Bruce Lee's iconic hero, Chen Zhen, in Fist of Fury may have captivated audiences with his martial arts skills and intense performance, but he is not based on a real martial artist. Chen Zhen was a fictional character created by Hong Kong writer Ni Kuang. However, his master, Huo Yuanjia, was a real historical figure.

In Fist of Fury, Chen Zhen's story unfolds when his master, Huo Yuanjia, dies under suspicious circumstances. Chen later discovers that Huo Yuanjia was poisoned by members of a rival Japanese martial arts dojo. This sets Chen on a path of seeking justice and vengeance for his late master.

While most aspects of Fist of Fury's narrative are heavily fictionalized, the events leading up to Huo Yuanjia's death have some semblance of reality.

The real Huo Yuanjia was born in Tianjin and grew up in a family of wushu practitioners. Due to his asthma and susceptibility to illnesses, he was initially restricted from practicing Chinese martial arts. However, he secretly practiced at night and eventually proved his skills to his father. Huo Yuanjia went on to become a renowned martial artist, defeating Western fighters in combat.

In 1910, Huo Yuanjia died at the age of 42. While the cause of his death was disputed, some believed he was poisoned by the Japanese.

When his body was later excavated, black spots were found on his pelvic bones, indicating the presence of arsenic. However, this does not confirm intentional poisoning, as arsenic has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Although Fist of Fury draws inspiration from Huo Yuanjia's story, it does not accurately depict real historical events. It is worth noting that Chen Zhen's character is believed to be inspired by Liu Zhensheng, one of Huo Yuanjia's loyal disciples who rose to become his best fighter.

Aside from Fist of Fury, Huo Yuanjia has been portrayed in other martial arts movies as well.

Wong Yuen-sun played him in The Legendary Fok, and Bryan Leung portrayed him in Legend of a Fighter, both adapting his underdog story. There are also two biopics loosely based on Huo Yuanjia's life: Huo Yuanjia (2001) and Huo Yuanjia (2008). Jet Li took on the role of Huo Yuanjia in Fearless, released years after Fist of Fury.

In conclusion, while Bruce Lee's character Chen Zhen in Fist of Fury is fictional, he is inspired by the real master Huo Yuanjia. The movie's storyline is largely fictionalized, though it borrows some elements from Huo Yuanjia's life. The portrayal of Huo Yuanjia has extended beyond Fist of Fury, appearing in various martial arts films throughout the years.