Martial arts film

Martial arts film is a film genre originated in the Pacific Rim. This genre of film is one kind of action film characterized by extensive fighting scenes employing various types of martial arts. This genre should not be limited to Asian films. There are many action movies by well known western martial artists such as Steven Seagal and Jean Claude van Damme.

Martial Arts film stars can be classified in two types, namely genuine martial artists who pursued a filming career vs dancers and actors who acted in martial arts film under the directions of choreographers.

Martial arts film stars who are martial artists on their own merits:

Bruce Lee's Enter the Dragon (1973) was one of the films that brought the genre into mainstream Western acceptance.
Jackie Chan continued this crossover during the 80s and 90s, finally conquering the US market with Rumble in the Bronx (1995) and the two Rush Hour films. He is renowned for his blend of martial arts and slapstick comedy, but has directed, action directed and starred in over 50 films of almost all conceivable genres. Despite proper martial arts training from a chinese opera school, Jackie often tells people that he is an actor, not a martial artist.
Jet Li won a national Chinese Wu Shu (Martial Arts) championship before turning into a movie star.
Sammo Hung or Gumbo Hung was a fellow opera school student of Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao. He has directed, action directed and starred in numerous Hong Kong films, as well as playing the leading role in the American TV series Martial Law.
Yuen Biao
Chuck Norris (Tang Soo Do: Korean Martial Art very similar to the principle of Shaolin boxing.)
Steven Seagal (Aikido: Japanese Martial Art)
Jean Claude van Damme

Martial Arts film stars who are primarily actors:

Michelle Yeoh : A dancer turned actor.
Aaron Kwok : A dancer turned to singing and then acting.

Others:

Donnie Yen :
Leung Kar Yan