Does Soft Really Work in a Fight Martial Arts
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This article contains some pocket-size spoilers for Shang-Chi and the Fable of the Ten Rings .
In the pages of Marvel Comics, Shang-Chi is known as the "Master of Kung Fu." And so when Marvel Studios announced the character to assist usher in MCU Phase 4, the one thought on every fan's mind was that whoever gets cast in the lead function better really know Kung Fu.
In the wake of Netflix's Atomic number 26 Fist , Marvel'south other Kung Fu primary, there was a lot of skepticism. Marvel had scored with the previous Netflix series Daredevil , which delivered some of the best small screen fight choreography we'd ever seen. But Iron Fist was sorely defective. Finn Jones but couldn't sell a dial as Danny Rand, leaving fans of Marvel martial arts masters overwhelmingly disappointed. If there'due south ane matter that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings had to nail, it was the Kung Fu.
Similar Jones, Simu Liu had little martial arts experience earlier taking on the part of Shang-Chi. However, he already had the physique, so much and so that appearing shirtless was a running joke when he played Jung in Kim'south Convenience . What's more, Liu bulked up, added x more pounds of musculus while training for the film.
Unlike a character like Daredevil, Shang-Chi doesn't clothing a mask, and then Liu had to speedily pick up enough cinematic Kung Fu to announced masterful on screen. Fortunately, he was backed by a top-notch team of stuntmen and surrounded with a cast of veteran film fighters including Michelle Yeoh ( Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon , Star Trek: Discovery ), Tony Leung ( Hero , The Grandmaster ), Yuen Wah ( Kung Fu Hustle ), Florian Munteanu ( Creed II ), Andy Le ( The Newspaper Tigers ), and others. Even though Liu was new to Kung Fu, he carries the activity scenes with panache.
Shang-Chi and the Fable of the Ten Rings is not but a good Curiosity movie, it'due south a good Kung Fu movie. It has the all-time fight scenes seen in the MCU then far. And although the film doesn't get bogged down in the specifics of Kung Fu fashion, there are telling nods throughout the film that shows the filmmakers knew their Kung Fu too. "We knew the martial arts had to be authentic," says Director Destin Daniel Cretton. "In order for that to feel existent, nosotros worked with people who understood Chinese Kung Fu."
Permit'southward have a wait at some of the Kung Fu roots and martial arts Easter Eggs underlying Shang-Chi and the Legend of the 10 Ringsdone.
The X Rings are Real…Kind of
Wenwu (Tony Leung) is the villain of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the 10 Rings , and he wields 10 magical rings that he wears on his forearms. These are the source of his ability, too as the name of his criminal arrangement. The origin of these rings is a prevailing mystery in the moving-picture show; still, their inspiration is not.
Traditional Kung Fu practitioners use rings akin to these while training, especially in Southern Chinese styles. Such rings are called tit waan in Cantonese, which literally ways "iron rings" or "iron bracelets." Iron rings are synthetic of heavy metal, typically contumely or steel, and are worn loosely on the forearms when practicing solo forms and doing arm drills.
They serve ii purposes. Firstly, they are heavy, usually weighing over a pound a piece, so they act similar wrist weights. Secondly, unlike Wenwu's magical rings which conform to fit his forearms perfectly, existent iron rings are looser. They must be narrow enough and then that they stay on when the practitioner makes a fist, but they are far from form fitting. This gives them play to bang against the practitioner's forearms when they are shadowboxing. The banging conditions the user's forearms, hardening them to withstand the impact of blocking. Some fe ring practitioners accept forearms that are so tough they tin severely impairment an adversary'southward punch with their ring-hardened blocks.
Although atomic number 26 rings are not conventionally considered every bit weapons, Kung Fu practitioners have figured out ways to weaponize just about everything. Some wield atomic number 26 rings like brass knuckles, property them in their fists for punching.
Kung Fu Hustle
Weaponized fe rings are used in the 2004 comedy Kung Fu Hustle . The graphic symbol Tailor (Chiu Chi Ling) fights with them. Chiu is a 18-carat primary of Hung Ga Kung Fu, a southern way that uses atomic number 26 ring training extensively.
Manager Destin Daniel Cretton claims that Kung Fu Hustle is one of his favorite martial arts movies so in that location are other nods to it in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the 10 Rings , including when a Kung Fu Hustle poster tin be seen on a bedroom wall in the groundwork. What's more, Yuen Wah also appears equally the warrior leader of Ta Lo who oversees Katy'south (Awkwafina) archery training. Yuen played the Landlord in Kung Fu Hustle and is a veteran martial arts thespian with near 200 moving-picture show credits. He is also the Kung Fu brother of Jackie Chan.
Yuen Qiu, who plays the Landlady in Kung Fu Hustle is a mutual Kung Fu sibling. Jackie, Yuen Wah and Yuen Qiu were all pupils of Yu Jim-Yuen, a master of Chinese opera who trained them all from childhood. They all took phase names that included the "Yuen" office of their master's name (Jackie Chan was known as Yuen Lau as a child). Others among that troupe were many of the movers and shakers of Hong Kong'southward golden age of Kung Fu films, such as Sammo Hung (a.k.a. Yuen Lung) and famed action choreographer, Yuen Woo-Ping ( The Matrix , Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon , Kill Neb ).
Tiger Head Hooks
The signature weapons of the Ten Rings are Tiger Head Hooks. These are those black glowing hooked swords that the gang members wield. They also appear on the 10 Rings banner. It's an excellent choice because Tiger Caput Hooks are one of the about distinctively Kung Fu weapons of all.
In Chinese, these are called Hu tou shuang gou, which literally means "Tiger head paired hooks." "Paired" because they are typically used in pairs. Sometimes they are just translated as Hook Swords. They have a sword blade with a hooked tip, a crescent-shaped blade for a knuckle baby-sit, and a dagger blade for a pommel. Every border is sharp. The only place they are non sharp is the handle. This makes them very difficult to wield. Consequently, Tiger Hooks are considered an advanced Kung Fu weapon.
The reference book Aboriginal Chinese Weapons by Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming dates Tiger Head hooks back to Cathay'south Jump Autumn Period (771-476 BCE), however those ancient hooks likely took on a different class. The modernistic style of Tiger Caput hooks as seen in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings rose to prominence effectually the 1800s. They are withal practiced today, mostly by Northern schools of Kung Fu.
What Mode of Kung Fu Does Shang-Chi Do?
Kung Fu is renowned for its diverse collection of styles similar Shaolin, Wing Chun, Tiger mode, and countless others. There's even Drunken style and Toad fashion. In the movie, Shang-Chi doesn't adopt a particular manner of Kung Fu. Some of his moves have characteristics of Wing Chun or Bajiquan, only at that place'south nothing in the choreography to indicate a very specific mode.
Avatar: The Concluding Airbender
The warriors of Ta Lo are different. While their fashion is not explicit, their peacekeeping philosophy is expressed through the soft, internal styles of Kung Fu like Tai Chi. When Ying Nan (Michelle Yeoh) schools Shang-Chi in their first lucifer, it'southward reminiscent of how airbending is depicted in Avatar: The Final Airbender .
However, the connectedness is deeper than that. Despite its fantasy elements, Avatar based its martial arts sequences on accurate Kung Fu past mo-capping Sifu Kisu, a renowned martial arts principal. Kisu designated specific styles for each school of bending. Airbending was based upon an internal mode of Kung Fu known as Baguazhang, or Eight Diagram Palm. Like Tai Chi, information technology has a soft expression. Information technology relies on circular movements and pivoting evasions. Several of Yeoh'southward techniques are plucked straight out of Baguazhang.
The Masters Behind Shang-Chi'due south Martial Arts
Credit for Shang-Chi's Kung Fu actuality falls on the film's elevation notch stunt team. Two are leading graduates of the legendary Jackie Chan Stunt Team. The fight on the hi-rise scaffolding is a homage to Jackie's parkour-inspiring choreography. Andy Cheng worked on effectually half a dozen of Jackie's films including his first two Blitz 60 minutes films, Shanghai Noon , The Tuxedo , and Who Am I? where Jackie does 1 of his all-time greatest stunts, sliding downward the Willemswerf skyscraper in Rotterdam. He was also the activity managing director for Into the Badlands . When Jackie inevitably stepped back from doing his own stunts, Cheng stepped in for him.
"Nosotros were very concerned [about Kung Fu] from the very beginning," says Cretton. "Marvel was too concerned and wanted to get information technology correct. [They] knew that Marvel fans, wouldn't take let it slide if we did a Hollywood version of a whitewashed Kung Fu picture. To be able to, we brought in Brad Allan." Brad Allan was the first non-Asian to make Jackie's stunt team. He besides worked on around a dozen of Jackie's films (this is approximate considering stunt work wasn't e'er credited).
Who Was Brad Allan?
You tin can't miss the credits in whatsoever MCU film. In Shang-Chi and the Fable of the Ten Rings , in that location's a prominent dedication to Allan at the very end. Tragically, on Baronial seventh, 2021, Brad Allan died unexpectantly at the early on historic period of 48, sending the martial arts earth reeling from the loss of one of its brightest stars. Beyond Shang-Chi , Allan leaves behind an exemplary legacy of activity films where he served as the 2nd Unit of measurement Director including Scott Pilgrim vs. the Earth , Cuban Fury , Solo: A Star Wars Story , and the Kingsman trilogy.
Allan was obsessed with the martial arts from childhood and rose to compete internationally in Wushu, representing Australia where he was born and raised. Through a chance run across, he was able to demonstrate his skills to Jackie, and Jackie liked what he saw and then much that he took Allan under his wing.
In 1999, Allan played Alan, the villain in Jackie's film Gorgeous , which coincidentally also stars Tony Leung. With Allan clad in black and Jackie in white, their finale fight is, well, information technology'due south gorgeous. Information technology's 2 of the greatest masters of the craft delivering top notch fight choreography. Allan spent most of his career modestly behind the scenes, and so Gorgeous is the outstanding instance of his speed and agility. It's heartbreaking that Allan didn't become to run across the premiere of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the X Rings .
Allan'south final work will be seen in The King's Man later this yr.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is now playing in theaters.
Source: https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/real-martial-arts-behind-shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings/
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