Man jailed after Bruce Lee-style nunchuck display leads to weapons charges in Singapore

SINGAPORE: A man who was filmed performing with nunchucks while dressed as Bruce Lee on a Singapore street has been sentenced to six months and two weeks’ imprisonment and fined S$2,000.

The case followed the discovery of prohibited weapons in his possession, according to court documents.

The incident came to public attention after a video circulated on Instagram on 8 October 2025.

The clip was posted by the account @sgfollowsall and quickly gained traction online.

The footage showed a man wearing a bright yellow tracksuit with black stripes in Geylang.

The outfit resembled the costume worn by the late martial artist Bruce Lee in the 1978 film Game of Death.

In the video, the man was seen balancing on two metal bollards while wielding a pair of nunchucks. A bystander could be heard calling him “Singapore’s Bruce Lee” in Mandarin, as several onlookers laughed.

The man later stepped down from the bollards and walked away. Members of the small crowd were heard cheering and clapping as he left the scene.

Following the circulation of the video, the Singapore Police Force began patrolling the Geylang area to locate the individual. Officers were deployed after the clip raised concerns about public safety.

Police located the man four days later, on 12 October, at Geylang Lorong 18. He was identified as Li Hongwei, 59, court documents showed.

During the arrest, officers found Li in possession of several items classified as prohibited weapons under Singapore law. These included a pair of nunchucks, a five-speared kunai, and a pair of knuckledusters.

The kunai is a type of Japanese blade historically associated with martial arts and combat training. Knuckledusters, also known as brass knuckles, are designed to enhance the force of a punch and are banned in Singapore.

Li was arrested on the same day and subsequently released on bail on 14 October, pending further investigations and court proceedings.

In court, Li was described as a Chinese national. He told the court that he was working as a stage manager at the time of the incident.

Li also claimed that he had previously worked as a martial arts instructor in China. He said the weapons found in his possession were linked to his interest in martial arts performance and training.

On 31 January, Li appeared in court facing two charges under the Firearms, Explosives and Weapons Control Act. He also faced one charge for possessing an offensive weapon.

Li pleaded guilty to one of the charges. In mitigation, he told the court that he was unfamiliar with Singapore’s weapons laws.

According to Shin Min Daily News, Li said that the items seized by police were used for teaching and performing martial arts. He maintained that he had no intention of causing harm.

The prosecution argued that nunchucks are explicitly classified as a weapon under Singapore law. It said Li did not hold a valid licence to possess them at the time of the incident.

While acknowledging that the nunchucks were not linked to any criminal activity, the prosecution stressed that possession alone constituted an offence without proper authorisation.

Deputy Public Prosecutors also highlighted the presence of the five-speared kunai and knuckledusters. They said both items could be used to inflict injury or instil fear in others.

The court was told that these weapons posed a potential risk to public safety, even if there was no evidence they had been used in an attack.

In sentencing, the court took into account Li’s guilty plea. However, it noted the seriousness of carrying multiple prohibited weapons in a public setting.

Li was sentenced to six months and two weeks’ imprisonment and fined S$2,000, according to court records cited by Shin Min Daily News.

Under Singapore law, offences under the Firearms, Explosives and Weapons Control Act carry a maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to S$40,000.

Possession of an offensive weapon can result in a jail term of up to two years and/or a fine.