10 Martial Arts Movie Heroes Based On Real-Life People, Including Ip Man

Countless incredible martial arts movies have heroes based on real historical figures. As the stories of notable martial artists were intrinsically linked with real history, long-standing myths, and iconic folk legends, it’s no surprise that many real-life people find their way into action-packed martial arts movies. One notable example was Donnie Yen’s portrayal of Yip Man in the Ip Man franchise, but there have been several more acclaimed instances of this across the length and breadth of martial arts cinema.




Some of the greatest martial arts movies ever made use real people as the basis for their stories. Classics of 1970s kung fu cinema have taken the iconic stories of Shaolin monks and blessed audiences with incredible, often heavily altered, representations of real stories. This historical context can add extra depth to martial movies, as the social and political circumstances of the eras they represent become even more resonant through the use of real people with fascinating legacies.


10 Frank Dux

Bloodsport (1989)

Custom Image by Stephanie Maulding


Newt Arnold’s martial arts movie Bloodsport felt like the stuff of pure fiction, although viewers may be shocked to learn that Frank Dux, the fighter played by Jean Claude Van Damme, was a real person. Bloodsport told the story of Dux, a United States Army Captain and ninjutsu practitioner, participating in an illegal full-contact martial arts tournament named Kumite in Hong Kong. With intense fight sequences that took bloody battles to their absolute extreme, the fact that Bloodsport claimed to have its origins in truth made it all the more shocking.

The story goes that Bloodsport co-writer Sheldon Lettich knew the real Dux and had listened to many of his outrageous stories, many of which he says later proved to be false (via Asian Movie Pulse.) However, these stories sparked Lettich’s imagination enough to write the movie’s script. Bloodsport became a hit at the box office, kickstarted Van Damme’s career, and has maintained a cult following. The Bloodsport series continued with sequels focusing on other fictional characters, and the real Frank Dux even told his version of his life story in the 1996 memoir The Secret Man.


9 Zhang Sanfeng

Tai Chi Master (1993)

Poster for The Tai Chi Master featuring Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh

Jet Li portrayed the real man Zhang Sanfeng in Tai Chi Master, a legendary Chinese Taoist believed to have invented tai chi. Zhang’s life has become intrinsically linked with myth, as although he was believed to have existed, it’s also said that he achieved immortality (via Pure Insight) in his pursuit of martial arts and spiritual greatness. Tai Chi Master explored Zhang’s life growing up in a Shaolin Temple and participation in an ongoing conflict with the government.


While Tai Chi Master likely fictionalized much of Zhang’s story, it was the thrilling onscreen pairing of Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh that made this depiction truly worthwhile. With a mix of martial arts and comedy, Tai Chi Master showcased the legacy of its protagonist while also carving out an intensely entertaining Wuxia movie. As a mythic figure with endless portrayal potential, Tai Chi Master was just one version of the legendary life of Zhang Sanfeng.

8 San Te

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)

san te (gordon liu) trains with buckets in the 36th chamber of shaolin.


The 36th Chamber of Shaolin was a defining film by Shaw Brothers Productions that starred Gordon Liu as a highly fictionalized version of the real monk San Te. Liu’s acclaimed performance showcased this legendary Shaolin martial arts disciple who trained under the general Chi Shan. As one of the most acclaimed kung fu movies of all time, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin was the start of a trilogy that continued to tell stories based around the Shaolin temple in Return to the 36th Chamber and Disciples of the 36th Chamber.

San Te lived in the early 18th century, and although his true history remains mysterious, his martial arts skills were impactful enough that he’s remained an important figure in Shaolin history. While The 36th Chamber of Shaolin was the most famous depiction of San Te’s story, he’s also appeared in countless other kung fu films. Another memorable San Te appearance was in Sammo Hung’s directorial debut, The Iron Fisted Monk.


7 Zhao Zilong

Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon (2008)

Andy Lau Zhao Zilong Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon (2008)

Zhao Zilong was a military general during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and early Three Kingdoms period of China who was involved in major battles during the 220s AD. As a prominent figure in Chinese and Japanese popular culture, Zhao has been depicted in many movies, most notably by Andy Lau in Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon. This version of Zhao’s story was partially based on the 14th-century Chinese classical novel of the same and tied together the historical records, general perceptions, and legendary status of his life.


Lau captured the essence of General Zhao with his portrayal of the impact of the Northern Expeditions. However, the real historical record of Zhao Zilong, also known as Zhao Yun, remains unclear. Much of his legacy has been influenced by the vast assortment of art, literature, and fictional retellings that have been shared over the past several centuries.

6 Bruce Lee

Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993)

Jason Scott Lee in Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story

While it is practically certain that any martial arts movie lover will be well aware that Bruce Lee was a real person, since his death in 1973, his legacy has grown so great that he is a martial arts movie hero in his own right. From biopic portrayals in films like Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story to even showing up in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Lee has become a true movie legend whose iconic persona will live on in martial arts cinema for generations to come.


While Lee’s movies like The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, and Enter the Dragon are undisputed classics, actors have also portrayed Lee in modern films like the Ip Man series and the Chinese TV show The Legend of Bruce Lee. With an impact that far exceeded his five leading roles in feature-length Hong Kong martial arts films, it’s astounding that Lee’s legacy today has become as enshrined with myth that he’s as notable as any other historical figures or Shaolin monk across martial arts cinema.

5 Wong Kei-ying

Iron Monkey (1993)

Donnie Yen holding a hand out with one finger up in Iron Monkey.


While the story of the Chinese folk hero Wong Kei-Ying has often been overshadowed by the looming legacy of his far more frequently depicted son Wong Fei-hung, there have been occasional movies that focus primarily on the older Wong. One prime example of this was Iron Monkey, starring Donnie Yen, which told a fictionalized story of the father and son’s encounter with the masked martial artist known as Iron Monkey. This unique take on well-known historical characters was made for thrilling viewing and even achieved wide release in the United States, a rare feat for a Hong Kong martial arts movie.

The real Wong Kei-ying was an important Hung Ga martial arts practitioner and helped open the doors for his son’s astounding legacy. With portrayals in many movies such as the Shaw Brothers Challenge of the Masters and in the Jackie Chan movie Drunken Master, the importance of the father’s influence on the son has not been underrated in Hong Kong cinema.


4 Huo Yuanjia

Fearless (2006)

Jet Li as Huo in Fearless.

Huo Yuanjia was a member of the Chin Woo Athletic Association martial arts school in Shanghai and a heroic figure in the fight for Chinese sovereignty during the early 20th century. As a representation of the dignity of the Chinese people in the face of foreign aggression, it’s no surprise that Huo’s story has been featured several times in various film and television productions. While Huo acted as a mentor for Bruce Lee’s character in Fist of Fury, he’s also been the protagonist in many more productions.


The most famous version of Huo’s life story was in Fearless, the kung fu hit starring Jet Li. This story of Chinese pride and nationalism saw Huo stand up for the Chinese people while their culture was being attacked by Western imperialists and told the final years of the Qing dynasty before the birth of the Republic of China. As a defining figure in modern Chinese history, Li’s portrayal of Huo was both acclaimed and criticized as Yuanji’s descendants filed a lawsuit against the movie (via Variety) for perceived historical inaccuracies.


3 Ma Yongzhen

Boxer from Shantung (1972)

A man boxing from a side in The Boxer from Shantung

Boxer from Shantung was a martial arts film about Ma Yongzhen, a Hui Chinese martial artist who lived during the late Qing dynasty. By taking the real-life circumstances of this well-known fighter, Boxer from Shantung was able to represent the challenges of everyday people as Ma Yongzhen sought fortune in Shanghai and quickly became embroiled in a world of corruption and gang warfare. With plenty of adversaries at hand, Ma Yongzhen was forced to use his fighting skills to protect himself from this newfound cutthroat existence.


As a successful combination of kung fu gangster genres, this depiction of Ma Yongzhen’s story showed how real people’s histories could be used to tell an epic rags-to-riches tale set during the early 20th century. In many ways, Boxer from Shantung was like an Eastern equivalent to Scarface, as the aspirational goals of its character soon turned sour as crime and corruption took hold. As a Shaw Brothers classic, Boxer from Shantung was the most powerful depiction of Ma Yongzhen’s story ever told.

2 Wong Fei-hung

Drunken Master (1978)

Jackie Chan countering Jeong lee-Hwang and hitting him in the chin in Drunken Master's climactic fight scene

Wong Fei-hung was a Chinese martial artist and folk hero whose life story has become the stuff of Chinese legend and whose legacy served as the basis for countless movies. Actors who have portrayed Wong include Gordon Liu, Jackie Chan, Kwan Tak-hing, Jet Li, Vincent Zhao, and Sammo Hung. Chan’s breakout role in Drunken Master from 1978 was famously based on the legend of Wong Fei-hung, as his expertise in Hung Ga martial arts was paired with Chan’s unique slapstick comedy style of martial arts moviemaking.


Over 100 films and television series featuring Wong have been produced, such as Challenge of the Masters with Gordon Liu and Last Hero in China starring Jet Li. Hong Kong actor Kwan Tak-hing starred as Wong in over 70 films and became so associated with the real man that he gained the nickname, Master Wong. As a truly legendary figure, the Wong Fei-hung Memorial Hall was even built in Foshan in 2000 to honor his legacy.

1 Yip Man

Ip Man (2008)

Donnie Yen posing in Ip Man


Donnie Yen’s portrayal of the Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man, also known as Yip Man, throughout the Ip Man franchise has turned the character into a modern martial arts movie legend. However, Ip Man was also a real person who trained in the art of Wing Chun from a young age and, after becoming a master, took on students, the most famous of whom was none other than Bruce Lee. Ip Man’s real-life struggles during the Second Sino-Japanese War were explored in the first movie, while later entries fleshed out his life in teaching Hong Kong and personal challenges.

While the epic villain fights seen across the Ip Man franchise may have taken some liberties with the truth, by all accounts, the real Ip was a master of martial arts, as seen by the timeless cinematic skill of his most famous student. Yip has also been portrayed in other movies such as Bruce Lee: The Man, The Myth, or Wong Kar-wai’s The Grandmaster, starring Tony Leung. While Yen has been most commonly associated with playing Ip, his legacy was far more wide-reaching than just the Ip Man franchise.


Sources: Asian Movie Pulse, Pure Insight, Variety

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