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A good cinematographer and fight choreographer can make an impressive martial artist out of anyone. However, when actors bring experience from the real world of martial arts, fans can expect a more realistic and exciting action experience. At the same time, not all martial artists are great actors, and you need that very special combination of screen charm to transition from the ring/octagon/mat to TV and film.
For action fans, the perfect TV combo is real martial artists who can use their skill and know-how to heighten their already solid acting chops. These 10 series bring together some of the best martial artists to make the transition to acting and offers up plenty of kick-a** entertainment for you to enjoy.
10 Walker, Texas Ranger (1993 – 2001)
- Release Date
- April 21, 1993
- Cast
- Chuck Norris , Clarence Gilyard Jr. , Sheree J. Wilson , Noble Willingham , Judson Mills , Nia Peeples
- Seasons
- 9
For nine seasons, Walker, Texas Ranger, followed the titular ranger, Cordell Walker, a veteran with a strong moral compass and love for traditional values. The show became a cult hit for its mix of campiness, action, and positive messaging, turning it into a pop-culture staple still referenced today. It followed a primarily episodic format so that viewers could tune in to a random episode (from the massive 203 released) and jump right into the story with little need to catch up.
The Man, the Myth, the Legend, Chuck Norris
The series offered plenty of fisticuffs via its lead, Chuck Norris. While Chuck Norris’ martial arts prowess is a bit of a meme, it is backed up by legitimate claims and accolades. Norris holds black belts in various disciplines, including Tae Kwon Do, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and Tang Soo Do. Perhaps the actor’s biggest achievement that put him on the map for martial artists was his six-year winning streak (1968 to 1974) as the World Professional Middleweight Karate Champion.
If that was not enough, Norris created his own martial art, Chun Kuk Do, and established the United Fighting Arts Federation (UFAF), which has awarded thousands of black belts.
You can stream Walker, Texas Ranger on Hulu.
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9 Wu Assassins (2019)
- Release Date
- August 8, 2019
- Cast
- Iko Uwais , Byron Mann , Katheryn Winnick , Li Jun Li , Lawrence Kao , Juju Chan , Tommy Flanagan , Lewis Tan , Celia Au , Tzi Ma , Mark Dacascos , Raresh DiMofte , Cranston Johnson , Julian Paul , Arpad Balogh , Robin McLeavy , Peter Chao , Josephine Ting , Sam Jin Coates , Summer Glau , Carlo Yu
- Seasons
- 1
Kai Jin, a young chef living in Chinatown, San Francisco, gets involved in a potentially world-ending conflict when ancient powers known as the Wu Xing awaken. Jin soon finds himself visited by the spirit of the first Wu Assassin, who gifts him their powers in the form of an amulet that grants him the martial arts skills of 1,000 monks. It becomes up to Jin to defeat the four Wu Warlords, each embodying a separate element of their power. Wu Assassins combined mysticism and martial arts and explored the experience of Asian Americans.
Mysticism and Martial Arts
Unfortunately, Wu Assasins has not been renewed since its first season. However, the show offers an abundance of real martial artists who bring a flare and realism to the action series. This includes lead actor Iko Uwais, who exploded onto the screen in 2011’s The Raid, showcasing the Philippines’ martial art Silat. Mark Dacascos, JuJu Chan, and Byron Mann also brought their martial arts expertise into the production.
You can stream Wu Assasins on Netflix.
8 The Legend of Bruce Lee (2008)
A biographical series chronicling the life of one of the most acclaimed and recognizable martial artists of all time, Bruce Lee, The Legend of Bruce Lee follows the beloved figure through various stages of his life. Starting with his high school years in Hong Kong and continuing to rise to stardom, the series brought on many martial artists to help celebrate the legacy of Bruce Lee. While there is only one season, there are 50 episodes for fans to dig into.
Martial Artists Coming Together to Retell the Life of an Icon
While The Legend of Bruce Lee does suffer from some typical melodrama found in many Chinese-made series of the era, there is still plenty of action to be found in this series.
What makes it perhaps the most notable is its impressive cast of real martial artists. Playing the man himself, Danny Chan Kwok-Kwan is a practitioner of Wing Chung; accomplished martial artist Michael Jai White plays boxer Muhammad Ali; Ray Park of Darth Maul fame plays Chuck Norris, and Mark Dacascos plays a Thai kickboxer named “King Charles.” With such a stellar cast, martial arts fans should still check this series out, even if it does not deliver as much action as one would hope.
You can stream The Legend of Bruce Lee on Prime Video or Netflix.
7 Warrior (2019-2023)
Warrior
- Release Date
- April 5, 2019
- Creator(s)
- Jonathan Tropper
- Cast
- Andrew Koji , Olivia Cheng , Jason Tobin , Dianne Doan , Kieran Bew , Dean Jagger , Tom Weston-Jones , hoon lee
- Seasons
- 3
Set during the Tong Wars in the late 1800s in San Francisco, Warrior follows Ah Sahm on his quest to find his sister. Sahm’s notoriety as an accomplished martial artist soon leads him to work for one of Chinatown’s most powerful criminals, Hop Wei. Thrown into the conflict and fighting against rival gangs, Sahm must navigate the complexities of the criminal underworld, including a rivalry with his sister, who he discovers is leading the rival Long Zii gang.
Stylish Martial Arts Action
Inspired by concepts initially developed by Bruce Lee, the series offered fans a rich, complex story combined with sleek action sequences. This action was backed by real martial artists, with Mark Dacascos making his third appearance on the list and playing a vital role in the series’ third season.
From the main cast: Andrew Koji (Ah Sahm) has a background in various martial arts, including Jeet Kune Do and Wing Chun; Joe Taslim (Li Yong) has a background in Judo and Wushu; and Rich Ting (Bolo) has a background in multiple martial arts, including Taekwondo. With such a great, diverse cast, Warrior is the perfect series for the martial arts enthusiast.
You can stream Warriors on Max.
6 The Brothers Sun (2024)
The Brothers Sun
- Release Date
- January 4, 2024
- Cast
- Michelle Yeoh , Justin Chien , Sam Song Li , Highdee Kuan , Joon Lee , Alice Hewkin , Madison Hu , Rodney To
- Seasons
- 1
The Brothers Sun follows the complex dynamics of a Taiwanese-American family that gets entangled in the world of organized crime. Starting with the attempted murder of a hardened Triad member to misconceptions about who ordered the hit, family members from inside and outside criminal families get dragged into infighting and power struggles. The Brothers Sun is the perfect mix of dark comedy and family drama packed with action.
Short but Action-packed Netflix Original Series
While actor Michelle Yeoh has seen a bit of a resurgence, long-time fans of kung-fu films were already endeared to her with performances in films like Yes, Madam! (1986), Magnificent Warriors (1987), and Supercop (1992). Starting as a ballet dancer, Yeoh’s heavy involvement in action films saw her training in various martial arts, including Tai Chi Chu King Hung. Actor Justin Chien also brought experience to the series, having trained extensively in Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Despite the fanfare, The Brothers Sun will never get that second season, but it is an entertaining mix of action and comedy still worth checking out.
You can stream The Brothers Sun on Netflix.
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5 Into the Badlands (2015 – 2019)
- Release Date
- November 15, 2015
- Cast
- Madeleine Mantock , Ella-Rae Smith , Nick Frost , Sarah Bolger , Aramis Knight , Marton Csokas , Daniel Wu , Lorraine Toussaint , Emily Beecham , Babou Ceesay , Sherman Augustus , Orla Brady , Stephen Lang , Oliver Stark , Ally Ioannides
- Seasons
- 3
Combining post-apocalyptic terrors with martial arts action proved to be a winning formula with Into The Badlands. The series follows Sunny, a highly skilled warrior and regent for a powerful baron named Quinn, and M.K., a young boy with supernatural abilities, as they navigate a feudal dystopia filled with political unrest and violent conflicts. Sunny and M.K. are brought together from different sides of the conflict and must fight for their safety in the area known as the Badlands.
Post-Apocalyptic Action
Actor Daniel Wu, who played Sunny, brought with him extensive martial arts experience. This includes multiple disciplines, but Wu’s experience as a Wushu champion is the most notable. Sherman Augustus, who plays Nathaniel Moon, has trained in Taekwondo and Kuk Sul for several years and competed in professional Muay Thai kickboxing. Many of the other actors underwent extensive martial arts training for the role, which shows how cool the action scenes in Into The Badlands are throughout.
You can stream Into The Badlands on AMC+ or Netflix.
4 Highlander: The Series (1992-98)
- Release Date
- October 3, 1992
- Cast
- Adrian Paul , Jim Byrnes
- Seasons
- 6
Spinning off from the cult favorite movie franchise, Highlander: The Series follows the life of Duncan MacLeod, an immortal warrior born in the Highlands of Scotland in the 1500s. The series expands on the lore of the movies and adds a dramatic flair by following Duncan’s struggles to fit into modern society while battling against other Highlanders. The series ran for six seasons and spanned 119 episodes.
There Can Only Be One!
Adrian Paul, who played Duncan Mcleod, underwent extensive training for his role, including Hung Gar Kung Fu, Shaolin Kung Fu, Taekwondo, and kickboxing. However, Adrian Paul would also choreograph all of his fights with his experience in European swordsmanship, making him the ideal fit for the sword-wielding Highlander.
Like many other action-oriented titles of the ’90s, the series can be pretty campy and silly at times, but Paul’s performance as Duncan certainly gave the series that edge that has made it a fan favorite.
You can stream Highlander: The Series on Plex.
3 The Green Hornet (1966)
- Release Date
- September 9, 1966
- Cast
- van williams , Bruce Lee , Wende Wagner , Lloyd Gough , Walter Brooke , William Dozier
- Seasons
- 1
Following the exploits of wealthy news publisher Britt Reid and his trusty valet Kato, The Green Hornet acted as Reid’s alter ego, a way to fight crime and injustice. While in a similar format to Batman starring Adam West, which was popular at the time, the show took a more serious tone with the crime-fighting duo. The series also focuses on more realistic action, with Bruce Lee’s Kato offering a stylish fighting style to compliment The Green Hornet’s brute force and gadget-driven fighting style.
Helped Launch the Career of a Beloved Martial Artist
It is difficult to think of any other TV series that ran only one season and had such a strong cultural impact as The Green Hornet. As far as real-life martial arts prowess goes, we are talking about the legend that is Bruce Lee in the role of Kato.
Wing Chun Kung Fu served as Bruce Lee’s base martial art, but he developed many throughout his career, including Escrima, a Filipino martial art focused on using weapons, giving him some of his most iconic screen moments with the nunchaku. Lee was always looking to learn and grow. His death, for many, remains one of the greatest tragedies ever to happen to a star.
You can watch The Green Hornet for free on YouTube.
2 The Mandalorian (2019-)
- Release Date
- November 12, 2019
- Seasons
- 3
Set after the fall of the Galactic Empire and before the rise of the First Order, The Mandalorian follows lone bounty hunter Din Djarin. The series starts with Djarin tasked with recovering an ancient relic, but when he learns that his bounty is a baby named Grogu, he decides to abandon the bounty and protect the child. The two then run into a series of conflicts while on the run.
The Rise and Fall of Gina Carano
This may very well be the most well-known example of a martial artist seeing success as an actor due to the fallout between Gina Carano and Disney, which led to an ongoing lawsuit. Gina Carano, who was removed from the series in February 2021, played the fan-favorite role of Cara Dune. Carano brought an impressive set of real martial arts skills into the role, having begun her career in Muay Thai and becoming the face of women’s MMA, retiring with seven wins and one loss. Other martial artists involved in the program include Capoeira expert Lateef Crowder and Diana Lee Inosanto, who have backgrounds in Filipino martial arts.
You can stream The Mandalorian on Disney+.
1 Cobra Kai (2018-25)
Set 34 years after the events of the Karate Kid film, Cobra Kai centers on the ongoing rivalry between Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso. The old rivalry boils back up after Johnny, struggling with his life and seeking redemption, decides to reopen his gym. This catches the attention of Daniel, who decides to also open a Dojo despite having a successful car dealership and a family. Now, both are teaching a new wave of martial artists set to cross paths in and out of competition. Cobra Kai has become a fan-favorite for its mix of nostalgic action, drama, and comedy.
A Rivalry Decades in the Making
Cobra Kai features many actors with a background in martial arts and a dedicated cast who have also honed their skills for the show. This includes Jacob Bertrand (Hawk), who has a purple belt, having been practicing Karate four years before joining the show, Tanner Buchanan (Robby Keene), who has trained in both Mauy Thai and taekwondo, William Zabka (Johnny Lawrence), who has a green belt in Tang Soo Do, Martin Kove (John Kreese), who has a black belt in Okinawa-te and has trained extensively in various other disciplines, Thomas Ian Griffith (Terry Silver), who has black belts in both taekwondo and Kenpo karate, and Owen Morgan (Bert), who has a black belt in Karate, having trained at his family’s Dojo since he was a kid.
You can stream Cobra Kai on Netflix.
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