Chen Zhen (martial artist)

Chen Zhen (zh-tp|t=陳真|p=Chén Zhēn) is a fictional Chinese martial artist, often portrayed as a student of Huo Yuanjia. His story is loosely based on the life of Huo Yuanjia's first student, Liu Zhen-Sheng (劉振聲).

Chen Zhen was earlier portrayed both by actor Bruce Lee in the film "The Chinese Connection" (both earlier and later known as "Fist of Fury") as well as Jackie Chan in the film New Fist of Fury.

In 1982, RTV (now ATV) produced The Fist [http://www.yesasia.com/global/the-fist-dvd-end-atv-drama-us-version/1010727999-0-0-0] as a follow-up to to the previous year's highly successful Legendary Fok about Huo Yuanjia. Bruce Liang reprised his role as Chen Zhen, picking up a new storyline after The Legendary Fok. With its big budget and extensive promotion, The Fist was an ambitious effort for RTV at the time, and paid off with viewership ratings approaching 50%, handily beating its TVB contender. This classic RTV drama co-stars Candice Yu, Lau Wai Man, Choi King Fai, and Bill Tung.

In this 20 episode series, after avenging his master Fok Yuen Gap's death, Chen Zhen becomes a wanted criminal. With the assistance of the Shanghai mayor, he manages to escape by faking his own death, and moves to Beijing with Fok's son Dung Kok (later the subject of a second sequel [http://www.yesasia.com/us/1010727994-0-0-0-en/info.html] ) where they live quietly away from the world's eyes. Chen's identity is eventually revealed however when he comes into conflict with Japanese official Sato, putting his life into danger but also igniting his nationalist fervor. While Sato plans his revenge, Chen resolves to reopen Fok's school and spread the teachings and martial arts of his master.

Subsequently, he is portrayed by Jet Li in the film "Fist of Legend". In the film, Chen Zhen fought to salvage the Chin Woo Athletic Association's reputation after the death of his master. He later defeated a famous Japanese general who was behind his master's poisoning in a fight and later went to Japan under disguise.

The story was adapted by Donnie Yen in 1995 in another ATV miniseries Fist of Fury lasting 30 episodes [http://www.donnieyen.com/films/1995_fistfury.htm] which later had a feature length adaptation. In this version the name is changed to Chen Jun. In China & Taiwan as well as other areas of Asia with a major Chinese population this is the role that has made Donnie Yen homonymous with his notorious character role.

Chen Zhen was also portrayed by Hong Kong actor Jordan Chan in a 2007 remake of the martial arts TV series The Legendary Fok (aka Huo Yuanjia). He had a final showdown with all the Japanese martial artists in the Japanese school whom he believed to be responsible for causing his master's death.