Shi Yan Neng (born Zhang Shu Wu) is a Chinese martial artist, kung fu actor, and action director born in Jinan, Shandong Province, China. He is a 32nd-generation Shaolin disciple widely recognized in the film industry for his profound, authentic martial arts skills and hard-hitting, realistic fighting style.

At the age of 12, heavily inspired by Jet Li's iconic film "The Shaolin Temple", he left home for the Songshan Shaolin Temple. There, he became an official Buddhist disciple under Master Deyang, the head instructor of the Shaolin Temple Martial Monks Team, and was given the Buddhist dharma name Shi Xing Yu (释行宇). He spent over a decade training and representing the temple in global kung fu demonstrations.

In 2003, he was scouted by Stephen Chow and cast as Coolie Qiang, the master of "Twelve-Road Tan Legs" in the 2004 classic action-comedy film "Kung Fu Hustle". Debuting under his Shaolin name Shi Xing Yu, his explosive, swift leg techniques made him an overnight sensation and launched his professional acting career.

Later in his career, he briefly adopted the stage name Shi Yan Neng (释延能), before permanently settling on his current official stage name, Shi Yan Neng (释彦能 — using a different Chinese character for 'Yan').

(Source: Chinese = Baidu, Wikipedia || Translation = ElfinieKarl at kisskh) Edit Biography