Kung fu master Yao Li's celebrity students

Director and playwright David Mamet posed before the release of his film, "Redbelt."

"He was intense," Li recalls. "There's no holding back - he slugs."

Globe story Who is Yao Li, Kung Fu master to the stars?
Director and playwright David Mamet posed before the release of his film, 'Redbelt.' 'He was intense,' Li recalls. 'There's no holding back - he slugs.'
Eric Grigorian for The Boston Globe