Karim Belgacem - Hello Master Rhee, can you tell us a little about how you started in the Martial Arts and the different styles you have studied?

Master Rhee - My Father is a seventh degree Master so when my brother and I were just four and seven he started us in the martial arts. Firstly we studied Tae Kwon Do and the Hapkido. My brother then went on to study Wing Chun and I Mauy Thai. I have also studied a range of other arts including Boxing and Escrima.

Karim Belgacem - I think 'Best of the Best' is the best Martial Arts film of all time. The realism that you achieved in the film, I feel, means that it touches every true martial artist that watches it. Can you give us your thoughts on the film and perhaps tell us a little about the time spent with our AIMAA President Grandmaster Cho who also starred in the Film?

Master Rhee - The inspiration behind Best of the Best came when I represented the USA at the 1980 Olympic/ Asian Games. I fought their National Champion and we had an amazing fight. We gave it everything we had, we fought like Hell. At the end of the fight he came up to me and said it was the best fight he had ever had. We both started to tear up and at that point I realised it was not about the medals, trophies or the politics. It was about the nobility and spirit of the martial arts.

It was that spirit that I wanted to capture. To show that the Martial Arts is about more than the action, it is about being noble and being true warriors.

Karim Belgacem - Your brother Simon, another tremendous martial artist, also starred with you in 'Best of the Best'. The final fight scene of the film must be one of the best of all time. You must be very proud of it, especially since you where on screen with your brother?

Master Rhee - My Brother is the best! I am truely blessed to have such a person as my brother. He is very good at what he does. He has won awards for his work including Rush Hour 2 and more recently for his work in the Clint Eastwood film Letters to Iwo Jima.

There is an excellent old video of him on YouTube performing a pattern where he sues a mixture of his Traditional Tae Kwon Do along with his Wing Chun. It is fantastic. In Best of the Best 1 his character Dae Han does a spinning heel kick to my character Tommy Lee. He makes Tommy Lees face turn 180 but instead of hitting me with his heel and breaking my jaw he was able to hit me full force but with the flat of his foot. Now that is control!

Karim Belgacem - You told me previously that you plan to visit Hawaii at the end of the year to visit with Grandmaster Cho. He has had an immeasurable influence on the World of Martial Arts. What are your thoughts on Grandmaster Cho?

Master Rhee - Grandmaster Cho once said we must not only be champions in the ring but also champions in life. That is certainly how he leads his life. We made several films together including Kentucky Fried Movie and Best of the Best. Grandmaster Cho is just great. A very decent human being with great dignity and goodwill. He is strong and courageous.

Karim Belgacem - Can you tell us about other film projects that you have been working on? Or any future plans you have within the martial arts community?

Master Rhee - There is one very special film that I would like to do. It is very similair to the first Best of the Best. In these times of trouble I want to give hope to people and tell them that as long as we have faith we can turn all the negative things in our life into positive things.

Karim Belgacem - Thank you Master Rhee.

Master Rhee - Karim, I wish you every success.