On the set

I've worked as a fight choreographer in Chinese films for may years, so I was prepared to speak with Li in his native Mandarin dialect. After the prerequisite introductions, I blurtedout,"Jiu yang, jiu yang," Which is a respectful way of saying, "I've heard of you." Li's eyes popped out out like a scene from a Tom and Jerry cartoon(oops, that's an MGM thing). He confidently replied, " I only speak little English."

When Li made his film debut in Shaolin Ssi (Shaolin Temple) in 1980, Mainland China hadn't made any sort of kung fu film since before the cultural revolution. At that time, Li was China's national wushu champion and was known as Li Lian Jie. How did he get the nickname "Jet"?

"Well, Li is my family name," he said gently. "When I first shot a movie in Hong Kong, people[started to] say my name is too long. So I use shorter name. Plus, my first movie was very exciting in all of Asia.[It] became the No. 1 action movie. Many people said, "Hmm, this guy look look like a jet engine.'(He throws a rapid-fire series of punches with sound effects.) So it becomes Jet."

In Lehtal Weapon 4,Jet Li portrays the head of an Asian syndicate who moves to Los Angeles to start a counterfeiting ring..

1/19/98

Martial-arts expert and Chinese film star Jet Li makes English - speaking move debut in" Lethal Weapon 4" after becoming the second - biggest Asian box-office draw (after Jackie Chan). A veteran of more than 25 Chinese films, Li began traing at the Beijing Wushu Academy at the age of nine and was winning national martial-arts championships at the age of 11. He made his film debut before he was 20, playing heroes and action stars in mainland China and, later, in Hong Kong. His role in "Lethal Weapon 4" will be his first as a villain.

1/28/98

Qigong Wushu Shaolin Kungfu