Jet Li began his intensive wushu training at the age of eight. His exceptional talent emerged at a mere nine years old, when he received a national award for excellence. At eleven, he became a member of the newly founded Beijing Wushu Team, and in the same year, won his first official national title at the All-China Youth Championships. 

Because of his outstanding achievements, Jet Li was permitted to compete the following year in the adult (18-and-over) category at the All-China National Championships, where he was the all-round champion from 1975 to 1979. Over the course of his competitive career, he won more than 50 gold medals in single or all-round national events, before retiring from competition to pursue film.

In 2007, Jet Li was appointed “Image Ambassador of Wushu” by the International Wushu Federation and the Chinese Wushu Association during the 9th World Wushu Championships. Throughout his ambassadorship from 2007 to 2025, he participated in many key events to promote the development and global recognition of wushu. In recognition of his long-standing contributions, he was later awarded the honorary title “Lifetime Volunteer No. 001.”