NAPMA is pleased and proud to announce that NAPMA President Rob Colasanti has completed an exclusive interview with Jackie Chan for the cover story of the August 2007 issue of Martial Arts Professional Magazine (MAPro). The story will be titled Superstar Jackie Chan and the Art of Giving Back.

Jackie Chan’s publicity team was able to schedule a thorough interview during the final filming of his latest movie, Rush Hour III, co-starring Chris Tucker, scheduled for a summer 2007 release.

“When Mr. Chan’s schedule permitted, I flew to Los Angeles quickly. Five-time world champion Kathy Long accompanied me to a remote mountain location east of LA, where Mr. Chan was shooting the final scene for Rush Hour III,” said Colasanti. “It was a rare and wonderful opportunity to experience the complex production and excitement of a major Hollywood film and to meet and interview Jackie Chan on the set.”

According to Colasanti, the Jackie Chan interview will benefit all readers of Martial Arts Professional Magazine. The interview will resonate with NAPMA members and all who read it because Mr. Chan is the ultimate example of the “giving back” philosophy. Although Mr. Chan is reportedly a billionaire and a huge international movie star, he spends more and more of his time working on projects for his foundation and other charitable efforts. Last year alone, he built 17 academic schools for the poor.

Other topics discussed during the interview included leadership, goal-setting, the benefits of martial arts for today’s youth, developing a work ethic and the true meaning of happiness.

“It was touching to listen to Mr. Chan describe his personal crusade against waste,” commented Colasanti. “He makes a point of having all the partially-filled bottles of water left on movie sets by film crews to be gathered, and then the water is poured on the nearest trees. He won't even waste a piece of rice if it falls off his plate during dinner because he understands the poverty that exists in the world.”

This is just one revealing peek into the character of one of the world’s most famous film actors, filmmakers and philanthropists. The entire interview reveals much more and will make the August 2007 MAPro a collector’s issue.

The week after the interview, Mr. Chan was preparing to start production of his next film, which will be a $70-million martial arts epic with Jet Li, scheduled to be shot in New York and the Gobi Desert in Mongolia.