Martial arts is not for hurting people, it's for protecting people.
Interpretation
Martial arts emphasizes self-defense and protection rather than aggression or causing harm.
In this quote, Jackie Chan highlights the true essence of martial arts, which is often misunderstood as a means to inflict pain or dominate others. He emphasizes that martial arts is fundamentally about safeguarding oneself and others, fostering discipline, respect, and inner strength, rather than promoting violence or aggression.
In practice
This quote can be used during a martial arts demonstration to explain its true purpose.
American stuntmen are smart - they think about safety. When they do a jump in a car, they calculate everything: the speed, the distance... But in Hong Kong, we don't know how to count. Everything we do is a guess. If you've got the guts, you do it. All of my stuntmen have gotten hurt.
One thing I did pick up from Cannonball Run was the use of bloopers and outtakes under the final credits, which I've done in all my movies since.
Martial arts is for defense. It's not for attacking. So when people are fighting, always, always, defend.
We learn martial arts as helping weakness. You never fight for people to get hurt. You're always helping people.
In the past when I was in Hollywood, I was like a dog. I felt humiliated. My English was not good. People would even ask me 'Jackie Who?'.
Why did I become Jackie Chan? Mostly because I work very hard. When people were sleeping, I was still training.
But, with time, one has encountered many of the monsters, and one is increasingly less terrified of those still to be met.
The right is ours. Have it we must. Use it we will.
All our compatriots know that the loss of Mongolia would mean the demise of our country. We would rather resist Russia and die heroically than succumb to Russia and perish shamefully.
The enemy is anybody who's going to get you killed, no matter which side he's on.
We must be courageous but also reasonable. The world admires us for walking a tightrope without falling off. It asks us to keep our balance.
Patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards any one.
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