Phillip Rhee is a master martial artist, actor, and filmmaker best known for creating the Best of the Best film franchise with his producing partner and mentor Peter E. Strauss (former chairman of Lionsgate) and Frank Giustra (founder of Lionsgate).

The first Best of the Best starred Academy Award-nominated actors, James Earl Jones, Eric Roberts, Louise Fletcher, Sally Kirkland, and Chris Penn was distributed through Sony Pictures. In 2015, Best of the Best was chosen by Fandango's 15 most inspirational sports movies of all time along with Rocky.

Rhee is a 7th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, 3rd degree in Hapkido, and Kendo and is one of the most sought after teachers in the world. His former students include top CEOs, industry titans, professional athletes, and film celebrities.

You have been an icon in martial arts cinema for over 34 years and yet we learned that you actually teach Tae Kwon Do every week without a break, what kept you so grounded?

I had great mentors, such as Grand Master Jun Chong who trained my brother and I, and we have the responsibility to share the knowledge to the next generation of martial artists.

Share with us your martial arts journey and the styles you were exposed to such as wing chun and boxing?

My brother Simon and I studied various combat arts because:

- Taekwondo has powerful kicks.

- Boxing is great with hands.

- Muay Thai is great with knees and elbows.

- Kung Fu or Tai Chi have grace and fluidity.

- Japanese Karate or Kyokushin are great for discipline and hard work.

- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is great for ground fighting and grappling.

- Judo is great for throwing and choke holds.

Describe the early days training with your brother and how that motivated or inspired you?

We started in Korea when we were very young. Those days, we all worked out on wooden floors and fought without protective gears. On top of that there was no air conditioner in the summer or heaters in the winter. To endure this type of discipline is not for everyone but it shapes a person through hard work and humility.

You had a great successful series of movies during a time when “shoot ‘em up” action films and martial arts films were the rage, what inspired you to create Best of the Best, which has become a beloved film franchise?

The reason we made Best of the Best is because we wanted to share the beauty, power, humility and the heart of the martial arts.

Describe your relationship with martial arts, is it a philosophy, exercise, or other in your current daily life?

The difference between sport and martial arts are similar but different.

In the martial arts there are three disciplines to learn:

1. MIND: In order to cultivate the mind we have to learn and study.

2. BODY: To cultivate the body we have to eat healthy and exercise.

3. SPIRIT: To cultivate the spirit is to help others in need.

You took a break from film making after the huge success of Best of the Best, what did you do during that period and what motivated you to start producing again?

I’ve been approached to make other movies but the scripts were not for me. So I’ve been writing various stories that I was attracted to, and one of them is Best of the Best 5 and is in negotiation as we speak.

You are a hero to so many who are your martial arts heroes on and off screen?

Hands down is Jackie Chan. Jackie is a great martial artist but why I like him so much is because he is so humble and gracious. We were in a big party and all of the sudden, Jackie approached me and gave me a cigar and he said, “Phillip, this is the Best of the Best cigar for you” and said hello to me. I mean, Jackie is a huge star and he didn’t have to do that but he’s such a great guy and I learned humility from him as well as my dear friend, Sammo Hung.

When you teach today do you have a focused approach and has that changed over the 40+ years of teaching?

For me, it’s all of the above. After many years I realized that the power is NOT about taking people down but it is about lifting people up.

Today many actors and martial artists find social media fame but still strive for the silver screen. What is your advice for those that want to blaze a path like you did?

The most important thing is to believe in yourself. And if you believe in yourself it will manifest itself. So work hard and never give up your dreams!

You are beloved across the world, what is your message to fans who are waiting for another film from Phillip Rhee?

To be honest I didn’t want to make a movie just for the money until I found a great story, but after many years, I finally wrote Best of the Best 5 with my writing partner Mark Nemcoff and it’s going to be great. The action is going to be great! But more so, Best 5 will have a lot of heart that Best 1 had, and there will be more to come.

We cannot wait. It’s been a pleasure, Master Rhee.

Photos via Phillip Rhee