Gery Daniels Kickboxer Date of Birth: 09.03.1963 Country: Great Britain

1. Biography of Gary Daniels
2. Early Life and Sporting Success
3. Inspired by Bruce Lee
4. Training and Success in Martial Arts
5. Pursuing an Acting Career
6. Achievements and Personal Life

Biography of Gary Daniels

Gary Daniels is a British and American actor, stuntman, fight choreographer, and martial arts master. He was born on May 9, 1963, in Woking, a small town outside of London.

Early Life and Sporting Success

As a highly athletic child, Daniels played football for his school and amassed an impressive collection of trophies from weekend games. He even earned the nickname "Dangerous Daniels" for his skills on the field.

Inspired by Bruce Lee

At the age of eight, Gary Daniels saw his life forever changed when he witnessed the greatest martial arts movie star and master, Bruce Lee, on the big screen. He believed that Lee embodied the true superhero in real life and knew from that moment that he would dedicate his life to martial arts.

Training and Success in Martial Arts

The following week, Daniels enrolled in a local martial arts school that taught a form of street fighting under the guidance of Laes Jacob, who referred to it as "Mongolian Kung Fu." Although it was far from the elegance displayed by Bruce Lee, Daniels trained there for three years before transitioning to the more dynamic art of Taekwondo. By the age of fifteen, he was already assisting instructors and obtained his black belt the following year, becoming an assistant instructor in three schools in London. Daniels went on to win several ITF (International Taekwondo Federation) tournaments and eventually entered the world of full-contact kickboxing under the guidance of Mickey Birn, a former British army physical education instructor. After numerous victories, including the title of middleweight world champion, Daniels realized he was close to his goal of acting in movies.

Pursuing an Acting Career

Shortly after his twentieth birthday, Daniels bought a ticket to Florida, USA, where he continued his training by studying acting and taking on small roles in TV shows like "Miami Vice." However, he received an offer to star in a leading role in the Philippines, which presented an even greater opportunity to fulfill his dream. Daniels moved to the Philippines and spent two years acting in several films alongside local stars, gaining invaluable experience and confidence for his eventual return to Hollywood.

Achievements and Personal Life

Upon returning to the States, Daniels briefly returned to the world of kickboxing and won the California state heavyweight title according to the WKBA (World Kickboxing Association). In his personal life, Daniels is happily married to Merisin, and they have five children together: Shane, Kenshiro (the youngest), Samjai, Koji, and Mailee. Gary resides in Orange County, California, where he cherishes his role as a father during breaks between filming. His teachers include Mickey Birn, who currently resides in New Zealand, and Winston Omega, who lives in Malaysia.