10 Kung Fu Battles

10. Rope vs. Blade from Master of the Flying Guillotine (1975)

Crazy super powers, exotic fighters, a kung fu tournament and a weapon that can shear its victim's heads clean off--Master of the Flying Guillotine has it all! This battle features two lesser characters but reveals the kind of outlandish confrontations found throughout.




9. Oiled up in Transporter (2002)

Sure. The best kung fu battles take place in Asian cinema, but Brit actor Jason Statham proved he's no slouch. Although online details of his martial arts training are vague, one thing is clear: Statham does his own on-screen fighting, as evidenced in this clip from Corey Yuen's Transporter in which numerous asses get a kicking:





8. Final fight from Five Deadly Venoms (1978)

A favorite of the Wu-Tang Clan, and with good reason. Two heroes. Two villains. Too much mayhem in this final battle from the classic Five Deadly Venoms.




7. Yen vs. Hung in Kill Zone (2005)

Two masters go at it as Donnie Yen takes on the big man, Sammo Hung in this brutal boss battle to end all boss battles.




6. Hanged Man from The Legend Fong Sai Yuk (1993)

There may be no greater example of Jet Li's ass-kickery than The Legend of Fong Sai-Yuk which deftly blends drama, comedy and non-stop chopsocky! Here's a grim moment as Jet confronts the bad guys, determined to lay his fallen friend to rest.




5. Calligraphy fight in The Magnificent Butcher (1979)

Remember, students. Grace and style will win out over anger and aggression. Observe one of many of the inventive battle scenes from The Magnificent Butcher.




4. Yeoh vs. Zhang in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

"Fine...the friendship is over."

And with that declaration, two great lady weapons masters throw down!







3. Long take ass-whoopin' from The Protector (2005)

You want proof Tony Jaa is the new reigning champ of kung fu cinema? The man knows it’s as much about the art of film as it is about breaking bones. Check out this amazing footage, described as the "most dangerous" long-take on film, as Jaa climbs flights of stairs toppling every villain in his path. No wires. No edits. It was a month of exhausting filming before they got this four-minute sequence right.




2. Everything is a Weapon in First Strike (1996)

We could choose any of 100 scenes featuring Jackie Chan for this list. The man is not just a master of numerous fight techniques who does his own stunts. He's also a first-rate choreography capable of turning every element of set, costume and prop into a deadly comic weapon. Observe:




1. Bruce Lee Kicks Everyone's Ass in Fist of Fury (1972)

Check out this clip as Bruce Lee, the biggest badass in the history of kung fu cinema, takes on about 30 karate students at once and then kicks their master's butt. Self-inflicted Nunchaku-related injuries reach peak levels in America later that year.