Bolo Yen

Bolo Yen (Yang Xi, Chinese actor and bodybuilder), was born July 3, 1946 in Guangzhou. His father was a businessman. Like many other young Chinese, Bolo began to learn kung fu from local masters. He also developed an interest in acrobatics and lifting weights. And it paid off, he became China's champion weightlifter. From the late 1970s to the late 1980s, he was a multiple Southeast Asian Kempo (hand-to-hand combat) champion. According to some reports, he also competed successfully even in the 1990s. In the mid-1960s, Bolo moved to Hong Kong, crossing the Straits by swimming. In Hong Kong, he opened a bodybuilding school and soon came to the attention of one of the agents of the Shaw Brothers studio, who offered him a movie role. The more Bolo got "pumped up," the more serious the roles became. In 1970, Bolo won the title of "Mr. Hong Kong," and in 1971 he bid farewell to the Shaw studio. At an audition for a commercial for Winston cigarettes, Bolo Yen met Bruce Lee. And in 1973 he invited Bolo Yen in his film "Exit Dragon," where he got the role of one of the best fighters. Bolo starred in many paintings about martial arts.

Film is my work, my life. I am at ease with the fact that I play dregs. I've never been disheartened by being beaten or killed periodically. After all, these roles have brought me world fame.

- Bolo Yen.

He has two sons older Danny, born back in 1970, and younger David in 1982 from about the age of six Bolo Yen taught him. And already at the age of 12 he got his black belt.

Many of my colleagues prefer to apply on the screen with sweeping punches and kicks, which look beautiful and are very popular with the audience, which is not too sophisticated. I prefer the more inconspicuous movements, although what is important is not the technique, but the person demonstrating the technique. On the screen I try to show not the form but the content, not the external aspects of martial arts, but the internal, showing not so much technique as the spirit. A person who has just mastered the technique can make a hundred beautiful kicks and a sophisticated viewer will remain indifferent. A true master is enough to make one imperceptible, but filled with energy and spirit movement so that the same viewer will understand who is in front of him.

- Bolo Yen