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Hwang Jang-lee

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Hwang Jang-lee
Born (1944-12-21) 21 December 1944 (age 79)
Occupation(s)Martial artist, actor
Years active1974–1996; 2009
Korean name
Hangul
황정리
Hanja
黃正利
Revised RomanizationHwang Jeong-ri
McCune–ReischauerHwang Chŏngri

Hwang Jang-lee (Korean황정리; born 21 December 1944) is a South Korean martial artist and actor best known for his Hong Kong martial arts films. He is a ninth-dan grandmaster in Tang Soo Do and Taekwondo who began training in 1957.[1] Prior to his acting career, Hwang was a martial arts instructor for the Korean military in Vietnam.[2]

Hwang began his acting career in 1974. In 1976, he was offered employment in Hong Kong by Ng See-yuen, where he appeared in the kung fu film Secret Rivals as the villain Silver Fox, a role he reprised in several other films, most notably Secret Rivals 2 (1977). He gained prominence for appearing in the films Drunken Master (1978) and Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978), both opposite Jackie Chan, and Hitman in the Hand of Buddha (1981), which marked his directorial debut.[3][4] He collaborated with Hong Kong filmmaker Corey Yuen on several films, including Snuff Bottle Connection, Secret Rivals 2, The Invincible Armour (all 1977), Dance of the Drunk Mantis (1979), Ninja in the Dragon's Den (1982), and Millionaires Express (1986). His other films include Hell's Wind Staff, Buddha Assassinator (both 1979), Two Fists Against the Law (1980), and Game of Death II (1981).

Hwang is a martial arts instructor with the World Tang Soo Do General Federation and serves as technical adviser. Among his most notable students is Roy Horan, who appeared with Hwang in several films.

Early life

Hwang was born in Aomori, Honshu Island, Japan to Korean parents. His father owned a shipping company and moved his family back to Korea when Hwang was a baby.[5]

Martial arts and philosophy

Hwang began learning Taekwondo from age 14 and received a seventh dan (rank) black belt. In 1965 at age 21, he became a martial arts instructor for the Korean and South Vietnamese armies, specializing in taekwondo. In addition, he holds a ninth dan rank with the World Tang Soo Do General Federation.[6]

Hwang still teaches martial arts. He is an instructor with the World Tang Soo Do General Federation and serves as technical adviser.[7] Among his most notable students is Roy Horan, who appeared with Hwang in several films and also directed the instructional video series The Art of High Impact Kicking (1982), based on Hwang's taekwondo techniques.[8][9] In 2013, Hwang completed a tour of the U.S. and Canada in which he, along with other Korean Grandmasters, promoted the study and practice of traditional martial arts.[10]

Stressing powerful kicks coming from the hips, Hwang said, "You know my legs are just normal, there's nothing special about them. When I train I always use my hips, use the circular motion… the hips is where the power comes from. Then I kick like this… and like this… it's all coming from the hips."[11]

He considers Jackie Chan, Yuen Biao, Lo Lieh, Ti Lung, and Sammo Hung as the top five kung-fu fighters.[12]

A critic of Olympic Taekwondo, Hwang has stated: "You know this is very different, Taekwondo, you know, it's for killing people… Taekwondo in the Olympics, it's a sport, you know, it's not a martial arts, so I don't really like this style. For me Taekwondo is a martial art."[13]

Acting

Hwang began his acting career in Korea. In 1976, Ng See-yuen offered Hwang employment in Hong Kong, where he first appeared in Secret Rivals as the villain Silver Fox.[14]: 249  Hwang had major roles in many martial arts movies, usually playing the villaine. His nicknames "King of the Legfighters" and "Thunder Leg" attest to his use of his legs in a particular way.[citation needed]

In the mid-1970s, Hwang appeared in two Jackie Chan movies, Snake in the Eagle's Shadow as Sheng Kuan and Drunken Master as Thunderfoot (Thunder Leg). In 2002, writer-producer Mike Leeder interviewed Hwang for the Contender Hong Kong Legends DVD series.[citation needed]

Directing

In 1981, Hwang directed his first movie, Hitman in the Hand of Buddha and was credited as Wong Chin.

Other work and retirement from acting

In 1987, Hwang trained German actor Matthias Hues in preparation for the latter's film debut as Yuri the Russian in No Retreat, No Surrender 2. Cast at the suggestion of producer Roy Horan, a student of Hwang, Hues had no martial arts experience and trained under Hwang. Hues enjoyed the experience so much that upon arrival in Los Angeles, he continued training in martial arts throughout his career. In the film, Hwang's opening scene of a firing squad was cut from the U.S. version. Hwang would play Yuri's enforcer, Gen. Ty, who engages in a brief fight against Cynthia Rothrock.

In 1989, taekwondo grandmaster Jun Chong invited Hwang to the U.S. to appear as a villain in the film Street Soldiers. To bring an international flavor to the movie, Hwang is credited as Jason Hwang, using his son's name. In the early 1990s, Hwang returned to South Korea, where he ran a golf tee manufacturer and a hotel in Seoul. He later managed a private security agency. He has since made occasional film appearances such as in Emperor of the Underworld (1994) and Boss (1996). In July 1996, Hwang retired from acting at age 51.[citation needed]

Return to acting

After a long absence from acting, Hwang in 2009 appeared in the TV series The Return of Iljimae. He was also featured in the documentary "The Anonymous King," in which Jon James Hodson examines Hwang's personal life in Seoul, Korea and Hong Kong.[citation needed]

Filmography

Movies

Year Title Role Notes
1974 Secret Envoy
Black Leopard Tortured Hero
Korean Connection Kazio (Yamamoto's Guard)
Korean Connection 2
Left Foot of Wrath
1975 Viper Venomous Snake
Year of the Dragon Hero's Father / Final Challenge Fighter Kill the Shogun
Invitation From Hell
Fury of the Sun
Death Game Paeng Mar Kow Mortal Battle
Jailhouse
1976 Secret Agent Drunkard Student
Secret Rivals Silver Fox
Bruce Lee's Secret Jin Yong Ji
Bruce Lee Fights Back from the Grave
Shaolin Wooden Men Brief Appearance
Black Dragon River The Martialmates
1977 Secret Rivals 2 Chin Hu (Gold Fox)
Invincible Armour Minister Cheng
Heroes of Shaolin Tien Lung-Chong Heroes of the Wild
Snuff Bottle Connection General Shantung (Magistrate)
The Instant Kung Fu Man Yi Lang
1978 Great Martial Arts Teacher
Snake in the Eagle's Shadow Master Shang Kuan Yin
Drunken Master "Thunderleg" Yen Tieh Hsin (Thunderfoot)
1979 The Fearless Duo Ghost Leg Killer Fearless Master Fighter
Dance of the Drunk Mantis Rubber Legs
Hell's Wind Staff Lu Shan Tu The Dragon and the Tiger Kids
36 Deadly Styles Cheung Sze (First Brother)
Dragon's Claws Ling Ko Fung
The Eagle's Killer Ghost Hand Lo Hsin
Demon Strike Chai Chau-Tien (Lord) Death Duel of Silver Fox
1980 Lackey and the Lady Tiger Sek Ba
Two Fists Against the Law Master Tai
Tiger Over Wall Chu
Young Hero Leader of Japanese Invaders
Two Heroes Sangwoong
The Ring of Death Russian Fighter
Buddha Assassinator Prince Yi
Challenge of the Tiger Comrade Yang
Eagle vs. Silver Fox Sa Sung (Silver Fox)
Martial Monks of Shaolin Temple Kurt Wong, Chief of Wudong School Champ vs. Champ
1981 Hitman in the Hand of Buddha Wong Chin Director, Producer
Game of Death II Chin Ku
The Phantom Thief (as Jeong-ri Hwang)
Buddhist Fist & Tiger Claws Half Piece of Map
Return of the Deadly Blade Kam (Invincible Golden Rings) Guest Star (Brief Appearance)
Hard Bastard Raging Rivals
1982 Blood Child Wong Hung Five Fingers of Steel
Ninja Strikes Back Wang Fei
Ninja in the Dragon's Den Wizard Kung Fu Master
Secret Ninja, Roaring Tiger Tiger So
Kid from Kwang Tung Luo Yihu
Secret Executioners
Masters of Tiger Crane Silver Fox / Keum-wung (Villain)
Eagle Claw vs. Butterfly Palm Sing Kun's Master
1983 Five Pattern Dragon Claw Kam Fu Thunderfist
Duel of Ultimate Weapons Dong Wan / Ki-ryong
Ghosts Galore Japanese Magician
Canton Viper Kal Ma-ryong Kwangdong Viper
Angry Young Man Master Kang
1984 Shaolin: The Blood Mission Dan Bang / General Yuen Fong
1985 Ninja Terminator Tiger Uninvited Guest (Footage)
1986 The First Vampire in China Ghost of March
The Innocent Interloper Paleface
Where's Officer Tuba Extortion Gang Member (Blackmailer)
Millionaire's Express Yukio Fushiki
Future Hunters Silverfox
1987 Iron Angels Boss Chang Lung Fighting Madam
Magnificent Warriors General Toga's Henchman (Collaborator) Dynamite Fighters
No Retreat, No Surrender 2 Ty
1988 Bed Companion Lee Chiu Sin
1989 Darkside of Chinatown Sheung Siu Tung's Hitman
Live Hard Chief Inspector Terry Chiu
1991 Street Soldiers Tok
1994 Emperor of the Underworld Yoo, Deok-pal Director
1996 Boss Seong Cheon

Director

Documentaries

  • Art of High Impact Kicking (1982)
  • The Good Bad Boy (2014)

Television series

References

  1. ^ "Tang Soo do World". Archived from the original on 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2013-10-30.
  2. ^ "Tang Soo do World". Archived from the original on 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2013-10-30.
  3. ^ "Exclusive: Interview with Hwang Jang-lee" (PDF). Cityonfire.com. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
  4. ^ "Hwang Jang-lee interview - easternkicks.com". Easternkicks.com. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
  5. ^ "Profile of Hwang Jang Lee". 18 March 2014.
  6. ^ "Tang Soo do World". Archived from the original on 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2013-10-30.
  7. ^ "THE WORLD TANG SOO DO GENERAL FEDERATION : List of Board of Directors" (PDF). Moodukwonkorea.org. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
  8. ^ https://cityonfire.com/exclusive-cityonfire-interview-with-hwang-jang-lee/ [bare URL]
  9. ^ "Roy Horan, Star of 'Game of Death II' and Father of Actor Celina Jade, Dead at 71". 20 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Tang Soo do World". Archived from the original on 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2013-10-30.
  11. ^ https://cityonfire.com/exclusive-cityonfire-interview-with-hwang-jang-lee/ [bare URL]
  12. ^ https://cityonfire.com/exclusive-cityonfire-interview-with-hwang-jang-lee/ [bare URL]
  13. ^ https://cityonfire.com/exclusive-cityonfire-interview-with-hwang-jang-lee/ [bare URL]
  14. ^ Rovin, Jeff; Tracy, Kathy (1997). The Essential Jackie Chan Sourcebook. New York: Pocket Books. ISBN 9780671008437.