Ron Smoorenburg

Ron Smoorenburg (born 30 April 1974) is a Dutch martial artist and actor, who is best known for his film debut as the high-kicking henchman in the final fight of Jackie Chan's Who Am I? in 1998. He currently lives in Thailand, where he works as an actor, stuntman, and fight choreographer. Early life Born in Nieuwegein on 30 April 1974, Smoorenburg began his martial arts training at the age of seven, beginning with Judo and four years later, transitioned to Karate and Free Fighting, a form of Mixed Martial Arts. He admitted he was influenced by the likes of Jackie Chan and Hwang In-Shik as well as Jean-Claude Van Damme. During this time, he was doing demonstrations, some appearing on television and then it was in 1997, live on a local television program, Smoorenburg gained the record for the highest kick of 11 feet. Film career When Jackie Chan was filming Who Am I? in Rotterdam in 1997, Smoorenburg auditioned for a role in the film. Impressed with his kicking skills, Chan hired him to play one of two final opponents in which Chan would film the fight on the roof of the Willemswerf Building. It is here where Ron learned how to work in a fight scene for the first time and had some trouble adapting to Chan's trademark rhythmic movements. However, he eventually learned the pacing but for more complicated movements of the fights were doubled by Jackie Chan Stunt Team members Brad Allan, Andy Cheng, and Nicky Li. In 1999, Smoorenburg appeared as a top villain on an episode of the short-lived action series , taking on the series' lead star, Mickey Hardt, with Donnie Yen serving as action director. The experience was a good one for Smoorenburg and he would take on a few bit parts in Hong Kong movies. He played a cage fighter in Gen-Y Cops having a short fight scene against Stephen Fung. The two would have a longer rematch with Smoorenburg playing a character resembling Bryan Fury against Fung's Iron Surfer, who resembled Hwoarang in the Tekken-inspired film The Avenging Fist in 2001. Smoorenburg would play another fighter in Born Wild opposite Louis Koo and moved up to play the main villain in Martial Angels opposite Shu Qi.