This Martial Arts Star Directed 4 Kung Fu Masterpieces, More Than Any Other Actor

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In the 1970s, Jimmy Wang Yu achieved something special by directing four highly acclaimed martial arts films. He was the first big action star to both direct and star in his own martial arts movie, which became a popular practice for others, but Wang Yu truly took it to another level.

Many martial arts stars, like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, have also directed their own action films. Bruce Lee famously wrote, directed, and starred in Way of the Dragon, which is considered a classic martial arts movie. Jackie Chan also directed some of his most popular films, including Police Story 2.

Jet Li started acting in 1988 with the film Born to Defence, and Donnie Yen has also directed many movies. However, when it comes to directing, neither has surpassed the iconic martial arts star who came before them: Jimmy Wang Yu.

Jimmy Wang Yu Directed Four Of The Best Kung Fu Movies Ever Made

Jimmy Wang Yu, a leading man in Shaw Brothers’ classic 1960s martial arts films, dramatically reshaped the genre and reinvented himself as an actor. In 1970, he proposed a movie that would move away from traditional sword fighting, focusing instead on genuine kung fu techniques – a significant shift for the studio’s action movies.

Wang Yu’s The Chinese Boxer became hugely influential, setting the standard for countless martial arts films. Its success came from a combination of factors: exciting fight choreography, a compelling villain portrayed by Lo Lieh, a memorable training montage, and a powerful story of revenge that drove Wang Yu’s character forward.

Jimmy Wang Yu already had an impressive career, but directing what is considered the first true martial arts film was a major achievement. He didn’t stop there, though. After leaving Shaw Brothers, Wang Yu teamed up with Golden Harvest, a competing studio, and together they produced a number of excellent kung fu movies, including the popular The One-Armed Boxer.

In The One-Armed Boxer, Wang Yu built upon elements from The Chinese Boxer and his breakout hit, The One-Armed Swordsman, adding a lot of exciting, over-the-top action and colorful villains. Like his previous work, The One-Armed Boxer is charming, but it stands out for its playful energy and variety of martial arts styles.

Four years after his initial success, Jimmy Wang Yu remarkably created a sequel that was just as good as the original. Master of the Flying Guillotine raised the stakes with an exciting martial arts tournament filled with over-the-top and creative fighting techniques – a style that’s now common in the genre. Modern martial arts entertainment, like the game Mortal Kombat, clearly shows the influence of Wang Yu’s film.

Jimmy Wang Yu’s film Beach of the War Gods is a significant, though often overlooked, part of his career. Unlike his earlier films like The One-Armed Boxer and The Chinese Boxer, which focused on individual revenge, this 1973 movie features a team dynamic similar to Seven Samurai. This allowed for a grand, expertly choreographed battle to conclude the story.

It’s incredible to watch all the action, and it just reinforces why Jimmy Wang Yu is considered one of the all-time greats in martial arts.

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2026-02-07 03:09