Yu Chenghui
Encyclopedia
Yu Chenghui sometimes credited as Yue Sing-wai, is a Chinese actor, action director and martial artist.
competition held in Qingdao
. He joined the Shandong wushu team later and emerged as champion in the zuijian ("Drunken Sword") category in another wushu competition.
Yu injured his leg during a training session once and almost lost the use of his leg due to delayed medical treatment. He left the wushu team later to recover from his injury and worked in a factory for the next decade or so. During that period of time, Yu spent his free time studying martial arts and interacting with other martial artists to improve his techniques, until he had fully recovered.
For 14 years during the course of his martial arts career, Yu had been working on recreating the shuang shou jian
(double-handed sword) movement, which was believed to be extinct since the Tang Dynasty
. In the wee hours of the morning on 15 September 1975, during a thunderstorm, Yu saw how a praying mantis reacted in response to the heavy downpour and got the ideas for completing the design of the swordplay technique. The shuang shou jian is now officially recognized as a category in wushu competitions.
, who cast him as the villain, Wang Renze, in the 1982 film Shaolin Temple, which starred Jet Li
as the protagonist. Following his first successful role in the Chinese cinema, Yu continued to star in other martial arts films such as Kids From Shaolin (1984) and Martial Arts of Shaolin (1986).
In 1993, Yu took on the role of action director for the film Donggui Yingxiong Zhuan and was awarded the "Star of Martial Arts" kudos by the Chinese Wushu Association in 1998, for his unique achievements in his martial arts presentations on film and television.
In the 2000s, Yu turned his attention to working on wuxia
themed television series. Between 2001 and 2009, Yu worked with Zhang Jizhong on a number of projects, especially adaptations of the works of Louis Cha. In 2008, Yu played Yip Man
in The Legend of Bruce Lee
.
Yu stated in a 2005 newspaper interview that he never shaved his trademark beard, even at the request of movie producers, because he wanted to portray Zhou Tong, a famous Song Dynasty
military tutor, in a future film. He went on to say "He is an outstandingly able person from the northern and southern Song Dynasties and many Water Margin
heroes are his disciples. This person is very important in the martial arts and many people want to portray him in films."
Martial arts career
Yu started practising martial arts at the age of 11, specialising in the use of the jian (sword). He won the championship title at the age of 20 in a wushuWushu (sport)
The sport of wushu is both an exhibition and a full-contact sport derived from traditional Chinese martial arts. It was created in the People's Republic of China after 1949, in an attempt to nationalize the practice of traditional Chinese martial arts...
competition held in Qingdao
Qingdao
' also known in the West by its postal map spelling Tsingtao, is a major city with a population of over 8.715 million in eastern Shandong province, Eastern China. Its built up area, made of 7 urban districts plus Jimo city, is home to about 4,346,000 inhabitants in 2010.It borders Yantai to the...
. He joined the Shandong wushu team later and emerged as champion in the zuijian ("Drunken Sword") category in another wushu competition.
Yu injured his leg during a training session once and almost lost the use of his leg due to delayed medical treatment. He left the wushu team later to recover from his injury and worked in a factory for the next decade or so. During that period of time, Yu spent his free time studying martial arts and interacting with other martial artists to improve his techniques, until he had fully recovered.
For 14 years during the course of his martial arts career, Yu had been working on recreating the shuang shou jian
Shuang shou jian
Shuang shou jian is a type of Chinese two-handed double-edged straight sword . These were up to 1.6 meters in length, and the two-handed handle could be used as a lever to lock the opponent's arm if necessary....
(double-handed sword) movement, which was believed to be extinct since the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
. In the wee hours of the morning on 15 September 1975, during a thunderstorm, Yu saw how a praying mantis reacted in response to the heavy downpour and got the ideas for completing the design of the swordplay technique. The shuang shou jian is now officially recognized as a category in wushu competitions.
Film and television career
Yu was discovered by director Chang Hsin-yen of Great Wall PicturesGreat Wall Movie Enterprises Ltd
Great Wall Studio was Hong Kong's leading left-wing studio and one committed to making progressive mandarin films with social content as well as entertainment value.-Overview:...
, who cast him as the villain, Wang Renze, in the 1982 film Shaolin Temple, which starred Jet Li
Jet Li
The fame gained by his sports winnings led to a career as a martial arts film star, beginning in mainland China and then continuing into Hong Kong. Li acquired his screen name in 1982 in the Philippines when a publicity company thought his real name was too hard to pronounce...
as the protagonist. Following his first successful role in the Chinese cinema, Yu continued to star in other martial arts films such as Kids From Shaolin (1984) and Martial Arts of Shaolin (1986).
In 1993, Yu took on the role of action director for the film Donggui Yingxiong Zhuan and was awarded the "Star of Martial Arts" kudos by the Chinese Wushu Association in 1998, for his unique achievements in his martial arts presentations on film and television.
In the 2000s, Yu turned his attention to working on wuxia
Wuxia
Wuxia is a broad genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists. Although wuxia is traditionally a form of literature, its popularity has caused it to spread to diverse art forms like Chinese opera, manhua , films, television series, and video games...
themed television series. Between 2001 and 2009, Yu worked with Zhang Jizhong on a number of projects, especially adaptations of the works of Louis Cha. In 2008, Yu played Yip Man
Yip Man
Yip Man , also spelled as Ip Man, and also known as Yip Kai-Man, was a Chinese martial artist. He had several students who later became martial arts teachers in their own right, including Bruce Lee.-Early life:...
in The Legend of Bruce Lee
The Legend of Bruce Lee
The Legend of Bruce Lee is a Chinese biographic television series based on the life story of martial artist and actor Bruce Lee. The 50 episodes long series was produced and broadcast by CCTV and had been aired since 12 October 2008. It starred Hong Kong actor Danny Chan as Bruce Lee and American...
.
Yu stated in a 2005 newspaper interview that he never shaved his trademark beard, even at the request of movie producers, because he wanted to portray Zhou Tong, a famous Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
military tutor, in a future film. He went on to say "He is an outstandingly able person from the northern and southern Song Dynasties and many Water Margin
Water Margin
Water Margin , also known as Outlaws of the Marsh, All Men Are Brothers, Men of the Marshes, or The Marshes of Mount Liang, is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature.Attributed to Shi Nai'an and written in vernacular Chinese, the story, set in the Song Dynasty,...
heroes are his disciples. This person is very important in the martial arts and many people want to portray him in films."
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Shaolin Temple 少林寺 |
Wang Renze | |
| 1984 | Kids From Shaolin 少林小子 |
Pao Feng | |
| 1986 | Martial Arts of Shaolin 南北少林 |
He Sao | |
| 1988 | Yellow River Fighter 黃河大俠 |
Ma Yi | |
| 1993 | Donggui Yingxiong Zhuan 東歸英雄傳 |
Action director, screenwriter | |
| 2006 | A Battle of Wits A Battle of Wits (2006 film) A Battle of Wits is a 2006 Hong Kong film based on a Japanese historical novel, written by Ken'ichi Sakemi. A manga series was written by Hideki Mori, also based on the novel. Directed by Jacob Cheung, the film starred Andy Lau, Ahn Sung-ki, Wang Zhiwen, Fan Bingbing, Nicky Wu and Choi Siwon... 墨攻 |
East Marquis |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Laughing in the Wind Laughing in the Wind Laughing in the Wind is a 2001 Chinese television series produced by Zhang Jizhong, starring Li Yapeng and Xu Qing in the leading roles. The series is an adaptation of Louis Cha's novel The Smiling, Proud Wanderer... 笑傲江湖 |
Feng Qingyang | |
| 2002 | Shaolin King of Martial Arts 少林武王 |
Tong Dabao | |
| 2003 | Lian Cheng Jue Lian Cheng Jue (TV series) Lian Cheng Jue is a Chinese television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel A Deadly Secret. The series was first broadcast on NMTV in China in 2004.-Cast:*Wu Yue as Di Yun*Shu Chang as Shui Sheng*He Meitian as Qi Fang*Wang Haidi as Ding Dian... 連城訣 |
Mei Niansheng | |
| 2005 | Xiaying Xianzong 俠影仙蹤 |
Taoist Chisong | |
| 2006 | The Return of the Condor Heroes The Return of the Condor Heroes (2006 TV series) The original soundtrack was released on 13 May 2006 from Rock Records Co., LTD . There are two versions of the soundtrack. The mainland Chinese release contains a total of 15 tracks while the Taiwanese release includes two bonus tracks... 神鵰俠侶 |
Huang Yaoshi Huang Yaoshi Huang Yaoshi is a fictional character in Jin Yong's Condor Trilogy. He appears in the first two novels The Legend of the Condor Heroes and The Return of the Condor Heroes as a supporting character.... |
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| Seven Swordsmen Seven Swordsmen Seven Swordsmen is a 2006 television series directed by Clarence Fok and produced by Tsui Hark. The series is adapted from Liang Yusheng's novels Qijian Xia Tianshan and Saiwai Qixia Zhuan... 七劍下天山 |
Fu Qingzhu | ||
| 2007 | Sword Stained with Royal Blood Sword Stained with Royal Blood (2007 TV series) Sword Stained with Royal Blood is a 2007 Chinese television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel of the same title. The series was first broadcast on CTV in Taiwan in 2007.-Cast:*Bobby Dou as Yuan Chengzhi*Eva Huang as Xia Qingqing... 碧血劍 |
Mu Renqing | |
| The Legend of Shaolin Temple 少林寺傳奇 |
Bandit leader | ||
| 2008 | Royal Tramp Royal Tramp (TV series) Royal Tramp is a 2008 Chinese television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Deer and the Cauldron. Produced by Zhang Jizhong and Huayi Brothers, the series consists of 50 episodes, filmed in high definition... 鹿鼎記 |
Feng Xifan | |
| The Legend of Bruce Lee The Legend of Bruce Lee The Legend of Bruce Lee is a Chinese biographic television series based on the life story of martial artist and actor Bruce Lee. The 50 episodes long series was produced and broadcast by CCTV and had been aired since 12 October 2008. It starred Hong Kong actor Danny Chan as Bruce Lee and American... 李小龍傳奇 |
Yip Man Yip Man Yip Man , also spelled as Ip Man, and also known as Yip Kai-Man, was a Chinese martial artist. He had several students who later became martial arts teachers in their own right, including Bruce Lee.-Early life:... |
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| 2009 | The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber (2009 TV series) The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber is a Chinese television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel of the same title. It is a final installment of a trilogy produced by Zhang Jizhong, preceded by The Legend of the Condor Heroes and The Return of the Condor Heroes... 倚天屠龍記 |
Zhang Sanfeng Zhang Sanfeng Zhang Sanfeng was a semi-legendary Chinese Taoist priest who is believed by some to have achieved immortality, said variously to date from either the late Song Dynasty, Yuan Dynasty or Ming Dynasty. His name is said to have been Zhang Junbao 張君寶 before he became a Taoist.Zhang's legend is that of... |
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| 2011 | Journey to the West 西遊記 |
Subhuti Subhuti Subhūti was one of the Ten Great Śrāvakas of Śākyamuni Buddha, and foremost in the understanding of emptiness. In Sanskrit, his name literally means "Good Existence" . He is also sometimes referred to as or "Elder Subhūti"... |
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