Jet Li Believes in Showing Up on Time, or Earlier

My Ten

Jason Chambers

Bob Odenkirk

Regé-Jean Page

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my ten

Jet Li Believes in Showing Up on Time, or Earlier

“If you tell me eight o’clock,” the film and martial arts star said, “I will be there 10 or 15 minutes before and wait.”

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Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

By

Elisabeth Vincentelli

April 25, 2026,

5:00 a.m. ET

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In his new memoir, “Beyond Life and Death,” Jet Li describes being sent to the Beijing Sports and Exercise School when he was 8, in 1971. He could have ended up in the swimming section, say, or the soccer one. Instead it was martial arts, and film history was changed.

After years of high-level competitions, Li put his training to good use in “Shaolin Temple” in 1982. He became an action star with a string of hits that include four installments of the “

Once Upon a Time in China

” franchise (1992-1997), “

Hero

” (2004), “

Fearless

” (2006), and several Hollywood outings such as “The Expendables” (2010).

Li talks about his career in the book, but he also dives into his journey of self-discovery, most specifically his practice of Tibetan Buddhism, which he started investigating while seeking relief from injury-related pain in 1997. “I learned martial arts and made movies, but I couldn’t find the meaning of life,” the actor said. “For almost 30 years, I have gone to teachers in India, Nepal, Tibet — many, many places.”

In a video interview from his home in Singapore, Li, 62, discussed 10 things that mean a lot to him; his daughter Jada (with whom he hosts the

YouTube videos series “So Be It”

) occasionally helped with translation. These are edited excerpts from that conversation and an email follow-up.

Mala Beads

I will ask each of my teachers for one prayer bead [which are strung on a string to form necklaces or garlands]. They remind me of them and their teachings. That’s become a habit. They teach me the most important thing is compassion and wisdom. I love beads. I collect a lot of them.

Stir-Fried Shredded Potatoes

When I grew up, my family was very poor and my mom always cooked potatoes. Since then, wherever I go, I just ask, “Do you have a fresh potato?” I love the taste, and it reminds me of my mom.

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