#northern kung fu

[mafubrah]

Mantis Kung Fu VS. MMA (video)

[sifu-kisu]

OK;

So I gave the Netflix, avatar the last Airbender a second try. I took off my judgment goggles and looked at it as a brand new work of fiction. Now mind you my opinion means nothing, but I do have a certain level of emotional attachment to this intellectual property.

The live action show is very pretty, I love the costumes and I actually enjoy some of the characters. Keep in mind I’m only 20 minutes into the second episode. I’m a little busy these days. But I plan to make some time. I took down my original post where I called the show trash so that I could collect more data for my opinion.

Some grumbles;

The special effects are kind of wonky in places. I don’t care for Appa‘s hair. 😁

Some of the fight scenes actually have good kung fu in them. Hats off to the choreographer. However the connected CGI animations of the characters performing bending imho lack the basic essences of bending. The Airbender staff fighting had no “bending” at all.

The work we did on the original show came from a certain type of process, and none of those processes seem to exist in this current offering from Netflix…

I think if Bryan and Mike had stuck around on the project you may have seen some differences, but we will never know will we?

I may write more about this after I’ve seen the entire affair. I’m still a little upset about what NF did to cowboy bebop. Both of these shows had a certain “soul“ in the original animations, but that is one more element missing in these current efforts.Heck I know people that worked on NFATLAB that won’t even watch it.

In closing someone brought to my attention that some clown on Reddit called me an asshole.

Meh, I may very well be.

But your opinions are just like assholes, everybody’s got one 😜

(((i’ve had a Reddit account since 2008))

🙃

[mixedmartialartshub]

[valpwca]

"On grocery store excursions, I never actually laid eyes on the mythical milk of human kindness, but never doubted the existence of at least some version of it—perhaps the Lactaid of human civility?"

-Shit Turd, Feral Creatures by Kira Jane Buxton

[tazahan]

My second delulu Mortal Kombat OC. Harald Hávarôr. Father of my first oc, Áila. A Viking descendant Earthrealm champion on Liu Kang's side. He was also Liu Kang's former pupil & now he wanted his daughter to follow in his footsteps under Liu Kang's guidance. To enrich her knowledge and her potential. He is one of his clan's chiefs and a former OIA lieutenant. His clan named Sol Eldur has been allied with Earthrealm protection factions for centuries under Liu Kang's wings including the Lin Kuei. His power is heliokinesis. He mastered a few martial arts such as Glima, Hung Ga Kuen, Northern Shaolin, and a little bit of Taekwondo. Johnny always teased him with the name "Kung Fu Viking". He sometimes can be a little over-protective towards his daughter and his family.

Raiden, Kung Lao, and Tomas are his favorites, and he without any hesitation would adopt them or choose one of them to be his future son-in-law. That always made Áila palmed her face in shame. Harlad was also a close friend of Lin Kuei bros' father until the end. His passing was quite upsetting to him. Many people feel intimidated if they meet him for the first time, but in fact, he is a gentle giant. And would give you a big bear hug.

[fangirlingfanatic]

In honor of the beautifully written story:

Kung Fu Panda 4: One Thousand Years Of Peace by FFcrazy15 on AO3

This drawing is inspired by chapter 2 of the story.

href="https://archiveofourown.org/works/27410224"><strong>Kung Fu Panda 4: One Thousand Years of Peace

When an insurrectionist group claiming to support the true Emperor of China begins escalating their tactics in the Northern Capitol, the Emperor calls upon the Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five, who are prophesied to defeat them. However, the insurrectionists know the truth about a long-buried secret—and they have something special in mind for one particular warrior… Written in script format so you can "watch" it like a movie. Pop some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy

[djbunnie]

Idk why? But I feel like Plant Sam…would love mantises!!!

Idk just thought it would be cool if Plant Sam had a soft spot for Mantis. Also Praying Mantis are so cool!!! Despite their size, praying mantis are some of the most feared predators In the insect world. They are carnivorous and basically eat almost anything that moves. They grab their prey with a quick reflex and precision. And once the prey is no longer able to move they start to eat their prey alive.

Also, Kung Fu Master Wang Lang is credited as the founder of Tang Lang Quan (Praying Mantis Boxing) during the Northern Song Dynasty. Legend says on one summer day, Wang Lang was walking in the woods and saw a praying mantis fighting a cicada with very swift movements. The praying mantis seized its prey. While Lang felt sorry for the cicada and tried to drive the Mantis away with its sword. To his surprise the praying Mantis jumped onto his sword and when Wang Lang tried to swap the mantis away, it dodge his hand and made several cuts on his arms within seconds!!! Wang lang was very amazed at the praying mantis skills and agility. After capturing the insect, he decided to observe its way of fighting.

They would make great spy’s/ assassin's for PlantSam!!! If a bad ghost were to enter her domain/ kingdom. The Praying Mantis would be undetectable because they could blend into the forest and could attack the intruders and/or quickly alert there is danger and must protect their queen.

Idk about you guys? But I believe Plant Sam should have immunity to Blood Blossom. To people who don't know or forgot. In the show, Blood Blossoms are blood-red flowers with anti-supernatural properties. And Since Plant Sam is a Nature Ghost, I believe she should have immunity, because it just makes sense.

Plant Sam would be worried for her precious Mantis safety, so what she would do is grow Blood Blossoms into poison.

I saw this cool video of turning flowers into paint. (Plant Sam would follow the same process when making the BB poison)

Sam would do this to the Blood Blossoms, so the Praying Mantis can dip their hands in the Blood Blossoms poison. So when they do attack, it would cause serious Damage on the enemies.

Lol can you guy’s imagine how crazy powerful/ scary that there are ghost creatures that can make several cuts in seconds and render ghosts powerless and cause them great physical agony, because it basically burns the ghost!!! (and for any horror fans: once the ghost are affected by the Blood Blossoms poison, the ghost are unable to defend themselves…so the Mantis would eat them)

Just thought it would be a cool idea and wanted to share!!! What do you guys think? Love to discuss and share new ideas with you all!!!

[hotstreak2k3]

Kung Fu Peach? Now that is what’s up. No need for Mario to rescue her from the Koopas when she is practitioner of Tai Chi style, Hung Ga style, The Northern Shaolin style, and Baguazhang forms.🐉🐯☯️

[91062854-ka]

Ceres (Voiced by: Laura Bailey)

Biographical information

Aliases:

June Pippinpaddleopsicopolis

Hiromi

Nickname: Fairy Feet (by Toph)

Nationality: Southern Air Temple

Ethnicity: Air Nomad

Age:

116 (biologically 16)

117-118 (biologically 17-18) in The Promise trilogy

119-120 (biologically 19-20) in The Search and The Rift trilogies

170 (biologically 70) at death

Born: 12 BG before Aang

Physical description

Eye color: Gray

Hair color: Dark brown

Skin color: Light

Personal information

Gender: Woman

Love interest: Zuko

Family:

Gyatso (Father figure)

Aang (Younger brother)

Allies:

Aang, Appa, Kaida, Katara, Momo, Sokka, Tenzin, Toph, Zuko, King Bumi, Bumi, Gyatso, Hakoda, Iroh, Kya, Suki, Kuzon, lion turtle, all Guardians, more ...

Enemies:

Azula, Ozai, Zuko (formerly in the future), Combustion Man, Long Feng, Sozin, Yakone, Zhao, Joo Dee, the Dai Li, more ...

Weapon of choice:

The elements, metal, glider staff

Fighting styles:

Airbending, waterbending (Northern and Southern style), earthbending (Chu Gar Praying Mantis Kung Fu), metalbending, firebending (Dancing Dragon), bloodbending (resigned from use), lightning redirection, energybending

Political information

Profession:

Air Nomad culture teacher

Airbending instructor

Guardian

Monk

Position:

Co-founder of the United Republic of Nations

Fully Realized Guardian

Fire Lady

Predecessor:

Sora (as the Guardian)

Successor:

Katrina (as the Guardian)

Affiliation:

Air Acolytes

Air Nomads

Air Scouts (formerly)

Team Avatar

Ceres was an Air Nomad born in 12 BG and the Guardian of her younger brother, Avatar Aang during the Hundred Year War, succeeding Guardian Sora and preceding Guardian Katrina. As the Guardian of her time, she was the second person capable of using all four bending arts: airbending, waterbending, earthbending, and firebending. She was also one of a select few Guardians and one of the first in many cycles to learn the ancient art of energybending as well as the first Guardian known to have actively used the technique.

Shortly before the beginning of the Hundred Year War, Ceres was frozen in an iceberg with Aang for a hundred years; she later emerged, still biologically sixteen years old, into a world engulfed by war. During her absence, the Fire Nation had waged war upon the other nations and managed to completely wipe out the pacifistic Air Nomads. It fell to Ceres and her brother, the Avatar and the Guardian, and the last two airbenders, to end the War by mastering the other three elements and defeating Fire Lord Ozai.

She remained a kind and good-hearted girl at heart throughout her year-long struggle, despite the overwhelming loss of her people, the heavy burdens she was forced to bear, and looking after her younger brother. After her victory over the Phoenix King, Ceres began a romantic relationship with Fire Lord Zuko. The couple eventually married and raised a family of three children: Izumi, the oldest, a nonbender who became Fire Lord later in life; Kuzon, a firebender; and the youngest, Gyatso, an airbender.

History:

Ceres was born to two Air Nomads in 12 BG. After selecting the Guardian relics from among thousands of toys, thereby inadvertently confirming her identity as the Guardian, she was taken away by the monks of the Western Air Temple, who kept her position a secret from her to the Southern Air Temple. As an Air Nomad, Ceres traveled extensively around the world. During her childhood, Ceres was housed, raised, and educated at the Southern Air Temple, under the guardianship of Monk Gyatso, who served as her father figure, counselor, and tutor.

As a child, Ceres was a member of the Air Scouts, where she learned essential skills such as how to tie reins to a bison's horns with the bison horn knot. After some time, she and several other young Air Nomad girls were taken to the Eastern Air Temple where they each chose a sky bison as their lifelong companion. On that day, Ceres named her bison Kaida, thus marking the start of their deep and lifelong friendship.

Ceres was always able to excel at any new bending moves she learned; at the age of six, she was a better airbender than children twice her age, and by the age of ten, Ceres had proven herself to be better than her own teachers. She earned airbending tattoos and the status of an airbending master by the age of ten for exhibiting prodigious talent with her native element, making her the youngest airbending master in Air Nomad history, next to Aang. Later on, she meets her newborn brother, Aang and with Gyatso, Ceres helps raised Aang, forming a strong bond.

As she raises Aang, she discovers that he selected the Avatar relics from among thousands of toys, thereby inadvertently confirming that Aang is the Avatar. Over the years, their bond became deeper as Ceres sees Aang as her son while Aang sees Ceres as his mother, since Ceres sings him songs, dancing with him, play with him and looking out for him to keep Aang safe so he doesn't hurt himself.

In her teen years, Ceres and Aang also visited the other air temples, as evidenced by his obvious familiarity with the Western Air Temple, as well as cities in the Earth Kingdom, such as Omashu, where Ceres and Aang developed a lasting friendship with the good-natured but eccentric Bumi. She and Aang even bonded closely with children in the Fire Nation, like Kuzon, with whom they went searching for a dragon in the mountains and saved a dragon egg from poachers.

Due to the signs of a possible war approaching, Aang was told about his status as the Avatar at age twelve, four years earlier than the traditional age of sixteen, which is similar for the Protector. Aang felt burdened by his status as the other children refused to play with him anymore and he came to spend more time practicing airbending with the monks. Monk Gyatso and Ceres were the only ones who showed understanding of Aang's burden, with Gyatso having been good friends with Avatar Roku and Guardian Sora, Ceres's and Aang's past lives, and tried to help ease Aang through the transition from childhood to adulthood by providing Aang with balance through fun during the upheaval in his life with Ceres, who stayed by Aang's side throughout his entire life, having Aang to never want to leave her and never want to see her getting hurt.

However, Aang and Ceres later discovered that they would be sent to the Eastern Air Temple in order to complete their airbending training far away from Monk Gyatso, whom the other monks thought was too soft on him. Afraid and confused, the two airbenders ran away with their flying bisons, Appa and Kaida, though they became caught in a storm shortly after, which caused them to crash into the water.

Aang and Ceres saved themselves, Appa and Kaida from drowning by semi-consciously entering the Avatar and Guardian States and freezing them both in a sphere of ice through a combination of airbending and waterbending. The Avatar and Guardian States kept them alive, albeit not fully conscious, in the iceberg for about a hundred years while the war raged on.

Trivia:

• Ceres means "Nourishment" in Latin.

• Unlike the color of their Avatar siblings' firebending, the color of the Guardian's yellow instead of orange. But that's only after they're revealed as the next Avatar and Guardian, that's how everyone can tell which sibling is the Avatar and the other is the Guardian, by the color of their firebending.

• Ceres is the first Guardian who can use bloodbending, but vows to never use it again.

• Ceres is the first Guardian who can use metalbending after convincing Toph to teach her.

[sunny-does-jjk]

The urge to combine Jogo's movements and techniques with ATLA's firebending (Northern Shaolin Kung Fu) styles are so strong rn

I have way too many ideas yet so little time ong

[kungfuwushuworld]

undefined

Chang quan (長拳'Long Fist') refers to a family of external (as opposed to internal) martial arts (kung fu) styles from northern China.The forms of the Long Fist style emphasize fully extended kicks and striking techniques, and by appearance would be considered a long-range fighting system. In some Long Fist styles the motto is that "the best defense is a strong offense," in which case the practitioner launches a preemptive attack so aggressive that the opponent doesn't have the opportunity to attack. Others emphasize defense over offense, noting that nearly all techniques in Long Fist forms are counters to attacks. Long Fist uses large, extended, circular movements to improve overall body mobility in the muscles, tendons, and joints. Advanced Long Fist techniques include qin na joint-locking techniques and shuai jiao throws and takedowns.

[depressedhatakekakashi]

Do you think any of Kakashi's/ Gai's kids have met grandpa Dai? I'm sure they all met Sakumo for sure but...do any of them know that the star in the skythat's a fixed point for travelers, is their mortal grandpa who watches over all?

I wonder if Hiroki visited him when he was starting to go crazy after the rain left, and if Dai could have keep him calm. Or if Nanako visited and they played for hours! Days even!

(She inherited his "the power of YOUTH!" moto and never aged. Wrestle time with grandpa~ XD)

Also when he was put in the sky as a star...can I ask how you picture that? I either see it as his soul glowing in the far off distance watching all in a zen like state(like Jake in adventure time)... or I see it as the star hides his version of heaven and he is inside and able to see all on like... some sort of magical projector (like a multi coulored lake that lets him see whatever he wants. Or northern lights in the sky that can likewise do the same thing. Honestly it looks a lot like the spirit realm in Kung Fu Panda 3 is what I picture when I picture Dai in a heavenly realm... I even give him pretty, shiny, fancy cloths. "Look at my cape!")

So for the 'what kind of existence does Dai have as a star' it's definitly like a personal paradise. His own little world where everyhting is ok and he gets to relive his happiest memories while also checking in on his son once in a while. It's not exactly easy to get to, but the gods are gods soo....

Dai actually gets to meet Nakano before anyone else since she's the first of Gai's children, and she's there by Obito's side when Dai passes away to take her grandpa to the afterlife. while Dai is deciding what he wants to do going forward he actually gets to visit Nakano a lot at her lake and see how his village grows around this new beautiful water source, knowing that the water source was brought to life because of his son's love for a god (and vice versa)

Hiroki has to go up to Dai to visit him when he ultimately passes. Dai doesn't waste a second before pulling his grandson into a tight hug and asking him to sit down and tell him his life story. Sure he got to see a lot of it for himself, but he also wants to hear about it from Hiroki. It's always nice to hear the story of someones life from them and see just how they felt about everything they experienced, and there's a lot to experience in 400 years.

Wakare is obviously the last one he meets, but they know better than to keep their grandpa waiting for them when they come into being. Brigning their twin with them, Wakare greets Dai and is immidiatly pulled into a bone crushing hug that they're pretty sure he shouldn't be capable of giving.

[mixedmartialartshub]

[russenoire]

i'm now about halfway through avatar: the last airbender s2 (and halfway through the entire series). and i have thoughts.

i regret missing out on this while it was airing. chest deep in anime at the time, i'd largely turned my back on american TV animation and was in the midst of wrapping up a bachelor's degree. A:TLA would probably have won me over then too. it holds its own as a story so well even now, i don't mind being two decades late to the party.

A:TLA takes place in a constructed world largely based on ancient china, with recognizable chunks from many, many other east asian peoples and subarctic indigenous nations stirred in. american fantasy worlds rooted in real-world places often tend towards this kind of racist pan-cultural stew (black panther—my deep abiding love for it otherwise—is another example) and A:TLA, a dish that manages to be both deeply honorable and kinda disrespectful, is no exception.

for every display of cultural respect:

all the chinese text in the show is real, supervised and/or translated by ming dynasty historian, research scientist and calligrapher dr. siu-leung lee.

the selection process for the avatar closely mirrors that for the actual dalai lama, right down to the search for a child born around the time of the previous lama’s death who picks his relics out of a collection of possible playthings.

the elemental bending techniques and fight choreography are derived from real chinese martial art forms. 5th gen northern shaolin master sifu kisu, the series' main martial arts consultant, chose a form for each element based on its movements and/or philosophy. the water tribes use t'ai chi; earthbenders use the hung gar style of kung fu (and the blind earthbender toph fights with her own aggressive and rare style, chow gar kung fu); the fire nation use northern shaolin kung fu; and the air nomads use ba gua zhang, a style characterized by spinning and other circular motions.

aang sits with a guru who teaches him how to unlock his chakras at one point, and his explanation respects both aang's level of maturity and the complexity of the concept as laid out in hinduism.

avatar roku’s fire temple contains a lotus-petal shaped flame motif common in thai art and architecture; ty lee and katara wear split skirts that resemble those worn by thai performers of a ballet retelling of the hindu epic ramayana (it’s called ramakien in thailand). thai (and burmese!) traditional dance/theatre costume and armor show up everywhere in the fire nation, especially in the military garb. even zuko’s topknot is a traditional thai hairstyle (for children).

there are perhaps two or three of ignorance or apathy.

names in mandarin chinese, korean, tibetan, sanskrit or japanese are mostly butchered; mandarin sees the worst abuse because it's used most often. A:TLA was released at a time when it was still not uncommon for US anime distributors to change japanese names outright in localizations; producers figured 'american-sounding' names would go down easier with audiences. given this, i'm not surprised a mid-2000s american production inspired by anime wouldn't give a toss about names in other asian languages: most americans don't care. (personally i find the mispronounced names far harder to stomach than the dollops of buddhist-daoist-hindu philosophy purée: while A:TLA’s painstaking worldbuilding, tight plot and excellent voice acting make the show's faults stand out all the more, its spiritual aspects aren't a major focus.)

someone thought it would be a good idea to give a group of swamp dwellers vaguely cajun accents. whyyyyy.

the blending (read: conflation) of cultures ignores existing tensions and centuries of cross-pollination in ways that can be offensive. there are many, many other nods to thai (and vietnamese! and burmese! and...) culture in clothing, setting and architecture across the series, but the showrunners made no effort to educate viewers on the provenance of any of these smaller influences. people of non-chinese east asian ancestries already get mistaken for chinese by americans who assume they’re all the same.

and yet. while looking to cartoons for cultural sensitivity may be a fool's errand, A:TLA gets a lot right, particularly when it comes to its characters.

more about the people of A:TLA to follow in a subsequent post.