| Wesley Snipes martial arts prowess has arguably | | | | life experiences. I was a small child. I matured late. |
| been the foundation of his action movie career. | | | | It made growing up in a tough world even |
| Although dramatic roles in early films such as New | | | | tougher. I started out using martial arts training to |
| Jack City and White Men Can't Jump did not | | | | defend myself, so my style is traditional martial |
| require Snipes to display his formidable skills, it is | | | | arts mixed with Bronx street fighting." |
| interesting to note that many of his later roles | | | | Snipes seems evasive when asked directly what |
| involved a great deal of action fighting. | | | | fighting arts he uses most in his films. Yet he |
| What is even more amazing is that in his | | | | never hesitates to give credit to his early training |
| best-known action role as Blade, the day-walking | | | | in traditional fighting styles, nor his ongoing passion |
| vampire hunter, Snipes acted as both producer | | | | for the Afro-Brazilian art of capoeira, which he |
| and fight choreographer on the first two films in | | | | studies under Mestre Jelon Vieira. However, he |
| the series. Obviously, this is a man who loves his | | | | readily admits that he draws on several martial |
| fighting arts. | | | | styles for his fight scenes, and it's easy to see |
| Wesley Snipes martial arts training and | | | | influences in his choreography from tae kwon do, |
| background is impressive. A fifth degree black | | | | hapkido, kenpo karate, and Filipino weapon arts. |
| belt, with high ranks in Shotokan karate and | | | | No matter what style Wesley Snipes practices, |
| extensive training in capoeira, he is an | | | | there is no doubt that he is one of the most |
| accomplished martial artist. Snipes first started | | | | entertaining and engaging action film stars to hit |
| training at the young age of 12, and credits his | | | | the silver screen. If you'd like to check out some |
| training for helping him overcome adversity. In an | | | | of his work on DVD, the following is a |
| interview with the Calgary Sun, Snipes talked | | | | recommended list of the all-time best Wesley |
| about how his early karate training taught him | | | | Snipes martial arts action flicks to watch: |
| valuable life-skills: | | | | - Passenger 57 |
| "They are what taught me how to deal with | | | | - Boiling Point |
| adversity in my life. You have to endure and | | | | - Rising Sun |
| overcome so much physical pain to learn these | | | | - Blade |
| moves that you can apply the same principles to | | | | - U.S. |