Biography
One of few, true martial-artists to grace the Silver-screen, back in the early 70's. His only problem was, that his transition from Martial-artist to Film Star, was kind of shaky. This 7th Degree Blackbelt (probably higher now), in "Shorin-ryu Karate" has all of the qualities one would need to become a star, yet, real fighting and fighting for the camera, are (2) different things. While, he may have been very talented off-screen, onscreen, his performances lacked charisma.
He never really looked as smooth as one should have (being an authentic martial-artist, that is). On film, he never looked, as spectacular, as some of his Martial-arts Demonstrations. He fared well in Soul Of Chiba, starring Sonny Chiba and did a pretty good job in Bronson Lee, where he had the lead role. A quick eye will spot him in Enter The Dragon, breaking a board across Ohara's arm, when Bruce Lee was watching footage of Han's Island.
He never really looked as smooth as one should have (being an authentic martial-artist, that is). On film, he never looked, as spectacular, as some of his Martial-arts Demonstrations. He fared well in Soul Of Chiba, starring Sonny Chiba and did a pretty good job in Bronson Lee, where he had the lead role. A quick eye will spot him in Enter The Dragon, breaking a board across Ohara's arm, when Bruce Lee was watching footage of Han's Island.
He could swing the Kamas (sickles) or split a watermelon with a Sword that's lying across someone's stomach while blindfolded, yet, he couldn't pull off a decent Sidekick onscreen. Exceptionally fast, this former bodyguard has (also) authored books (some of which I bought as a teenager) on the Kama, the Bo Staff, and the Nunchaku. They are still in print today. The last I remember seeing him in the film, was the Wesley Snipes' film, Rising Son, also, starring his friend, Fumio Demura.