Shiai Magazine: Welcome Brother Leo UCHE to Shiai Magazine, tell us what pushed you to practices martial arts and your life in general?

LEO UCHE: it’s a way of life to me and it gives me joy.  I was five time National Nigeria Kung fu champion.  I’m now action filmmaker, fight choreographer and actor who has played in following movies such as Tribe, Unges War, Dangerous Men, Zunguru Mantles and even appeared in TV series. My friends calls me the Jet Lee of Africa

LEO UCHE: Yes I’m aware of the existence of African fighting systems but I’m more acquainted to practices of Kung fu

Shiai Magazine: What was your role in the upcoming African action martial arts movie Tribe?

LEO UCHE: yes I participated in the film Tribe as a sword instructor and stunt fight choreographer. And also I was an actor in the movie tribe.

Shiai Magazine: Many Africans have the impression that nothing good come from Africa and that all world martial art champions are not Africans, what do have to say about that?

LEO UCHE: Not true

Shiai Magazine: What is particularity and difference of Kung fu and African fighting systems?

LEO UCHE: the culture and believe makes us both different

Shiai Magazine: What is the difference between sport, self defense and real fight situation in the martial arts?

LEO UCHE: in sport we have rules and a real fight has no rules.

Shiai Magazine: What is work of stunt film director and fight choreographer? Is it easy to make action films in Africa?

LEO UCHE: a fight choreographer infuse the beauty and sweetness of the fight in an action film, and with the right people it easy to make a film in Africa

Shiai Magazine: Tell us more about Dangerous men which came out recently and also the upcoming African action epic film Tribe? What do you think of the film directors of those movies?

LEO UCHE: well directors are creative individuals that has different ways of depicting a picture (film) or story


Shiai Magazine: Now in Africa many upcoming action movies are seeing the light such as Countdown (Mali), lost Brother (Cameroon) and many other nations. Do you think world is ready to watch new African action heroes in the cinema?

LEO UCHE: Yes as a matter of fact dangerous men (Nigerian action martial arts movie) is making great impact in Africa already

LEO UCHE: Well I will say its great and above all wonderful that the Africans martial art is now be recognized 

Shiai Magazine: Living in the big city Lagos of Nigeria, what do you have to say to those poor kids who lack means to succeed but who want to follow your footsteps in life?

LEO UCHE: I will like to say to them all that they should never give up, they should always believe in their self and in God almighty

LEO UCHE: Yea sure pretty soon

Shiai Magazine: Any upcoming projects?

LEO UCHE: yea still working on that

LEO UCHE: Yea sure it’s a good concept

Shiai Magazine: Any last words?

LEO UCHE: Africa is a blessed continent and I believe that we are great in all things. I like to say to those of us in martial arts world that we have great future ahead of us and no matter what happens, let us all keep our head-up and believe in God almighty to take us there.