The year of the snake has begun. Let’s entering into this new Chinese year with a pair of martial artists, who are the major exponent martial exponent of this Chinese zodiac sign.
Two Chinese snakes
The snake in the Chinese zodiac is a mysterious sign, people born as snake are depicted as smart, determined and caring, valuing knowledge and hard working the most. In the Chinese martial art movie industry there are two actors that could be easily labeled as snakes…
Philip the snake
Philip Ng Wan-lung was born in Hong Kong, but spent most of his youth living in Chicago. He was one of the student of Wong Shun-leung, himself a student of Ip Man and one of the masters of Bruce Lee. Despite Wing Chun, Ng studied Taekwondo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing, Muay Thai and Eskrima. This incredible wide scope of martial art knowledge take him pursuing a career of fight choreographer and action director, becoming also actor and to be selected to play Bruce Lee in the 2016 biographical film Birth of the Dragon.
Andy, the other snake
Andy On was born in Providence, Rhode Island. While working as bartender, Andy was approached by China Star founder Charles Heung and filmmaker Tsui Hark to starring in Jet Li’s movies Black Mask and Black Mask 2: City of Masks. Andy didn’t have any martial art background, so he was sent to Shaolin Temple for one month training. Despite the poor reviews of both the films, Andy On continued training in martial art in the Shaolin Temple and under the guidance of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team. Andy On has good knowledge of Wing Chun and Muay Thai thanks to his fellow martial artist Philip Ng and the kickboxing champion Billy Chau.
Working together, fighting each other
Two very different paths that intertwine thanks to a movie, Once Upon a Time in Shangai, that brought both of them in the fighter’s Olympus. Once Upon a Time in Shangai is a remake of the 1972 film Boxer from Shantung which became one of the best martial art movies ever. Philip Ng is showing all his talent and resemblance to an early Bruce Lee fighting style, while Andy On has a strong Wushu imprint, remembering Jet Li in several occasions. Starring with the two snakes, two legendary icons of the martial art movie industry, Sammo Hung and Chen Kuan-tai.
The year of the snake has begun, why don’t celebrate it watching Philip Ng and Andy On kicking around?