Summary

• Kung Fu movie training sequences show character growth and physical prowess, making them vital to the genre's evolution.
• Training montages in martial arts movies push the story forward efficiently while showcasing actors' abilities.
• Kung Fu movies depict the journey of characters through training, fighting skills, and the pursuit of justice.

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.

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.

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.

10 Five Shaolin Masters (1974)

Directed by Chang Cheh

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.

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.

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.

Five Shaolin Masters is available to rent on YouTube.

9 Mad Monkey Kung Fu (1979)

Directed by Lau Kar-leung

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.

Mad Monkey Kung Fu is available to rent on YouTube and Apple TV.

8 The Last Dragon (1985)

Directed by Michael Schultz

The main character, Leroy (Taimak), is on a quest to be as good a martial artist as Bruce Lee.

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.

7 Once Upon A Time In China (1991)

Directed by Tsui Hark

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.

6 The Tournament (1974)

Directed by Feng Huang