Jet Benny (6 photos)

Benny Urquidez is a famous American kickboxing champion, film stunt choreographer, and film actor, nicknamed "The Jet." At the beginning of his career, he competed in non-contact karate fights, then became a pioneer in contact martial arts in the United States. Between 1974 and 1993, he had 53 fights. In 1978, Black Belt magazine awarded Urquidez the title of "Fighter of the Year."
















Benny Urquidez was born on June 10, 1952, in Tarzana, California, to a family where sports were not just a hobby, but a family tradition. His mother was a famous wrestler, and his father was a boxer, which predetermined Benny's sports career from childhood.

Benny began entering the ring at the age of five, and by the age of eight, his training had reached a professional level under the guidance of Bill Ryuisaki. The energy and efforts of the coach helped the young Urquidez reach significant heights: at the age of 14, he received a black belt, which was quite unusual for the 1960s. By 1964, Benny had already established himself as a professional athlete, starting to participate in significant sports competitions.

SPORTS CAREER.

In 1973, Benny Urquidez first appeared in the ring as a participant in non-contact fights. The following year brought him the opportunity to represent the American team at international competitions in Great Britain and Belgium, where he won the title of world champion in martial arts.

In 1977, Benny went to Japan, where he defeated Katsuyuki Suzuki at one of the tournaments and famously knocked out the famous fighter Kunimatsu Okau, which significantly strengthened his reputation in the world of martial arts. In the 1980s, Urquidez appeared in the ring less often, but each of his appearances ended in victory.

Continuing his fighting career for two decades, Urquidez specialized in several styles of kickboxing and became the owner of many championship titles. For 20 years, he consistently held the title of champion, setting a record for the number of victories.

After completing his active sports career, Benny switched to coaching. His last fight was in 1993, when he was 42 years old. At the time of his retirement, he was a six-time world champion and a holder of nine black belts in various martial arts. Urquidez is also the author of several books on sports and the creator of educational films. Having opened his own sports club in Hollywood, he became a sought-after trainer among many celebrities.

IN CINEMA.

In 1993, Benny Urquidez expanded his professional activities by becoming an on-set mentor, where he trained actors and supervised stunts for fight scenes. His cinematic experience began with his participation in the film "The Power of Five", which was released in 1981. This was followed by work in such famous films as "The Dragon Forever" and "Wheels on Meals" with Jackie Chan.

Over the years of his career in cinema, Urquidez has appeared in dozens of films where martial arts played a key role. In interviews, he often noted that he especially enjoyed fighting scenes with such masters as Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao.

In the film "Road House", Benny was involved in preparing Patrick Swayze for fight scenes. James Woods took part in the 1992 film "Fight in Diggstown", using techniques learned from Urquidez. Another well-known project, "Street Fighter", released in 1994, demonstrated fighting techniques mastered by actor Jean-Claude Van Damme under the guidance of Urquidez.

In 1997, Benny played the role of a killer in the film "Grosse Pointe Murder". Ten years later, in 2007, he worked with John Cusack on the film "1408", and their collaboration was not limited to cinema - Cusack also studied with Urquidez outside the film set.

PERSONAL LIFE.

Benny Urquidez is happy in his personal life. He is married to Sara, and the couple has a daughter, Monique. The athlete's family shares his passion for wrestling, which strengthens their mutual understanding and common interests.

Benny often emphasizes in interviews that his family is his fortress, and in his heart there is only room for the three most important women in his life: his mother, wife and daughter. The athlete admits that being a faithful husband and an exemplary father is as important to him as his professional achievements in sports.

Urquidez devotes a lot of time to family activities, despite his busy training schedule. The athlete's height is 168 cm, weight is 72 kg, and he is in excellent physical shape, which allows him to remain at the peak of both his personal and professional life.

Currently.

The famous American fighter continues to be a role model for many athletes. He still actively trains and is in demand as a specialist in the field of tricks and martial arts.

Benny does not maintain personal accounts on social networks. However, his fans create fan communities where they post photos and videos from his fights, maintaining interest in his career and achievements.