How Jet Li’s trainer Wu Bin, 89, ages well and still nurtures martial arts talent

Martial arts legend Wu Bin talks about mentoring Jet Li and other wushu stars, and how building good habits is key to health in older life

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Published: 11:00am, 16 Sep 2026

At 89, many rely on glasses or hearing aids. Wu Bin needs neither. Daily runs and regular football games keep the legendary martial arts coach of action icon Jet Li in fighting form.

Wu is a convincing advertisement for the wellness benefits of lifelong discipline. He still travels widely and recently presided over the 18th Hong Kong International Wushu Competition, where Dragon He, the son of another of Wu’s former students, Jaden He Jingde, was competing.

A founder of the Beijing Wushu Team, Wu helped develop the traditional martial art into an elite modern sport. His eye for potential led him to the eight-year-old Li in 1971 and helped launch his career. Li’s mastery of Chinese martial arts would elevate him to the podium at championships and launch him onto cinema screens around the world.

Today, Wu’s impact extends to a third generation of disciples. Rather than retire, he travels to encourage them.

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