must always look the same, and shouldn't age, or don't age. A few years ago, Hwang Jang-Lee gave a video interview, and someone commented that he/she didn't think it was him, because he didn't look like exactly he did in Drunken Master. Well, duh! Nearly 40 years had passed between DM and that video. But anyone with eyes could tell it was him, still looking great in his 70s.
Quote:
Martial arts superstar Jet Li is shocking fans with his appearance … but in a good way this time
‘Mulan’ star appears healthy as he has photo taken with a fan more than a year after shocking the world with his frail appearance
Netizens are wondering whether the ‘Lethal Weapon 4’ star will return to action movies after overcoming his illness
Unus Alladin
Published: 8:00am, 14 Aug, 2019
https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default...c&v=1565840856
Jet Li in 2018 (left) and recently in 2019. Photo: Facebook/Instagram
What a difference a year makes. Martial arts superstar Jet Li Lianjie is looking “really good” these days after one fan recently shared a photo of him with the Mulan star that is taking the internet by storm again – but in a good way.
The 56-year-old Chinese star of The Expendables 3 and Lethal Weapon 4 has been battling hyperthyroidism for years and 15 months ago he made headlines around the world when he appeared in a photo that showed him looking extremely frail. Last year, the Beijing-born actor said he had been diagnosed with an overactive thyroid and has been taking medication to help him keep his illness in check. Hyperthyroidism causes changes in a person’s metabolism and heart rate.
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A fan poses with Jet Li in a photo that is taking the internet by storm. Photo: Weibo
After shocking the internet community with his fragile appearance last year, the Romeo Must Die star appeared to have done a 180-degree turn and looks rejuvenated to such a degree that fans could hardly recognise him. He does look 20 years younger compared with his ailing state last year.
In this most recent photo of him with a fan, it appears the martial arts superstar is in good health – and good spirits.
With his hair grown back and wearing a cap and sunglasses, Li smiled for the camera and many netizens were taken aback by his “youthful appearance”.
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Jet Li speaks to reporters in Singapore in 2011. Photo: AFP
“I thought this photo was taken 10 years ago,” said one commenter. “Wow … his physical appearance is awesome,” said another.
“Only 18 years old … his smile is sweet,” said another netizen of Li’s radiant appearance.
The photo appears to be proof Li’s battle with hyperthyroidism is firmly under control. Netizens were also left wondering whether the one-time national wushu champion will return to action genre movies now that he appears much healthier than before.
In his latest film, Li plays the Emperor of China in Disney’s live-action remake of Mulan, which is expected to be released in 2020.
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Movie poster for Expendables 3. Photo: Handout
Multiple award-winning actor Li has not shown his full martial arts skills in a big budget movie since The Expendables 3 in 2014 when he starred alongside an ensemble cast that included Jason Statham, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone.
Is this the same Jet Li we all know? Martial arts legend battles illness and injuries as fans express shock
Li has been less in the spotlight these days, appearing in fewer movies but has been just as popular with his legion of fans. He has also been dedicating much of his life to helping disaster relief after he and his family were caught up in the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.
Recently, he made an appearance to raise money for the Jack Ma Foundation, a charitable organisation established in 2014 by Jack Ma, executive chairman of the Alibaba Group, which owns the South China Morning Post.
Li said on Instagram last month: “Congratulations to our outstanding rural teachers and principals. In order to ensure a better tomorrow, we must focus on better education for children living in rural areas of China.”
right? this whole thing was stoopik :rolleyes: