Jet Li

Many people all over the world admire Jet Li for his Martial Arts abilities, but he is a hero to me for this and many other reasons. He is a giving person to those in need, and is just as brave in real life as he is in his movies. Jet Li is a hero and a good role model for everyone.

Jet Li was born April 26, 1963 in Beijing as Li Lian Jie. Later he was nicknamed Jet Li because his Kung Fu techniques were so fast and clean. He started training in Wushu Kung Fu at the age of 8 and began competing in China. After 3 years of hard work and training he won his first national championship. From 1974-1979 Jet Li was the All- Around National Champ. He retired from competition at the age of 17. Jet Li’s skills were recognized in China for years in movies. His movies were extremely popular there and in 1998, Jet Li came to Hollywood with a part in "Lethal Weapon 4". Jet Li’s other American films are "Romeo Must Die", "Cradle 2 The Grave", "The One", "War", "Unleashed", "The Forbidden Kingdom", "The Mummy: Tomb of The Dragon Emperor", and "Kiss of The Dragon". He was also featured in his own Playstation 2 game, Jet Li: Rise To Honor. People are attracted to his charisma and perfected Martial Arts skills. It is generally agreed upon that he was the one responsible for bringing back an interest in the Martial Arts since Bruce Lee passed away. Now everyone goes to the movies to see Jet Li be the hero, even when he plays the bad guys.

Jet Li became a real life hero in Maldives in 2004. He was caught in the tsunami caused by the earthquake in the Indian Ocean. He suffered a leg injury while protecting his daughter and leading her to safety. For a short time news reported that he was probably killed in the disaster but luckily he survived. His bravery and strong will got him through it. He said he appreciated life so much more after that.

Jet Li is also a hero because he is unselfish. He has put his time, energy, and money into The One Foundation. The One Foundation is a nonprofit organization to help with recovery from and prevention of international disasters such as floods and earthquakes. He himself started it, and information is on his website.

Jet Li is a real life Martial Arts master, as well as movie star, who is brave in the face of danger and stands up for what he believes in. He is often compared to other people like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, but he just wants to be himself. The world appreciates heroes like Jet Li. I know I do.