Hollywood beckons for star of worldwide kung fu idol

4:59pm Wednesday 14th June 2006

You've probably heard of Pop Idol and X-Factor but have you heard about the latest reality-fest? TIM ASHTON investigates.

K-STAR is the first ever Chinese kung fu global television competition and a St Paul's Cray man has made it through the European eliminators to reach the final stage.

Andy Lang, competing in his first major competition, will now take on the best the rest of the world has to offer for the chance to become a Hollywood kung-fu legend.

Should the 22-year-old win overall, he will be cast in a 100-episode television show featuring the lords of kung fu, the Shaolin Temple monks of north China.

Moreover, Andy will star in a major Hollywood film called The Legend of the Monk Soldiers depicting the Temple monks' fight against the invading Japanese during the Ming Dynasty.

Making up the all-important judges' panel in China will be actors Jackie Chan and Jet Li.

Andy, who works as a self-confessed restaurant dogsbody, said: "Before the European stage I'd not really thought about the trappings of stardom and what would happen if I won.

"I wouldn't want to change as a person because I am quite happy with who I am right now.

"I don't want to become disrespectful or change the way I think about people. Obviously it would better than working a restaurant."

To reach the finals, being held in China next month, Andy travelled to Germany to compete with more than 30 martial arts experts in front of a panel of judges.

He was one of just five English participants, all of whom train with the Shaolin Culture Kung Fu and Tai Chi School in Bromley.

Andy said: "The Shaolin Temple teamed up with a TV company in the south of China to hold this worldwide competition.

"In each continent there were huge auditions and the judges choose three or more people to go to China to compete in the finals.

"In the finals there will be 36 competitors, which is reduced to 18, then three and one. It is a kind of X-Factor for martial arts."

At the European stage Andy had to impress judges with two empty-hand forms, two tai-chi forms and a weapons form to get down to the final eight.

He said: "We also had to do some acting. The director of the movie company was on the panel and he was the Simon Cowell of the whole thing.

"Some people imitated Bruce Lee or did a martial arts sketch. I did a two-man joke fight."

To be selected from the last eight to the final three, Andy sparred with a Shaolin Monk.

He said: "It was very intimidating as he was very fast. It was not about fighting him as the panel were interested in my reaction speed and defensive abilities."

Andy, who lives on Francis Road, was bitten by the kung fu bug about eight years ago after watching a competition on television.

After training around London and under various teachers, he has been with form Shifu Yang, a 34th Generation Shaolin Disciple from China, at Bromley Shaolin.

The former pupil of Coopers Technology College, Hawkwood Lane, Chislehurst, said: "In the beginning it was difficult as my flexibility was poor.

"My stamina was OK but I could not do a push-up to save my life, then slowly I built on it and every came together. I can do way over 100 press-ups now and train 16 hours a week."

As a new comer to major competition, Andy was unsure what to expect from Germany.

He said: "The standard was very high and I was pleased to see there was a lot of respect between competitors which, being a Buddist thing, is what Shaolin is all about.

"My teacher had a lot of confidence in me which gave me confidence but I went there without any expectations.

"I just wanted to try my best, promote Shaolin martial arts, do my teacher proud and it came through for me."

For more information on the Shaolin Culture Kung Fu and Tai Chi School in Bromley, visit shaolinculture.co.uk