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.
The brave man, inattentive to his duty, is worth little more to his country than the coward who deserts her in the hour of danger.
I used to get bullied by the popular girls at school. Today, I am the popular girl, and the bullies come to my shows.
It isn't for the moment you are struck that you need courage, but for that long uphill climb back to sanity and faith and security.
If you cannot convince a Fascist, acquaint his head with the pavement.
There comes a time in a man's life when to get where he has to go - if there are no doors or windows he walks through a wall.
What we fear doing most is usually what we most need to do.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.