The Sport Karate Museum invites you to the world of Martial Arts Entertainment and its warrior stars

Discover the rich world of martial arts in the cinema, documentaries, and television from around the globe. We will explore the contributions the martial arts have made to our daily lives over the years which for many of us began with being inspired by a TV show or movie to train, hoping to become the next Chuck Norris or Bruce Lee! Countless members of our Sport Karate Museum History General community have made vast contributions to the entertainment industry through the decades. Star Struck! will introduce you to the martial arts masters featured as martial arts star characters, those who have labored behind the scenes as fight choreographers, stuntmen, women, film writers/directors, and film crew members. The subjects will include personal bios of the featured persons and entertainment credits so you may discover some previously unknown treasures starring a favorite star and cuddle up on your comfy couch with some yummy popcorn to enjoy the action.

Kim Kahana Sr. (October 16, 1929 – August 12, 2024) was an American actor, Stunt performer, and action choreographer of Hawaiian and Japanese descent.  He worked on stunts for over 300 films and television programs and ran a stunt school in Groveland, Florida,  that has trained over 15,000 students.

Kahana's bigger-than-life film career began after the Korean War with the 1953 film, The Wild One playing a motorcycle rider as an extra. Seeking a career in films, he discovered that stunt players earned more than extras and his lane in the business became clear. This led him to train with stunt veterans Yakima Canutt and John Eppers. By the 1960s he was working regularly as a stuntman which continued throughout the 70s and 80s. A career ultimately spanned over 40 active years.

Kim Kahana accumulated numerous Black Belts in various arts while training in Japan. He eventually expanded his martial arts by creating a successful bodyguard agency and employed up to 30 agents at a time.

 Film-

Cool Hand Luke-1967 Planet of the Apes- 1968

Che!- 1969 Patton- 1970

The Omega Man- 1971  Joe Kidd- 1972

Solent Green1973 Burt Reynolds-Smokey and the Bandits movies

The Killer Elite- 1975 Buck Rogers and the 25th Century

Jeepers Creepers- 2001 

And countless more

Television-

Kung Fu series Mission Impossible series

The Million Dollar Man series Vegas series

Magnum P.I. series  Charley’s Angels series

Quincy M.E. series Fantasy Island series

The Brady Bunch series Danger Island/The Banana Splits, portraying the character “Chongo”

To name a few.

 Albert Leong was born in St. Louis, Missouri on September 30, 1952. He is an accomplished American retired actor, martial artist, stuntman, and stunt coordinator extraordinaire. His family owned a Chinese Laundry with their home on the premises so hard work was a family tradition. At ten years old (1962), his family relocated to Los Angeles, California, and eventually attended Hollywood High School.

In his martial arts foundational training the 5 Animal system of Senior Grandmaster Ark Y. Wong upstairs on Ord St, L.A. Chinatown. An incredible kung fu group, founded by Sifu Doug Wong grew to be a high-quality demonstration team that featured Sifu’s Al Leong and James Lew as its early co-captains. Their arrival at the Long Beach Arena for Ed Parker’s International Karate Tournament was electric. Al was an expert at the Chinese Halberd known as the Quan Dao. The contrast was powerful considering Sifu Leong stood at a compact 5 ft 6 while welding the massive 71/2-foot weapon! He became recognized by many martial arts awards organizations including the Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame.

His martial arts performance and acting skills made him stand out in the Television and Movie industry and he became a sought-after stuntman with a special talent as a gifted stunt coordinator. Having mastered hand to hand combat arts coupled with being a weapons expert made him a popular action team leader. In the industry he is lovingly known as Al "Kabong" Leong.

Al Leong's massive television and movie credits range over twenty years of acting and stunt work excellence beginning in 1981. Just some of his TV listings include T.J.Hooker, The Fall Guy, Knight Rider, Deadwood, The 70’s Show, and MacGiver to name a few.

His Movie credits are even more impressive with titles encompassing Die Hard, Mortal Kombat, Escape from L.A., Godzilla, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Lethal Weapon 1&4, The Perfect Weapon, and The Scorpion King for which Al was also the stunt coordinator. His list of career credits is more than 70 plus titles.  

In addition to all he accomplished, Al also wrote The Eight Lives of Al Ka-Bong Leong. A testament to his longevity in the martial arts he loved and the entertainment business he enhanced with his presence, personality, and skill.

 Richard Norton ( January 6, 1950 - March 30, 2025) was proudly born in Croydon, Australia.

Richard, a popular actor, is a lifelong martial artist and lauded veteran stunt performer/choreographer. Passing at age 75, his performing career spanned the 1980s through 2024. His list of costars with whom he performed with reads like a who's who of illustrious screen stars. He faced off with the likes of Chuck Norris, Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, and Cynthia Rothrock, to name a few. 

In Mr. Norton’s early life before his cinematic career, he channeled his physical ability and martial arts skills into security work and the bodyguarding of music celebrities. Here too, Richard had a huge array of musical personalities that he taught and protected, which included the Rolling Stones, ABBA, Linda Ronstadt, David Bowie, and members of Fleetwood Mac

An assortment of Richard Norton’s 75 Film Credits Include:

ABBA: The Movie (1977)

Embark on a whirlwind adventure with the classic Swedish band, ABBA, in the documentary-comedy mashup of "ABBA: The Movie. " 

The Octagon (1980) The Octagon" is an action-packed 1980 film starring the legendary Chuck Norris in the lead role. 

An Eye for an Eye (1981) is a 1981 action, adventure, and crime thriller starring Chuck Norris, Christopher Lee, and Richard Roundtree. 

Gymkata (1985)  The riveting 1985 action-packed thriller, Gymkata, an American gymnast embarks on a perilous journey to a mysterious foreign land

American Ninja (1985) is a heart-pounding adventure with American Ninja, starring Michael Dudikoff 

China O'Brien (1990) and China O'Brien II (1990) starring Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton, and Keith Cooke, the movie is an enthralling martial arts adventure set in the 1990s.

The Best of the Martial Arts Films (1990) "The Best of the Martial Arts Films" (1990), a documentary celebrating martial arts action films and featuring renowned actors like John Saxon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Chris Casamassa who take center stage. 

For Life or Death (1996). For Life or Death is a pulsating 1996 action-packed movie that follows Kaan Woo, played by James Lew.

Mr. Nice Guy (1997) is a high-octane action-comedy film starring the legendary Jackie Chan. 

John Wayne Parr: Blessed with Venom (2011) is an inspiring biography that takes viewers on a journey through the life and career of the extraordinary Australian Muay Thai superstar, John Wayne Parr. 

The Green Hornet (2011)

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). Richard acted in a recent big production film, did stunts, and taught the cast members during production.

Underdog Kids (2015)

Suicide Squad (2016)

Ghost in the Shell (2017)

The Suicide Squad (2021) The Suicide Squad" is an action-packed, comedic adventure where supervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Peacemaker, and more join forces to form the Task Force X. 

With all your hard work and sacrifice on Earth done, now take your well earned rest in the heavenly celestial dojo among the great masters of old. Peace and thank you , Richard.