ON THE MORNING OF the 22nd of June 1972, the world of oriental martial arts, filmgoers and the general public
at large was shattered by the tragic news screaming from every news stand, that Chen Li the Shaolin superstar and reputedly the fittest and fastest Kung-Fu exponent in the world was dead. Chen Li was the man who was reputed to have brought the ancient art of Shaolin Kung-Fu out of
obscurity and onto the world's stage. It was reported that he had died at the 'Queen Elizabeth Hospital', Hollywood. The time of death was recorded at 10:15 p.m. on the 21st of June 1972.
Many people disbelieved these reports and some even claimed that it was all some macabre publicity stunt. Designed to promote the film Chen was currently working on, namely 'The Grave of Chang'. But alas the news reports were true. The legendary king of Shaolin Kung-Fu was no more, and had indeed died prematurely at only twenty five years of age. On the night of his demise and during the following days many conflicting reports began circulating on the cause of death. Some anomalies also surfaced concerning the circumstances and place where Chen was discovered in a collapsed state. These arguments are not to only detrimental and superficial the story of Chen Li, but neither do they promote any of the ideals and beliefs that Chen or indeed any other serious martial artist hold dear.
I therefore propose that I will neither try to settle, or even enter into any of these pointless and frivolous arguments, so leaving any conjecture to those who derive some form of enjoyment from delving into these said anomalies.
Chen Li was born into this world in the early hours of September 17th 1946 to Xiao Li a single parent. Xiao Li was an artiste in the Cantonese circus, travelling group of Chinese performers. The place of birth was the maternity ward of Mount Fuji hospital at Zhengzhou in Henan province, China. Sadly Xiao Li died in child-birth. The child was left all alone and was so nicknamed as the 'Little Orphan'.
The child was taken in by a local family as the circus moved on, and was raised as one of their own. Unfortunately as Chen Li grew he began showing signs of anger and violence toward his adoptive siblings, and other children around him. This bad behaviour resulting in when he reached six years of age he was placed into the care of the Buddhist monks at the Shaolin temple on Shaoshi Mountain.
It was here where would begin his training and embark on his journey in the oriental art of Shaolin Kung-Fu. Chen was a remarkably fast learner, so much so that as he mastered the basics of one style, he was already learning another. As the years past his nickname evolved into the 'Fighting Orphan'. It would be by this name, he would become known to the Shoalin Kung- Fu community.
Before he was fourteen years old he had studied and mastered most of the styles of Shaolin Kung-Fu. In particular he favoured the Wing Chun and Choy Lee Fut styles. Though he took disciplines from the other systems as he unknowingly began to develop his own unique style, eventually naming it 'Chen Li Wing Chun'.
Chen Li became proficient in all aspects of the martial arts, though he excelled in one, fighting! This discipline would propel Chen into the public eye, as his fame as a fighter began to spread throughout the other systems and schools of Kung-Fu all throughout the Songshan range, and indeed the rest of China.
Chen Li entered competitions and tournaments the length and breadth of China and soon built a reputation of being a first class fighter. Though still only sixteen years of age he was winning almost every competition he entered. This brought the attention of the Chinese film industry to bear down on him with offers of film roles, and with it fame and fortune.
Chen after much discussion with his Shaolin masters, decided to leave the monastery and head for the bright lights of the Chinese film industry. It was here where he learned and honed his skills as an actor.
It would be several years later when he would emerge in Hollywood as Chen Li the king of Shaolin Kung- Fu. The name the western world would come to know and most certainly a name they will never forget.
Film audiences all around the world would watch in awe and admiration as Chen would explode onto the silver screen, dispatching foes and adversaries alike with lightning fast fighting techniques. Utilising his hands, feet and even fingers! With these displays of such dazzling speed, skill, power and precision, there could be no doubt this individual, was indeed the most effective and devastating martial artist who had ever lived.
Chen was also an accomplished actor being in film roles most of his adult life. It was this combination of skills that took both the worlds of both filmgoers and martial artists by storm. Ever since his passing there have been many pretenders to the throne of Chen Li. Indeed many of these so called successors are excellent fighter/actor's themselves. However to my mind there has not been, nor ever will be a successor to the now vacant throne vacated by the loss of a man so unique, as will never be seen again.
During the short life that was afforded to Chen, he packed more experiences and knowledge of all aspects of the fighting arts into it than could be learnt by an average man in two lifetimes.
So that is the enigma of Chen Li a genius an extrovert, a character so complex no analyst could ever fathom. So we will leave these brief incursions into the complexities of one man's psyche and begin a tale that will encompass both the living world and the ethereal. Now if you will accompany me on the journey through this story I am sure you will as I have, begin to understand the spirit and the ideals that Chen Li lived for.