JuJu Chan Szeto and Antony Szeto are a formidable duo in the martial arts world. JuJu, a 35-year-old action star known for her role in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny,” practices various forms of martial arts including taekwondo, wing chun, Shaolin-style wushu, Muay Thai, and karate. Her 59-year-old husband, Antony, a film director, is an expert in Chinese martial arts. Both are skilled in weaponry, such as nunchucks.
Antony emphasizes the benefits of their rigorous training: “When you’re working with weapons like JuJu and I do, you’re doing weighted training while still performing forms and aerobic exercises.” This combination enhances their fitness and flexibility. Antony, who can still perform full splits, often surprises onlookers with his agility.
JuJu, who represented Hong Kong in taekwondo and won multiple championships, highlights the mental challenges of martial arts. “Competing involves strategies and quick thinking, working your brain as much as your body,” she explains. Her martial arts background also helped her transition through pregnancy and childbirth. “Martial artists understand their bodies well. You know you can get back to your pre-pregnancy form,” she says, emphasizing discipline and a positive mindset.
Both JuJu and Antony began their martial arts journeys young. JuJu started with judo at age 10, while Antony trained in taekwondo and Choy Li Fut, a southern Chinese wushu style, before moving to China to study at the Beijing Sports University. He represented Australia at the 1988 International Invitational Wushu Championships in Hangzhou.
Antony advises newcomers to explore various martial arts styles to find the best fit. “The best martial art is the one you enjoy and stick with,” he says. JuJu agrees, noting that learning multiple styles can be beneficial, much like learning different languages.
Despite JuJu’s 2016 call for a revival of the Hong Kong martial arts film genre, especially for women, progress has been slow. However, the rise of women-centered action films in Hollywood, such as “Mulan” and “Wonder Woman,” and the ability of martial artists to showcase their skills on social media offer hope. JuJu has amassed 120,000 followers on Instagram, illustrating the potential reach of these platforms.
The couple plans to introduce their newborn daughter to martial arts naturally. JuJu shares an anecdote: “I was practicing nunchucks, and she was mesmerized, tracing my movements with her eyes.” Even at two months old, their daughter shows signs of following in their footsteps.
As JuJu and Antony continue to inspire through their dedication to martial arts and their new role as parents, they remain hopeful for the future of the genre and its portrayal of strong, capable women.
READ MORE: