Okay so I was introduced to this mastermind by my boyfriend when we first met, after he discovered my love for martial arts. I didn't really know there were Black Martial Artists in movies before Michael Jai White, but then I discovered the great, Jim Kelly.
James Milton "Jim""The Dragon"Kelly was trained in Shorin-ryu and Okinawa Karate(which he received his black belt) and also dabbled in Brazilian Jui-Jitsu. He was also the very FIRST black martial artist to appear in films performing Martial Arts. One of the first first films was with another one of the greatest Martial Arts film stars, Bruce Lee in "Enter The Dragon". He has inspired many pop culture images such as Afro-Samurai, Black Dynamite, The Boondocks and many others.
Mr.Kelly and Bruce Lee
Unfortunately Mr.Kelly passed last year but his image and legacy still live on. The impact he made as one of the few black Martial Arts Film stars will never be forgotten.
WHAT????
ReplyDeleteI did not even know about this guy. HOW COOL!
Yes! Bushido Brown is definitely inspired by Jim
ReplyDeleteRIP Jim Kelly. Will always remember you in Enter The Dragon along with Bruce Lee and John Saxon.
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