In the absence of Bruce Willis, I'll go with Clint.

Normally, I do not involve myself in threads such as these, however, Shao's latest post required my input.

Of all those listed, only Stallone, and to a lesser extent, Lee is mentionable.

Stallone is a shichidan (seventh dan) of Aikido, either a derivation or a "sister art" to the Art that I follow - aikijujutsu. Lee created his own Art. The rest are nothing more then special affects wonders. While Chan (Not Jacky Chen, twip, Jackie Chan) has some ability according to what I understand, it is at best a sandan - a third dan.

The rest are inconsequential - even Jet Li. Van Damne (Not Damn, again, twip) supposedly has some talent, but Stallone challenged him to a fight - and Van Damne ran away.

And, they are movie stars. To quote my sensei, "My training is not for making money. It is to hone the soul - and the body". Not only do most follow hideously bastardized Americanized Arts (For the record, I an American. But most arts have been utterly....destroyed in America. I'll rant about this later.), but their form is a joke, excluding Stallone and Lee. If my, or any student of the Arts, form was as bad as any of the non-excluded actors, my Sensei (a kudan, mind you) would likely expel me/student from the Art.

There is no special affects. Note the form, the stance. Even a sandan has better form then any actor (excluding Lee and Stallone, again) mentioned on the thread or the poll.

I am shocked that you overlooked Chow Yun Fat. From his work in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, I am somewhat impressed. If that was him performing the kata, and not a stunt-double. If it was, I have high hopes for his future career.

/End Rant.

-D

In spite of all that's been said, for sheer "wow that impressed me on-screen", I would vote Jet Li, so my vote's a null one.

But if we were voting for real people, I'd say Akuma. What do you mean, "he's not real"?

Kas.

I'd vote for Jet Li too - and I hardly consider him "inconsequential". He started training at the Beijing Wushu Academy aged 9, won his first championship at the age of 11, and by the age of 18 had won the gold medal for All-Round National Champion 5 years running. He also went on to represent his country in a world tour that included a performance on the White House lawn for the American president, Richard Nixon.

He's been in around 35 movies and was considered one of the greatest starts in Hong Kong in the 80's and 90's - but he was a national hero long before then. His movies might have a lot of special affects in them, but then that's the way Hong Kong movies tend to be. He didn't use special effects to win 5 gold medals, though.

Apart from KaVir's correction on Jet Li, there's also another one missing here who's not your average SFX actor: Steven Seagal.

Steven was the first foreigner ever to own and operate an Aikido dojo in Japan. Known as "Master Take Shigemichi", he was the chief instructor at the Aikido Tenshin Dojo in the city of Osaka. He's 7th Dan IIRC.

I would go with Jet Li also

Steven Seagal is correct. I always get Stallone and Seagal confused.

As for KaV's Jet Li comments - Chow Yun Fat has an equally impressive resume. Why was he not on the list, then?

-D

I didn't create the list. I was just refuting the claim that Jet Li was "inconsequential".

Mmm. Point taken, KaVir.

However, he started at 9. The youngest age for beginning acceptance of any serious Art I've seen yet is 14.

Before then, it is generally considered to be too young to fully comprehend the concepts taught. I'd not expect a 9 year old to understand the concept of a honed spirit.

-D

But perhaps the most interesting thing in this poll is that Shao is going to kill over 40% of the people that voted.

Kas.

Then you should look around more. I've seen plenty of styles which start training as young as 4 or 5.

I reiterate, KaVir, serious art. Not some Americanized, bastardized kiddie art.

-D

The original Shaolin Temple teaches children from the age of 6 onwards - those who show exceptional skill are offered the monk hood at the age of 18.