He is Donnie Yen’s master, Jet Li’s arch-rival, and he refused to play Shaolin Temple, regretting losing the chance of becoming a big red.

When it comes to Kung Fu superstars, people will naturally think of Jet Li and Jackie Chan. But the Kung Fu stars in the film and television circle are not just those. Zhao Changjun is also one we can’t forget. Zhao Changjun and Jet Li have very similar early experiences. They were both top martial arts talents in China, both national martial arts champions, and they were about the same height. But because a "Shaolin Temple" separated their lives. Jet Li developed into a Hong Kong film industry and became an international superstar all the way. Zhao Changjun, on the other hand, has been working quietly in the martial arts field, and now he is a martial artist and entrepreneur.

Zhao Changjun, 57, was born in Xi ‘an. He is now the vice chairman of Shaanxi Wushu Association, the head coach of Shaanxi Wushu Corps and the president of Zhao Changjun Wushu College in Xi ‘an, China. He is a representative of Chinese national standard Wushu. In the early years, Zhao Changjun was a martial arts star who was very popular with the audience. Since 1980s, when he was the martial arts director of the film The Mysterious Buddha, Zhao Changjun has starred in the films Wudang, Wang Wu, New Fang Shiyu, Treasure Sword in Game Writing, The First Knife in China, the TV series Legend of the Sea Lantern and Seven Zhen Zi in the Holy Water View. Zhao Changjun, with his superb martial arts and chic stage appearance, has successfully created many heroes in the Wulin on the silver screen, and has been praised as the "Prince of Martial Arts" by martial arts lovers and fans. In particular, the TV series "Legend of the Sea Lantern" starring him has been popular all over the country, and it is still a wonderful childhood memory of the post-70s!

Zhao Changjun and Jet Li have both participated in international Wushu competitions on behalf of their countries. They are very familiar with each other and have lived together in martial arts. In the gap between participating in the competition and filming, the two often learn from each other, often wrestling and gesticulating. In 1978, Zhao Changjun and Jet Li fought for the individual all-around championship. Under the careful guidance of Master Ma Zhenbang, Zhao Changjun defeated Jet Li that year and unified the Wulin for 10 years. It can be said that Zhao Changjun is a rare rival in Jet Li’s martial arts life.

But generally speaking, the level of Zhao Changjun and Jet Li is equal, and each has its own advantages. Zhao Changjun’s training since childhood is characterized by high speed, good explosive power and good jumping ability, which may be related to his long-term practice with folk teachers. This later became the advantage of Zhao Changjun and Jet Li in the competition, which was faster and more explosive than him. But Jet Li also has his advantages, that is, his movements are smart and beautiful.

However, the appearance of a movie changed the fate of two people.

In 1979, Zhang Xinyan, a Hong Kong director, selected actors for the cast of Shaolin Temple in a Wushu invitational tournament in Shandong, and Jet Li was one of them. However, Zhao Changjun was transferred to the Mysterious Giant Buddha as a martial arts director at that time, and missed Shaolin Temple. In 1983, Zhang Xinyan met Zhao Changjun and said with regret: "If you had participated in the competition at that time, you would have been selected." In fact, Zhao Changjun was the first choice for Shaolin Temple at that time, but Zhao Changjun Brightness, whose thoughts were very contemporary and heavily branded, rejected the Hong Kong director because it was "too sensitive to be a mainland film". In this way, the opportunity went to Jet Li, the same martial arts champion in Chinese mainland.

As a result, everyone knows that Shaolin Temple made Jet Li famous overnight. Although Zhao Changjun also became popular because of the film Wudang, Wudang is a far cry from Shaolin Temple. It is a martial arts film in the mainland, and it is not mature enough in terms of shooting techniques and martial arts design. Shaolin Temple not only performed in China, but also flew to Asia, Europe and America, and Jet Li’s fame was further enhanced. Wudang is only shown in the mainland, and Zhao Changjun can’t go abroad naturally. How can it be compared with Jet Li in popularity? A Shaolin Temple not only changed Jet Li, but also changed Zhao Changjun.

In fact, Zhao Changjun once had the opportunity to develop in film and television. After filming Wudang, a company in Hong Kong wanted Zhao Changjun to sign a contract, but Zhao Changjun felt that he had already filmed a martial arts film. Compared with filming and teaching, he felt that he had more feelings for martial arts in reality. So I chose to engage in martial arts teaching and education. As a result, Zhao Changjun returned to Shaanxi to run a school and rarely set foot in the film and television circle.

In addition to Jet Li, there is another important person related to Zhao Changjun in his life experience. That is!

Just when Zhao Changjun became famous for winning martial arts championships and acting in martial arts movies in succession, Bow Sim Mark, a Chinese female coach of the American Wushu Team, came to visit: "Your kung fu is very good. Can you accept my son Donnie Yen as an apprentice?" Zhao Changjun dare not promise, because the other party wants to study for one year. I have never seen a foreign player who has to study for so long. "You have to ask the organization." Later, with the purpose of enhancing friendship, Donnie Yen became Zhao Changjun’s apprentice with the approval of the organization.

Because his mother opened a martial arts school in the United States, and he worked in the Beijing Wushu Team for two years when he was 16 years old, Donnie Yen’s physical fitness and martial arts skills are good. Zhao Changjun’s "three unique skills" and Donnie Yen have all learned some fur. Compared with the whole routine, he obviously prefers beautiful movements, such as jumping up and throwing his back, which is very difficult. It’s very tiring to do it, but he feels handsome enough, and he often practices this action obsessively all day. Donnie Yen once told Zhao Changjun directly that he was not interested in winning the championship. He studied martial arts just to make movies, become a martial arts star and make a lot of money.

In late 1987, Donnie Yen went to Hongkong directly. Now, like Jet Li, he has become an international action star. It can be said that without Zhao Changjun, there would be no Donnie Yen’s achievements in film and television today.

Although not as popular in the film and television circles as Jet Li and Donnie Yen, Zhao Changjun has also achieved great success in martial arts. Let’s wish this martial artist more and better martial arts stars.