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Martial
arts celebrities is a term I use here for
public figures that are doing - or has done
- some martial arts.
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Side
note: Make
sure you check out all the free stuff inside
'The
Martial Arts Vault' when
you're finished having a look
at all the famous figures with
an inkling for martial arts!
|
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Action
stars and martial arts figures like
Bruce Lee, Tony Jaa, Chuck Norris, Jet
Li, Jackie Chan, Steven Seagal, Cynthia Rothrock, Jean-Claude
Van Damme etc. are without a doubt martial
arts celebrities (duh!) Still, these
people are so obvious - and well known within
the arts - that I've left them out here.
|
So
what you have here are public figures and
celebrities like politicians, musicians,
actors and business people. I would like
to point out that some of these may not
have a "name" in the English speaking
world. After all, the biggest movie
industry is in India (Bollywood), the largest
country in the world is China, and the majority
of people in the world do not speak English...
:-)
|
If
there is anything you would like to see
included, you are free to give me a note
here: Please
include this in Martial Arts Celebrities!
A little background information about the
person would be much appreciated too!
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A:
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Akers, David |
Akers is a well-known kicker in NFL (American pro football).
He trains jiu-jitsu and Shaolin kempo. |
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Alba, Jessica |
The actor does tae-bo and a host of different martial
arts as well. She is known
for doing her own stunts. |
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Allen, David |
Management consultant David Allen is a best-selling author
("Getting Things Done"),
who runs a multimillion
dollar company. A black belt in karate, Allen says his martial arts background helped him appreciate the value of
eliminating distractions. |
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Angel, Criss |
The illusionist/magician "hot-shot" Criss Allen
allegedly has a background
in martial arts such as
kung-fu,
karate and taekwondo. |
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Aniston, Jennifer |
The 'Friends' star is learning karate. The actress has become hooked on a form of
karate called Budokon recommended by her former co-star Courtney Cox. |
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Aragon, Gustavo |
Aragon is a Superior Court judge in Pima County, USA. He
is also a martial arts instructor. |
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B:
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Baker, Shaun |
Playing the Jamaican music editor Russell on
the long-running sitcom "Living Single", Baker won fame in the early '90s.
He later starred on the syndicated
action show "V.I.P.," where he does a great majority of his own
stunts. Shaun Baker is a black belt in Shotokan karate. |
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Bif Naked |
The Canadian
female singer and "punk
rebel" keeps in shape
with yoga and martial arts.
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Bryant, Kobe |
NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant is studying Jeet Kune Do. |
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Bunton, Emma |
The former "Baby Spice" (Spice Girls) learnt karate as a child to protect herself from bullies.
Her mother is a martial
arts teacher. |
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Burnel, Jean J. |
The French bass player in British punk band 'The Stranglers', is
a black belt in karate.
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C:
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Cagney, James |
The late Hollywood actor James Cagney (1899-1986)
held a black belt in judo
according to reports. |
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Casta,
Laetitia
|
The famous, French top model Laetitia Casta has a brown belt in Judo. According
to herself she feels that her experience with judo
has helped her in her modeling career to have control, to set limits for herself,
to not be aggressive and to think with her mind not with her emotions. |
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Chandra,
Neetu
|
The Indian 'Bollywood' actress reportedly holds a 2.dan
black belt in taekwondo. |
|
Chen, Adam |
The actor from Singapore is training Muay Thai. |
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Clinton, Bill |
Former U.S. President "Wild"Bill Clinton has allegedly
been training taekwondo. |
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Coburn, James |
American actor James Coburn reportedly studied Jeet Kune Do under Bruce Lee. |
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Coddington, Anna |
Anna Coddington is a pop star from New Zealand. She is
also a teacher and
black belt in karate. |
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Conrad, Robert |
The American actor known from 'Wild, Wild West'
has been training martial
arts since 1957. |
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Coe, Sebastian |
Sebastian Coe is the former British runner (two Olympic gold medals and 12 world records during his running career)
trains judo at the Budokwai
in London. |
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Collen, Phil |
The British band Def Leppard's guitarist Phil Collen apparently
trains Muay Thai. He is
also said to have a black
belt in karate.
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Cox,
Courtney
|
Courtney Cox Arquette (from 'Friends' fame)
is excelling has been excelling in her karate training
since giving birth to her first child. A source says, "Courtney is really loving the karate.
She trains up to five times a week and loves the feelings of strength and
power karate gives her. As soon as she's a qualified brown belt she'll go for the black belt. She's
determined."
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D:
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Dale,
Dick
|
Dick
Dale is the legendary, American
King of Surf Guitar.
Dale used to train karate
on Hawaii.
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Danzig,
Glenn
|
The
American musician, singer
and songwriter Glenn Danzig
has studied Jeet Kune Do.
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Diggs,
Robert F.
|
American
R. Diggs is better known
as RZA and considered
the leader of the Wu Tan
Clan (rap group). He is
a Grammy winning music producer,
rapper and actor. RZA
has trained kung fu and
tai chi for
a number of years.
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Downey
Jr,
Robert
|
American
actor Robert Downey Jr is
training kung-fu. He's
also allegedly on his way
to become an instructor
in the art.
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Dybdahl,
Thomas
|
Thomas
is a very well known singer/songriter
and artist in Norway. He
is also a black belt in
karate.
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E:
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Elvis
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See:
Presley, Elvis
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F:
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Fairchild, Morgan |
Movie and TV actress Morgan Fairchild took four years of kung fu lessons
while living in New York City and getting her first big break in the 1970s on
the daytime soap Search for Tomorrow.
According to Frank Holmes - thanks
for the info! - Morgan Fairchild studied at the Fu-Jow-Pai school in Chinatown by Wai Hong.
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Ferguson,
D'Brickashaw
|
6'-6'' Ferguson is a black belt in karate. The offensive tackle
(American football) was
recently drafted to
New York Jets.
He has
a degree in religious studies,
is a youth
minister, and plays the saxophone. |
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Flannery,
Sean Patrick
|
American
actor Sean Patrick Flannery
Flanery is said to hold
a black belt both in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as
well as in karate. (thanks to
Zweli for the heads up!)
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Foster,
Jody
|
The
Hollywood actor has trained
karate and kickboxing, according
to reports.
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Fraser,
Mat
|
British
stage, film and television
actor; drummer and rapper, a TV presenter and a voiceover artist. He's also got a black
belt in taekwondo.
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G:
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Gellar, Sarah Michelle |
"Buffy"
is a former champion
figure skater. She has studied taekwondo (she has a black belt),
and has also studied kickboxing, boxing, street fighting, and gymnastics.
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Gabosky, Igwe |
Real name: Gabriel Onyiyechi Okoye. He is a famed Nigerian
"Nollywood" Movie
producer and businessman.
Mr Okoye holds a martial
art black belt. |
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Gibson, Mel |
Mel Gibson reportedly practices in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Tai Chi Chuan and
is well versed in them both. |
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Gil, Ana |
Ana Gil is a Successful Columbian model, TV host, actress
and lawyer (!). She also
does TKD: "(... ) I am more patient,
concentrated, responsible and efficient. And although modeling taught
me discipline, I prefer Taekwondo a 1000 times more," she said. |
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Gomez, Jaime |
Jaime "Taboo" Gomez from the hip-hop band Black
Eyed Peas has trained in
Jeet Kune Do from the age
of 12. |
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Grybauskaite, Dalia |
Dalia Grybauskaite is a Member of the European Commission,
and trained as an economist at Leningrad University.
She's a former senior diplomat
and finance minister of Lithuania.
She is considered a tough
negotiator within the EU
and holds a black belt in karate. |
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H:
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Hague, William |
The British former Conservative Party leader William Hague
is a blue belt in judo,
and a member of Budokwai, a fashionable judo club in
Chelsea, London. Hague usually visits the club twice a week in order to tussle
with Sebastian Coe. |
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Hamilton, Lewis |
British Formula-1 race driving ace Lewis Hamilton has
a karate background. Growing
up a mixed-race son of a broken home -
he reportedly was bullied at school and learned karate to cope. |
|
Hansen, Bjarne H. |
Mr. Hansen is a well-known Norwegian politician and former
Minister
of Employment. He holds a
brown belt in judo. |
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Hanson, Jewels |
Country artist Jewels Hanson is the lead singer for Appaloosa,
the house band at the Saddle Rack in Fremont. She does taekwondo. |
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Hashimoto, Ryutaro |
Ryutaro Hashimoto, prime minister of Japan from 1996 to 1998, has been
practicing kendo since he was a child. He holds a very high level in the
sport. |
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Hayden, Brent |
Canadian World Champion swimmer Brent Hayden is reportedly
a black belt in karate. |
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Hayden, Diana |
The
former miss world (1997) from
India keeps in shape with
wushu. "If I am not shooting I do my martial arts. Martial arts keep me fit. It not
just helps in the physical strength and appearance but martial arts is also
about your mind. It helps in your overall development."
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Healy, Fran |
Musician "Fran" (Francis) Healy is the lead singer
and front figure in
the Scottish band Travis.
Healey is a black belt in
karate. |
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Hector, Jamie |
Actor Jamie Hector, known from HBO's 'The Wire', teaches
community children in martial
arts. His father is allegedly
a martial arts teacher. |
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Hijazi,
Amal
|
Amal Hijazi is a Lebanese (Arabian) singer who is also
a black belt in karate. |
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Hind,
John
|
British
John Hind is the Bishop
of Chichester. He is also
reportedly a black belt
in judo.
|
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Holder, Janice |
The Tennessee state Supreme Court Justice Janice Holder is
a karate black belt (3.
dan). |
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I:
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Ibrahim,
Abdullah
|
Ibrahim
is a South African jazz
legend, pianist and composer.
He is a very knowledgeable
8. dan black belt with a
Japanese Menkyo-kaiden (official
teaching licence) certificate.
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Ice-T
|
The rapper, who's real name is Tracy Morrow, is well versed
in jujitsu. "I've taken martial arts all my life and I box,"
the rapper states. |
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Imperioli, Michael
|
The Sopranos
star (he plays mobster Christopher Moltisanti) has found a way to quit smoking - take up taekwondo.
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J:
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Jabbar, Kareem Abdul |
NBA basketball great Kareem Abdul Jabbar studied karate. He
did a sub-standard fight scene in the "Game of Death" (Bruce Lee) movie. |
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Jackson,
Jesse
|
According
to reports, Illinois Democrat
Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.
is a black belt in karate.
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Jaco,
Wasalu
|
The
Muslim rapper is known as
Lupe Fiasco. He is son of
Gregory Jaco, a former Black Panther and martial-arts expert.
Jaco holds four martial
arts black belts, according
to interviews.
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Jackson,
Michael
|
Michael,
as well as the rest of his
brothers used to study kung
fu with sifu Kam Yuen, according
to reports.
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Jensen,
Siv
|
Norwegian
female leader of the
second largest political
party (FrP). She is hailed
by some as a possible future
Prime Minister of Norway.
Jensen
has done ju jitsu (Ju
Jitsu Norway), and was
also an instructor in the
art.
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Jones,
Kaylie
|
Author
Kaylie Jones is the daughter
of the author of 'From Here
to Eternity' and 'The Thin
Red Line'. She has talked
about how growing up with
two alcoholic parents turned
her to drink herself. She
acknowledges how taking
up taekwondo was one of
the ways to get her life
back. She is a black belt
in the art.
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Jouanno,
Chantal
|
French
Chantal Jouanno is Junior
Environment Minister
with Nicolas Sarkozy. She
is a black belt in karate
and winner of several National
Championships in France.
|
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Juan Carlos I, King of Spain |
The
King of Spain, who's full
name is Juan Alfonso Carlos Víctor María de Borbón y Borbón-Dos Sicilias,
is reportedly graded in
taekwondo.
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K:
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Kain, Khalil |
Khalil Kain is a black belt in Hapkido. He became
known in the 1992 film Juice. Six years later he portrayed
golf phenomenon Tiger Woods in the movie "The Tiger Woods Story". |
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Kavanau, Ted |
Ted Kavanau, is one of the founders of CNN. He is a black
belt in karate. |
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Keothavong, Anne |
Anne Keothavong is a top British, female tennis ace. She
is graded in taekwondo,
and has also trained some judo
and karate. |
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Kerik, Bernard |
Bernard Kerik is a former police commissioner in New York.
He is also a high ranking
karate teacher.
|
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Kapoor, Kunal |
Kunal Kapoor
is a well known Indian movie
('Bollywood')
actor. He is studying Goju-Ryu karate. Prior to this, he was learning Tai
Chi.
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Koppikar, Isha |
Isha
(or Eesha) Koppikar
is a famous Indian Bollywood
actor. She trains taekwondo.
"I start my day with Taekwondo and dancing."
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L:
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Lamas, Lorenzo |
Lorenzo (y de Santos) Lamas from 'Falcon Crest' fame began learning martial arts (karate and taekwondo) in 1979, and now has a
black belt in Shotokan karate. |
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Lautner, Taylor |
Taylor Lautner is an American Actor. He has a background
in karate, in which he
has won several awards and medals. |
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Le
Bon, Yasmin
|
Model
Yasmin Le Bon, wife of Duran
Duran lead singer Simon
Le Bon, says she keeps in
shape with a weekly judo
workout.
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Lewis,
Emmanuel
|
Records show Emmanuel Lewis of "Webster" TV fame
has dan grades in American karate and taekwondo. |
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Lincoln, Abe |
Former American Presidents Abraham and George Washington
were respected wrestlers.
Let's forget for a while
that purists don't like
to call wrestling a martial
art - let's rather add
him to the list of martial
arts celebrities :-) |
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Liu,
Lucy
|
The
'Kill Bill' and 'Ally McBeal'
actress practices martial arts, including kali/eskrima
and silat.
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M:
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Madonna
|
The Queen of Pop was inspired to take up karate by her (former)
husband,
director Guy Ritchie, who has a black belt in the Japanese art. |
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Mamet,
David
|
The Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and well-compensated
Hollywood screenwriter, is studying Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
|
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Mbenge,
DJ
|
DJ
Mbenge of the LA Lakers
(Los Angeles basketball
team) holds a black
belt in judo.
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McPherson,
Kyle
|
Professional
baseball player Kyle McPerson
started taking taekwondo lessons at
the age of five. He still trains today. Kyle
said he attributes the fundamentals he learned
sixteen years ago to now earning a paycheck in professional baseball. He also
has extensive training in
kung fu.
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Merkel,
Angela
|
The
German chancellor Angela
Merkel, is also a black
belt in judo.
|
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Mickelson, Phil |
Ace golfer Phil Mickelson trains taekwondo and kung fu. |
|
Minogue, Kylie |
Kylie Minogue, the Australian actor/singer is training
taekwondo. |
|
Mizan, Zainal Abidin |
Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin was crowned as King of Malaysia
in December 2006. He is
skilled in taewondo. |
|
Mohammed Rashed al-Maktoum, Sheikka Maitha |
Daughter of Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the crown prince and ruler of
Dubai and owner of the world-famous Godolphin Racing stables. Maitha is an International karate
competitor and black belt. |
|
Moran, Nick |
Known from "Lock Stock and
Two Smoking Barrels". The Australian movie actor does karate. |
|
Murdoch, James |
The younger son of (British) media tycoon Robert Murdoch
has been called "the
most powerful man in Britain".
James Murdoch is a black
belt holder in karate. |
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Museveni, Yoweri Kaguta |
President Museveni of Uganda is doing karate, according
to reports. |
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N:
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Nani
|
Manchester United's Portuguese football player, was a keen martial arts exponent.
He trained capoeira in his
younger years. According
to reports, this is also why he can flip like an Olympic gymnast when he scores. |
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Nelson,
Willie
|
The singer,
performer, songwriter and
movie star is a black belt
in taekwondo. Mind you,
he can kick and punch -
it is not just a famous
guy with a black belt!
|
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Nighthorse Campbell, Ben |
Ben Nighthorse Campbell: A Democrat-turned-Republican senator from Colorado,
1993-2004. He was captain of the U.S. Olympic team in judo in 1964. |
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O:
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Ok-bin, Kim |
Kim Ok-bin is a Korean actress. She is a third dan in Hapkido and second dan in Taekwondo. She learned
Muay Thai and boxing. |
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O'Neill, Edward |
Actor O'Neill is probably best known for his role as Al Bundy
in 'Married, with Children'. He
was introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by his friend,
writer/director John Milius.
O'Neill has trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for 15 years with Rorion
Gracie and is a Black Belt. |
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(The) Osmonds |
The Osmond family allegedly trained with Chuck Norris. |
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P,
Q:
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Paul, Lynsey de |
70s British singer/songwriter Lynsey de Paul reportedly
took up martial arts after
being assaulted in the street.
She is a black belt
in jiu-jitsu and makes DVDs
about self-defense. |
|
Peers, Bobbie |
Zambia
born, Norwegian filmmaker
Peers holds a dan rank in
ninjutsu.
|
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Phillippe, Ryan |
The
young actor ('I Know What You Did Last Summer',
'Crash', 'Way of the Gun',
'Flags of Our Fathers') is
a taekwondo black belt.
|
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Presley,
Elvis
|
He started in Shotokan karate, and earned his first black belt in Chito-ryu, and
he would
dabble in tae kwon do in his later years. Elvis was
influenced more than anything by American Kempo, being a
student of Ed Parker
("Father of
American Karate"). |
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Presley,
Priscilla
|
Wife
of Elvis trained karate
at he time the famous couple
divorced in 1973. She was
also involved with her karate
teacher (Mike Stone) for
some time after the divorce.
|
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Putin,
Vladimir
|
As everyone surely knows, the mighty Russian President
and former KGB man is
a black belt in judo. He
started training at the
age of 14, and he has even
written a book on the subject. |
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R:
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Rampal, Arjun |
The
Indian actor and Bollywood
star Arjun Rampar is training
karate.
|
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Reed, Lou |
The singer and guitarist from the The Velvet Underground, who has a
notoriously difficult artistic temperament,
says he has tamed the "rock and roll animal" by practicing t'ai chi
for three hours a day. |
|
Ritchie, Guy |
Guy Richie has a black belt in karate. Richie is a movie
director from Scotland,
and is perhaps best known
for being the husband of
Madonna. Richie is also
a student of judo at beginners
level and he trains Brazilian
jiu-jitsu. |
|
Roberts,
Eric
|
Eric
Roberts (brother of
Julia Roberts) has trained
taekwondo with was
master Jhoon Chang in Beverly
Hills.
|
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Roosevelt, Theodore |
Former President Theodore Roosevelt was known for studying both
ju jitsu and judo. |
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S:
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Said, D. Othman |
Datuk Azalina Othman Said is the Sports Minister in Malaysia.
Othman Said is a taekwondo
exponent. |
|
Schlessinger, Laura |
Dr. Laura Schlessinger is one of the most popular talk show hosts in American
radio history. Dr Laura
is allegedly a martial arts black belt. |
|
Shetty,
Sandhya
|
The Indian model holds a karate black belt. |
|
Slater,
Christian
|
The
American actor has taken up karate
and is working on his black
belt.
|
|
Smith,
Jimmy
|
The
great jazz organ player
Jimmy Smith allegedly
holds a black belt in karate.
|
|
Snipes,
Wesley
|
Snipes
has been training martial arts since he was twelve. He
is a seasoned martial artist,
trained in a number of different
disciplines including karate, kung fu and capoeira.
|
|
Sogavare, Manasseh
|
Manasseh Sogavare is the leader
(prime minister) of the Solomon Islands. The martial arts expert
is a member of parliament
and former minister
of commerce, industry and employment.
|
|
Song, Brenda |
American
actress, star of television and movies, holds
a black belt in tae kwon do.
|
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Stojko,
Elvis
|
Canadian
figure skating legend Elvis
Stojko began studying karate when he was eight years old. By 1988 he realized that the linear movement of karate clashed with the
fluid circular movement of figure skating. He found what he
was looking for when his brother introduced him to kung fu.
|
|
Stone,
Sharon
|
Sharon
Stone started with taekwondo
before shooting 'Total Recall' in
1990. Her teacher was master Jhoon Chang
in Beverly Hills.
|
|
Swayze,
Patrick
|
The
"dirty dancer"
had a well rounded training
background: American football,
dance and gymnastics,
amongst other things. He
also trained kickboxing
with Benny Urquidez.
|
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T:
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Talwar,
Suman
|
Suman Talwar is a well known Indian (Tamil) actor.
He has a black belt in karate,
as well as highly skilled
in Kalari Payattu. |
|
Travis,
Randy
|
Country
music superstar Randy
Travis is reportedly very
fit, working out almost
every day. He also used
to train karate 3 times
a week, but was forced to
quit due to injuries.
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U,
V:
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Vandervoort,
Laura
|
Canadian
actress Laura Vandervoort
holds a black belt (2. dan) in karate,
according to reports.
|
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W:
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Waitzkin,
Joshua
|
Joshua
Waitzkin was a child
prodigy chess star (featured
in the movie "Searching
for Bobby Fischer").
He trains Brazilian
jiu jitsu and was a tai
chi champion.
|
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White,
Michael J.
|
Michael J. White won fame when he started and portrayed
the title character
in the action flick
Spawn (1997). His character was the first Black
superhero to star on the silver screen.
According to reports he has an extensive
background in Shotokan,
Goju and Kyokushin karate, taekwondo, kobudo,
Tang Soo Do and wushu. |
|
Winnick,
Katheryn
|
Canadian
born actress Katheryn
Winnick is dan graded in
both karate and taekwondo.
She also owns several
branches of her own martial
arts school.
|
|
Whitaker,
Forest
|
A
well-respected, Oscar-winning,
movie actor -- 6ft
2in tall Forest Whitaker
is reportedly also a black
belt in karate.
|
|
Wood,
Evan Rachel
|
Evan Rachel Wood is a young American actress. She is a
trained dancer and holds
a black belt in taekwondo. |
|
Woodbine,
Bokeem
|
Movie
actor Bokeem Woodbine has
reportedly studied kung
fu under sifu Yan Ming in
New York.
|
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X,
Y, Z:
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Washington, George |
Former President George Washington was a respected wrestler. Yes,
I know that wrestling is
not considered a martial
art... But still, it's kind
of cool. |
|
Wise, Bob |
Former Governor of West Virginia, Bob Wise, has a black belt in taekwondo. |
|
Zetlitz, Bertine |
Well known Norwegian female artist/singer. Bertine has a
black belt in karate. |
|
More martial arts celebrities and famous people who has
discovered the fighting
arts will be added on an
ongoing basis.
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