Sammo Hung Reflects on a Legendary 70-Year Journey with Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Donnie Yen

In a career that stretches over seven glorious decades, the legendary Sammo Hung, an action movie titan from Hong Kong, has not only seen a lot but has endured quite a fair share, too—both on-screen and, alas, off. So, it was hardly shocking to see the 72-year-old gracefully wielding a cane as he sauntered onto the stage for a masterclass at the Tokyo International Film Festival, complete with all the confidence one might expect from an icon who practically invented the grind of martial arts cinema. As he spoke, his sharp humor and captivating presence shone through like a beacon amidst the excitement of an appreciative audience.

Born to a family steeped in the theatrics of showbiz, Sammo's career was practically predestined. He began his journey as a pint-sized actor at the tender age of nine at the China Drama Academy—a Peking Opera school in Hong Kong, where the training was so stern, it could make boot camp feel like a spa day. “By the time you’ve graduated, you can do nearly any move,” he remarked, referring to his early days with a glint of nostalgia—like a kid recounting the day he learned to ride a bike, only more thrilling.

One of his significant career milestones came in the form of a brawl with Bruce Lee in the iconic film, Enter the Dragon. Following Lee's untimely death in 1973, the unfinished Game of Death fell into disarray, with Hung stepping in to handle the reshoots. “I didn’t really get to spend much time with Bruce Lee, but his artful cinematic work made a big impression on me,” he reminisced, adding layers of emotion to the air, as heavy as a freshly served bowl of ramen. “I was heartbroken when he died so young. He shook the very foundation of Hollywood. His fans and those of us in the industry who revered him were left in ruin.”

In the late '70s, with his directorial debut The Iron-Fisted Monk, Hung started sprinkling in a bit more comedy—evidence that laughter and a good punch could coexist beautifully. This trend, my dear readers, paved the way for a new genre: the comedic kung fu film, made famous by his frenemy Jackie Chan in classics like Drunken Master. “At that time, most Hong Kong films spoke Mandarin, but we decided to shake things up with Cantonese for The Iron-Fisted Monk, and from then on, it was Cantonese all the way,” he said, suggesting that even the most serious martial artists knew how to have a good time.

His 1978 film Enter the Fat Dragon, which he directed and starred in, didn't just delight Hong Kong cinema lovers; it graced Japan under a title that inexplicably translated to Moeyo Debu-gon. Curiously enough, every film that followed bore the loving nickname "Debu-gon" in the Japanese title. What a delightful surprise that must have been for the unsuspecting viewers!

Hung was also pivotal in spearheading the jiangshi genre of horror kung fu in the 1980s—because why not mix a little ghostly fun with some spinning kicks? “I was always thinking about new elements that I could add to my action movies,” he explained, his passion as palpable as the scent of dim sum wafting through a bustling teahouse. “I hardly took a breather during that golden era of Hong Kong cinema. I was young, and making movies felt more invigorating than resting.” If only we could all bottle that youthful energy!

While the 1990s didn't mirror the dazzling heights of his earlier decades, Hung took on an East Asian leading role in CBS's Martial Law from 1998 to 2000, a rarity in U.S. television at the time. Co-starring alongside Arsenio Hall, the show turned out to be a delightful surprise hit, despite the language barrier limiting his dialogue. “The hardest part was the language. If I could wish for one thing in America, it would be that everyone learns Chinese; it would make my life so much easier,” he quipped, leaving the audience chuckling.

As the session progressed, an iconic clip from the table-top fight scene in Ip Man 2 surfaced, showcasing his dynamic combat against the athletic Donnie Yen. So, was it challenging to exchange blows with the martial arts virtuoso? “It wasn’t hard work with Donnie. He’s incredibly skilled, and so am I. We could pull off a lot of those in one take. Donnie is fantastic, but I’m even more fantastic,” he beamed, basking in laughs and applause, a reminder that true legends don’t shy away from a little self-love.