Cobra Kai Has Us All Thinking About Martial Arts Again

The best Chinese fighters of all time.

Kreese played by Caitlyn Jenner? We’ll find out in season 2.

With the recent popularity of the amazing 1st season of Karate Kid’s Cobra Kai I felt it was worth covering some martial arts stuff. I know MMA is the flavour of the day, but we mustn't forget the past. Martial arts is about so much more than just fighting. It’s culture and family. It’s legacy. A way of life. So let’s explore the past a little more. Re-discover the masters who never got a pay-per-view contract yet inspired those who did.

Karate is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed from the indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts under the influence of Chinese Kung Fu, particularly Fujian White Crane. Also called Karate Do. — wiki

During the rise of Communism in the Maoist Revolution of 1949, the red plague destroyed much of the ancient literature and killed many of the monks who maintained this once massive body of knowledge. The mighty Shaolin have since been largely reduced to a tourist attraction. Though I hope some might be secretly training for real somewhere far from the eyes of government.

It wouldn’t be the first time the Shaolin have defied the power of the state.

Many escaped China to continue training in peace. The West experienced a Kung Fu renaissance when most of the world’s best Chinese fighters emigrated to America and Europe. Karate vs Kung Fu vs Tae Kwon Do vs Jujitsu vs Aikido etc. Long before Mixed Martial Arts… we cheered with excitement as traditional rivalries between Japan, Korea, China, and others played out in movies and tournaments around the free world. Red China thought it had destroyed the past; instead they spread it to every corner of the globe.

Here’s a list of the greatest (and most famous) Chinese Fighters; past and present; real or imagined.

The Ten Tigers of Canton

Each of the ten tigers was a specialist in unique Kung Fu traditions. All are derived from Southern Shaolin Style and in practice still very similar. Low stances, fewer kicks, stronger bodies, precise deconstruction of an enemies production through economy of movement. Beyond the fundamentals of bone and sinew metamorphosis are the animal spirit that stylize and further the individual innovations applied by the martial artist.

Wong Yan-lam | “Lion’s Roar” style, student of the Tibetan monk Xinglong. This style is very difficult to master and encapsulates the teachings of three more common styles. Hap Family Fist, Lama Style, and White Crane Fist (The only major style created by a female master, Fang Qinian)

Wong Ching-ho | “Nine Dragons Fist” style, student of Luk Ah-choi. The Dragon styles are imitative. Developed upon the imagined characteristics of the mythical Chinese dragon. The traditional wingless serpents with the big beards full of elemental wisdom. Distinct in both mode and nature to the shoulder heavy, muscle bound, Western Dragons with their massive wings.

So Hak-fu | “Black Tiger” style, student of Shaolin monk Zhaode. Also known as Hak Fu Mun, this is a personal system build upon the traditional Southern Shaolin style he was taught by Zhaode.

Wong Kei-ying | “Hung Ga” style, student of his father Wong Tai and later Luk Ah-choi. A doctor and the father of the world famous Wong Fei Hung. Hung Ga is considered by many to be the pinnacle of southern style. Lowest stances, strongest bodies, closest system to mastering the pain endurance elements of Shaolin tradition. Starts hard and becomes soft. Enlightenment through suffering.

Lai Yan-chiu | “Souther Praying Mantis” style. Although a tiger, he was only a part time player who operated a pawn shop, Shun Hang. As you can imagine how critical this was to any “operation” required of our band of ferocious heroes.

So Chan | “Hung Ga” style. The infamous Beggar So. The Drunken Fist master with the Shaolin Pole. The king of beggars.

Leung Kwan | “Hung Ga” style, student of Shaolin master Li Huzi (Bearded Li, also known as “Golden Hook”) More commonly known as Tit Kiu Sam, or Iron Bridge Three. Best known for his “Iron Bridges” and the Iron Wire Fist form. His Iron Wire Fist is the highest level in most Hung Ga schools and his work is very important to the current Hung Ga system.

Chan Cheung-tai | The mysterious Iron Finger Chan. I don’t know anything more about him.

Tam Chai-kwan | “Huadu style Hung Ga and Tam Ga”. A kick artist nicknamed Three Legs Tam for the three types of kicks he preferred.

Chau Tai | “Choy Li Fut”, master of the long staff and “soft hands techniques”.