Welcome To"STAR STRUCK!"

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.