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133-533: Master Shifu assigns Po to host the annual Winter Feast at the Jade Palace, a highly ritualized formal occasion that all the kung fu masters of China attend, insisting on the perfection of the event. Although excited, Po also wishes to spend the holiday with his father, Mr. Ping , and rejects the finest chefs in China's attempts to have him cater the event. However, Mr. Ping believes Po is more concerned with his duties as

266-467: A Po clone to fight the duo; Zhen decided to stand back while Po fights his clone alone, but he is apparently trapped in a cage, so Po gives Zhen his staff so she can defeat the Chameleon. This time Zhen keeps her loyalty and uses the techniques Po taught her to stun the Chameleon. Po soon reveals he was never trapped and was just testing Zhen's heart, before he delivers the final blow towards the Chameleon with

399-448: A brutal confrontation between the two. After Po is momentarily stunned, he finally sees the Scroll, but does not understand the symbolism of its blank, reflective surface (there is no secret to ultimate power, it all depends in the person who has it), even after Po points it out to him, leading to a final fight against Po, but in spite of his skill and power, he's defeated by Po who is immune to

532-666: A certain type of weapon. Forms are meant to be both practical, usable, and applicable as well as to promote fluid motion, meditation, flexibility, balance, and coordination. Students are encouraged to visualize an attacker while training the form. There are two general types of taolu in Chinese martial arts. Most common are solo forms performed by a single student. There are also sparring forms — choreographed fighting sets performed by two or more people. Sparring forms were designed both to acquaint beginning fighters with basic measures and concepts of combat and to serve as performance pieces for

665-497: A compound term it usually translates as "boxing" or "fighting technique." The name of the Japanese martial art kempō is represented by the same hanzi characters. The genesis of Chinese martial arts has been attributed to the need for self-defense , hunting techniques and military training in ancient China . Hand-to-hand combat and weapons practice were important in training ancient Chinese soldiers . Detailed knowledge about

798-405: A continuous set of movements. Forms were originally intended to preserve the lineage of a particular style branch, and were often taught to advanced students selected for that purpose. Forms contained both literal, representative and exercise-oriented forms of applicable techniques that students could extract, test, and train in through sparring sessions. Today, many consider taolu to be one of

931-459: A decision that angers Shifu and the Furious Five. When Tai Lung escapes from prison, Shifu uses food to motivate Po into mastering kung fu. He battled Tai Lung in combat and defeats him using the legendary Wuxi Finger Hold technique and is declared a master. In Kung Fu Panda 2 , Po learns that he was adopted by Ping as a baby (voiced by Liam Knight) after Lord Shen committed a massacre against

1064-580: A foil to the strict and abrasive Shifu. He dies and ascends to the Spirit Realm in the first film, but appears in The DreamWorks Intro taking Moonboy's Spot on The DreamWorks Logo sitting on The Crescent Moon where Moonboy usually sits before The Title Card for The Film appears again in flashback cameos in the second film. In the third film, while meditating in the Spirit Realm, Oogway is attacked by his former friend, Kai, who steals his chi and escapes

1197-493: A group of Chinese martial artists demonstrated their art to an international audience for the first time. The term kuoshu (or guoshu , 國術 meaning "national art"), rather than the colloquial term gongfu was introduced by the Kuomintang in an effort to more closely associate Chinese martial arts with national pride rather than individual accomplishment. Chinese martial arts experienced rapid international dissemination with

1330-525: A herbal mixture after his presumed death. The Soothsayer knows what Shen did to Po's village, and helps Po stop fighting his memories in order to achieve inner peace and be able to stop Shen. Kung fu Chinese martial arts , commonly referred to with umbrella terms kung fu ( / ˈ k ʌ ŋ ˈ f uː / ; Chinese : 功夫 ; pinyin : gōngfu ; Cantonese Yale : gūng fū ), kuoshu ( 國術 ; guóshù ) or wushu ( 武術 ; wǔshù ), are multiple fighting styles that have developed over

1463-457: A kung fu master. After Tai Lung's defeat, Shifu becomes a more relaxed master to Po and the Five. By the time of the third film, he has retired from active teaching in order to focus on learning how to use chi, and he passes on the instructor mantle to Po. When Kai attacks the Jade Palace, Shifu is turned into a jade soldier and a member of Kai's army, but he is returned to normal when Po destroys Kai in

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1596-406: A measurable form of energy as discussed in traditional Chinese medicine has no basis in the scientific understanding of physics, medicine, biology or human physiology. There are many ideas regarding the control of one's qi energy to such an extent that it can be used for healing oneself or others. Some styles believe in focusing qi into a single point when attacking and aim at specific areas of

1729-531: A national Wushu system that included standard forms, teaching curriculum, and instructor grading was established. Wushu was introduced at both the high school and university level. The suppression of traditional teaching was relaxed during the Era of Reconstruction (1976–1989) , as Communist ideology became more accommodating to alternative viewpoints. In 1979, the State Commission for Physical Culture and Sports created

1862-647: A non-speaking role in Kung Fu Panda 4, in which he is brought back from the Sprit Realm by the Chameleon. After Po defeats the Chameleon. Kai gets his skills back and returns to the Spirit Realm. The Chameleon (voiced by Viola Davis ) is a veiled chameleon and the main antagonist of Kung Fu Panda 4 . She is a sorceress who has the ability to resurrect , then shapeshift into villains from Po's past like Tai Lung, Lord Shen, and General Kai, as well as possessing their kung-fu abilities. The Chameleon first appears in

1995-609: A precursor to modern Chinese wrestling . The earliest references to Chinese martial arts are found in the Spring and Autumn Annals (5th century BC), where a hand-to-hand combat theory, one that integrates notions of "hard" and "soft" techniques, is mentioned. A combat wrestling system called juélì or jiǎolì ( 角力 ) is mentioned in the Classic of Rites . This combat system included techniques such as strikes , throws , joint manipulation , and pressure point attacks. Jiao Di became

2128-424: A prescribed range of combat and technique to drill on. These drills are often semi-compliant, meaning one student does not offer active resistance to a technique, in order to allow its demonstrative, clean execution. In more resisting drills, fewer rules apply, and students practice how to react and respond. 'Sparring' refers to a more advanced format, which simulates a combat situation while including rules that reduce

2261-427: A sense of community and loyalty within martial arts schools and lineages. Chinese martial arts also often incorporate cultural elements such as music, costumes, and rituals, further deepening the connection to Chinese heritage and traditions. Overall, Chinese martial arts encompass not just physical techniques but a comprehensive system that encompasses philosophy, ethics, medical knowledge, and cultural appreciation. It

2394-525: A series of digital comics, and multiple video games. Master Ping Xiao Po (voiced by Jack Black in films, TV specials and The Dragon Knight , by Mick Wingert in TV series, and by Eric Loomis in games) is the main protagonist of the Kung Fu Panda franchise. A kung fu fan and giant panda working at his adoptive father's noodle restaurant, Po is chosen by Grand Master Oogway as the legendary Dragon Warrior,

2527-564: A silent role. He is brought back from the Spirt Realm by the Chameleon. After Po defeats the Chameleon, Shen gets his skills back and returns to the Spirit Realm. The one-eyed Wolf Boss (voiced by Danny McBride in Kung Fu Panda 2 ) is an unnamed wolf who is the leader of Lord Shen's wolf army. He's essentially his second in command. He is ultimately stabbed by Shen with his feather-blades because he refused to fire against his own men with

2660-631: A special task force to reevaluate the teaching and practice of Wushu. In 1986, the Chinese National Research Institute of Wushu was established as the central authority for the research and administration of Wushu activities in the People's Republic of China. Changing government policies and attitudes towards sports, in general, led to the closing of the State Sports Commission (the central sports authority) in 1998. This closure

2793-547: A sport during the Qin dynasty (221–207 BC). The Han History Bibliographies record that, by the Former Han (206 BC – 8 AD), there was a distinction between no-holds-barred weaponless fighting, which it calls shǒubó ( 手搏 ), for which training manuals had already been written, and sportive wrestling, then known as juélì ( 角力 ). Wrestling is also documented in the Shǐ Jì, Records of

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2926-517: A state of deep focus. This kind of concentration helps them to stay present in their movements and techniques , enhancing their responsiveness and physical coordination. Meditation also cultivates the ability for introspection, enabling practitioners to become more keenly aware of their bodily sensations, energy flow, and inner state. Meditation is also closely related to qigong . Through the concentration and adjustments achieved through meditation, martial arts practitioners can better perceive and direct

3059-414: A thick Chinese accent, and the most humorous of the Five. He was the first to recognize Po's determination, and the first to refer to Po by his name. Unlike the other members of the Five, Monkey prefers to use a weapon in combat, and the staff that he uses is associated with the legendary Monkey King Sun Wukong . He is also the second-in-command of the Furious Five. Monkey has an older brother, Wu Kong, who

3192-496: Is a Chinese goose and the owner of the most popular noodle shop in the Valley of Peace. He adopted Po when he found a baby panda in one of the shop's radish crate deliveries. Ping worries about Po, especially in his continued development as a kung fu master, but is the one to tell him that things are special if someone believes them to be. Po and Mr. Ping's relationship becomes strained when Po learns that his biological father, Li Shan,

3325-454: Is a giant panda, and the biological father of Po. He was separated from his son when Lord Shen's wolf army attacked their village, and was presumed dead with the other pandas. At the end of Kung Fu Panda 2 , he is revealed to be alive and hiding in a secret refuge. In the third film, Li and Po reunite, and Li convinces his son to stay with the other pandas. He lies about knowing chi in order to prevent Po from leaving, but when Kai turns most of

3458-459: Is a male Chinese mantis and the smallest of the Five. He is, however, the strongest proportional to his size, and can move at superhuman speeds. When Po's girth was cited as a reason why he could not be a kung fu master, Mantis was the first to declare that size did little to define a warrior, and that it could be used to one's advantage. In the fourth film, he is mentioned to be in a relationship and has avoided being eaten by his partner as part of

3591-632: Is a play on another Cantonese vocabulary containing a similar meaning. Lord Shen (voiced by Gary Oldman , silent role in Kung Fu Panda 4 ) is a leucistic Indian peacock and the main antagonist of Kung Fu Panda 2 . He was originally a prince of Gongmen City who became interested in gunpowder, wondering if it could be used for warfare. His parents, worried by his obsession, visited the Soothsayer, who told them that if he continued too far down this path, he would be stopped by "a warrior of black and white." Shen, eavesdropping on this conversation, deduces that

3724-543: Is a popular genre that emerged in the early 20th century and peaked in popularity during the 1960s to 1980s. Wuxia films were produced from the 1920s. The Kuomintang suppressed wuxia, accusing it of promoting superstition and violent anarchy. Because of this, wuxia came to flourish in British Hong Kong , and the genre of kung fu movie in Hong Kong action cinema became wildly popular, coming to international attention from

3857-594: Is another popular classification method. Kung fu and wushu are loanwords from Cantonese and Mandarin respectively that, in English, are used to refer to Chinese martial arts. However, the Chinese terms kung fu and wushu ( listen (Mandarin) ; Cantonese Yale : móuh seuht ) have distinct meanings. The Chinese equivalent of the term "Chinese martial arts" would be Zhongguo wushu (Chinese: 中國武術 ; pinyin: zhōngguó wǔshù ) ( Mandarin ). In Chinese,

3990-436: Is captured by Tong Fo in the process. Shirong, along with Po and Tigress, helps to free his son, and the two end on good terms. Zeng (voiced by Dan Fogler ) is a swan goose and a messenger of Master Shifu. Ironically, while he is given the mission to double the amount of guards at Chorh-Gom Prison and prevent Tai Lung's escape, Tai Lung uses one of Zeng's fallen feathers to pick the lock on his restraints and escape. Zeng

4123-642: Is considered one of the earliest organized Chinese martial arts. The oldest documented evidence of Shaolin's involvement in combat dates back to a stele from 728 AD, which records two significant events: the defense of the Shaolin Monastery against bandits around 610 AD and their subsequent contribution to the defeat of Wang Shichong at the Battle of Hulao in 621 AD. However, between the 8th and 15th centuries, there are no surviving records that provide concrete proof of Shaolin's involvement in combat activities. Between

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4256-575: Is desperate to die at the hands of the Dragon Warrior to redeem his honor. A comment from Wo Hop that "kung fu can't solve everything" inspires Po to enlist the Furious Five to complete the preparations for the feast while he has the still-suicidal Wo Hop help him in the kitchen. On the night of the Winter Feast, Po realizes that he should be with his father for the holiday, and excuses himself before

4389-460: Is encountered in a number of Chinese martial arts. Qi is variously defined as an inner energy or "life force" that is said to animate living beings; as a term for proper skeletal alignment and efficient use of musculature (sometimes also known as fa jin or jin ); or as a shorthand for concepts that the martial arts student might not yet be ready to understand in full. These meanings are not necessarily mutually exclusive. The existence of qi as

4522-498: Is impossible for a student to progress in the Chinese martial arts. A common saying concerning basic training in Chinese martial arts is as follows: 内外相合，外重手眼身法步，内修心神意氣力。 Which translates as: Train both Internal and External. External training includes the hands, the eyes, the body and stances. Internal training includes the heart, the spirit, the mind, breathing and strength. Stances (steps or 步法) are structural postures employed in Chinese martial arts training. They represent

4655-505: Is seen amongst the ruins, though it is unknown if he was killed. Wo Hop (voiced by Jack McBrayer ) is a rabbit and a renowned chef who auditioned for the honor to cook for the Kung Fu Masters Winter Festival banquet. Po, unfamiliar with the intricate customs of the selection process, inadvertently disgraced Wo Hop while waving to Monkey, and the chef became desperate to redeem himself through his own death. Po contained

4788-401: Is spared in the resulting prison break, but is forced to return to the valley and herald Tai Lung's escape. He has not been seen after that since. His role in the film is a reflection of Oogway's proverb that "one often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it." Commander Vachir (voiced by Michael Clarke Duncan ) is a Javan rhinoceros, the chief of security at Chorh-Gom Prison, and

4921-506: Is still alive, but he comes to realize that having Li Shan in Po's life does not mean less for him, but more for Po. In the fourth film, Mr. Ping is now good friends with Li, and opens a new restaurant with him. When they hear Po has gone to face the Chameleon, the duo travels to help their son out, reaching him just in time after he is thrown off a cliff. Later, Mr. Ping and Li join Han's thief gang distract

5054-537: Is the best way to make the right decision, and his choice inspires others to do the same". The special was released on DVD and Blu-ray November 6, 2012, in North America. In Australia and the UK, it was released under the title, Kung Fu Panda: Po's Winter Wonderland , which was released November 11, 2012, and November 19, 2012, exclusively at Sainsbury's stores. It was re-released on DVD October 1, 2013, along with Shrek

5187-588: Is the self-proclaimed "King of Thieves," and their mother died from the shock and grief of seeing her sons fight. Nevertheless, Monkey was an adolescent trickster, who humiliated the members of his village with pranks. Oogway put an end to Monkey's trickery, using his shell to hide from his attacks, and the tortoise encouraged Monkey to use his skills for good, putting him on the path to kung fu mastery. Master Mantis (voiced by Seth Rogen in films and Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers , and Max Koch in Legends of Awesomeness )

5320-724: Is this holistic approach that distinguishes Chinese martial arts as not just a means of self-defense but as a way of life, promoting personal growth, cultural understanding, and the pursuit of harmony and excellence. The Basics ( 基本功 ) are a vital part of any martial training, as a student cannot progress to the more advanced stages without them. Basics are usually made up of rudimentary techniques, conditioning exercises , including stances . Basic training may involve simple movements that are performed repeatedly; other examples of basic training are stretching, meditation, striking , throwing , or jumping. Without strong and flexible muscles, management of qi or breath, and proper body mechanics, it

5453-483: Is to consider the weapon as an extension of the body. It has the same requirements for footwork and body coordination as the basics. The process of weapon training proceeds with forms, forms with partners and then applications. Most systems have training methods for each of the Eighteen Arms of Wushu ( 十八般兵器 ; shíbābānbīngqì ) in addition to specialized instruments specific to the system. Application refers to

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5586-428: Is viewed as an attempt to partially de-politicize organized sports and move Chinese sport policies towards a more market-driven approach. As a result of these changing sociological factors within China, both traditional styles and modern Wushu approaches are being promoted by the Chinese government. Chinese martial arts are an integral element of 20th-century Chinese popular culture. Wuxia or "martial arts fiction"

5719-611: The Five Animals Southern styles of Chinese martial arts : crane, viper, monkey, mantis, and tiger. While the Five initially dismissed Po as the Dragon Warrior, they grow to respect his courage and tenacity. In the Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness episode "Owl Be Back," it is revealed that a previous incarnation of the Five existed, made up of Shifu, Fenghuang, Master Rooster, Master Snow Leopard, and Master Elephant. Master Tigress (voiced by Angelina Jolie in

5852-557: The Han Shu (history of the Former Han dynasty ) written by Ban Gu . Also, the noted physician, Hua Tuo , composed the "Five Animals Play"—tiger, deer, monkey, bear, and bird, around 208 AD. Taoist philosophy and their approach to health and exercise have influenced the Chinese martial arts to a certain extent. Direct reference to Taoist concepts can be found in such styles as the " Eight Immortals ," which uses fighting techniques attributed to

5985-628: The Ming period 's Yijin Jing or "Muscle Change Classic", a text written in 1624 attributed to Bodhidharma. References of martial arts practice in Shaolin appear in various literary genres of the late Ming: the epitaphs of Shaolin warrior monks, martial-arts manuals, military encyclopedias, historical writings, travelogues, fiction, and poetry. However, these sources do not point out any specific style that originated in Shaolin. These sources, in contrast to those from

6118-412: The bow stance are examples of stances found in many styles of Chinese martial arts. In many Chinese martial arts, meditation is considered to be an important component of basic training. Meditation can be used to develop focus, mental clarity and can act as a basis for qigong training. Through meditation , martial arts practitioners learn to regulate their breath, relax their bodies, and enter

6251-473: The practical use of combative techniques. Chinese martial arts techniques are ideally based on efficiency and effectiveness. Application includes non-compliant drills, such as Pushing Hands in many internal martial arts, and sparring , which occurs within a variety of contact levels and rule sets. When and how applications are taught varies from style to style. Today, many styles begin to teach new students by focusing on exercises in which each student knows

6384-399: The 16th and 17th centuries, at least forty sources exist to provide evidence both that monks of Shaolin practiced martial arts, and that martial practice became an integral element of Shaolin monastic life. The earliest appearance of the frequently cited legend concerning Bodhidharma's supposed foundation of Shaolin kung fu dates to this period. The origin of this legend has been traced to

6517-406: The 1970s. The genre underwent a drastic decline in the late 1990s as the Hong Kong film industry was crushed by economic depression. In the wake of Ang Lee 's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), there has been somewhat of a revival of Chinese-produced wuxia films aimed at an international audience, including Zhang Yimou 's Hero (2002), House of Flying Daggers (2004) and Curse of

6650-549: The Autumn Moon Festival and shattered the Great Master's fangs using venom-proof armor, Viper used her dancing to tie the bandit up in her ribbon. Only then was her father satisfied with his daughter becoming a warrior on her own terms. Master Monkey (voiced by Jackie Chan in the films, and James Sie in Legends of Awesomeness , silent cameo in end-credits of Kung Fu Panda 4 ) is a male golden snub-nosed monkey with

6783-525: The Bao Gu Orphanage, feared by the other children for her temper, and she taught herself control by learning to play dominoes . She was adopted by Shifu, and in Secrets of the Scroll , it is revealed that Shifu disapproved of her aggression and strength, wanting her to emphasize his control and precision. Oogway, on the contrary, encouraged Tigress to grow into her own. Master Viper (voiced by Lucy Liu in

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6916-475: The Chameleon steals Po's wisdom staff, she uses it to open a gate to the spirit realm and calls for Tai Lung. Tai Lung is surprised to hear she bested Po, as while he thinks he is a fool, he would never give away Oogway's staff. Tai Lung successfully battles the Chameleon's henchmen but is surprised attacked by her and gets his Kung fu stolen. He is then locked in a cage while the Chameleon summons other masters. Tai Lung later reunites with Po and scolds him for losing

7049-553: The Chameleon's guards so Zhen can get to Po in time to help him stop the Chameleon. Mr. Ping later returns to the Valley Of Peace with Po, Zhen, and Li. James Hong is the only voice actor to reprise his role as Mr. Ping in the films, television series, and video games. Li Shan (voiced by Fred Tatasciore in Kung Fu Panda 2, Bryan Cranston in Kung Fu Panda 3 and Kung Fu Panda 4 and Christopher Swindle in The Paws of Destiny )

7182-538: The Chameleon. During their trip however, she and Po become close friends, as he becomes the first genuine friend she has, and believes she can change. Eventually Zhen betrays Po by getting the staff and giving it to the Chameleon, but quickly regrets it and is devastated when he is apparently killed. Zhen then discovers that the Chameleon never cared for her, and would get rid of her as soon as she stopped being useful. After seeing her bring back Tai Lung and other deceased masters to get their chi, Zhen finally defects fully from

7315-402: The Chameleon. Li later returns to the Valley Of Peace with Po, Zhen, and Mr. Ping. Shirong (voiced by Malcolm McDowell ) is a red panda and the father of Master Shifu. A con artist by trade, Shirong used his son as a shill before abandoning him at the Jade Palace. In the Legends of Awesomeness episode "Father Crime," Shirong stages a kidnapping in order to reconnect with his son, but Shifu

7448-399: The Chameleon. She attempts to stop Po from fighting her, but when it is clear that he will not stop, she, alongside Mr. Ping and Li Shan, recruits the thief band that raised her so they can distract the guards so she can get to Po in time. Zhen arrives just in time to help an overwhelmed Po. The Chameleon, angered by her betrayal, transforms into a beast with all the kung fu masters' skills, and

7581-406: The Dragon Warrior, and adamantly remains at his restaurant to feed the townsfolk, who have nowhere else to eat for the holiday, while advising Po to do the right thing. Guilt ridden, Po tries to cook the banquet by himself, but is quickly overwhelmed by the various responsibilities that come with it, further complicated by the interference of Wo Hop , a rabbit chef Po had accidentally disgraced, and

7714-400: The Dragon Warrior, and begins training her alongside the Furious Five. Grand Master Oogway (voiced by Randall Duk Kim in the Kung Fu Panda and Kung Fu Panda 3 , silent cameo in Kung Fu Panda 2 , television specials, and Legends of Awesomeness , Greg Baldwin in the video games, and Piotr Michael in The Paws of Destiny ), was an elderly Galápagos Tortoise , the senior headmaster of

7847-585: The Earth upon their arrival and begins stealing the chi of the living kung fu masters, including Master Shifu and all members of the Furious Five expect Tigress, who escapes to warn Po of his coming. When Kai and his "Jombies" reach the Secret Panda Village, Po attempts to use the Wuxi Finger Hold on him, but it does not work on a spirit warrior. Po instead uses the move on himself to bring both of them back to

7980-478: The Five, Crane was the janitor at the Lee Da Kung Fu Academy, where he was looked down upon due to his slender build. However, Mei Ling, the top student, saw the skills that Crane used when cleaning the academy, and convinced him to try out for the school. While his nerve got the better of him at first, Crane soon gained the confidence to pass the obstacle course and gain admission into the academy. Between

8113-705: The Golden Flower (2006), as well as Su Chao-pin and John Woo 's Reign of Assassins (2010). China boasts a rich history of martial arts traditions encompassing numerous styles, totaling in the hundreds. Over the course of the past two millennia , a multitude of distinct styles have been developed, each with its own unique techniques and philosophies. These styles are often categorized into "families" (家; jiā), "schools" (派; pai), or "sects" (門; men). While each style possesses its own characteristics, there are also common themes that thread through different styles. Some styles draw inspiration from animal movements, replicating

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8246-549: The Grand Historian , written by Sima Qian (ca. 100 BC). In the Tang dynasty , descriptions of sword dances were immortalized in poems by Li Bai . In the Song and Yuan dynasties , xiangpu(相扑) contests were sponsored by the imperial courts. The modern concepts of wushu were fully developed by the Ming and Qing dynasties. The ideas associated with Chinese martial arts changed with

8379-704: The Halls , Merry Madagascar and Gift of the Night Fury . List of Kung Fu Panda characters#Master Shifu The following is a list of characters from the DreamWorks animated film media franchise Kung Fu Panda . The franchise includes four films ( Kung Fu Panda , Kung Fu Panda 2 , Kung Fu Panda 3 , and Kung Fu Panda 4 ), a series of shorts and television specials, three television shows ( Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness , Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny and Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight ),

8512-401: The Jade Palace before Shifu, and the creator of kung fu. Highly venerated for his wisdom, knowledge, and experience, Oogway was considered by many to be a sage. He was known as the greatest kung fu master in history, with no other reputation surpassing his. In the first film he is the one to choose Po as the Dragon Warrior, much to everyone's surprise, and his warmth and acceptance of Po serve as

8645-411: The Jade Palace. In Secrets of the Furious Five , she is revealed to be the daughter of Great Master Viper, who relied on his venomous fangs to protect the village where they lived. The Great Master hoped that his daughter would carry on his legacy, and was distraught at her lack of fangs. Viper instead took up ribbon dancing at a young age, and showed a proficiency for it. When a gorilla bandit came to

8778-476: The Masters' Council to a duel, where he defeats Storming Ox and Croc, and kills Thundering Rhino with a cannonball shot. He initially thinks Po a simpleton and not the warrior of prophecy, but comes to fear him as he displays his skills and attempts to kill him with a cannon blast to avoid his prophesized defeat. Po returns, having been nursed back to health by the Soothsayer and having achieved inner peace, and redirects

8911-642: The National Government in 1928 and the Jing Wu Athletic Association (精武體育會) founded by Huo Yuanjia in 1910 are examples of organizations that promoted a systematic approach for training in Chinese martial arts. A series of provincial and national competitions were organized by the Republican government starting in 1932 to promote Chinese martial arts. In 1936, at the 11th Olympic Games in Berlin,

9044-540: The Nerve attack and Po overwhelming him with improvised attacks. Po utilizes the Wuxi Finger Hold on him, obliterating Tai Lung. Tai Lung's defeat marks Po as a Kung fu warrior. In Kung Fu Panda 3 , it's explained that the Finger Hold instantly banishes its victim by sending it to the Spirit Realm forever, indicating that Tai Lung now resides there. Tai Lung returns in Kung Fu Panda 4 , where he returns from his banishment. After

9177-451: The Spirit Realm and halt his rampage. While he temporarily gains the upper hand against Po and almost absorbs him, he is soon overpowered when Po is empowered with the Chi of the inhabitants of the panda village along with Tigress and Mr. Ping to transform into Dragon Warrior chi. Ultimately, Po overloads Kai with chi, defeating him and freeing all the masters whose chi he had stolen. Kai appears in

9310-457: The Spirit Realm. He grabs the Chameleon and takes her with him to the Spirit Realm. Before he departs, Tai Lung finally acknowledges Po as the Dragon Warrior. Tai Lung's name is Cantonese for "Great Dragon" (大龍 daai6 lung4), which was inspired by that of the protagonist from T'ai Fu: Wrath of the Tiger (a game developed by DreamWorks Interactive before the release of the first film), whose name

9443-531: The Spirit Realm. In the fourth film, Shifu tells Po that he will become the spiritual leader of the Valley of Peace. In the ending, he helps Po and the Furious Five train Zhen for the next Dragon Warrior, despite his reservations about her past. Zhen (voiced by Awkwafina ) is a corsac fox and thief in Juniper City. Initially raised by a band of thieves, Zhen was eventually taken in by the Chameleon after she took over

9576-559: The Spirit Realm. Kai spent the next five hundred years collecting the chi of every kung fu master who ended up in the Spirit Realm after dying before challenging Oogway to a duel, successfully overpowering him and absorbing his chi, allowing him to come back to the world of the living. As soon as he escapes he uses the stolen chi to create jade warriors (jombies) and rampage the land, seeking to erase all of Oogway's accomplishments out of resentment for being nearly forgotten by history for his treachery. Kai and his jade warriors begin assaulting

9709-466: The Tang period, refer to Shaolin methods of armed combat. These include a skill for which Shaolin monks became famous: the staff ( gùn , Cantonese gwan ). The Ming general Qi Jiguang included a description of Shaolin kung fu and staff techniques in his book, Jixiao Xinshu , which can translate as New Book Recording Effective Techniques . When this book spread across East Asia, it had a great influence on

9842-457: The [6th century BC] by Sun Tzu ( simplified Chinese : 孙子 ; traditional Chinese : 孫子 ; pinyin : Sūnzǐ ), deals directly with military warfare but contains ideas that are used in the Chinese martial arts. Taoist practitioners have been practicing daoyin (physical exercises similar to qigong that was one of the progenitors to tai chi ) from as early as 500 BC. In 39–92 AD, "Six Chapters of Hand Fighting", were included in

9975-702: The absence of either one would render the practitioner's skills unbalanced or deficient, as yin and yang alone are each only half of a whole. If such differences did once exist, they have since been blurred. Chinese martial arts training consists of the following components: basics, forms, applications and weapons; different styles place varying emphasis on each component. In addition, philosophy, ethics and even medical practice are highly regarded by most Chinese martial arts. A complete training system should also provide insight into Chinese attitudes and culture. Moreover, many Chinese martial arts styles integrate traditional medical practices into their training. This includes

10108-654: The agility and power of creatures such as tigers, snakes, or monkeys. Others derive their inspiration from Chinese philosophies, myths, and legends, incorporating their principles and symbolism into their techniques. Certain styles place significant emphasis on harnessing and manipulating qi , while others prioritize competitive aspects, focusing on sparring and tournaments. Chinese martial arts can be split into various categories to differentiate them: For example, "external" ( 外家拳 ) and " internal " ( 內家拳 ). Chinese martial arts can also be categorized by location, as in "northern" and "southern" as well, referring to what part of China

10241-473: The beginning of the movie disguised as Tai Lung and she scared off workers at a mine. Then, she appears in the Center of Juniper City. Disguised as one of the council, she tells the council, who underestimated her, about herself (The Chameleon). She then reveals her true self and demands tribute from them. When one of the council refused, after she increased the price, she transformed into an elephant and threw him down

10374-459: The cannons in a desperate attempt to slay Po. General Kai , or simply Kai (voiced by J. K. Simmons , silent role in Kung Fu Panda 4 ), is a bull and the main antagonist of Kung Fu Panda 3 . He was originally a friend and brother-in-arms to Grand Master Oogway, and was taught how to use chi by the pandas of the Secret Panda Village. Kai became power-hungry with the knowledge, and learned how to take chi from others, forcing Oogway to send him to

10507-735: The centuries in Greater China . These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as "families" of martial arts. Examples of such traits include Shaolinquan ( 少林拳 ) physical exercises involving All Other Animals ( 五形 ) mimicry or training methods inspired by Old Chinese philosophies , religions and legends. Styles that focus on qi manipulation are called internal ( 内家拳 ; nèijiāquán ), while others that concentrate on improving muscle and cardiovascular fitness are called external ( 外家拳 ; wàijiāquán ). Geographical associations, as in northern ( 北拳 ; běiquán ) and southern ( 南拳 ; nánquán ),

10640-457: The chance of serious injury. Competitive sparring disciplines include Chinese kickboxing Sǎnshǒu ( 散手 ) and Chinese folk wrestling Shuāijiāo ( 摔跤 ), which were traditionally contested on a raised platform arena, or Lèitái ( 擂台 ). Lèitái were used in public challenge matches first appeared in the Song dynasty . The objective for those contests was to knock the opponent from a raised platform by any means necessary. San Shou represents

10773-466: The characteristics of each immortal. In 495 AD, the first Shaolin temple was constructed on Song Mountain in Henan province. The initial Buddhist monk who propagated Buddhism there was an Indian monk named Buddhabhadra, known as Batuo in Chinese. Historical records suggest that Batuo's first Chinese disciples, Huiguang and Sengchou, possessed exceptional martial skills. For instance, Sengchou's proficiency with

10906-524: The city, as she saw the potential in her. The next years Zhen stole things for her master, which made her the enemy of most people in the city. One day she is sent to the Jade Palace to attempt to steal the Staff of Wisdom, but is trapped by Po. As she is locked up, she overhears of Tai Lung's apparent return and tells Po that the attacker is not his old nemesis, but the Chameleon. After negotiating with Po, he agrees to take her with him to Juniper City so he can defeat

11039-482: The classic texts of Confucianism , Zhou Li ( 周禮 ), Archery and charioteering were part of the "six arts" (simplified Chinese: 六艺 ; traditional Chinese: 六藝 ; pinyin: Liù yì , including rites , music , calligraphy and mathematics ) of the Zhou dynasty (1122–256 BC). The Art of War ( simplified Chinese : 孙子兵法 ; traditional Chinese : 孫子兵法 ; pinyin : Sūnzǐ bīngfǎ ), written during

11172-462: The courtship ritual. Master Crane (voiced by David Cross in the films and Amir Talai in Legends of Awesomeness , silent cameo in end-credits of Kung Fu Panda 4 ) is a male black-necked crane and the most patient of the Five. He serves as a scout and lookout in combat situations, as well as a means of transport for the other members of the Five. Should any of the Five fall from a great height, Crane will appear to break their fall. Before joining

11305-476: The darkness in Tai Lung's heart and refused to give him the scroll that would allow him to claim the title, he felt betrayed and laid siege to the city in fury and then overwhelmed Shifu in combat to try to claim the scroll, only to be finally defeated at the hands of Master Oogway. Afterwards, Tai Lung was sent to Chorh-Gom Prison as a result of his actions, remaining imprisoned for twenty years. When Zeng arrives at

11438-473: The development of martial arts in regions such as Okinawa and Korea. Most fighting styles that are being practiced as traditional Chinese martial arts today reached their popularity within the 20th century. Some of these include Baguazhang , Drunken Boxing , Eagle Claw , Five Animals , Xingyi , Hung Gar , Monkey , Bak Mei Pai , Northern Praying Mantis , Southern Praying Mantis , Fujian White Crane , Jow Ga , Wing Chun and tai chi . The increase in

11571-433: The early drafts of Kung Fu Panda 4 , The Chameleon was depicted to be a human character known as "The Collector". However for unknown reasons, this idea was scrapped. Su Wu, Wing Wu, and Wan Wu (voiced by Sumalee Montano in Secrets of the Masters ) are a trio of snow leopard sisters appearing in Secrets of the Masters . Once the sisters escaped prison, where they were kept for a series of crimes, they set out to unite

11704-478: The end he accepts his new post, and chooses Zhen as his successor. Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness , which occurs between the first and second film, shows Po's greater development as a kung fu warrior and master after defeating Tai Lung, while the follow-up series, Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny , takes place after the events of the third film and shows Po in a mentor role to four young pandas. Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight , also takes place after

11837-577: The end of the Chinese Civil War and the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949. Many well known martial artists chose to escape from the PRC's rule and migrate to Taiwan , Hong Kong , and other parts of the world. Those masters started to teach within the overseas Chinese communities but eventually they expanded their teachings to include people from other ethnic groups. Within China,

11970-445: The events of the third and fourth films, Crane was crowned the king of the crocodilians. A series of kung fu masters appear in the franchise, many of which only appear in passing within the TV show or comics. The Masters' Council are the protectors of the metropolis of Gongmen City. They are a group of renowned Kung Fu Masters who governed the city after the parents of Lord Shen had passed on. Tai Lung (voiced by Ian McShane in

12103-458: The events of the third film and shows Po in a journey to protect four legendary and powerful weapons from two English weasel magicians who intend to use them to take over the world. Po also appears in all short films and specials, as well as the video games. Master Shifu (voiced by Dustin Hoffman in the films and TV specials, and Fred Tatasciore in the TV series and video games) is a red panda ,

12236-474: The evolution of Chinese society and over time acquired some philosophical bases: Passages in the Zhuangzi ( 莊子 ), a Taoist text, pertain to the psychology and practice of martial arts. Zhuangzi , its eponymous author, is believed to have lived in the [4th century BC]. The Tao Te Ching , often credited to Laozi , is another Taoist text that contains principles applicable to martial arts. According to one of

12369-737: The festivities with the townsfolk. Additionally, Po is able to restore Wo Hop's honor by presenting him with the Golden Ladle originally intended for the chef selected to cook for the masters' banquet. Shifu is initially mortified that everyone abandoned the feast, but on seeing the merry time everyone is having at the noodle shop, he realizes Po did the right thing, creating a truly perfect event with his father. Although Shifu turns to leave, Po persuades him to join them, firmly asserting Shifu's place with his family. In her review for Common Sense Media , Emily Ashby praised its positive messages and role models, from which Po "learns that listening to your heart

12502-492: The films and André Sogliuzzo in the television series) is a muscular snow leopard and the main antagonist of Kung Fu Panda . He has supernatural strength, with an incredibly prideful and ruthless attitude towards any kung fu practitioner. Shifu's adopted son that he cared for dearly, Tai Lung was the only student to be taught the Nerve Attack, and he believed that his destiny was to become the Dragon Warrior. When Oogway sensed

12635-445: The films and Kari Wahlgren in Legends of Awesomeness , silent cameo in end-credits of Kung Fu Panda 4 ) is a female South China tiger and the leader of the Furious Five. She was initially the most resentful of Po when he was chosen to be the Dragon Warrior instead of her, and the most vocal in her contempt. When Tigress overheard Po telling Shifu that he would never be able to defeat Tai Lung, Tigress took it upon herself to intercept

12768-418: The films and short-films, Legends of Awesomeness , silent cameo in end-credits of Kung Fu Panda 4 ) is a female green tree viper with two small lotus flowers on top of her head. Although she was born with ineffective venomous fangs, she compensates with her strength and precision. Viper is the most outwardly compassionate and maternal member of the Five, and is the only one not to mock Po when he first joins

12901-668: The foreign powers. The failure of the rebellion led ten years later to the fall of the Qing dynasty and the creation of the Chinese Republic . The present view of Chinese martial arts is strongly influenced by the events of the Republican period (1912–1949). In the transition period between the fall of the Qing dynasty as well as the turmoil of the Japanese invasion and the Chinese Civil War, Chinese martial arts became more accessible to

13034-471: The foundation and the form of a fighter's base. Each style has different names and variations for each stance. Stances may be differentiated by foot position, weight distribution, body alignment, etc. Stance training can be practiced statically, the goal of which is to maintain the structure of the stance through a set time period, or dynamically, in which case a series of movements is performed repeatedly. The Horse stance ( 騎馬步/馬步 ; qí mǎ bù / mǎ bù ) and

13167-548: The general public as many martial artists were encouraged to openly teach their art. At that time, some considered martial arts as a means to promote national pride and build a strong nation. As a result, many training manuals (拳譜) were published, a training academy was created, two national examinations were organized and demonstration teams traveled overseas. Numerous martial arts associations were formed throughout China and in various overseas Chinese communities. The Central Guoshu Academy (Zhongyang Guoshuguan, 中央國術館) established by

13300-443: The giant pandas. The end of the film reveals that Po's biological father Li Shan is still alive, and he reunites with his son in Kung Fu Panda 3 . When the undead warrior General Kai steals the chi of the other kung fu masters, Po and Li create an army from the remaining giant pandas. After destroying Kai, Po has a spiritual reunion with Oogway, who informs Po that his journey as the Dragon Warrior has come full circle. He returns to

13433-431: The headmaster of the Jade Palace, and the trainer of the Furious Five. He joined the palace when his father, the con artist Shirong, abandoned him there. Later in life, Shifu adopted Tai Lung, and he did not acknowledge his own role in the snow leopard's turn to evil until after Po was deemed the Dragon Warrior. Although Shifu initially doubts Po's potential in kung fu, he later trains Po to help him defeat Tai Lung and become

13566-461: The human body. Such techniques are known as dim mak and have principles that are similar to acupressure . Most Chinese styles also make use of training in the broad arsenal of Chinese weapons for conditioning the body as well as coordination and strategy drills. Weapons training ( 器械 ; qìxiè ) is generally carried out after the student becomes proficient with the basic forms and applications training. The basic theory for weapons training

13699-517: The internal energy (known as " qi " in qigong ). They learn to manipulate the flow of qi through deep breathing and visualization exercises to promote bodily balance, harmony , and health. Therefore, meditation, as a part of foundational training, offers Chinese martial arts practitioners a comprehensive approach to cultivating both the internal and external aspects. It assists them in developing various aspects of their body, energy, and mind, thereby enhancing their technical skills. The concept of qi

13832-458: The leader of the Anvil of Heaven, an army of elite battle rhinos. Prior to Tai Lung's incarceration, the Anvil opposed tyranny and injustice throughout China. Vachir was tasked with the construction of the prison, and personally oversaw Tai Lung's imprisonment for twenty years. When Tai Lung made his escape, Vachir was caught in an explosion with many of his troops and his prosthetic ruby horn-shaped cap

13965-422: The leopard, and managed to counter most of his attacks. When Po defeats Tai Lung, Tigress is very impressed, and the first to acknowledge him as a master of kung fu. As the film series progresses, Tigress grows closest to Po among his friends in the Jade Palace. Tigress' backstory is largely revealed in a series of television specials. In Secrets of the Furious Five , it is revealed that she was an orphan living in

14098-443: The masters into jade warriors, Li is part of the panda army that resists. In the fourth film, Li is now good friends with Mr. Ping, and opens a new restaurant with him. When they hear Po has gone to face the Chameleon, the duo travels to help their son out, reaching him just in time after he is thrown off a cliff. Later, Mr. Ping and him join Han's thief gang distract the Chameleon's guards so Zhen can get to Po in time to help him stop

14231-416: The masters so he can help Mr. Ping prepare food for the townsfolk. For his part, Mr. Ping, who has been struggling with the business alone, realizes he was being unfair to his son for attending to his larger responsibilities, and apologizes to him. With this reconciliation, father and son prepare their feast with polished skill. Moved by Po's loyalty to his family, the Five and the other masters participate in

14364-552: The modern development of Lei Tai contests, but with rules in place to reduce the chance of serious injury. Many Chinese martial art schools teach or work within the rule sets of Sanshou, working to incorporate the movements, characteristics, and theory of their style. Chinese martial artists also compete in non-Chinese or mixed Combat sport , including boxing, kickboxing and Mixed martial arts . Forms or taolu (Chinese: 套路 ; pinyin: tàolù ) in Chinese are series of predetermined movements combined so they can be practiced as

14497-599: The mortal world with his extended family. Kung Fu Panda 4 sees Po having to choose a new Dragon Warrior to take his place, as he is to ascend to his new spot as the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace. Po struggles with the choice, as he is afraid of giving the Dragon Warrior title away. On his quest to defeat the Chameleon, Po befriends a thief named Zhen, who initially worked for the Chameleon but her friendship with Po caused her to defect. Seeing her change her ways inspires Po to finally accept that things change, and in

14630-457: The most important practices in Chinese martial arts. Traditionally, they played a smaller role in training for combat application and took a back seat to sparring, drilling, and conditioning. Forms gradually build up a practitioner's flexibility, internal and external strength, speed and stamina, and they teach balance and coordination. Many styles contain forms that use weapons of various lengths and types, using one or two hands. Some styles focus on

14763-446: The name for the modern sport of wushu , an exhibition and full-contact sport of bare-handed and weapon forms ( 套路 ), adapted and judged to a set of aesthetic criteria for points developed since 1949 in the People's Republic of China . Quánfǎ ( 拳法 ) is another Chinese term for Chinese martial arts. It means "fist method" or "the law of the fist" ( quán means "boxing" or "fist", and fǎ means "law", "way" or "method"), although as

14896-406: The northern styles include changquan and xingyiquan . Examples of the southern styles include Bak Mei , Wuzuquan , Choy Li Fut , and Wing Chun . Chinese martial arts can also be divided according to religion, imitative-styles ( 象形拳 ), and family styles such as Hung Gar ( 洪家 ). There are distinctive differences in the training between different groups of the Chinese martial arts regardless of

15029-466: The onslaught of cannonballs fired at him, destroying Shen's fleet. In spite of Po's attempts to convince him to let go of the past and find peace, Shen rejects this and attacks him with cold weapons. When the resulting melee cuts the ropes keeping the cannon wreckage from falling, Shen decides not to move out of the way and is crushed to death by the weapon while Po narrowly escapes the resulting explosion. Lord Shen appears in Kung Fu Panda 4 , but only in

15162-587: The popularity of those styles is a result of the dramatic changes occurring within the Chinese society. In 1900–01, the Righteous and Harmonious Fists rose against foreign occupiers and Christian missionaries in China. This uprising is known in the West as the Boxer Rebellion due to the martial arts and calisthenics practiced by the rebels. Empress Dowager Cixi gained control of the rebellion and tried to use it against

15295-546: The practice of traditional martial arts was discouraged during the turbulent years of the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1969–1976). Like many other aspects of traditional Chinese life, martial arts were subjected to a radical transformation by the People's Republic of China to align them with Maoist revolutionary doctrine. The PRC promoted the committee-regulated sport of Wushu as a replacement for independent schools of martial arts. This new competition sport

15428-470: The prison to order an increase in security, Tai Lung uses one of the goose's fallen feathers to pick the locks on his restraints and escape. He defeats the Furious Five in battle and storms the Jade Palace in search of the Dragon Scroll. In his hunt for the scroll, he overpowers Shifu and nearly kills him in spite of temporarily having a moment of clarity, but Po lures him away with the dragon scroll, sparking

15561-455: The rabbit and helped him complete a meal for the banquet. After the meal was complete, Po presented Hop with the Golden Ladle, the intended honor for the official cook of the feast, which restored Wo Hop's honor. The Soothsayer (voiced by Michelle Yeoh ) is an elderly goat and Shen's former nanny, who foretold the peacock's doom. She tries to advise Shen to stop his violent crusade to no avail. She also aids Po, treating him with acupuncture and

15694-445: The realm. After Po defeats Kai, he meets Oogway in the Spirit Realm, where Oogway explains to Po that on the first day they met, he saw both the future of kung fu in Po, as well as the past. He sensed that Po would be the one to unite them both and become his true successor. He then presents Po with his staff, to which he was hesitant to accept, before Po returns to the mortal realm. The most skilled warriors in China, they are homages to

15827-471: The school. Weapons-based sparring forms are especially useful for teaching students the extension, range, and technique required to manage a weapon. The term taolu (套路) is a shortened version of Tao Lu Yun Dong (套路運動) , an expression introduced only recently with the popularity of modern wushu. This expression refers to "exercise sets" and used in the context of athletics or sport. In contrast, in traditional Chinese martial arts alternative terminologies for

15960-481: The semi-mythical Xia dynasty over 4,000 years ago. It is said that the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi), who ascended to power in 2698 BC, introduced the earliest fighting systems to China. The Emperor is renowned as a great general who, prior to becoming China's leader, authored extensive treatises on medicine, astrology, and the martial arts. One of his primary adversaries was Chi You, credited as the progenitor of jiao di,

16093-414: The staff, saying Oogway made a mistake choosing him. Tai Lung watches the battle between Po, Zhen, and the Chameleon, and even cheers for Po at a moment. After the Chameleon is finally defeated and Tai Lung gets his skills back, he confronts Po and tells him that he can finally see why Oogway chose him, admiring how much Po has grown. Tai Lung then bows in respect and asks Po to take him and the others back to

16226-442: The stairs. She then stole Po's Staff of Wisdom summoned different Kung-Fu masters from the spirit realm, including Tai Lung, Shen and Kai. Then, she absorbed their chi and locked them in cages. After Po fights her with the help of a now-reformed Zhen, and defeats her, he uses the Staff to return all the trapped masters their chi. He then sent them off to the Spirit Realm, with Tai Lung grabbing her and taking her along with him. In

16359-640: The state and development of Chinese martial arts became available from the Nanjing decade (1928–1937), as the Central Guoshu Institute established by the Kuomintang regime made an effort to compile an encyclopedic survey of martial arts schools. Since the 1950s, the People's Republic of China has organized Chinese martial arts as an exhibition and full-contact sport under the heading of "wushu" . According to legend, Chinese martial arts originated before

16492-520: The styles originated from, separated by the Yangtze River ; Chinese martial arts may even be classified according to their province or city. The main perceived difference between northern and southern styles is that the northern styles tend to emphasize fast and powerful kicks, high jumps and generally fluid and rapid movement, while the southern styles focus more on strong arm and hand techniques, and stable, immovable stances and fast footwork. Examples of

16625-418: The technique. After the past villains give Po their respect, Zhen watches as Tai Lung takes her old master to the Spirit Realm with him. The Chameleon pleads for her help, but she dismisses her and watches her get trapped in the realm. She Po, and his fathers return to the Valley of Peace, where she intends to serve her time before starting a new life. To her surprise, Po instead chooses her to be his successor as

16758-539: The term kung fu refers to any skill that is acquired through learning or practice. It is a compound word composed of the words 功 (gōng) meaning "work", "achievement", or "merit", and 夫 (fū) which is a particle or nominal suffix with diverse meanings. Wushu literally means " martial art ". It is formed from the two Chinese characters 武術 : 武 ( wǔ ), meaning " martial " or " military " and 術 or 术 ( shù ), which translates into " art ", " discipline ", " skill " or " method ". The term wushu has also become

16891-520: The tin staff is documented in the Chinese Buddhist canon. Following Buddhabhadra , another Indian monk named Bodhidharma, also known as Damo in Chinese, arrived at Shaolin in 527 AD. His Chinese disciple, Huike, was likewise a highly skilled martial artist. There are indications that these first three Chinese Shaolin monks—Huiguang, Sengchou, and Huike—may have had a military background prior to embracing monastic life . The Shaolin style of kung fu

17024-467: The type of classification. However, few experienced martial artists make a clear distinction between internal and external styles, or subscribe to the idea of northern systems being predominantly kick-based and southern systems relying more heavily on upper-body techniques. Most styles contain both hard and soft elements, regardless of their internal nomenclature. Analyzing the difference in accordance with yin and yang principles, philosophers would assert that

17157-496: The understanding of meridians, pressure points, and herbal remedies , as well as exercises that promote health, vitality , and longevity. The holistic approach to training seeks to cultivate both internal and external strength, promoting overall well-being and balance. Furthermore, Chinese martial arts serve as a vessel for preserving and transmitting cultural values and attitudes. Respect for teachers, dedication, discipline, and perseverance are instilled in practitioners, fostering

17290-574: The various crime families of China, which prompted Oogway to form an alliance with Thundering Rhino, Storming Ox, and Croc in order to defeat them. The Wu sisters also appear as an enemy team in Kung Fu Panda: The Game , and as minions of Tai Lung in Legendary Warriors . Boar (voiced by Jayden Lund) is an unnamed boar and the main antagonist of Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Scroll . A renowned warrior, Shifu intended to stop him, but

17423-491: The warrior in question would be a panda, and led his wolf guards into a massacre against the giant panda population to avert the prophecy, which resulted Po's mother supposedly dying and Po being sent to Mr Ping. He was subsequently disowned by his parents and exiled from the family palace. Feeling resentful over his exile, Shen is obsessed with taking over China with his gunpowder based weapons. Thirty years later, Shen returns to Gongmen City with an arsenal of cannons. He summons

17556-459: Was bedridden due to accidental food poisoning, and Tigress went in his place. When mimicking Shifu's style of combat, Tigress initially faltered, but when the rest of the Five came to her aid, Tigress abandoned Shifu's kung fu style in favor of her own, and managed to defeat him. Boar's attack and subsequent defeat inspired the creation of the Furious Five, and the story of their triumph sparked Po's love of kung fu. Mr. Ping (voiced by James Hong )

17689-492: Was disassociated from what was seen as the potentially subversive self-defense aspects and family lineages of Chinese martial arts. In 1958, the government established the All-China Wushu Association as an umbrella organization to regulate martial arts training. The Chinese State Commission for Physical Culture and Sports took the lead in creating standardized forms for most of the major arts. During this period,

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