Luo Lishi: Bruce Lee’s Co-Star & Judo Champion – A 1970s Icon

World karate champion Luo Lishi, known for his 1972 on-screen duel with Bruce Lee, has died, according to reports from Sin Chew Daily. Lishi’s fame stemmed from his role as the antagonist in Lee’s film, “The Way of the Dragon.”

Lee, directing his only completed feature film, cast Lishi as Tom, a foreign karate master, opposite his own character, Tang Lung. The fight sequence between the two martial artists was a highlight of the film, showcasing both men’s skills. “The Way of the Dragon,” originally released in the United States as “Return of the Dragon,” was Lee’s last film released during his lifetime.

The film, a martial arts comedy, centers on a Hong Kong martial artist who travels to Rome to help relatives whose restaurant is being threatened by local gangsters. It was filmed primarily on location in Rome, Italy. The movie grossed an estimated US$130 million worldwide, a significant sum considering its modest $130,000 budget.

Lishi’s appearance in “The Way of the Dragon” marked Chuck Norris’s debut screen role as well. The film’s success propelled Lee to international stardom and solidified his legacy as a martial arts icon. “The Way of the Dragon” was the highest-grossing Hong Kong film until the release of Lee’s “Enter the Dragon” in 1973.

The film was co-produced by Golden Harvest and Concord Production Inc., and released in Hong Kong on December 30, 1972, and in the United States in August 1974.