Famous Wing Chun Practitioners
Wing Chun and its variations and modifications has captivated the interest of many celebrities. From Hollywood actors who’ve trained Wing Chun to music icons, these celebrities have trained Wing Chun not just as a form of self-defense, but as a way to improve their physical fitness and mental discipline. Let’s take a look at some of the famous celebrities who practice Wing Chun and its many spellings and evolutions (including Jeet Kune Do).
Bruce Lee
No discussion about Wing Chun and celebrities would be complete without mentioning Bruce Lee. Although Bruce Lee later developed his own variation of Wing Chun, called Jeet Kune Do, his martial arts journey began learning Wing Chun from Grandmaster Yip Man. The nuts and bolts of Jeet Kune Do are all based upon Wing Chun principles. Bruce Lee’s movies and teachings have popularized Wing Chun worldwide, making him a true ambassador of this martial art.
Robert Downey Jr.
Known for his iconic role as Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Robert Downey Jr. credits Wing Chun for helping him overcome personal struggles and maintain his fitness. Downey Jr. began training in Wing Chun in 2003 and has often spoken about how the discipline and focus required for the practice have positively influenced his life and career.
Jackie Chan
While Jackie Chan is primarily known for his acrobatic fighting style and extensive work in other martial arts, he has also trained in Wing Chun. Chan’s diverse martial arts background is evident in his movies, where he often showcases a blend of different styles, including the close-range techniques of Wing Chun.
Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh, an acclaimed actress known for her roles in films such as “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and “Crazy Rich Asians,” has trained in various martial arts, including Wing Chun. Her elegant and powerful martial arts performances are a testament to her dedication and skill.
Donnie Yen
Donnie Yen, famous for his portrayal of Ip Man in the film series about Bruce Lee’s Wing Chun master, is a highly skilled martial artist with extensive training in Wing Chun. His performances have brought significant attention to the art, showcasing its effectiveness and beauty on the big screen.
Nicolas Cage
Academy Award-winning actor Nicolas Cage has also trained in Wing Chun. Cage took up the martial art as part of his preparation for various action roles, appreciating the discipline and mental focus it brings. He trained in Anaheim, CA under Sifu Jerry McKinley.
Christian Bale
Christian Bale, known for his intense method acting, trained in Wing Chun with Sifu Eric Oram (Robert Downey Jrs Sifu) while preparing for his role in the movie “Batman Begins.” Bale’s dedication to his roles often includes learning new skills, and Wing Chun provided him with the agility and combat techniques needed to portray Batman convincingly.
Lucy Griffiths
English actress Lucy Griffiths practices Wing Chun. She’s known known for her roles as Lady Marian in the BBC drama series Robin Hood, as Nora Gainesborough, Eric Northman’s vampire “sister”, in the HBO horror series True Blood and as Emily Woodrow in the AMC supernatural drama series Preacher. She is quoted as saying, “I fight like Bruce Lee. I train in his style of kung fu, wing chun. It’s all about fighting with controlled power, so you learn to punch correctly.”
Jake Gyllenhaal
Actor Jake Gyllenhaal is a Wing Chun practitioner. Sifu Eric Oram (Robert Downey Jr’s teacher), has trained Jake Gyllenhaal in Wing Chun. He is quoted as saying, “I meditate. I cycle for hours. It’s not a physical activity for me as much as it’s a mental activity. I practice Kung Fu and Wing Chun.”
Orlando Bloom
Orlando Bloom, best known for his roles in The Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean, trained in Wing Chun with Sifu Eric Oram, (Robert Downey Jr’s teacher). Bloom has also trained in Shaolin Kung Fu, boxing, muay thai and Taekwondo.
Tobey Maguire
Trained Wing Chun for six months for his role in Spiderman. His teacher was also Sifu Eric Oram, (Robert Downey Jr’s teacher).
Gerard Butler
John Saxon
Died 2020. An actor and student of Bruce Lee whom he learned Wing Chun and Jeet Kune Do from, John Saxon first met Bruce Lee at his home in Kowloon, where they discussed martial arts. He was also proficient in judo and Shotokan karate. In addition to Wing Chun and Jeet Kune Do, Bruce Lee also taught Saxon the kettlebell swing. Later, Saxon would train under Sifu Eric Oram, Robert Downey Jr’s teacher. John Saxon was quoted as saying, “With the proper training, even a simple paper fan can become a deadly weapon”.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Former NBA great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was a student of Bruce Lee whom he learned Wing Chun and Jeet Kune Do from. They met when Abdul-Jabbar was still at UCLA, and Abdul-Jabbar says that Lee taught him “the discipline and spirituality of martial arts.” According to Abdul-Jabbar, Lee’s teachings helped him avoid injuries and play competitively in the NBA.
Eric Oram
Eric Oram is a Wing Chun Sifu most famous for being Robert Downey Jr’s teacher. He has over 40 years experience in Wing Chun, and is a senior disciple of William Cheung. Eric Oram is also an actor and fight choreographer with 30 years experience in stage, TV, and film (including Sherlock Holmes 1 & 2, Iron Man 3, The Avengers).
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