soldierly humanities are so popular , they spawned an entire movie hoagy - music genre starring some of the most respected martial creative person of all time . Regarding this list , it ’s a mish - mash . We have several martial creative person twist actor , some of whom have clear away but will always be remembered as legends , and some actors who you might not love are extremely skilled , trained and formerly militant martial prowess champions . The one thing that remains consistent when address all of these silver gray and small screen dynamos : every one of them fought their way into television and movie story .
11. Taylor Lautner
Nah . This ca n’t be right . Taylor Lautner ? From theTwilightseries ? The guy who used to cuddle with Taylor Swift ? You know it . Most recently , Lautner was see to it in Adam Sandler’sThe Ridiculous 6 , and he ’s presently appearing in the long - running sitcomCuckoo . The 24 - year - old has changed his look as of former for shed the tween image that offer him ace status , and it seems to be aiding him out of the cubbyhole . Regarding his martial graphics ability , Taylor is a smutty belt in karate and won many form and weapons demonstration competitions . Before he was nabbed by Robert Rodriguez to become Sharkboy , he had appeared on the ESPN family of net in the national contention . For those who can more readily remember Kanye West crashing Taylor Swift ’s VMA Award acceptance , Taylor Lautner offered some comedic , soldierlike arts retribution onSaturday Night Live .
Source : AP Photo / Chris Pizzello
10. Jason David Frank
This list would n’t be a legitimate actor / warlike artist lean without a Power Ranger . There were many cast penis onMighty Morphin Power Rangersthroughout the years , and some of them had logical martial nontextual matter preparation before being cast on the show ; however , none possessed the warriorlike arts badassery of Jason David Frank , who make for Tommy Oliver . Jason began his martial art training at a very early age , and by the prison term he was 18 years erstwhile he was teaching other kid while have dark belt status . At present tense , Jason owns a 7th stage disgraceful belt in Shotokan Karate , and is also civilize in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu . He has competed in the world of MMA , and is also responsible for the maturation of an eclectic soldierlike art subject field , Toso Kune Do . Jason continues to stick involved in theMMPRcircles , and often appears at formula .
Source : THE CANADIAN PRESS / Neil Davidson
9. Sho Kosugi
Sho Kosugi was the quintessential movie ninja . The love of the shinobi can be attributed to the badassery of Sho Kosugi in the 1980s . Every movie made featuring a ninja with expert martial artistry accomplishment took reward of Sho Kosugi ’s incredible skill set . In addition to being an incredible belligerent , and arm expert , Sho Kosugi was a talented player look at the source stuff . A great intro to Sho Kosugi for those who are n’t in the know : Ninja III : The Domination . In this peculiar 1980s gemstone , there are no VFX to be launch , merely practical stunt and in - television camera tricks . This takes the so - forged - it’s - in effect soldierlike liberal arts to the next level . Within the motion-picture show , Sho Kosugi is called upon to rid an innocent charwoman of an evil ninja disembodied spirit . Kids in the eighties read the art of newspaper publisher throwing stars thanks to Sho .
Source : Screenshot via Cannon Film Distributors
MGM / UA
8. Michael Dudikoff
Speaking of movie ninjas , how about theAmerican Ninjaseries in the 1980s ? Michael Dudikoff play the titular role of the American ninja , in the the film serial publication of the same name . Michael was familiar with striking martial arts when he was cast in the part , but his preparation was in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu , which was a lesser - known martial art in the United States at the prison term theAmerican Ninjamovies were made . Fans of theAmerican Ninjaseries will remember Michael Dudikoff being more physical than a lot of American martial creative person role player who came prior , with the elision of Chuck Norris . What Michael really had go were his traditional leading valet de chambre good looks . Michael enjoyed roles in several films that were outside the barn - action mechanism genre , and has continue to work to this Clarence Shepard Day Jr. .
7. Steven Seagal
Steven Seagal is now 64 geezerhood old , still going strong , and vaunt a repute in Hollywood as a legitimate ass - kicker . It ’s common knowledge that a lot of mass have had running - ins with Seagal , but he maintain upright mould family relationship throughout the industry that made him a family name in the eighties and nineties . Seagal is a 7th Dan black belt in Aikido , and before he venture in front of a tv camera , he was busy making a living as an Aikido instructor . He began his career in Japan , then opened the first Aikido dojo in the United States before moving to Los Angeles to potentially monetize his skill set . Steven was a refreshing variety - up to the martial art moving picture setting , and brought a disconsolate tonality to his films . His soap opera , coolest - cat - in - the - way acting style has kept him use in movies for virtually 30 twelvemonth .
author : AP Photo / Ivan Sekretarev , File
6. Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan had been doing it for years and years before he experienced achiever in American cinema . Ironically , one of his first films tear in America was n’t even for an American hearing : Rumble in the Bronx . And the celluloid was n’t really shot in America , per se . It was shot in North America , certain — Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada , to be specific . nevertheless , it opened American eyes to the Taiwanese sense datum , Jackie Chan . Chan is an expert warriorlike artists who has meditate karate , judo , hapkido and tae kwon do . He was a Cartesian product of the Formosan soldierly arts cinema , but his stunt work was sought after by the best of the good in Hollywood and the world over . He is still considered one of the finest onscreen warriorlike artists , fight choreographer and stunt coordinators the industry has to offer up .
Source : AP Photo / Chiang Ying - ying
5. Jet Li
Jet Li was another Formosan cinematic caption who finally scram his stroke in American movie house . After starring in films for years in his native China , Li was tender the opportunity to star as the untouchable villain inLethal Weapon 4 , paired Mel Gibson and Danny Glover . After blow audiences ’ intellect in the megahit , Jet Li move on to delight immediate achiever in a string of American warriorlike art picture , playing both hero and baddie . When it comes to his martial arts training , he boasts mastery in several cast of wushu , and was a gold medalist in multiple Chinese national competition before he reached the years of maturity . While a teenager , he was already teaching and coach new martial creative person in the various manner of wushu . As of former , Li has been a part of Sylvester Stallone’sExpendablesseries , while also return to his Chinese cinematic roots .
origin : AP Photo / Kin Cheung
4. Wesley Snipes
Over the years , Wesley Snipes has proven there is n’t a caboodle he ca n’t do well … other than pay his taxes . Wesley is one of those guys you just ca n’t put into a box , figuratively speaking . During the bloom of his career , before he was thrown in the clink for his fiscal misgiving , he was a supremely athletic onscreen gift who could jolly much do anything . He also had acting chops for days , and could dive deep while stay coolheaded and elusive . He was also a indorse badass . So , here we have a fellow who did films such asWhite Men Ca n’t jump off , Jungle FeverandBlade . Because of his strenuosity , it would have been well-situated to suppose Wesley was adept at merely picking up martial arts choreography for some of his films . In fact , Wesley has trained in six disciplines and hold fatal knock in Shotokan and Hapkido .
germ : AP Photo / Joel Ryan
3. Jean-Claude Van Damme
This list would n’t be a list without a minuscule Van Dammage . Van Damme - it , this guy made us all want to be martial nontextual matter expert who could proudly fight in the Kumite full contact championships . Jean - Claude Van Damme was abide in Brussels , Belgium , as Jean - Claude Van Varenberg . His pops introduced him to the world of warlike arts because he could see that JCVD was struggle to develop physically . At age 11 he began to take Shotokan karate , and as he shape up he also deal up kickboxing , Muy Thai , Tae Kwon Do and full - contact karate . When he was introduced to the American masses inBloodsport(1988 ) , dudes right away want to be him , and chick want to be with him . JCVD give way on to become one of the biggest and most successful martial arts star in cinematic history .
Source : THE CANADIAN PRESS / Paul Chiasson
2. Chuck Norris
There have been only eight Americans to be abide by with an eighth degree pitch-black belt in Tang Soo Do . We do n’t even have to say it , do we ? Of naturally Chuck Norris is one of them . Chuck Norris has possess a lifelong love of martial arts , and he have his studies , discipline and execution to the tiptop of the sportsman . Chuck was a six - time karate earthly concern champion , boasting a record of 183 - 10 - 2 . He was never satisfied with possess the perspective ofonemartial art . He ’s a mixed soldierly arts master . contain fatal belt in multiple subject , Chuck ’s understanding of the martial arts world translated easy to the screen . His first onscreen fight was against none other than the legendary Bruce Lee . While the Chuck Norris jokes and memes keep coming , we tip our figurative cap to a bona fide martial creative person .
Source : AP Photo / Larry Papke
1. Bruce Lee
The legend of Bruce Lee goes far beyond the flick cover , but thanks to the medium , the existence was able-bodied to know the soldierly artwork master . For those who absolutely make love the sub - music genre of martial art flicks , you could extend your uninterrupted gratitude to Bruce Lee . No doubt martial artwork motion picture would have been made , but would they have been popular or profitable without the founder of Jeet Kune Do ? Bruce Lee studied Wing Chun under the legendary Yip Man . Unlike many on this list , Bruce did n’t start training as a toddler or shaver , rather as an adolescent who was getting his butt plain by rival mob . To suggest Bruce was a natural would be an understatement . His ideology and warriorlike arts doctrine existed outside the box seat . And as an actor ? Bruce was as sorcerous as they came . Such a shame to lose him at 32 .
Source : Screenshot via Warner Bros.
