HONG KONG : Hong Kong actor Tony Leung broke his left arm during a training session for the upcoming martial arts movie “The Grand Master” on Monday, media reported.

Leung has been intensely preparing for his role as the late martial arts legend Ip Man, who the movie is based on. The popular actor who began learning Wing Chun, a martial art form, from Ip Man’s son, Ip Chun, seven years ago for the movie, has also been bulking up at the gym and practicing with various martial arts teachers.

During a training session on Monday, Leung surprised a Wing Chun master with his full-forced attack, which caused the master to react in self-defence, kicking the actor in the left arm.

Leung reportedly fell to the floor, clutching his left arm, and was rushed to the hospital.

While X-rays showed a broken bone in the actor’s arm, Leung refused to heed the doctor’s advice to have his arm put in a cast, for fear that it would result in muscular atrophy which would cause the 47-year-old’s efforts to build muscles to come to naught.

Leung has since been advised by his doctor to minimise any arm movement, lay off martial arts training, and even jogging, for the time being.

Leung, who has not broken the news to wife, fellow actress Carina Lau, who was filming overseas at the time, said he was mentally prepared to sustain injuries signing up for the martial arts film. In fact, he expects the actual filming process to be much more rigorous.

Directed by famed Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai, “The Great Master” has met with many obstacles even before filming has begun. This includes having to compete with another version of the story directed by Raymond Wong and starring Donnie Yen, which was extremely well received at box offices and in the awards department last year.

- CNA/os