John Liu was born on May 20, 1944 in Taiwan. He is an actor and director, known for The Invincible Armour (1977), Made in China (1981) and Zen Kwan Do Strikes Paris ohn Liu is best known for his flexibility and kicking. His trademark moves includes his devastating axe kick, leg holding, and his flying sidekick. Liu's good looks, charismatic persona, and incredible flexibility helped propel him to fame.(1981).Student of Tao-liang Tan. John Liu is the creator of the martial art known as Zen Kwan Do. He founded the first Zen Kwan Do school in Paris. Tan Tao Liang thought John Liu's flexibility was so poor, he made him do the splits by resting each foot on two piles of bricks. According to Tan Tao Liang, it took John Liu two years of excruciating stretching to achieve the splits. In 1967, Liu became an IKU karate champion. John Liu Chung-Liang ranks alongside Hwang Jang Lee, Tan Tao Liang and Casanova Wong, as one of the "super kickers" of 1970's kung fu films. John Liu's mother introduced him to Tan Tao Liang. In 1976, Liu took part in an exhibition bout against karate legend Chuck Norris. The bout was decided by who got the loudest cheers for the best fighter from the audience. In 1973, Bruce Lee offered Liu a role in the movie named The Game of Death as a villain, but John Liu respectfully refused. Liu came up with the name of his art "Zen Kwan Do" from kung fu Master Liu Zen and taekwondo. Liu lived for a few years in Japan and Hong Kong. He practiced and perfected his skills before going back to Taiwan.