于海 (武術家)

简介

Yu Hai was born in Yantai, Shandong in 1942. He began learning martial arts at the age of twelve under Lin Jingshan, a master of Seven Star Praying Mantis Fist (七星螳螂拳). He enrolled at the Shandong Institute of Physical Education in 1958 and became a martial arts athlete, representing the Shandong team in numerous competitions. He served as captain and head coach of the Shandong martial arts team from 1966 to 1986, then became a senior coaching advisor at the Shandong Institute of Physical Education. In 2001, he founded the "Yu Martial Arts Cultural Exchange Center" in Weihai. He gained widespread fame for portraying the monk Tan Zong in the 1982 film *Shaolin Temple* alongside Li Lianjie, and also served as the film's action director. He later collaborated with Li Lianjie in several films including *Shaolin Kids*, *Shaolin Temple 2: Kids from Shaolin*, and *Tai Chi Master*, and with Wu Jing in works such as *Taiji Prodigy* and *New Shaolin Temple*. He also appeared in TV series including *Ip Man* and *Landmine Warfare*. He always maintained that martial arts were his true passion and that acting was only a small part of his life. He passed away on January 16, 2023, at the age of 81.