Elderly martial arts master

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The elderly martial arts master is a stock character in martial arts films.^[1] Typically East Asian, he is a near-invincible master of the martial arts, despite his age and presumed decrease in physical strength. Most often he teaches either generic Kung Fu, or an exotic style specific to the movie (see List of fictional martial arts). During the films they are in, the master often becomes close with his student, with the master becoming a father figure to his pupil, who is, in turn, looked upon as a son. Usually, when the master dies or is captured, the hero will take it upon himself to avenge or rescue his master.

[edit] Examples

• Master Kan and Master Po in Kung Fu and Kwai Chang Caine in Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
• Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid films
• O-Sensei in DC Comics
• Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi masters in the Star Wars franchise.
• Pai Mei from the Kill Bill series of films (Volumes 1 & 2).
• Splinter from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise

[edit] See also

• Stock characters
• Bruceploitation
• Cinema of China
• Wire fu film
• Wuxia film
• Cliché

[edit] References