Elderly martial arts master
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The elderly martial arts master is a stock character in martial arts films. Typically East Asian, he is an extremely old man who is nonetheless a near invincible master of the martial arts. Most often he teaches either generic Kung Fu or an exotic style specific to the movie (see List of fictional martial arts).
Often his purpose is to train the hero to confront the villain after an initial defeat. Usually overlapping with the wise old man stock character, he is typically found in both American and Asian films.
The stereotypical master appears very old and frail, but is an excellent fighter who shows his skills at the most unexpected times. He is both conservative and eccentric, espousing his beliefs by instructing both practical solutions and mystical wisdom without contradiction. He believes his students lack discipline and manners and is fully able (and very willing) to beat some sense into them. His training style is often strict, and he accepts no opposition from his students (this is often portrayed in a comical fashion in movies). Nevertheless, the hero and the master often become extremely close with the master becoming a father figure to the hero; who in turn is looked upon as a son by the master. Usually, if the master is killed, the hero takes it upon himself to avenge his master.
The master is often not a professional combat instructor who runs a school and actively seeks students. His job is typically simple, or he may be a poor wanderer. He may even be a monk or priest of some ancient religious order. He can also be an elderly hermit who only takes on students who are able to locate him and (in some cases) get past traps that he may have planted along the way. The stereotypical master is humble (except to his students) and not interested in glory or financial gain.
[edit] Examples
- Mr. Miyagi in the The Karate Kid movies.
- Shinyuki in American Ninja.
- Sha-Wen in Shaman King.
- Master Kwan in Dragonheart: A New Beginning.
- Chin in Lady Dragon.
- Lord Hokage in Naruto.
- Jiraiya in Naruto
- Pai Mei in the Kill Bill movies, who is a distillation of a number of old Martial Arts Masters in film.
- Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars universe. Their evil foil being Darth Vader, and essentially Emperor Palpatine.
- Sensei Dave Lybert
- Chiun in Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins.
- Cologne and Happosai in Ranma ½.
- Splinter in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics.
- Muten Roshi in the Dragon Ball series.
- Master Fung in Xiaolin Showdown.
- Jasmine Lee (Ah-Mah), Juniper's grandmother in The Life and Times of Juniper Lee
- Iroh, Monk Gyatso and Jeong Jeong, all from Avatar: The Last Airbender.
- Lu-Tze in Terry Pratchett's Small Gods and Thief of Time
- Jack's father and a myriad of other secondary character masters in Samurai Jack
- Luong Lao Shi is Jacob "Jake" Luke Long's Dragon Master in the tv series American Dragon: Jake Long.
- Su Hua Chi in Drunken Master.
