Written, starred and directed for the first time by Jimmy Wang Yu, “The Chinese Boxer” is undeniably a landmark. Highly considered as the forerunner of unarmed combat martial arts movies, it even features a kung fu training sequence and besides, it's the last time Jimmy stars in a Shaw Brothers production.
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The story concerns Lei Ming (Jimmy Wang Yu), a top student from the Chung Yi Chinese kung fu school seeking revenge after some Japanese karate experts for hire destroy it and kill just about everyone there. Badly hurt and knock unconscious during the attack, Lei Ming is luckily nursed back to health by his Master's daughter Li Hsiao Ling (Wang Ping). All this destruction is actually the result of a failed challenge by a judo combatant, Diao Erh (Chao Hsiung), which leads him to recruit the help of those karate masters.
However, recalling what his Master once said, he understands that in order to defeat those karate killers, he must learn the “Iron Palm” combat style plus the “Light Leaping” technique which is the ability to jump very high, consequently avoiding the karate strikes. In order to make his palms as strong as iron, he starts the workout of dipping them into a wok full of hot sand while enduing the burning pain. Next, he ties weights to his ankles while practicing jumping. Before long, he's able to achieve leaping to great heights after he removes those weights. Hardly seen in kung fu movies made during this time, this training sequence is unique and credits must go to the director for such an interesting inclusion.
Lo Lieh has worked with Wang Yu before and his turn here as Kitashima the ruthless karate expert is so over-the-top, but still a pure joy to watch and absolutely memorable. For example, in one particular restaurant scene in which a Chung Yi student insults him, making him totally freak out. With a loud growl, he chops a table in half, jumps to the ceiling breaking some roof tiles and lands on his feet gracefully like a cat. He also has two equally vicious thugs with him, Ishihara, played by Chan Sing and Tanaka (Wang Chung) who hardly murmur a word. Nevertheless, they look pretty cool in their black karate outfits topping off with bright red belts.
Chao Hsiang is also wonderful playing the evil Diao Erh who's determined to bring down the Chung Yi School. One of Shaw Brothers' beauties from Taiwan, Wang Ping has a small role as Yi Hsiao Ling, Master Yi's daughter and Lei Ming's love interest. Interestingly, a couple of years later, both of them end up starring in “King Boxer” which is known as “Five Fingers of Death” in the US, also starring Lo Lieh.
Action choreographer Tang Chia is no stranger to wuxia and martial arts movies and his fight sequences here are just superb and exciting. As a non-martial artist, Jimmy looks great throughout the fights, thanks to the amazing editing and stunning choreography. Watch out for a very brief appearance by Chen Kuan Tai in the casino fight; the poor guy just doesn't have a chance against Lei Ming's iron palms.
As a first time director, Jimmy Wang Yu has obviously put a lot of thinking into making this movie; the result is an exciting, fresh and well laid out production which also moves at a pleasant pace. The characters he creates here are interesting and fun at times. The final showdown in the snow and the casino fights are no doubt the highlights. Although the story offers nothing new, but the inclusion of the training sequence is a nice touch. On top of all that, he has given us the first truly bared hand combat martial arts movie which pitches rivalry between different styles which is Chinese kung fu against judo and karate as seen here. Good one Jimmy!
