| Kung Fu Panda is a movie about a lazy panda, | | | | course, it is also possible to use strikes in ground |
| named Po, who is the biggest Kung Fu fan around. | | | | fighting. |
| However, this does not really come in handy | | | | * Submissions |
| whilst working in his family's noodle shop. Po's | | | | Joint locks and choke locks are referred to as |
| dreams become reality when he is chosen to fulfill | | | | submissions. There are generally done on the |
| and ancient prophecy and join the world of Kung | | | | ground, even though it is possible to execute |
| Fu and study alongside his idols, the legendary | | | | submission whilst standing. Of course the idea is to |
| Furious Five (Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and | | | | get your opponent to submit, and if they do not |
| Monkey) under the leadership of their guru, | | | | submit when a hold is employed, serious damage |
| master Shifu. However, the vengeful snow | | | | can be caused to them. |
| leopard Tai Lung is heading their way, and it is up | | | | * Takedowns |
| to Po to defend everyone in the Valley of Peace | | | | This refers to taking your opponent to the |
| from the oncoming threat. Po puts his heart and | | | | ground. This can be done using wrestling moves |
| soul into the task and the unlikely hero finds that | | | | such as a single and double leg takedown or |
| his greatest weaknesses turn out to be his | | | | throw. |
| greatest strengths. | | | | * Throws |
| Martial arts techniques are not magical, as some | | | | Throws are a specific type of takedown which is |
| movies may lead you to believe. It is believed by | | | | more defensive in nature. These are typically |
| many beginners that black belts can in fact jump | | | | defined as martial arts maneuvers or techniques |
| over four cars whilst taking out three attackers | | | | whereby a practitioner locks up with someone |
| along the way before they hit the ground. | | | | and uses their strength to take them to the |
| However, in reality these 360 degree kicks etc | | | | ground. |
| that are seen in films like Kung Fu Panda are fun | | | | In the movie Kung Fu Panda, The Five battle Tai |
| to watch on the big screen, but are very often | | | | Lung, but they are eventually defeated. All except |
| not the most effective self-defense techniques in | | | | Crane are paralyzed by a special nerve-striking |
| reality based combat. | | | | technique. There are no secret magical |
| General Martial Arts Techniques include: | | | | combinations of touch that can in fact cause a |
| * Blocks | | | | person to become completely immobilized. |
| Blocks are undertaken in order to stop an | | | | However, after saying that, there are places on |
| opponent from striking, usually with the arm. | | | | the human body where nerve crosses bone and |
| However, it is possible to use other limbs when | | | | artery crosses muscle that can cause intense pain |
| blocking. | | | | or unconsciousness when the correct amount of |
| * Footwork and Stances | | | | pressure is applied. |
| Martial artists work on their footwork and stances | | | | During the movie, Po attempts to explain the |
| to a great extent. Stances are imperative to both | | | | wisdom of the scroll to a frustrated Tai Lung. |
| sport and traditional martial arts. One example of | | | | However, Tai Lung uses his nerve attack on Po |
| a stance that is used in more traditional martial | | | | and fails due to Po's amply-padded stomach. |
| arts styles such as Kung Fu and Karate is the | | | | Emboldened, Po counter-attacks, and uses the |
| Horse Stance. | | | | Wuxi Finger Hold, which is a technique whereby Po |
| * Strikes | | | | flexes his pinkies and lets out a golden shockwave |
| Striking in martial arts typically refers to the stand | | | | that radiates over the entire village and destroys |
| up offensive game. In other words, punches, | | | | Tai Lung. Of course, there is no such technique in |
| kicks, elbows, headbutts, knees, and the like. Of | | | | martial arts. |