Tommy Lee = philip rhee
Phillip Rhee (born September 7, 1960) is a Korean-American actor and director, most famous for his role in the Best of the Best movie series
Rhee holds ranks of 6th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do,
3rd degree black belt in Hap Ki Do and
1st degree black belt in Kendo.
He is also skilled in Wing Chun Kung fu and is a good boxer.
He is the younger brother of Simon Rhee.
Master Simon Rhee is a 7th-Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and a 4th-Degree Black Belt in Hap Ki Do. He is a World-Class Martial Artist known for his beautiful kicks and incredible forms, and is a many-time Grand Champion of the tournament circuit. Karate Illustrated noted that "Simon Rhee has the prettiest kicks, most flashiest and picturesque Martial Arts techniques in the nation." He is world-renowned for his kicking abilities and for his incredible forms. His pictures have graced the covers of many Martial Arts magazines, and he has been involved in the movie industry as a Martial Artist, Stunt Coordinator, Fight Choreographer, and Instructor to many celebrities. However, it is Master Rhee's charming personality and skill for teaching which has made him loved and respected by all... Simon Rhee was born in San Jose, California, in 1957, but spent much of his childhood in Seoul, Korea, where he began his Martial Arts training. After becoming ill and contracting meningitis as a young child, his parents enrolled him in Tae Kwon Do classes to help strengthen his body. Thus began his lifelong love for the Martial Arts. His intensive training continued in Korea, San Francisco, and then Los Angeles, and he has earned his 7th-degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, through Kukkiwon in South Korea and a 4th-degree Black Belt in Hap Ki Do, along with extensive training in Wing Chung Kung Fu and Weapons, among others. Master Rhee is well known throughout the martial arts community for his countless victories as Grand Champion in the tournament circuit, in both sparring and in forms. He has been sought out by many major motion picture studios and celebrities because of his talent for instruction, Stunt Coordination and Fight Choreography
Fighting arts in the Malay Peninsula and Malay Archipelago arose out of hunting methods and military training by the region's native inhabitants. The descendents of former headhunters still perform ancient wardances which are considered the precursor of the freestyle form in silat. While these aborigines retained their tribal way of life, the Indon-Malay diaspora instead based their culture on China and India. By adopting the Indian faiths of Hinduism and Buddhism, their social structure became more organised.[3] Evidence shows that silat was influenced by both Chinese and Indian martial arts.[4] Many of the region's medicinal practices and weapons originated in either India or China, and silat's thigh-slapping actions are reminiscent of Hindu wrestling.[5] The Chinese community also practiced their own localised martial arts known as kuntao, which both influenced and borrowed from silat.
Although numerous myths attempt to explain the institutionalisation of silat, most of them concern only a specific style. The earliest evidence of silat taught in its present form is found in Sumatra where, according to local legend, a woman based her combat system on the movements of animals that she had seen fighting. Masters still believe that the first styles of silat were created by observing animals, and these styles were probably derived from animal-based Indian martial arts.[6] In the fifth or 6th century, pre-determined sets are said to have been introduced by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma who came from India to Southeast Asia via the Sumatra-based kingdom of Srivijaya in Palembang.[3] Through this connection, silat is also used as a method of spiritual training in addition to self-defense.[4]
Silat was eventually used by the defence forces of Langkasuka, Champa, Srivijaya, Beruas, Melaka, Makasar, Aceh, Majapahit, Gangga Negara, Pattani and other kingdoms in Southeast Asia.[7] Except for generals and royalty, Indonesia-Malay warriors wore minimal armour, if any at all. A rattan shield, or a breastplate at most, was the only protective gear available to the average soldier. This may have been one of the reasons why the older styles relied more on agility than they do today. Despite the Hindu caste system which held sway in ancient times, silat was never confined to any particular social class or gender but was practiced by all without restrictions. Even today, it is often taught in families who have inherited cultural traditions such as woodcarving, dance, herbalism or the playing of musical instruments.
Southeast Asian trade had already extended into Okinawa and Japan by the 15th century. The number of Japanese people travelling the region increased after the Battle Of Sekigahara. By the early 17th century there were small Japanese communities living and trading in Indochina. Some arrived with the official red seal ships while others were warriors and pirates from the losing side of the Sekigahara war. Although mostly confined to Siam, some Japanese escaped to Cambodia and Indonesia after Ayutthaya was attacked by the Burmese. Silat shares many similarities with Okinawan karate as well as the throws and stances of weapon-based Japanese martial arts[5] which probably date back to this time. Trade with Japan ended when the country went into self-imposed isolation but resumed during the Meiji era, during which time certain areas of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore became home to a small Japanese population. After the Japanese Occupation, some silat masters incorporated the katana into their styles.
Since the Islamisation movement of the 1980s and 90s, there have been attempts to make silat more compliant with Islamic principles. It is now illegal for Muslim practitioners in Malaysia to chant mantera, bow to idols, practice traditional meditation, or attempt to acquire supernatural powers. This has given rise to various misconceptions that silat is inherently Muslim or can only be practiced by followers of the Islamic faith. In actuality silat has existed long before Islam was introduced to Southeast Asia and is still practiced by non-Muslims. The Hindu-Buddhist and animistic roots of the art were never eradicated, and remain very evident even among Muslim practitioners of traditional styles. Some of these old methods have been lost after silat masters in pre-dominantly Muslim areas could no longer teach them, but others still endure among conservative training schools in Indonesia and Thailand. ( wikipedia)