Original subtitles

Lion dancing.

A unique cultural treasure of the Chinese people and nation.

It originates from the training methods of ancient kung fu styles.

Martial artists would learn the basics of combat

by copying the movements of a fierce lion.

As the centuries passed,

the lion dance evolved into it's own type of physical sport.

However, it never lost the martial core that gave birth to the lion dance.

Behold, the heart of a lion!

How full of vim and vigor he is!

This kung fu school is lookin' for lion dancers.

It's in Shanghai. We can see the Bund. Tour the big city!

Whadda 'bout my day job, man?

Why don'tcha ask for the night shift?

Yep, just do that.

A Hero of The Jingwu Association VS

A Karate Master! A Heavyweight Boxer! A Muay Thai Champion!

And now, our fights.

Fight me!

Come and check out Fight Night!

The whole store's on sale!

Try us out, our prices can't be beat!

Y'all needa see this.

Yeah!

Dude, where's the Thai boxer? You're hella late!

It's the traffic, we ain't moved in an hour!

Didn't I warn you? There's always traffic around the City God Temple!

Like, pay attention, bro.

A replacement? Where in the heck am I gonna get those?

D'ya need some help?

Oh, we're moving!

Quick reminder, yeah?

It's a fake fight, but the punches are real.

Just work with him, okay?

Make way! Stretch coming through.

Your turn, champ.

Knock 'em dead!

Up you go.

Muay Thai! Muay Thai!

You blind dude? Protect your head.

Ain't this a fake fight? That hurt!

Well, sorry in advance.

Gyun! That fall ya faked looked amazin'.

S'cuz I didn't fake it...

Thank you so much.

Hey guys, we're a well known gym! Come check us out, okay?

100 RMB off your first few lessons!

Wait!

Aren't you Sifu Zhang from the Qiuzhen Boxing Gym?

That last fight looked a little fake to me.

Those fights were hella fixed, show us some real fighting!

Who're these guys?

He's, like, a super famous boxer, dude.

He's famous for exposing a bunch of fake masters and gyms as frauds.

Xiao Zhangyang. Jinxin Fighting Club. But that's not important.

Why don't we see some real boxing, huh?

What's wrong, Sifu?

You worried about going a few friendly rounds with someone like me?

Or are those sunglasses making you blind?

Give us some space.

Hey, y'all, they're fightin' for real!

I invited you here to put on a performance, not an entire circus!

But sir, so many people came to watch and we'll get hella social media exposure!

I can't believe it. Three years and you still haven't improved.

I don't care how you train privately but don't this is a damn circus!

It's embarassing.

Traditional kung fu is washed, dude.

- You see that? - For sure.

I'll let you off easy today.

But if you try to trick people like this again

then I'll give you another beating.

Let's go.

Barely gettin' by, it's all takin and no givin',

Dude, ease up! It hurts.

Shut up and deal, dude.

I told you again and again, these jobs make us look sketch as hell.

What legit gym goes around doing promos?

It's totally pointless.

It's not pointless. We have to do hella promos to stay afloat.

You can just sell your books. Get real.

Get real? My father poured his life into this gym.

I can't abandon it now and I can't keep relying on your money.

Y'know, I've got a business now.

A month to set up, 6 months to break even, and a year to pay everything back. Easy as.

We don't have a year. But if we could win this tournament, we might survive...

Like I need you to tell me how much we need that competition money.

If it's ok with you, we're gonna go. But uh...

Your pay, right?

You guys saw what happened out there. We didn't get paid for today either.

I'll give you my number and address, you can cruise over and pick up the money.

Don't worry, I won't scam you guys. My name is Wang Zhaoyu.

If you want, I'll let you guys take a picture of my ID.

No, it's ok! I trust you ma'am.

It's ok if you don't trust me. How much did we say you'd get paid?

Gyun, ye reckon we're gettin' that money?

We ain't seein' a dime!

Yer way too nice, that's why everyone's takin' advantage of us!

Eh, was good to practice some lion dancin'.

It's been nearabouts forever since our last lion dancin' gig.

That makes sense n' all

but if we can't find a buncha work for lion dancin' in Shanghai, then...

- We gotta find a new place? - S'what I'm sayin'!

The market for lion dancin' in Shanghai's darn near dead.

But us country boys can crack it open just like a crawfi-

Open the window facing Hangzhou Bay!

It's the most wanted property in Shanghai. You'll be richer than Fa Mulan herself!

The legend of Fa Mulan.

A young girl who goes ta the big city and uses her science know how

to clone dinosaurs and make millions running a dinosaur zoo!

Wait, ain't that BD Wong in Jurassic Park?

Obviously, findin' BD Wong helped Mulan get a buncha her money.

You gotta get a day job first.

I'm tellin' y'all. I checked our horoscopes.

"Fame and fortune will come easy in your new position", it said.

- It ain't that easy. - The big city's our oyster!

Mhm! We're alright.

Yeah. I know, I know.

I got enough clothes.

Sorry, sorry.

Yeah, I'm fixin' to make dinner.

Everyone came with me too, we were out doin' a gig today.

- We're eatin' good tonight. - Braised beef n' tomatoes! - Chicken stew!

Mhm.

Gyun, you're back late. Shift's starting soon.

I'll be right there Mr. Zhou.

- How's Pa? - He's listenin'.

Pa! I got a specialist's number.

I'll give 'em a call and he'll getcha up and movin' again.

Thank you, son.

But don't go outta your way, I want'cha to focus on your work.

I'll be ok. Gotta go, ok Ma?

Ok.

Ya still got this?

[Li Bai's Poems]

Gyun, you used to draw right?

I'm goin' to work. Y'all take it easy, ok?

I drew this one.

A Utopia in the City! An Eco-Garden and metro access!

Doc, will my pa ever walk again?

Some patients can return to full mobility after regular exercise and therapy.

How long'll that take?

I'd say it would take about a year.

The sooner we start, the better.

A year, huh?

How much do ya reckon it'll cost?

If his insurance covers it, it shouldn't cost too much.

What if he ain't got none?

My pa's never had medical insurance.

Well, if that's the case, it will probably be around 100,000 RMB.

- Who are you guys? - We live here lady!

You guys live here? Like, who told you that?

Yeah no, that's not allowed.

Gyun, you seeing this? These two guys are giving me lip.

I think they've been squatting here for a bit.

Auntie Huang, they're new here and ain't got jobs yet.

I'm lettin' them stay for a few days.

A few days? And how long is that?

We talked about this when we went over the contract.

One person for every five square meters. That's, like, the policy.

Gyun, don't make Auntie Huang's life hard.

I'm awful sorry Auntie Huang. What should we do?

I'll post you up in a bigger room. Give me 1500 RMB tomorrow morning.

- Why so much? - The deposit's a third of your rent!

If you don't like it, then just dip!

- We don't got enough to pay. - S'ok, I get paid tonight.

You want to freakin' get paid? When they snagged this stuff on your watch?

How many times did I tell you guys?

The construction materials are hella expensive, people will steal them.

You guys need to watch them constantly! Are you even listening?

You've got the wrong guy!

I kept my eyes on the stuff the whole time!

I don't care who screwed up. Don't bother showing up for work tomorrow, scram!

But I still haven't-

Be grateful I'm not making you pay for the steel they stole!

Hey Cat, what happened to that horoscope you checked?

Y'all keep lookin' for jobs. I'll grab that cash we're owed.

We might hafta sleep under the bridge tonight.

Come, come, come, don't miss out!

Qiuzhen Boxing Gym, 29 Guiyi Lane.

Hey bro, you interested in boxercise?

Is the Qiuzhen Boxing Gym near here?

I dunno. We're the best around dude. Qiu Who Boxing gym? Get outta here.

Be your best self! Real training, real fighting!

29 Guiyi Lane.

Get out!

He stepped on a banana in your doorway!

- This is your fault! - That hurt!

Look at him!

We're not asking for much here, dude. Just medical expenses and lost wages.

Oh, and like, emotional damages too.

Stop tripping, I'm not giving you a cent.

Stingy huh? Well, we're not leaving!

Get out, or I'll kick you out!

Look, look, look, she started it! Let's put her on blast, dude.

Leave or I'll call the cops!

The cops? You think the cops scare us?

110, what's your emergency?

Hello, I'd like to report a fight.

Tell me where you are and we'll send an officer.

Brah, someone's calling the popo!

This shrimp? Good lookin' out!

Hey, leave him alone. Stop, leave the boy alone!

Buzz off, lady.

You're a snitch, huh? Trying to call the cops?

- We'll see about that. - No!

- Fighting back? - Stop it!

You're a bunch of animals!

Go!

I'll remember this, dude. Watch yourself!

Thank you.

Are... you ok?

Yeah.

Thanks for stepping in, I had no idea you could scrap like that.

Lion dancin' teaches you how to fight. Who were those boys?

The gym next door's been harassing us for three days now.

It's lucky you hit us up just then.

They're the same ones from last time, right?

They're trying to snag more territory by taking over our place

but they're tripping if they think I'll sell.

I'm never doing that.

You want your dough, right?

I'm in a bit of a bind right now. I need money.

Oh, I'm sorry dude. Let me get it.

Here.

Hey, you're good at fighting. You down to earn some cash doing it?

- Earn some cash? - Here!

Stop pullin' my leg. I gotta find some work.

I can get you an invite!

I'll throw in room and board!

There's a cash prize if you win!

A prize? How much?

The top 4 get 100k RMB. The champ gets 300k.

I've done lion dancin' tournaments before but I ain't never done a pro fight.

I'll even get you a hella rad coach!

A coach?

- This guy? - This guy?

I was working until 3:30 last night, I need to catch up on hella sleep.

Zhang Wate,

Wang Zhaoyu! Why don't you chill?

To enter a horse race, you need an actual horse to put into the race.

This dude isn't even a dead horse. What's the point in training him?

Ain't he that fake kung fu master from before?

He is hella sus. Come to think of it, I haven't seen him fight before.

Huh? You're calling me a fake?

Heya, I'm over here.

Try hitting me.

Sorry for underestimatin' ya.

You think a fight's the same as a street brawl?

Your moves are sloppy. You couldn't hack it 3 seconds in a fight.

This will hurt to hear, but you're cruising for a bruising in the ring.

Well said!

Brother Zhang here knows his way around a ring.

It's important to pass down our knowledge to younger generations.

For example, how does it feel to lose?

What do you guys want now?

Xiao Zhangyang, let's just stop here, ok?

I'm just worried that the kids are going around picking fights.

So I came to apologize.

What the hell are you doing? Let go!

Wang Zhaoyu? You've got mail.

It's from a judge. Sign here please.

They're going to seize the place?

Yo? Looks like you're finally going under.

Why don't you just sell the property to us? That way, everyone benefits.

How much are you selling it for?

In your dreams dude!

It's fine. We'll be waiting.

It'll be cheaper when the judge forces you to sell anyways.

They're being so aggro now...

Zhang Wate, I want us to fight again.

If it doesn't work out, then I'll admit defeat.

The tournament is a televised reality show,

so there's gonna be hella eyes on it and it'll be great publicity for us.

If we can get our name out there we can get the gym up and running again.

I can hold onto my house and the gym.

I'll pay you and Zhang Wate can coach you.

I don't need the prize money. You two can split it 80/20.

20 for you. And 80 for you.

Oh, prize money?

This washout would be lucky if he even made it past qualifiers.

You said that you'd gimme room and board. You still holdin' out that offer?

Board, yeah. Rooms though...

You just heard the stuff about the gym.

Fine, fine, fine.

I can put him up and feed him. But I'm focusing on my business.

We're gonna train together, okay?

But if your scrawny ass can't even qualify after 3 months, then we're dropping you.

Does your business need employees?

So fightin' pays well?

- If ya win, yeah. - What if ya lose?

If I lose, it's just like workin' a job. At least the rent's covered for 3 months.

Time to go.

You can crash here.

Coach.

Where are we gonna train?

Are you really gonna train on this balcony?

Look over there.

An old school used to sit here, but it's been empty for a long time now.

Back when the gym had more students,

My Sifu, Zhaoyu's father, used to bring us here all the time.

You were hella young, you might've forgotten.

I remember.

Huh?

This is from when we were training here.

- So Zhaoyu's father, he's... - No longer with us.

It's a shame that the gym has fallen on such hard times.

Her father put his whole life into the gym.

She was holding back for her father's sake.

If Sifu knew that she had paused her studies abroad to manage the gym

instead of selling her expensive books for a quick grip of cash, he'd have a fit.

Right here. A seed can sprout anywhere.

- I believe in you. - A seed. Yeah, we'll go with that.

It's getting late. I have to start my business soon.

The super mysterious business again. What sort of company is it anyway?

Big business.

Big business, huh?

I'm not paying you to sit around!

Food is omnipresent. Just like the sky!

'Cept the sky doesn't taste very good.

Authentic Shanghainese Flavor!

Whoa. You've got some hidden depths, huh?

- Wow, that was like so awful. - Ew, that tasted gnarly.

Way too sweet.

No way dude! Look, I used salt.

That right there's sugar. Yer salt's over here.

[Salt] [Sugar]

Come on, hurry up!

Hurry up with what?

Hurry and start dancing, dammit!

We need to turn you into a new man in three months.

First, we're gonna work on your conditioning and endurance.

You're gonna run a kilometer every day, and throw 1000 punches every day.

Forget the complex stuff. Focus on your straights and hooks.

Fighting in the ring is hella exhausting.

No helping!

You need to be able to take a beating and not get yourself KO'd out there.

KO?

Getting knocked out! Duh.

Basically, you need to know how to get beat up before you can fight.

Hands up! Protect your head!

You need to have a good physique if you want to avoid getting rocked in the ring.

Otherwise...

Eh. You'll get exposed in the ring.

Practice makes perfect!

Hey, listen.

I need to take a leak.

Ya reckon he's got enough to pay us?

Mama, I want chow mein.

Mama. Chow mein, chow mein! I wanna eat chow mein

What's up?

Where's the noodles?

Supreme Soya Sauce Chow Mein.

Hidden depths, huh?

Um... It's tasty!

Real kung fu starts from real life work.

He'll do it.

Everything can be used for training.

He'll do it.

He'll do it.

He'll do it. Here's the deal.

We need you to do in three months what most people do in a year.

You two stop slacking off.

Fights can be won or lost in a second.

We need to work on your reaction speed.

Authentic Cantonese Flavor!

You need to practice and burn it into your muscle memory.

Lady?

Two plates of salted fish fried rice to go!

Over here, lady!

- Coming, coming! - Sifu's fish can't be beat by no one.

Isn't your Sifu a lion dancer?

I just sent y'all a box. It's gone already?

It's amazin'! They can't get enough.

Well I'll be! Good work y'all.

Make the missus and me proud out there, y'hear?

Yes ma'am sir!

Mind if I steal this for a bit?

I'm going to cop some drinks.

You two take over.

I need to take a rest.

Hey Coach.

Gyun's been doin' the same stuff for darn near two months now.

This ain't just a scheme make us do unpaid labor, right?

Ain't there anythin' new you gots to teach me?

You think 3 months of training makes you a pro fighter?

At best, you won't embarrass yourself in there.

His fundamentals are still hella sloppy! I wouldn't be surprised if you got KO'd.

If you don't want this to happen to you, then focus on your damn fundamentals.

You'll thank me later.

- 'Sup dudes? - Nothing.

Fight Night, a big fighting competition, is about to start very soon.

Several martial arts gyms are sending their best fighters to compete.

Who can break through and seize that title?

Who can show us the very best that the martial arts have to offer?

This spectacle is sure to fire up the hearts of our viewers!

In my opinion, fighting is the perfect combination of education and entertainment

and it's a market full of growth.

We're not just throwing a single competition this time around.

We're going to use the power of television to film a show based around real kung fu.

We'll use social media to forge celebrities out of fighters.

Not only will we entertain the people, we'll also make the pie bigger for everyone

- and highlight the diversity of Shanghai. - I think he's makin' perfect sense.

Like idols!

He just wants the pie to be bigger so he can eat a bigger slice.

- Who is he? - The Jinxin Fighting Club's boss.

Xiao Zhangyang's his fighter.

The Jinxin Fighting Club is proud to sponsor this event.

We're going all out. We spared no expense.

Alright, well, thank you very much for the interview, Mr Jin Muyang.

The pleasure is all mine.

What are you doing here?

- Well, what about you? - Trouble sleepin'.

Me too.

I'm wiped out. Can we take five?

- So... - So...

You go first.

So, I never actually asked why you came to Shanghai.

I'm just tryin' to make money.

Dude, that's what they all say. I wanna know your specific story.

I ain't got much of a story.

I just figured that I could hack it out here in the big city.

Give my folks a better life 'n all.

Plus, my pa can only get treatment out here with the big city doctors.

I was workin' in Guangzhou for a few years and now, I'm here in Shanghai.

I reckoned that there'd be more opportunity here.

More people too.

But I can't even stand on my own, let alone pay for my pa's rehab.

Actually I should be thankin' you.

Fightin's probably the best chance I've got since I came here.

If anything, I have to thank you.

The tournament's tomorrow. How are you feeling?

Nervous. S'why I couldn't sleep.

Try not to worry too much, you can't lose heart now.

My father always told me that kung fu and ethics both start from your breathing.

You can't do anything good if you're struggling to breathe.

Cultivate your outer body, cultivate your inner spirit.

Keep those hands up too.

Take a deep breath.

Let me tighten your belt.

Tomorrow, you're stepping in that ring for your parents, for us, and for yourself.

Hello to the crowd and everyone at home! Are you ready to kick off Fight Night?

It's qualifiers!

All of our fighters have been randomly assorted into four groups.

The qualifiers are 1v1 eliminations! We're cutting the field in half.

The next round will be a points race.

I'm Wei Xuan, your voice on the mic. With me tonight is MMA expert, Tang Rui.

How's everyone doing? I'm Tang Rui.

Beautiful work!

In this tournament, elbows and wrestling are allowed.

Fighters can be more creative in the ring and us viewers get more exciting fights!

- You legit wore your jammies to this? - No one said I couldn't.

What's the walkout music going to be?

What do you mean, walkout music?

The music your fighter walks out to. You can't have him walk out in silence!

We don't have any walkout music.

Damn. We'll have to find one for you. What vibe are you looking for?

We do traditional kung fu. Find a traditional folk song!

Got it.

It's time for the last qualifying match from Group A

Now introducing our fighter from the Qiuzhen Boxing Gym!

Lau Ka Gyun!

Walk.

He's currently the youngest fighter that's competing in our tournament!

He's got a heavy burden on his shoulders.

He's stepping in to represent traditional kung fu in the ring!

Will we see a new hero rise in the ring like a story straight out of legend?

Mouth guard?

It's been a while since a fighter like this has stepped into the ring to test himself!

Can he show us a shocking upset tonight and become a winner?

Is he kissing the ring? How respectful!

Zhaoyu, don't blame me if he gets eliminated.

Don't, like, give up before the fight's even started.

You can do it, Gyun!

And now, from the Terra Fogo Fight Team, coming at you straight from Brazil,

Silva!

Silva's 28 years old this year.

A capoerista and a Taekwondo practitioner,

his kicks are as beautiful and varied as they are deadly in the ring.

A unique and unpredictable fighter, they call him the King of Kicks!

Knock him out!

One round!

Coach Tang, what was Silva saying there?

I believe he said "one round." Maybe this will be a quick fight.

Our Brazilian fighter's getting cocky.

I want a clean fight, no rabbit punches or hitting a grounded opponent.

Arrogance doesn't necessarily mean skill. But it does show confidence.

- When I say stop, you stop. Understand? - He's going up against rookie Lau Ka Gyun.

Also, Gyun studies traditional kung fu which has never done well in the ring.

- This first round might end in an easy KO. - Fighters to your corners!

Let's just hope that he can hold out for 2 minutes.

Are you ready? Are you ready?

Fight!

That's our fastest knockdown in our tournament yet!

Straight to the point! That's a picture perfect knockdown.

Come on, get up!

Lau Ka Gyun is getting up!

- I'd just stay down if I were him. - Do you want to continue?

He's just going to get KO'd.

I doubt he's going to make it past the first round.

Hang in there Gyun!

Fight!

Coach Tang, what're your thoughts?

Gloves up.

C'mon Gyun! You can do this! Show him what you've got!

Lau Ka Gyun's getting up again?

You don't get prizes for taking a beating. There's no way he'll survive like this.

Fight!

Hands up. Keep those hands up!

How long before the round ends?

Just hold on Gyun!

15 seconds left!

Stop playing around. End him!

Stop. Stop!

I told you to finish it. What're you doing?

That round was basically just a vintage King of Kicks performance, right?

Props to Lau Ka Gyun for surviving though.

Coach Tang, what are your thoughts?

Youngsters these days. They've got heart.

You've got an iron chin. He spent a lot of energy that round.

You can still fight back.

Remember, as long as you don't get knocked down, you still have a chance.

Stop playing with your food and knock him out, for Christ's sake.

Coach Tang, any predictions for this round?

Silva has to take this round seriously. I doubt Gyun's going to last 30 seconds.

Fight!

You see? I called it.

Yeah. Let's go Gyun! Don't give up.

Silva's movements are getting sloppy. He's not generating enough power.

Break, break, break!

Back up.

Hitting a grounded opponent is illegal so Silva's being shown a yellow card!

What the hell was that?

What do you want from me? He's a zombie!

Using jiujitsu in a kickboxing match? I can't believe it!

Follow the rules, you moron!

Fight!

Keep calm, keep calm!

A counter attack from Lau Ka Gyun!

Just like that! Don't let up.

- Come on, come on! - What in the world is he doing?

You ain't seen this before?

Lion dancin'!

Round's up!

That was great Gyun! Good job.

And our fight unexpectedly goes into it's third round!

To be honest, he's shown a lot of heart and grit just making it this far.

That counter attack was very unusual.

Traditional kung fu moves rarely work inside of the ring.

Right now, he's currently trailing Silva on the scorecards.

Hey. Don't swallow. Spit it out.

You've got some good kicks there, kid.

You gotta kick a lot in lion dancin' competitions.

That's right! We've done heaps of lion dancin' competitions!

Good. Good.

That dude's gassed out, so he's not going to have any power in his kicks.

We need to go on the offensive this round.

Kick his legs out from under him, got it?

Fighters ready?

Fight!

Stay in measure!

Kick him, kick him!

Silva's kick got checked by Gyun's knee! He might have an ankle injury!

Kick him again!

Yeah! Let's go!

Yes! We won!

Lau Ka Gyun wins over Silva with a TKO!

He managed to stage a miraculous comeback against all odds!

Sometimes luck can carry a fighter to victory.

If Silva had taken the fight seriously, then Gyun would never have had a chance!

This kid might have the sauce!

Give it up for your winner, Lau Ka Gyun!

A shocking TKO of Silva 21 seconds into the 3rd round!

Now, one of our sponsors, Jin Muyang from the Jinxin Fighting Club will take the stage

to present Lau Ka Gyun with a qualifying ticket for the points race!

Please, join us.

Successful qualification!

Shanghai Fight Night!

Don't change the channel just yet, our group B fights are starting soon!

First up, a rising star in kickboxing! Jinxin Fighting Club's Xiao Zhangyang!

Jinxin

Xiao Zhangyang.

His opponent, Sheng Pengfei from Pengfei Kickboxing!

Peng Fei

Sheng Pengfei

Stay tuned, you don't want to miss this!

Jinxin Peng Fei

Xiao Zhangyang Sheng Pengfei

Peng Bro's.

New bigger size! On shelves near you!

Same Price! More Package!

Cheap and Tasty!

Welcome back after that short ad break. We're getting straight into our next fight!

Wait.

Fight!

What a perfect storm of speed, skill, and power!

- This is the new era of Xiao Zhangyang! - Well, we lucked out dodgin' 'im.

A new era? What were y'all doin' before?

The situation back then was different. Kung fu was popular with everyone.

The Qiuzhen Boxing Gym was an institution and a beacon of traditional martial arts.

Back then, I was the gym's top student, so I shone too.

In comparison, the Jinxin Fighting Club was small and insignificant.

Xiao Zhangyang was also just a newbie.

But they were ambitious. They realized that kung fu would struggle in the ring.

They said that traditional martial arts was just acrobatics and dance.

Traditional martial artists lost hella respect in the eyes of the public.

Every challenger he faced...

ended up eating pavement.

They took an internal issue of fraudulent masters

and blew it up into a giant media circus.

Traditional martial arts schools lost hella face as a result.

But the Jinxin Fighting Club and Zhangyang became way more popular with the public.

My master couldn't step into the ring because his health was too poor.

But I wasn't going to let it slide.

Kung fu could scrap, and I was willing to prove it.

What happened next?

I lost. He's a strong fighter.

My eye and our reputations never recovered from that match.

You had just gone off to college.

Your father and I didn't want you to get distracted from all your studying.

But despite our best efforts,

we couldn't stop the gym from losing business.

I couldn't accept it.

I studied everything I could and watched film of foreign fighters and matches.

Modern martial arts developed from the traditional martial arts.

Our kung fu had to adapt too.

We had to adopt modern training methods to breathe new life into traditional arts

and make them relevant in a modern context.

This is the notebook that I kept all of my research in.

I was hoping that I'd be able to put it into practice

But my eyes haven't gotten any better and I still see double.

I guess the Heavens only gave me one shot.

And I wasted it.

The points race starts a month from now. It'll last for 3 whole months.

There's not a lot of killers in your group.

So as long as your practice every day you might have a chance of making it.

- Ok. - I'm giving you two an important task.

- 'Course. - Ya can count on us.

I'll coach you as well as I can. How much you'll learn is up to you.

Let's begin.

Lion dancing's given you a good foundation.

Combined with a modern training regime, your kicks can be deadly in the ring.

However,

that alone isn't going to cut it.

The boxing gym isn't making us as much money as the food stall, right?

We can't eat our feelings, can we?

How many fights is the fighter from your gym likely to win?

Combat sports are a competitive activity.

The fighters out there have styles that they developed to win under that ruleset.

But Chinese kung fu was made to fight wars.

Many traditional martial arts techniques are illegal in the ring.

So we're limited in what you can do.

Well, how can I fight then?

They have their own rules, but we have our own techniques!

When they push, we'll pull and when they pull, we'll push!

We'll have you parry each strike and then counter.

- The secret lies in a single word. - A word?

Flow!

Your body and your limbs need to be able to flow with their attacks.

Let him come to you and wear himself out like a wave breaking upon the shore.

Lau Ka Gyun, a rookie, has managed to get a 3 fight win streak in the tournament.

- Hey, isn't that Gyun? - I didn't peg that dude as a fighter.

In the eyes of many viewers, you're kung fu's great hope in the ring.

How does it feel to have so many fans?

Hey, didn't you work with him?

I reckon the biggest reason I'm winnin' is because of my coach's trainin'.

Us traditional martial artists have to preserve our traditions

but we also have to have the courage to adapt to a changing world.

With that, we can revea-

- You guys can't be in here! - Xiao Zhangyang, can we get a selfie?

It's ok. We can take some.

- Ms. Xu can you take the picture? - Of course.

Okay, everyone. Get in the photo!

Say cheese!

As the clear favorite to win,

Jinxin Fighting Club's Xiao Zhangyang is is flaming hot in the ring and outside it!

- Woah, he's real strong. - No wonder he tore up Coach's eye.

We don't have to worry about him yet.

If you don't get first place in your group, you won't even get to face him at all.

Focus on this guy first.

He's Thai fighter with over 100 fights and a decade of professional experience.

That guy is in our group.

With how you are now, you don't have a chance.

I doubt you'd survive to the end of the match.

That's the dude you need to beat to make it to the semifinals.

Yodsan

The Siamese Tiger

- We have to start preparing now. - How are we gon' train for him?

I don't have a clue.

Well if I'm bringing the fighters and the advertising, what are you bringing?

Sincerity.

I'm bringing sincerity and I have a well thought out business model.

A beautiful and innocent young girl. A hometown hero who's a rookie fighter.

Both alone in the big city, they find comfort in each other's arms.

Stay still.

It seems that you're a little hotblooded.

Your lust for money is too strong.

You should leave the world of men and retreat into seclusion to meditate.

Clear your mind.

Get off me! What the hell? Go away.

Pretend those weeds are your opponent. Go!

Move faster. Concentrate!

In the ring, if you're cunning and brave, you can overcome strength with weakness.

Yodsan's only weakness is his age.

His gas tank probably isn't as good as yours.

You need to be like these weeds.

Hella pliable and flexible. That's how you'll make it to Round 3.

And when his reaction speed slows down,

You'll pull out your secret move and knock him flat on the canvas!

What's the secret move?

Back in the day, the Bund had the Four Heavenly Kings.

It was me

and three other dudes.

They had their own unique skills. The only problem is...

They might still be as difficult to work with as they were back then.

The pressure point attacks in kung fu target specific weak points in the body.

Minimum effort for maximum returns.

In the squared circle, where you strike is as important as how you strike.

Well, it's time.

Thunderbolt Hall

Put some power into those hands!

Let me show you how it's done. Watch carefully, alright?

You start over here, work fast, and cup carefully.

Understand, Wang?

Yo, Zhang! Long time no see out there. Use your head more.

- Welcome, welcome. - Long time no see, bro.

Come in! Someone get us some water!

Can you believe it, Zhang? Thunderbolt Hall's grown so big recently.

I've got 30 disciples now!

So, Mr. Li. This kid's a fighter but he's run into a small problem.

Can you teach him a little bit about acupuncture?

Chinese style massages stimulate blood flow in the body by relaxing the muscles.

Our qi circulates hot and cold through our nine heavens.

If you want to study that, you have to officially become my disciple.

You're still gatekeeping techniques?

Don't you want to get revenge for losing that fight?

What fight huh? What loss huh?

I'm not part of the martial arts world! Right now, I'm just a medical professional!

Cut the crap and get the hell out!

Wait, just listen!

Freakin' psycho.

His kung fu ain't half bad.

If these techniques work, then why couldn't he beat Xiao Zhangyang?

It's because traditional kung fu masters didn't spar or pressure test techniques.

Their conditioning was also poor.

So when they got in the ring against someone like Xiao Zhangyang

they got completely overwhelmed.

However, these moves are hella rare inside of the ring.

So if your fundamentals and conditioning are good, you can surprise your opponent.

We're here.

Muay Thai's got elbows, but kung fu's got elbows too.

The Rolling Dragon Elbow. It's killer.

And unpredictable.

Not him.

Long time no see, Miss Hua!

Don't be daft, you know we're neighbors.

A day without you is an eternity, my dear.

Cheers love! See you soon.

- Sup, bro? - You put a damn sock in- Wate?

You came all this way to visit little old me?

Your lil bro came all the way so you can teach us the Rolling Dragon Elbow.

Oh.

It's about that, innit?

I'm finished with that life. Sod off, can't help you.

This kid has a pro fight coming up.

As his martial elders, shouldn't we be willing to lend a hand to our youngers?

Forget about it, laddie. Go home and find a real job.

Better than getting beat up for bugger all.

Absolutely bonkers.

Miss Hua, Miss Hua! Try some pork shoulder!

This next guy we're going to,

his right hand turns over the clouds and then his left hand turns over the rain

with both, he sweeps it all away.

This hidden skill that even gods and demons covet is called

the hands of Yin and Yang!

I want everyone to take a good look.

My magic is as quick as lightning. A fleeting illusion!

Now kids, who wants one?

I want one. Me too, me too!

Don't fight, there's enough for everyone! Don't forget to have your parents pay.

Uncle Ming. Long time no see.

- I want to introduc- - Lau Ka Gyun. I know.

Then...

Watch closely, ok kids? Poof! It's gone.

- Oh, what's this? - Sun Wukong's staff!

Here ya go.

NO

The trick works best if only a few people have seen it.

The fight is being broadcast live.

It's all recorded. Wouldn't that ruin my trick?

Isn't that right kids?

Yeah, that's right!

Those short sighted antiques!

They're still think that we're gangsters who hide ourselves in secret societies!

We got any other techniques?

Let's just focus on your next fight and getting as many points as we can.

Can I steal Gyun for half a day?

I wasn't planning on asking you to do this but this guy insisted on seeing you.

But I ain't good at speakin'.

It's ok, I'll do most of the talking! You can just sit back and enjoy the food.

Please, come in.

Ah, our star rookies! Please, please, make yourselves at home.

Sit, please, sit.

I insist.

Thank you.

Jin Muyang from the Jinxin Fighting Club.

Your rise has been unbelievable.

A rookie like you making it this far? In just three months?

You're far too kind, sir.

Just tell us what you want.

What's the rush? Let's eat first.

The steak here is simply divine. We can talk while eating.

You know, I look at you and I'm reminded of myself 20 years ago.

Back then, me and my friends had just arrived in Shanghai.

I was desperate to put down roots

not realizing that big cities are worlds of steel and concrete.

It was difficult for us to stand out.

Oh, Zhaoyu, do you not like steak?

I'm a vegetarian.

- Waiter. - Master Jin?

- Please get a salad for the lady. - At once, sir.

I heard that you've been looking for money. It's hard out there, isn't it?

For a small gym like yours I mean.

You're young. Money isn't easy to come by.

Most people don't understand this business.

But I've been doing this for years, so I understand the struggle.

Tell you what, why don't we work together? We go way back, after all.

Work together? What do you want?

You get straight to the point. I like that.

I know that your house is in danger and that you need money soon to save it.

Once the court begins the house auction, it'll be difficult to stop it.

But me, I can help you with that.

I can give you a small amount so you can renovate the gym.

You can run it, and we'll do this together.

Let's cut the crap. What are your terms?

- It's a small request. - Just say it.

Use the Jinxin Fighting Club's branding.

No deal.

The name of a gym isn't important at all.

You can use the Jinxin Fighting Club brand to gain more attention and profit.

Mr. Jin. I wish you luck in buying up the rest of the martial arts world.

But we're not interested.

We're done here.

Well that ruined my day. Want to go somewhere?

I still hafta train.

The world won't end if you take some time for yourself, y'know.

My dad used to take me here a lot.

Really?

Be honest, do you sometimes think that I'm being too stubborn?

You can be a bit ornery, yeah.

Don't be fooled by Mr Jin. He's all smiles and handshakes, but he's a snake.

Well, darn, I ain't picked up on that.

I reckon I ain't smart enough to understand all that.

Did you enjoy the food at least?

Nah, my stomach ain't used to vittles like that.

Hey, look at that street.

The second place on the right with the red roof.

That's the Qiuzhen Boxing gym. My home.

The first time I came here, my dad told me to make a wish when the lights came on.

But I was hella scared of heights.

So I just pointed there and said "I wish I was home!"

My dad was always working to try and support our family.

It was only after he passed away that I realized how much work that was.

And Zhang Wate's like my older brother.

I know that dude, I know that he doesn't know how to do anything but fight.

Fighting's in Wate's blood.

Actually, Coach Zhang's really strong. He's done so much studyin' on fights.

Exactly.

How's that weed whacking working out for you guys?

I didn't expect weeds to be so tough.

Now you'll know if weeds try to jump you!

Look over there.

Like, just use your imagination.

The setting sun.

The side of a classroom.

Weeds growing under a magnolia tree. Can you see it?

Yeah.

Can you see behind those weeds?

Nah, I can't. Can you?

Oh, the lights!

Tell me what your wish is.

I guess I'm just wishin' that the next match goes alright.

And after that?

The top 4 would be nice, I reckon, so we can grab a heap of cash.

And what about after that?

- Bring my ma and pa here? - C'mon, you can dream bigger than that!

Here I'll help you out. Gyun wants a big house and a big car.

He's taking his parents on a world tour.

First stop, America! I'll act as your guys' tour guide.

The champion, Lau "Weed Whacker" Ka Gyun.

- Look, isn't that a better story? - I can't afford to dream like that.

You've put in so much work, you should have more faith in yourself.

Okay.

- I feel better now. Thank you. - Me too.

I have a present for you, once you get to the semifinals.

- What sorta gift? - It's a secret!

Gyun's match is totally about to start!

- The Qiuzhen Boxing Gym's Lau Ka Gyun! - What a joke.

Can't we change the music?

We can!

Lau Ka Gyun's knocked out another opponent with his stunning kicks!

You gotta watch out for his kicks. Another explosive KO for Lau Ka Gyun!

A hometown hero, Gyun's super hot with viewers!

Recently netizens have discovered that he helps run a street food cart.

As you can see, business is booming.

Do you have any comment on kung fu fighter Lau Ka Gyun's recent performance?

I heard that he sells dried fish at night.

Well, he should know that you can flip over rotten fish all you want

but it's gonna stink just the same.

Coach Xiao, are you looking forward to the two of you facing off in the ring?

I'm looking forward to when we meet.

After all, you have to taste test a fish to know if it's dried or rotten.

Isn't that right?

Do you miss being a petty gangster? Is that it?

His face just pisses me off.

You're representing our club out there, so watch what you say in the future.

This kid's either a genius or a disaster.

Can you dudes show me a lion dance?

Ma? Did'ya get the money?

Yeah, I got a raise!

The Qiuzhen Boxing Gym!

Lau Ka Gyun!

Victory for Qiuzhen Boxing Gym's Lau Ka Gyun!

The Hometown Hero and the Siamese Tiger to clash! Popular Fighter Lau Ka Gyun vs Thai Champion Yodsan.

Public notice of judicial auction.

29 Guiyi Lane. Two story home.

Your fight is tomorrow.

Don't worry. If you can win tomorrow, we can still turn this around.

Today's the last night of Fight Night's point race.

Tonight, we determine our semifinalists!

Please welcome the Qiuzhen Boxing Gym's Lau Ka Gyun!

This young warrior has surprised us at basically every turn

and is now one of the most popular fighters in our tournament!

But tonight,

he's going to be facing his biggest challenge of the tournament so far!

And now, let's give a warm welcome to Lau Ka Gyun's opponent,

the Siamese Tiger,

Yodsan!

Yodsan has a professional record of 128 wins and 10 losses,

with 65 victories by way of knockout.

His Muay Thai is as explosive and powerful as the Siamese tigers of old!

When you're in the pocket you need to watch out for his elbows.

Don't get trapped on the ropes

and try to circle out if you get pushed into a corner.

Always follow his eyes.

Lau Ka Gyun is currently 3 points behind.

He needs to get 4 points here by knocking out Yodsan.

- Coach Tang, what do you think? - Well, I think it's unlikely to happen.

Fight!

Come on and fight back!

Put some power into it!

That's why Yodsan's the Iron Man. The gap between them's too high.

Charge, charge!

Oh, and a nasty cut opens up on Gyun's forehead.

That's what they call a cutting elbow!

Watch your tempo!

Don't panic!

Yodsan read Lau Ka Gyun like a book and countered Gyun's finisher!

Use those knees and push him to the corner!

Catch the leg, catch his leg!

Yes!

Gyun knows he can't win a head on fight so he's trying to switch things up.

Ready?

Fight!

Be more active!

Just like that. Watch your tempo!

Get stuck in!

Don't let him set the tempo!

- Protect your head. Breathe! - That's why he's the Siamese Tiger!

- Look at him stalk his prey! - Gyun's in trouble, now.

10 seconds left, just hold on.

Keep it up, don't stop punching him!

The hell?

Why didn't you ring the bell? Do your damn job dude!

The official clock is still running!

Freakin' incompetent bastard!

- I'll kill you! - Calm down, sir.

- The round's over. It's over. - Enough.

A freakin' yellow card? I'll show you a yellow card

you yellow bellied coward!

Well, folks, we just saw Gyun's coach get a yellow card for arguing with an official.

These bastards have gone too far.

- I'm filing a complaint! - What's goin' on?

Just a misunderstanding.

Focus on getting off that center line. You need to avoid those elbows.

He's too strong.

Look at me! We only have one shot at this.

I need you to stick with it to the end, ok?

Go out there and be like those weeds. Keep yourself firmly planted on the ground.

Fight!

Choose your punches. Pay attention to your power!

Circle out, circle out!

Stop!

What the hell are you doing? That was clearly a foul!

They're challenging the countdown?

Why is there a countdown, that was a damn foul!

Sir, please calm down.

Coach Tang, that looked like a foul to me.

Yodsan was skirting the line there, but Gyun looked like he was getting up.

- Strictly speaking, he wasn't grounded. - Gloves out.

- How are you so damn incompetent? - Please, sir, relax.

This... This is totally corruption! You should be ashamed of yourselves!

Fight!

You're seriously taking him away?

- Outrageous! - This is totally unfair!

This is a freakin' farce!

Lau Ka Gyun's coach is now being evicted after being shown a red card!

Lau Ka Gyun might be forced to stop relying on his kicks!

They're usually his biggest strength, but in this match, they're a liability.

Coach is gone, what're we gon' do?

Gyun, I want you to be careful out there. Something's fishy about this match.

- Make the loss dramatic. - Yeah, no problem.

KO him!

It ain't important. We only got one round left.

Trust in yourself.

Fight!

Yeah! Beautiful!

Looks like Lau Ka Gyun's got a second wind! Coach Tang, are we about to see a comeback?

Gyun's young.

I'm sure he's still got gas in his tank but I think it's too little, too late.

- We can only wish him luck. - Good luck!

What an explosive kick!

A classic Muay Thai roundhouse kick! Fast. Accurate. Ruthless.

Can Gyun beat the count again?

Yodsan's accuracy and power have declined in the third round.

- He's old after all. - But his kicks in Round 1 did their job.

There's no way Gyun can recover!

Rush him down!

Lau Ka Gyun's in a bad state! It seems like that kick earlier's really got him hurt.

Only 30 seconds left! Surely the fight's over?

Gyun will be happy just to survive!

Ready?

Fight!

I have to say, Gyun's done well as a rookie

but he's also been extremely lucky so far in this competition.

However, it seems like his luck's run out!

If you can be like these weeds, you'll be unreadable and untouchable.

If you can do that, you can ambush him.

I can't believe it!

Lau Ka Gyun with a gravity defying kick that turns this match around completely!

- That was beautiful! - Never stop fighting until the last bell!

Lau Ka Gyun wins a wonderful KO victory 2 minutes and 35 seconds into Round 3!

Please welcome one of our sponsors onstage to hand out the ticket for the semifinals!

Every semifinalist will receive 100k RMB.

Our champion will receive 300k RMB!

All of our purses will be awarded at our final Fight Night event.

Please look forward to that and thank you all for coming to watch!

That's all for now folks!

Ma, how are you and Pa doin'?

A bunch of people want to invest in us. I can buy back the gym with that money.

Of course they are, we're in the semifinals!

But I'm hella worried, we don't know what Jin Muyang's planning in response.

Waddabout we skip the fight?

We can't. If we forfeit the match, we also forfeit the prize money.

My folks're comin' next month.

Have you told them that you're fighting in the ring for money?

Not yet. I don't wanna worry them.

So, in the semifinals, we're not aiming to win, we're just focusing on defense.

Food's ready!

Bottom's up, Gyun!

Hey! He still has a fight to prep for!

Gyun, that fact you're a semifinalist is already very impressive.

Safety comes first outside the ring.

Win or lose next match, we're winners as long as we get the gym back.

It don't matter, I'll still do my best!

I told ya that horoscope was good for it. Cheers y'all! We made it.

- Alright, come on. - Cheers everybody!

Cheers! Cheers!

What are you doing here?

- Who's askin'? - Our bad, dudes!

We're just here for uh, a midnight snack.

Whatever it is, just get out! We're clearing this out tomorrow.

Get out now.

Should I trim the weeds, or just uproot everything?

There's nothing to worry about. I'll just knock him out.

This is a show.

We don't actually determine the winner, the audience does.

He's a young prodigy who studies kung fu.

A good old hometown hero and lion dancer who's overcome the odds to be here.

Viewers love that type of underdog story.

If that little girl gets any more money we'll be put in a passive position.

Business is like fighting in the ring. If you're not winning, you're losing.

I can't lose.

You can't either.

Don't drink too much. We need you fit.

I can't sleep.

It's just like before.

As soon as I close my eyes, I have a dream of being knocked out in the ring.

Is it because I haven't lost in a long time?

I've forgotten how it feels to actually lose inside of the ring.

But in my own dreams,

I'm a loser.

I know that you're tired.

But once this tournament is over,

I can recruit all of the best fighters. We'll control the entire industry.

Once we do that, you won't have to worry about winning or losing anymore.

What about Lau Ka Gyun?

He's not following our script,

so we're going to have to derail his story.

We can do basic exercises on the balcony.

It's your cell.

- Hello? - Hey, Gyun?

- Auntie Huang? - Quick, look at the news!

Auntie believes you, ok? You wouldn't do that stuff.

But they're putting you in a tough spot. Quick go check it out!

Recently, a concerned netizen sent us this. Let's take a look, shall we?

We confirmed that the fighter in that video was none other than one

Lau Ka Gyun.

I have questions. First, shouldn't promoters run background checks on their fighters?

Are they trying to turn thugs like this into celebrities now?

Secondly

Fighters who flout common decency and disrupt public law and order

Well, that ain't good.

should be punished with the proper force and authority of the law.

It's that reporter, Xu. Hello?

- Have you seen the news? - We have.

It's fake, and I know who's behind it.

Are you willing to go on the record?

Yeah.

I saw a group of boys bullying a girl.

So I stepped in without thinking and helped Zhaoyu fight them off.

Yeah, they came to our gym and attacked us.

Gyun was acting like a hero!

Really?

I saw a group of boys bullying a girl

Gyun was acting like a hero!

Who are the real bullies here?

I thought it was just Lau Ka Gyun, but it's actually everyone at the gym too!

In fact, the Qiuzhen Boxing Gym's been closed for a while.

They can't even pay off their debts!

I work at the Jinxin Fighting Club. Don't they have any sense of solidarity?

What happened? Well...

I guess I said something to piss her off? And then boom!

Lau Ka Gyun just started beating us up.

- He has no sense of chivalry! - Shameless!

Hey viewers, let's take a look at Lau Ka Gyun and the Qiuzhen Gym's history!

Do you guys recognize this dude?

That's right, it's Lau Ka Gyun!

He's said that he's representing traditional kung fu

but here he is pretending to be Thai!

It's mucho problematic.

I had my foreign amigos watch it and she was like "That's not Chinese kung fu!"

"This is Zhonggguo kung fu!"

Lau Ka Gyun got fired from the site for stealing steel bars.

This person has so much info.

He allegedly has a criminal record.

You shouldn't talk about people like that. I know Gyun.

He's an honest kid!

She's a shill!

So if he seems honest, he's not a bad guy?

So he bought a house after a year of lion dancing in Guangdong???

Yeah, if he was doing so well, why did he move to Shanghai??

Fight me if you dare!

How did it come to this?

Call this number!!!

The social media activity is strange. It looks like someone's manipulating it.

That doesn't matter.

He lied and was going around picking fights and that's damaged the event's reputation.

I don't think that it's that simple.

Do you have any proof?

We can't print hunches or guesswork.

Breaking news, the board of Fight Night has decided to disqualify Lau Ka Gyun.

It's such a shame.

I hope our other fighters can carry themselves with more composure.

Combat sports should stay in the ring.

Fighters should be law abiding citizens not gangsters fighting over territory.

We're civilized people.

Ma, I've been a bit busy. Can you and Pa come later?

We're going to do great things, men!

The money we got from the auction is running out.

Take this money.

I can't. That's your father's money. Plus, you still have your tuition fees.

I can take care of myself.

You helped my father, like, tons of times. The gym should have been yours.

My father would agree if he was here.

If you're looking for work, we're hiring.

Got experience?

Hop in.

- Three more dudes. - We can help ya with that!

- Done this before? - 'Course we have!

Alright, get in. Be quick about it.

Hey, you cool with letting three criminals work for you?

Who you callin' a criminal?

Anyone can look it up on the net, dude! You calling me a frickin' liar?

Why'd you pick them?

- Pick someone else! - Pick one of us!

Fine. You three, come on.

- Don't trust them, they're lyin'! - What the hell?

Why you trustin' them?

Beat it.

What, you picking a fight now?

Let's all calm down!

- Try me, bitch! - Relax!

- Please, stop. - I'll show you, you bastard. Let's go!

You first!

What the fuck's wrong with you?

Help, someone help! This dude's trying to kill me!

He's hit me man, he's crazy! Someone help!

- Drop the brick! - It wasn't me, it was him!

Screw you man!

He's a pro fighter and he's assaulting someone!

It's his fault, he started it!

Gyun!

- Stop fighting! - Break it up already!

The cops are on the way!

- Hey kid, you ok? - We gotta get them to a hospital!

- Ma? - Are ya eatin' well?

Yeah, Ma. I'm fine.

- How's Pa doin'? - He's doing ok dear.

Gyun dear, if you ain't too busy...

Why don'tcha come back home and visit?

That's right Gyun, Sifu and I miss y'all, so you should come back n' say hello. Ok?

Ain't that the truth!

If y'all come back soon, it'll still be lychee season, y'know.

- Come back home. - Okay. I promise I will, Sifu.

I wanna go home!

Okay. We'll go home.

It's hella easy to keep in touch nowadays.

You can be having breakfast in Guangdong while someone's eating burgers in America

and you can still talk to each other!

That's like, hella rad. Right guys?

Here. Your book.

You should keep it.

As we prepare for takeoff,

we'd like to remind our passengers to turn off their phones and wireless devices.

[Li Bai's Poems]

Gyun,

I'm sorry I brought you, Cat, and Dog into this mess and got you all hurt.

This card should have 100k RMB in it.

Please take it, the money should be yours anyways.

I hope the money can help with your immediate issues.

I hope your father gets well soon.

Whatever the future has in store for you,

I hope that you won't forget the little boy who scribbled all over this book.

I look at the sky and laugh as I go, would one like I die with the weeds below?

Zhaoyu.

Sorry, the number you have dialed is no longer available.

Even the smallest weed can reach the skies. Good luck, Gyun!

- I can't take this. - Just take it. The money's not for you.

Oh, I finally found you guys!

Are you guys...

We can talk upstairs.

I have a picture here that I want you guys to take a look at.

I took this after a match.

Take a look at the crack in the wrapping. I haven't seen that with any other fighter.

The wrappin's made of gauze, right? How'd it break like that?

Ain't that plaster?

- Plaster? He's using plaster? - Did he also break his hand?

You can break an opponent's bones with that.

I knew something was wrong.

Back when I fought him, I thought that his punches were too strong and stiff.

I thought he had some special training, but this?

Plaster is something that's hella easy to overlook.

If he puts gypsum powder in his handwraps,

then during the fight, the sweat will turn the powder into plaster.

So all of his victories are suspect...

We should tell someone, right?

There's no point now. The competitions already over.

- Well, let's expose him! - Photos don't prove anything.

If we don't have proof, then just making accusations will backfire.

They've already lied to the media once just to get one over on us.

So that's it? Y'all just gonna give up?

The game was rigged against us from the start.

Just go home.

Today, I'm pleased to say that we're going hold regular fights

to scour the world for new rising stars who can join the Jinxin family.

Of course, we're dedicated to nurturing a new generation for viewers to cheer for.

I believe that the Jinxin Fighting Club can become a leader in China's fight industry

through creating a consolidated platform

for the entire nation to be able to watch the best fights and fighters in one place.

Together, we can bring forward a bright new dawn for the fighting world!

That was the ever generous Mr. Jin!

We've signed the most popular fighters from Fight Night all in one day!

Boxing, Muay Thai, Capoeira, Karate, Kickboxing!

All of the martial arts you've ever wanted to study are all here.

Come learn from our experts!

Why don't we have any traditional kung fu fighters?

Traditional kung fu is outdated.

It's ineffective in and out of the ring. Modern combat sports are what's in now.

And now, we'll have an exhibition fight and a formal contract signing.

Last, but certainly not lea-

What a pleasant surprise!

Our organizers certainly spared no expense today, did they?

What the heck is all of this, huh?

- Was there a lion dance scheduled? - Nah.

Hey y'all. I'm Lau Ka Gyun.

The game's not up yet.

What?

I reckon we can still got a chance of exposin' their lies.

Gyun, even if we try and expose them, we're not going to get our losses back.

Don't be an idiot like me, man.

I'm not tryin' to be an idiot. I wanna take back the narrative.

Gyun, what do you want to do?

I'm from the Qiuzhen Boxing Gym and I'm here to challenge Xiao Zhangyang.

Zhangyang. This is unnecessary.

You! Get the hell off the stage. You deaf? Get off!

- Don't make me repeat myself! - Hey, you ain't got the right!

- Hey, are you ignoring us? - Nope.

What in the hell?

Go hide backstage.

- You're not allowed onstage! - Hurry up.

He's walking away?

- Where's he going? - Is he scared?

Damn you!

Back up! Back up!

Xiao Zhangyang!

Didn't you say you wanted to fight me? Well, I'm right here, ain't I?

Why're ya runnin' from a fight?

If you ain't gonna fight, then you ain't nothin' but a rotten fish!

Zhangyang. Xiao Zhangyang!

Don't blame me when I send you to the hospital.

You asked for this.

I'll give you one round. That's all I need to knock your ass out.

The powder won't work in the beginning.

2 or 3 minutes in, it'll turn into plaster. That's when you have to be careful.

Focus on dodging his attacks.

Is he gonna use the powder?

Of course he will.

They can't afford to lose this.

Just trust in our plan.

Stay cool. For everyone and for yourself too.

- Knock him out Gyun! - You can do it Gyun!

Ready?

Begin! I think?

Come on, is that all you got? Let's go!

Let's see who's really rotten here. Come and fight!

Come on. Come on.

I'm so honored that you all were willing to come together tonight for my sake.

We've lost our reputations. We lost our community.

There's nothing left for us to lose.

But somehow, we're still alive.

Should we let this kid suffer the same hell that we've had to suffer?

Brothers, I want us all to come to a decision.

I'll teach the lad my Rolling Dragon Elbow!

What are you two wankers lookin' at?

It doesn't matter how close they get innit? Elbows are king of close combat.

Move your body like a dragon, and your elbows will cut like axes.

Lift, sweep, bash, then cover!

Offense and defense in one! Split mountains in twain and part the seas!

That's my elbow technique!

When one fights a battle, one must choose the correct strategy for victory.

Strength cannot be opposed with strength.

Strike where the enemy is weak, dodge when the enemy is strong.

This is the secret of yin and yang!

You need to strike like a thunderbolt.

A single thrust like lightning can do more than a palm strike that lands like thunder.

Kung fu has thousands of techniques, but pressure points are the most varied.

Thrust, parry, remise, withdraw.

You can break bones if you apply force to someone's pressure points and meridians.

But... Ain't all that kinda hard to do with gloves on?

You know, even if you learn every trick,

you'll never beat him inside the ring, so don't forget about our plan in there.

Ya sure you can cut up a glove with just your elbow?

Normally? Nah. But in this case...

If there's plaster under it, then it's definitely possible.

Remember. You need to parry and counter.

I look at the sky and laugh as I go,

Would one like I die with the weeds below?

Cultivate your outer body, cultivate your inner spirit.

Fight for that inner spirit.

Can you see it?

Yeah.

Can you see what's behind those weeds?

Nah, I can't. Can you?

I can.

A fierce lion.

Zoom in on his right hand.

- That glove got ripped in half! - What's that dust leaking out?

It's plaster. He's a cheat!

He's been stuffin' this in his gloves!

Y'all seeing this shameless bastard?

- The plaster makes the gloves hard. - Hack. You lied to all of us!

He says he's invincible? Bah!

This can't be happening.

You lost.

I can't lose!

Fine, it was all fake. Let's have a real fight then!

We'll show him what real kung fu is!

Are you his teachers?

We should talk.

In recent news, Jinxin Fighting Club has been forced to close amid controversy.

The police are currently investigating the club for suspected fraud.

We'll bring you more updates as this story develops.

It's not easy to stay true to tradition and also innovate at the same time

But I believe that you can walk that line.

We've got so much bad press though. Don't that worry you none, sir?

If you're innocent, then with time, all this will fade away.

I do have one small request however.

Alongside coaching fighters, I would appreciate it if you taught lion dancing.

- We also have a request, sir. - Please.

The gym's still here. Your family too.