LOS ANGELES: Jackie Chan has heaped praise on Jaden Smith’s martial

arts skills, insisting the youngster is better at kung fu than his own son.

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s 11-year-old son has been taking lessons from the action man’s stunt co-ordinator for his role in Kung Fu Kid, the forthcoming remake of the 1984 hit The Karate Kid. And Chan has been left wowed by Jaden’s dedication, after he studied Mandarin to speak with his teachers and learned the Chinese phrases for various kung fu moves.

Chan writes on his official web page, “When he was thirsty, he gave the traditional hand gesture, putting one fist into the palm of the other, bowed and asked permission to drink some water.”

And the Hong Kong star was amazed after Smith took it upon himself to learn the routine Chan showed off in his 1978 film Drunken Master.

Chan adds, “He put my son to shame! I provided my son

with the best martial artists

in the world, and he could

not be persuaded to try it. In just two months, Jaden had learned so much. He is truly a talented boy.”

“Training in martial arts is hard work. It takes years to perfect even one punch or kick. Jaden’s father is a famous celebrity, and Jaden probably knows he could get away without having to work very hard. If I couldn’t get my own son to train in martial arts, how could anybody else succeed?” — Agencies