Favorite MA-ist to watch & why

[IcemanSK]

Who do you just enjoy watching perform. They bring a smile to your face or you admire their technique.

I was a big fan of Rick Roufus in his full contact kickboxing days. All of his kicks were effortless & his was so elusive..

Jackie Chan just because I laugh when I see him perform: he's that amazing to watch.

[Grenadier]

In the movies? Aside from the obvious choice of Bruce Lee, I do enjoy watching others the likes of Donnie Yen and Jet Li. I really wish that Russell Wong could have made it successfully into the US films.

Also, throw in Michelle Yeoh for eye candy. :)

In the ring? Vitor Belfort. My favorite two memories of him were in the UFC, when he was first fighting a rather large individual named Scott Ferrozzo. Belfort was barely 200 lbs at the time, and David "Tank" Abbott was doing the commentary, claiming that "Roy Jones Jr. ain't gonna knock out Mike Tyson" and that "the rotund one will win."

In a matter of a few seconds, Belfort tosses out three stiff jabs at Ferrozzo's face, each one snapping his head back, and sends him crashing to the ground, where Belfort proceeds to start bashing away at Ferrozzo's head, until the ref pulls him off. Even in slow motion, you could only see a blur where Belfort's fists were.

The next moment was when Belfort fought Abbott, and basically beat him to a pulp. That's saying a lot, since Abbott could take a huge amount of punishment from strikes, but Belfort chopped him down in a hurry. Again, those hands flew out faster than almost anyone's.

While he lost to Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell, and Randy Couture, I still give him thumbs up for lasting all three rounds, for the entire length against these three fighters, who I think we can all safely say are pretty darn good.

[terryl965]

Of course Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, David Carridine, and always Jackie Chan, Jet Li. Just to many to name.
Terry

[vincehardy3]

My all-time favorite is Gordon Liu (Master Killer) followed by Chiba and Jet Li.

[Xue Sheng]

Bruce Lee, Jet Li, older Chuck Norris movies, Jackie Chan.

And some guy whose name I do not know that I saw on TV in Beijing.

[John Brewer]

I love to watch Chuck Lidell fight!

[HKphooey]

Brandon Lee was great to watch. It was too sad that he was taken from this world at such a young age.

Jet Li is my favotite these days. I jyst wish Hollywood would cut back on the wire work.

[Phadrus00]

Allright I may be the only fan of this guy here but...

Bolo Yeung! He played so many mean nasty guys but he was a great performer! And HUGE for a chinese Guy!

Also Bruce Lee of course and Danny Inosanto in his limited screen appearances! *grin*

Rob

[beau_safken]

Jet Li all the way for me...

I really like the wong fei hong series, just amazing fight scenes and man o' man the fight scenes. Obviously the story is just a way to allow more fight scenes to happen in a lot of these movies but that is ok.

[Cirdan]

Ray Park, Donnie Yen and Michelle Yeoh are the ones I enjoy the most on the screen. Also Collin Chou was great as Seraph in Matrix Revolutions.

However nothing is like watching old clips of Hironori Ohtsuka himself.

[Brandon Fisher]

There is some competitors in Indiana that I still love to see compete. One inparticular who I remember as a brown belt (ik-kyu) when I was a purple belt (ni-kyu) when we were teenagers he amazed me with his kata and kumite. A few weeks ago I took some students to a tournament in Kokomo, IN and he was still there doing the same thing nearly 15 years later but better.

[Shaolinwind]

Who do you just enjoy watching perform. They bring a smile to your face or you admire their technique.


Sammo Hung.. His grace and speed are admirable esspecially considering his size. And I think his physical comedy rivals that of Jackie Chan.

Tak-Hing Kwan.. Know for playing the role of Wong Fei Hong.. Actually he played him over 70 times. When you see him in action you can see why he was chosen to represent one of the greatest martial artists who ever lived.

[Shaolinwind]

Jet Li all the way for me...

I really like the wong fei hong series, just amazing fight scenes and man o' man the fight scenes. Obviously the story is just a way to allow more fight scenes to happen in a lot of these movies but that is ok.

I like to compare a lot of old kf movies to adult films of the 80's.. The plot was just a way to facilitate action, and watchers tend to be comfortable with it. =)

[Jonathan Randall]

The late Mr. Tri of Sacramento, CA doing Tai Chi. Why? His grace, power and fluidity were superior, IMO, to many of the best known Tai Chi "masters" out there.

Zhang Ziyi (ok, a highly trained dancer with some MA training), because, well, she's just so pretty AND graceful.

[Eviscerate]

Movie wise, Van Damme (sp?) he still has amazing kicks. Chris Farley cause he was funny as hell. Mickey Rourke cause the dudes a badass. Sylvester Stallone both as rocky and rambo, first blood was one of the best movies ever made imho.

[MartialIntent]

Real life fighters - Remy Bonjasky for his fighting intelligence and pugilistic poetry! Hehe.

Movies - of course I *have* to say Steven Seagal no matter what's thought of him, you gotta admit it's fun to watch. And Jet Li for fighting choreography [just like the Chinese Opera I guess]. Though I certainly wouldn't disagree with any of the others mentioned so far - good picks!

Respects!

[Journeyman]

In the ring: Wanderlei Silva (because he's just scary) In the movies: Tony Jaa (because he's as acrobatic as Jackie Chan but much more brutal) and Jackie Chan(because he's acrobatic and humorous)

[bobster_ice]

My fave MA to watch would be Jet Li, he is an amazing role model and someday I hope to be the one...Just like Jet is.

[IcemanSK]

Allright I may be the only fan of this guy here but...

Bolo Yeung! He played so many mean nasty guys but he was a great performer! And HUGE for a chinese Guy!

Also Bruce Lee of course and Danny Inosanto in his limited screen appearances! *grin*

Rob

I met Bolo at a tournament in Vegas in January where he was filming a movie. He's very well built, but he's very short. (I'd say 5'7") Nice guy, tho.

[Phadrus00]

I met Bolo at a tournament in Vegas in January where he was filming a movie. He's very well built, but he's very short. (I'd say 5'7") Nice guy, tho.

Dude that must have been COOL! I saw him as a good guy in a movie (can't remember the name) once and he was doing Tai Chi and looking real good doing it! Glad to hear that he is a cool guy in real life!

Rob

[Grenadier]

I met Bolo at a tournament in Vegas in January where he was filming a movie. He's very well built, but he's very short. (I'd say 5'7") Nice guy, tho.

Yup. The only reason why he looked of normal height on the screen, is because he was always going against relatively shorter actors, such as JC Van Damme (5' 8"), etc.

He's still in amazing physical condition, even though he's close to hitting 70 years old these days, and as you said, a really nice fellow. It's just hard to believe seeing him in person like that, when we're used to seeing him mangle Mr. Han's guards with a sadistic smile on "Enter the Dragon," or throwing salt in opponents' eyes in "Bloodsport."

If any of us have even half the conditioning that he does when we hit 70, then we'd have to be quite fortunate indeed!

[John Brewer]

Yup. The only reason why he looked of normal height on the screen, is because he was always going against relatively shorter actors, such as JC Van Damme (5' 8"), etc.

He's still in amazing physical condition, even though he's close to hitting 70 years old these days, and as you said, a really nice fellow. It's just hard to believe seeing him in person like that, when we're used to seeing him mangle Mr. Han's guards with a sadistic smile on "Enter the Dragon," or throwing salt in opponents' eyes in "Bloodsport."

If any of us have even half the conditioning that he does when we hit 70, then we'd have to be quite fortunate indeed!
That guy is 70, WOW!

[matt.m]

Van Damme, Bolo Yeoung, Chuck, Bruce Lee, Jet Li, and Seagal. Each for their own reasons. Van Damme for the flexibility, Yeoung - big for chinese, Chuck and Bruce - They were pretty much the pioneers, Jet Li- he and Jackie Chans choreographies are amazing. I am a hapkido practitioner so besides Billy Jack Seagal is the closest thing movie wise to watch that is similiar.

[AceHBK]

Donnie Yen, Collin Chou (Fearless & Matrix), Jet Li (without wires), Gordon Liu (amongst other from Kung Fu theatre)

[JamesDraegun]

Bruce Lee ('pioneer' is indeed a good word for him), Jet Li (can play a good guy-Kiss of the Dragon- and a bad guy -Lethal Weapon 4- well), Collin Chou as Seraph in the Matrix movies, and Tony Jaa ('fancy brutality' is a nice definition for him, hoping to see Tom Yum Gong soon, heard it's pretty good).

[Mariachi Joe]

My favorite movie martial artist is Jet Li, his movements are very graceful and they flow very well. I also like Tony Jaa, Donnie Yen, Jackie Chan, Bruce and Brandon Lee. I also love the Rocky movies, looking forward to the Rocky Balboa.

[terryl965]

You know not to sound arrogent or anything but I love to watch my boys especially my 12 year old he is so well rounded and loves his Art.

[bydand]

You know not to sound arrogent or anything but I love to watch my boys especially my 12 year old he is so well rounded and loves his Art.

That's not arrogent, that's a proud Dad! I love to watch my guys learning as well, probably my favorite also. Far from being the best, or even skilled yet, but the enthusiam and openess is refreshing.

As for someone more people would appreciate Hatsumi Sensei is someone I love to watch videos of. He makes everything he does look totally effortless, and is as smooth as can be. Someday if I could be half as effective and half as smooth I would be happy, but I figure that goal is 20 or 30 years away for me right now.

I think we all appreciate someone who is from "our" own style because we can relate more. I do like watching the high kicks in TKD, but don't know if they are executed as they should be; I like watching Tai Chi, but don't understand how the movements are "supposed" to look either.

[charyuop]

I used to think Steven Seagal was just a show off in his movies and his Aikido was not good. I had the chance to see on youtube few of his demos and his black belt tests and now I think he is simply GREAT!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyyFlHhtWoI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YziUvBqX-zI

[Tames D]

Steven Seagal. I like the the more realistic look to his fight scenes.

[Brandon Fisher]

WOW that was impressive.

[terryl965]

WOW that was impressive.


What was impressive?

[PeaceWarrior]

Morihei Ueshiba - especially his younger days. He was so amazing, everything he did.

Don Angier was exciting to watch too.

[Brandon Fisher]

What was impressive?
The Steven Seagal videos.

[terryl965]

The Steven Seagal videos.


Oh just checking

[Brandon Fisher]

Ok. I have seen his movies but that was much better than his movies.

[fnorfurfoot]

Steven Seagal is cool to watch for his smooth technique
Jet Li for his speed
Jackie Chan and Samo Hung for their flexibility and humor
Ernie Reyes Sr. and Jr. just because.

[Andrew Green]

I'll agree with Belfort, not too long ago he seemed almost unstoppable... And I want to add to that list the Belfort vs Silva fight. Blasted him from one side of the ring to the other...

Mike Tyson, in the early days was incredible to watch... patient stalking and then a flurry, and the other guy is out.

Ali... Everybody has to love seeing Ali's fights :D

Mario Sperry was fun too watch, technical skill and constant attacking where incredible.

Sakuraba puts on a good show. The unorthodox stuff is always good :)

Frank Shamrock, one of the best UFC champions ever. The fight with Tito remains one of the best MMA fights ever IMO.

and of course JOE SON! :D

As far as movies go, Hong Kong stuff. Jet Li's stuff is amazing, Jackie Chan... pre-wires, was also amazing. Jackie just couldn't pull the wires off, I'm a fan of wire-fu, but it just didn't work...

And why aren't all you karate folks naming Sonny Chiba? :D Cheesey, violent greatness there. Plot? umm... no, not really. But that's ok.