martial arts film The protagonists are generally well equipped when it comes to combat, but it can be a lot of fun to watch them learn to fight for the first time over the course of a story. Most of the time, the characters of martial arts movie legends like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan begin their stories already versed in kung fu or other fighting styles. But some films take the opposite approach, taking the time to describe how their heroes learned to defend themselves before facing off against some impressive foe.
The training montage is a commonly used classic trope for the genre, which sometimes turns the concept into entire stories. It can be quite compelling to watch a certain protagonist go from completely useless in a fight to a martial arts expert, inspiring legions of viewers to do the same. Some of the best martial arts films ever made end up being very focused on the learning journey, with their heroes not being impressively skilled until the final act.
10
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin
1978
Many of the iconic 70s films produced by the Shaw brothers had a strong focus on training, with The 36th Chamber of Shaolin being easily the most recognizable. A period piece, the film centers on a young man, Liu Yude, drawn into an activist movement that takes action against the tyrannical Manchu government in China, thanks to the teachings of his mentor. When a brutal general violently suppresses his community’s latest rebellion, Liu Yude vows revenge, deciding to study kung fu at an infamous Shaolin temple.
The titular 36 chambers refer to a grueling array of physical challenges that Liu and other prospective students must face throughout their training. In fact, almost the entire film is an extended training sequence that emphasizes various principles of Shaolin kung fu. In the end, Liu becomes a master and creates the titular 36th chamber, a section of the temple dedicated to teaching commoners how to defend themselves from oppression.
9
Drunk Master
1978
Considering how synonymous Jackie Chan’s name is with the martial arts genre and kung fu as a whole, it’s hard to imagine him playing a character he isn’t already proficient in. That said, one of his best films features him as a total martial arts novice, slowly turning him into the titular one. Drunk Master. Not to be confused with Drunk Master II, which was confusingly billed with the same title as the first film in the United States, Drunk Master begins Chan’s Wong Fei-hung is a mischievous troublemaker, prone to getting into fights that he can’t finish.
Assigned to the infamously cruel trainer Beggar So by his frustrated father, Wong soon finds a martial arts style that perfectly suits his complicated drunken boxing personality. Soon, Wong finds himself facing a tremendously powerful opponent named Thunderfoot, known for his thunderous kicks. Watching Jackie Chan go through the humiliating Beggar So training only to give his later opponents a run for their money with technical martial arts is a rare treat in his filmography.
8
The Karate Kid
1984
Featuring one of the most famous training montages of all time, The Karate Kid is the definitive American film revolving around martial arts training. Daniel LaRusso is a meek high school student who always receives a beating from a depraved gang of bullies who operate under the Cobra Kai karate dojo, an infamous school known for its brutal practitioners. To get revenge, Daniel enlists the help of esteemed karate master Mr. Miyagi, who trains him in a local program to compete against Cobra Kai in a prestigious tournament.
To the sound of Joe “Bean” Esposito You are the bestmontage of Daniel’s training in The Karate Kid is a cinematic legend, having been parodied and honored countless times in other media. The final scene of him practicing the iconic crane kick against the sunset is reflected in his incredible victory against opponents who should have been outclassing him. An iconic underdog story, no wonder The Karate Kid it spawned so many sequels and spin-offs.
7
The Forbidden Kingdom
2008
A classic fish-out-of-water story that combines American sensibilities with powerful Chinese martial arts, The Forbidden Kingdom has the rare honor of being the first time that Jackie Chan and Jet Li have shared the screen. The film features the two as Old Hop and Silent Monk, respectively, two rivals who are forced to work together to prevent the evil Jade Emperor from obtaining the Monkey King’s powerful staff. Included in the mix is ​​hip Boston teen Jason, who is a fan of martial arts films but has no skills of his own.
In fact, Jason is still a rookie when he reaches the end credits, supporting Old Hop and Silent Monk with underwhelming non-combat support. However, when he returns to his original time and place, the skills of his two mentors have clearly begun to rub off on him, allowing him to effortlessly deal with the bullies that previously tormented him. Jason’s journey as a protégé is admittedly the least interesting thing about THE Forbidden Kingdombut it’s still a pretty moving arc.
6
Kung Fu Panda
2008
It may seem silly to mix a children’s cartoon with pulpy martial arts films, but Kung Fu Panda proves to be a worthy entry into the genre with incredibly lively fight choreography and a cast of martial arts movie regulars. Jack Black stars as Po, a dorky, clumsy panda who is chosen to be China’s next prophesied “Dragon Warrior”, apparently by mistake. Indebted to ancient tradition, Po is reluctantly trained in the art of kung fu by Master Shifu and the Furious Five, an elite fighting force made up of various animal warriors.
Watching Po slowly win over his compatriots, from the most adorable to the coldest, is quite an endearing journey, with the clumsy panda clearly giving his all to his training. There’s a lot of fun to be had in the creative ways that Shifu uses food to motivate Po’s training, with chopstick battles for dumplings being almost as exciting as the fight scenes themselves. Po’s final battle against the fierce Tai Lung is also one of the best fights in the game. Kung Fu Panda series, a victory made all the sweeter by his long training efforts in the first inning.
5
Iron Circle
1978
A story written by Bruce Lee originally intended to star the iconic martial arts film legend before his tragic death in 1973, Iron Circle is a fascinating glimpse into Lee’s training philosophy. The martial arts fantasy adventure centers around Cord, a fierce but unrefined barbarian who wins fights with dirty tricks. Seeking the wisdom of a famous wizard, Cord meets all sorts of martial artists and philosophers, all of whom impart their own lessons on his strange journey.
Iron Circle is interesting as far as training-centric martial arts films go, due to the lack of a single adherent master for the hapless Cord to follow. It’s very satisfying to watch him increasingly refine his worldview and fighting style with each bizarre encounter, leading to his eventual discovery of the wizard’s knowledge. Interestingly, the final revelation of Iron Circle actually reflects the Kung Fu Panda up close, suggesting that a Dreamworks animated film may have been closer to the real spirit of Bruce Lee than many other films.
4
The Matrix
1999
For all its shootouts, computer hacking, and harrowing spaceship chases with angry robotic squids, The Matrix is fundamentally a martial arts film at its action core. In a story that has since been immortalized in Hollywood thanks to a multitude of subsequent events Headquarters films of extremely variable quality, Keanu Reeves’ Neo is a talented computer hacker who soon discovers that the world as he knows it is not what it seems. Freeing himself from the Matrix simulation, Neo joins humanity’s fight against the artificial intelligence that enslaves it.
It is certain that Neo’s true martial arts training in The Matrix is comically brief, with a lifetime’s worth of kung fu knowledge suddenly stuck in your brain with all the effort of downloading a new file. That said, Neo has a lot to learn about the real world and how to interact with the Matrix through his new abilities, putting them to the test against insidious programs like Agent Smith. Essentially a perfect hero’s journey, The Matrix deserves more credit as a martial arts film and training sequence.
3
Kill Bill: Volume 2
2004
Considering that Beatrix Kiddo is already a deadly assassin at the beginning of Kill Bill: Volume 1it shouldn’t make much sense for the second part to suddenly become a training-oriented film. However, thanks to some key flashbacks, the Bride’s journey from a normal, unassuming woman to one of the most dangerous killers on the planet can be chronicled in Kill Bill: Vol 2. Here, his brutal tutelage under notorious kung fu master Pai Mei takes up most of the running time.
Pai Mei is a returning character from Shaw Brothers classics such as Shaolin executioners and White Lotus Clanand it’s exciting to see him undergo the training of a modern action star, and a fighter at that. The techniques Beatrix learns from Pai Mei end up being invaluable in the current story, using them to free herself from a coffin and finally fulfill the promise of the duology’s title. Under Pai Mei’s watchful eye, the Bride’s hands transform into powerful weapons in their own right.
2
Blood sport
1988
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Training Element Blood sport it may be brief, but it is certainly an integral aspect of the story. Blood sport begins with Frank Dux de Van Damme’s training in the art of ninjutsu under the guidance of his sensei, Senzo Tanaka. While he may not have exactly been a slouch in the combat department previously, being a decorated captain in the US Army, Dux soon hones his combat skills to a knife’s edge to participate in Kumite, an illegal deathmatch tournament held in Hong Kong.
The death of Tanka’s son further endears Frank Dux to his master’s clan by involving him in Kumite in the first place. Even though much of the training takes place off-screen, seeing Van Damme’s character insinuate himself into the world of unarmed underground combat is a feast for the eyes. His final progression, from practice to facing a fearsome opponent, Bolo Yeung’s Chong Li, with a brilliant flying kick, one of Van Damme’s signature moves, is a powerful arc.
1
New Fist of Fury
1976
New Fist of Fury It was Jackie Chan’s first leading role to have a wide theatrical release, marking a major moment in the martial arts film icon’s career. Fittingly, this is also one of the few pictures that gives you a character to pilot who needs to learn the ropes of kung fu before jumping in feet first. Here, Chan plays a young thief who teams up with his sister to protect his grandfather’s traditional kung fu dojo from the threat of a Japanese karate master.
Jackie Chan’s gritty debut protagonist is a great exercise in heroic martial arts storytelling, portraying the ability of kung fu systems to lift a population from under the heel of its oppressors. Even though it is necessary to take strong liberties with the degree of natural talent that Jackie Chan’s character possesses, it is incredibly satisfying to see him face off against an imperialist occupying force. Summarizing the power of martial arts in a busy environment, New Fist of Fury deserves more credit as a fantastic kung fu training film.