Martial Arts LEGENDS part2: Huo Yuan Jia

[BlackDragon]

This is part 2 of more legends I will post later on

Pourpose of Martial Arts Legends(MAL):
The purpose of these are to point out great/legendary figures in martial arts history

Huo Yuanjia (Chinese:霍元甲) (c.1867-1910[1]) was a Chinese martial artist and founder of the Chin Woo Athletic Association, a martial arts school in Shanghai. A practitioner of the martial art Mízōngyì,[2] he is considered a hero in China for challenging foreign fighters in highly publicized matches at a time when Chinese sovereignty was being eroded by foreign concessions and spheres of influence. Huo became one of the most famous martial art heroes in modern Chinese History.


Grandmaster Huo Yan Jia (founder of Chin Woo, 1867 - 1909) was the fourth child in the family of 10 brothers and sisters. During his childhood, he frequently became ill and, as a result, was often taken advantage of by the other children in his province. Ironically, Master Huo’s father, who was teaching kungfu, refused to teach his son the martial art. Therefore the young Huo was forced to hide behind bushes and watch as his father taught other students in the courtyard. Master Huo practiced on his own for the next 10 years. His parents never discovered this until he began to fight with his peers and defeat them. Later, his father officially accepted him and taught his younger son all that he knew. One day, he fought with a foreigner and immediately gained fame. It was during this time that many foreigners were in China, and some referred to the Chinese as the “Sick Men of Asia.” To keep the Chinese image, Master Huo decided to organize the Chin Woo School to allow all Chinese the opportunity to learn Chinese kungfu and strengthen themselves in order to defend the country. In 1909, a European wrestler was sent to Shanghai to challenge any Chinese that would accept. News quickly spread all over Shanghai. Later, some Chinese people invited Master Huo to Shanghai to accept the challenge. He seized the opportunity and emerged victorious. This incident further escalated Master Huo’s reputation.

As word of his victory further spread, so did the Chin Woo spirit. Unfortunately, in August 1909, Master Huo died. His legacey lived on, and he is a legend.


Movies That Potray the Legend:

I don't know of many movies that potray this legend. However....
The films Fist of Fury (starring Bruce Lee) and its remake Fist of Legend (starring Jet Li) are fictionalized accounts of the events following his death.

Other Movies potraying the legendary Huo Yuan-Jia:

1982-Legend of a Fighter aka Hua Yuan Jia

2006-Fearless aka Huo Yuan Jia

[complete]

How did he die? Was it natural cause or did he really get poisoned by the Japanese?

[BlackDragon]

Originally Posted by complete

How did he die? Was it natural cause or did he really get poisoned by the Japanese?

Many Japanese judo wrestlers in Shanghai grudged Huo Yuanjia his fame and success. They arranged competitions between Huo and some of the best judo athletes from Japan. However, all of them were defeated by his Chinese wushu master. After attending a peace-making dinner given by the Japanese judo wrestlers, Huo Yuanjia died on September 14, 1910. He is believed to have been poisoned at the banquet

Info found on this site. However read it earlier on another site but forgot to post that bit of info. Sorry about leaving that important factor out.
http://www.pasadena.edu/chinese/cultural/wushu.html

[Slashmire]

Wow, that's a cruel way to go. I guess they really really didn't like him at all :\

[NinjaMaster]

So, the movie was pretty close to accurate then.

[BlackDragon]

In Donnie Yens Remake of Fist of Fury. In the beggining of the movie they had Hua Yuan jia's character in action just before he died. He was poisoned at a meeting where various martial arts masters were gathered...like at a dinner of some sort. He took out just about the entire room just before the poison took effect. That fight sceene was awsome