Training scenes are a hallmark of the best old-school Kung Fu movies from across the decades, and the best ones highlight the most important aspects of the genre. Like any niche in movie history, Kung Fu movies have certain tropes that filmmakers can fall back on, but many of these early examples were the first of their kind, introducing the story beats that would go on to become expected. Revisiting and exploring the films of the past can tell a lot about the trajectory of the genre in the future.
Kung fu is a vital part of martial arts filmmaking, and certain martial arts movies are responsible for what the genre is today. Training sequences and montages are a classic part of these films because they demonstrate the physical abilities of the actors, and signal to the audience that the character is undergoing change and growth. While this is a literal interpretation of these moments in the films, it doesn’t make it any less true. Montages are a fast and effective way to push the story forward and communicate development without crowding the movie with exposition.
Five Shaolin Masters is a film from the famous Shaw Brothers studio, which produced some of the greatest movies featuring Kung Fu. It also includes the work of Alexander Fu Sheng, a recurring performer in Shaw Brothers movies, and a standout of the genre. In the story, five men at the Shaolin temple witness it being burned to the ground and vow revenge on the men who did it. Though these men are already capable adversaries in battle, it’s not enough when they first face the five Qing fighters whom their vendetta is against.
After their initial defeat at the film’s mid-point when the men believe all hope is lost, they return to the temple and this is when the training begins. This is no ordinary training, as each man must master a different style and technique of Kung Fu to match the villain he will face in battle. The various interpretations of the art form and the ways that the men prepare themselves make the sequence exciting and ensure that the audience never gets bored by what they’re watching on screen.
Thanks to its dedication to the portrayal of Kung Fu training as a rite of passage, Mad Monkey Kung Fu is one of the best Shaw Brothers martial arts movies. It’s the training scene that serves as the protagonist’s motivation for the remainder of the movie’s events. Monkey (Hsiao Ho) becomes attached to the retired master, Chen (Chia-Liang Liu), and soon Chen passes on his knowledge of Kung Fu. Their intergenerational friendship is exceptionally touching, and when they do become teacher and student, that bond is strengthened by their preexisting one.
This gives the training scenes an added emotional depth, in addition to the fact that Monkey dedicates himself to honing his body into a weapon so he can avenge the death of Chen’s sister. Revenge and justice are frequent themes across Kung Fu movies, and the cause is always noble, but in Mad Monkey Kung Fu, it’s especially poignant. By the end of the film, the two men have fulfilled their journey and can spend the rest of their days sparing.
The Last Dragon is a love letter to classic Kung Fu movies and amazing fighters like Bruce Lee. However, the actors and filmmakers might not have expected that the film itself would become a classic because of its dedication to the spirit of Kung Fu. Unlike the other movies on the list, The Last Dragon takes place in New York City and imbues many references to American pop culture and traditional Chinese spirituality alike. The main character, Leroy (Taimak), is on a quest to be as good a martial artist as Bruce Lee.
Through his quest, he wants to achieve the legendary glow that will make him a true master. The film includes plenty of moments when Leroy is training, and they combine the traditional elements of Kung Fu films with modern-day features of martial arts films. It’s an interesting blend that works perfectly for the tone of the movie and shows how mainstream Kung Fu was becoming at the time. The intertextual references and allusions the film makes wouldn’t be possible if there weren’t a basic understanding of Kung Fu filmmaking.
Once Upon A Time In China would incur two sequels, making the first film the start of the franchise. From the quality and intrigue of the story, it’s unsurprising that the hearts and minds of the audience were easily captured. Jet Li stars as Wong Fei-hung, the leader of a Chinese militia during the Qing dynasty. One of Once Upon A Time In China‘s enduring legacies is its enormous popularity and its decision to depict the nuances of this period of Chinese history.
While most martial arts films were period pieces, Once Upon A Time In China opened the door for the films that followed to do the same. Wong Fei-hung is a fantastic fighter within the story, and part of the opening sequence is dedicated to the way he trains his recruits. This regiment is a highly skilled group, and the novices that Wong Fei-hung takes on are some of the best in the nation. Outside this, the movie is remarkable for its political nature and the way it foreshadows the coming threat of imperialism from the global West.
In a rare turn of events, The Tournament centers around the experience of a female protagonist and fighter in its story. Angela Mao plays Lau Siu-Fung, and though this is by no means Mao’s most famous film, she still makes her mark through the complex narrative. While Kung Fu plays a significant role in the movie, a good portion of it is also dedicated to boxing, as the loss of a boxing match is what motivates Lau Siu-Fung to become a champion fighter to restore her family’s name.
Similarly to most older films, it’s the male characters in the narrative don’t expect Lau Siu-Fung to be a fearsome opponent. While this fact might be dated by today’s standards, it is satisfying when she proves the men wrong. She’s already well versed in Kung Fu, but she and her brother must travel to Thailand and learn boxing to avenge their father, who was disgraced by the match. Her ease with martial arts comes through as she learns boxing, and is ultimately the one to step into the ring and win.
Throughout his career, Jackie Chan has worn many hats in the film industry. He started purely as a performer and fighter, executing some of the coolest stunts in martial arts movies. Later on, he began directing and producing his films, allowing for greater creative control, and some of the most fun Kung Fu movies on the market. The Fearless Hyena allowed Chan to explore his interests and was his directorial debut. The groundwork for cinematic elements that would become the foundation of his work as a director can be found in the film.
There are a few different training montages in the film. Chan’s character, Shing Lung, unwittingly passes on the family secrets of their unique style of Kung Fu to a group of undeserving students. It’s compelling enough seeing Chan take on the role of teacher, but it becomes all the more interesting when he realizes he still has much to learn and then trains under a new master. It’s an exciting twist as Shing Lung has been framed as the most skilled fighter in the movie until an adversary comes along who forces him to train and become better.
In another landmark film from the Shaw Brothers, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin features the legendary Gordon Liu in the leading role of San Te. Several films expanded the film’s story in the coming years but few could capture the excellence and excitement of The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. Uprisings, political intrigue, and military attacks lead San Te to the doors of the Shaolin temple. It’s there that the film really starts, and it’s where San Te is trained in the art of Kung Fu.
In some ways, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin is just one extended training montage, as every level of the Shaolin temple teaches San Te a new skill to turn him into a master. Each level of the temple brings new challenges, and watching San Te advance is riveting, as the training methods are some of the most inventive in any Kung Fu movie. The story is ultimately quite touching because San Te’s aim in rising through the ranks is to gain permission to teach regular people Kung Fu so they can defend their homes.
Like most of Chan’s films, there are strong elements of comedy in Snake In The Eagle’s Shadow, but that doesn’t discount the fighting ability of the actors or the impact of the story. In the film, Chan plays Chien Fu, a young man treated with contempt and abused by the higher-ups at the martial arts school where he lives. Fortunately, he has a good heart, and this is recognized by a Kung Fu master hiding from his enemies. Through teaching Chien Fu his techniques, the master then gains an ally in his fights.
The fights are extremely dynamic in Snake In The Eagle’s Shadow because Chan is able to combine physical comedy with precise skill in his craft. It’s the fact that Chan can have fun with Kung Fu and push it to its limits, showing how he has total mastery over his body. In Chein Fu’s training scenes with his master, it takes some time for him to get the hang of the complex fighting style. However, in effectively demonstrating a transformation from novice to master, Chan’s range is highlighted effectively.
Also starring Jet Li, The Shaolin Temple was his breakout role. He plays Jue Yuan, a young man who wants to be a monk, but must avenge his father’s death against a corrupt Emperor. Told through flashbacks between the past and present, The Shaolin Temple juggles several storylines, but Jue Yuan’s journey to becoming a sworn monk of the titular temple is the most important. In the past, when Jue Yuan first arrived at the temple, he was weak and no match for the Emperor, but several characters took pity on him and taught him the ways of Kung Fu.
The central conflict inside Jue Yuan is whether or not his desire to take the Emperor’s life is justified, especially when it puts the lives of the people he cares about at risk. This is made more pivotal because the audience spends so much time with his friends and loved ones as they train him in the art of Kung Fu and dedicate their lives to strengthening him. Though Jue Yuan completes his goal in the end and becomes a master at the temple, he sacrifices much along the way.