The journey to Jackie Chan’s legendary status was no swift feat, it was a path filled with sweat, blood, tears, and perseverance. Over the span of an entire decade during his youth, he underwent an unrelenting and punishing regimen of physical training. These ten formative years sculpted the very essence of the individual that people now recognize as Jackie Chan, a living testament to the unwavering might of his spirit.
Therefore, during an interview hosted by Jonathan Ross, the actor elaborated extensively on his regimen and the measures implemented for students who couldn’t endure its demands. The intensity was so overwhelming that Chan could not stand it anymore.
Jackie Chan’s Rigorous Martial Arts Regime Made Him Want to Quit
The celebrated martial art expert, Jackie Chan, had a very tough childhood. Although it is undeniable, was trained by the best in the business, it also came at a cost. In a 2010 interview with Jonathan Ross, the actor revealed all the things he and his classmates had to endure. He shared intricate details of the relentless drills that molded him and recounted the stern penalties endured for any task left incomplete. As he reflected on those days, he vividly conveyed the excruciating journey by saying,
“We get up at five o clock in the morning. First is a run. Run without bouncing. Keeping it low. Run with two cups of water and if you drop the water, the teachers will whip you,”
His training comprised of him waking up sharp at 5 in the morning, and running, but with some strict conditions applied, if one of the students failed to fulfill their task, they would face the grave consequences that followed after it. He then continued saying,
“Then after that, upside down, handstand for 1 hour. After that, punch and kick and then the routine like karate habit. And whatever we do, the most difficult pose does movements and stop for 20 minutes. And then go again and stop for another 20 mins.—It is horrible—I wanna go away”
Despite his willingness to depart, the actor chose to remain steadfast. He dedicated a full decade to honing his craft through rigorous training, a commitment that proved invaluable. The fruits of his labor are evident, as his skills remain unparallel to this day.
Jackie Chan’s Tough Childhood
Within the pages of his memoir Never Grow Up, Jackie Chan described how his childhood years diverged vastly from those of his peers. As a young boy, he found himself enrolled not in the typical pursuits of childhood, but in the hallowed halls of the China Drama Academy. Here, under the guidance of martial arts legend Master Yu Jim-Yuen, his life took an extraordinary trajectory that ultimately made him the man he is today but also essentially ended his childhood.
The academy’s curriculum revolved around a unique unconventional trio, song, dance, and martial arts where the students weren’t allowed to get sick and had to go through intense training as stated previously. Although it helped him sculpt himself into a man that the world would end up cherishing for countless years to come, he also regrets not having a normal childhood.
Source: Friday Night With Jonathan Ross
