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Legend of a Fighter (1982)

HKL Trailer

Most kung fu film fans will have heard his name, and even seen his face, dozens of times, Fok Yun-Kap, or Ho Yuan-Chai, is the late teacher of Bruce Lee in the Hong Kong classic Fist Of Fury. The photograph seen on an alter, and at a subsequent memorial service, is that of the real Fok, who lived in Shanghai in the early years of the last century. This image, also seen in the Jet Li epic Fist Of Legend, depicts a man with broad, slavic features, wearing the kind of hat popular among Northern Chinese. A contemporary account describes him as '(wearing) grey clothes and (having) the image of a Northener. He was about 176 cm (approximately five foot eight), stout with a yellow face. He weighed about 90 kg (approximately 200 pounds).' It's said that Fok came from the North where his family ran a bodyguard service, training fighters to accompany merchants on long journeys. Their mission was to protect their employer's merchandise from bandits. In following this trade, Fok mastered several kung fu styles before he settled in Shanghai, where he taught at Cheng Mo-Mun (Madarin: Ching Wu-Mun) 'The doorway to excellence in martial arts'. The fictitious character of Chen Jun, played by Bruce Lee in Fist Of Fury and Jet Li in Fist Of Legend, has since over shadowed that of his 'master'. Many incidents attributed to Fok, such as his challenge to a western strongman, have been lent to Chen. Though Fok has been the subject of several Hong Kong TV series, the only film to really give him his due has been Ng See-Yuen's Fok Yun-Kap, known in English as Legend Of A Fighter.

Drawing on the legends that have grown up around Fok, the film depicts the early years of this perennial Chinese folk hero. Fok Yun-Kap is played by Yuen Yat-Chok (younger brother of the film's action choreographer Yuen Woo-Ping), and, later, by Warriors Two star Leung Kar-Yan. Though himself a martial arts master, Yun-Kap's father (Ko Fei) is adamant that his son will not follow in the family foot steps, becoming a scholar instead. To this end, he hires a tutor, Chiang Ho-San (Yasuaki Kurata), to teach his off-spring the more refine points of classical Chinese literature. Little does Fok Snr realise that Ho-San is actually Japanese, and skilled in various fighting styles. When he sees how his student is bullied by the local thugs, Ho-San begins to coach Yun-Kap in the martial arts. A close bond forms between master and student, until Ho-San returns to Japan. Years later, after Fok Yun-Kap has made his name, Japan sends a champion th challenge him. The challenger is Ho-San. The two former friends are forced to engage in a potentially deadly duel.

In fact, we know relatively little about the early years of Fok Yun-Kap. The story line of Legend Of A Fighter is based on supposition, rather than fact, and owes more than a little to the story of another kung fu hero, Wong Fei-Hung. Like Fok, Wong Fei-Hung was initially prevented from learning martial arts by his own father. Whatever the historical foundation for the Fok Yun-Kap legend, its elements remain remarkably uniform. In Legend Of A Fighter and Fist Of Legend respectively, Fok (Leung Kat-Yan) and Chen (Jet Li) are coached by a Japanese master, played, in both films, by Yasuaki Kurata. It's unknown whether the real Fok studied Karate, but he and his students fought matches with Shanghai-based Japanese martial artists. Unlike those depicted in Fist Of Fury and Fist Of Legend, these were relatively friendly matches between martial arts experts with a mutual respect for each other's skills.

Contrary to some reports, Fok wasn't the founder of Cheng Mo-Mun. The institution was formed by a Chen Kung-Che, and some of Fok's other students, so that their master's skills could be passed on. The two men met after a western strongman came to 'The Paris of the East' to give exhibitions of his physical prowess. Chen invited Fok Yun-Kap to represent China in a match with the foreign fighter. Fok arrived in Shanghai, accompanied by his student, Liu Chen-Sheng, in March 1909. After a meeting with the Western boxer, the rules for the match were determined. A ring was built in Shanghai's Chang Garden. Unfortunately, the westerner, having heard stories of Fok's prowess, left town before the duel could take place. This incident formed the basis for a scene in Legend Of A Fighter where Fok duels a bullying westerner on a ferry-boat, and also inspired the Petrov character Bruce Lee fights in Fist Of Fury.

Legend Of A Fighter ends with Fok at the peak of his abilities. The other films inspired by his life have begun with his death, which occurred under admittedly suspicious circumstances. The great man suffered from jaundice for most of his adult life. After a particular bad attack of the ailment, Fok was given some medicine by a Japanese doctor. His condition worsened, and he was admitted to Shanghai's China Red Cross Hospital. Two weeks later, this legend of the kung fu world was dead. After Fok's passing, Cheng Mo-Mun experienced a period of decline. Fortunately, even though the Chen Jun character never existed, Fok did heve loyal students like Chen Kung-Che, who insisted on preserving Fok's art, and went to establish branches of the school throughout Asia. The one in Hong Kong still exists, and is situated in a building at junction of two busy thoroughfares, Nathan Road and Jordan Road. Cheng Mo-Mun sees various Chinese martial arts taught under one roof , with that famous sepia portrait of Fok gazing down proudly from a place of honour.

Director Yuen Woo-Ping drew from the rich tapestry of this modern myth to craft Legend Of A Fighter, eliciting fine physical and dramtic performances, from his leads. As is typical of Yuen's work, the film packs heart as big as its punch. Originally it was intended that Yuen Woo-Ping's brother, Yuen Yat-Chok, would play Fok Yun-Kap throughout the film. However, then Leung Kar-Yan became available, it was decided that he would take over the role, playing Fok as a slightly older man. This was despite the fact that, besides the fact that they're both Chinese, Yuen and Leung look almost totally dissimilar! The film was a family affair. Another of Yuen Woo-Ping's brothers, Yuen Cheung-Yan, plays a Beggar So-style character who helps Fok in his bout with the westerner. As expected, the choreography is superb, with Yuen providing a skillful juxtapostion of Japanese and Chinese styles for the final duel. The exterior location for the end fight is Tiger Balm Gardens, a popular Hong Kong tourist attraction built by local tycoon. (It is currently scheduled for demolition, in order to make way for yet another housing block).

It seems Fok Yun-Kap's celluloid immortality is assured. Fans can follow his exploits from childhood (Legend Of A Fighter) to middle-age (TV's Fist Of Fury, wit Eddie Ko playing Fok) to the events following his demise (Fist Of Fury, Fist Of Legend)

If you want to get that movie, you should definately get the HKL version. Although it has some minor points (such as cropping), don't hezitate and get it if you are interested.

Aspect Ratio:

1.78:1 Anamorphic (cropped from 2.35:1)

Sound:

Mandarin Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (Remastered from original elements for this version), English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo

Extras:

UK Promotional Trailer

Original Theatrical Trailer (includes the last evidence of deleted footage)

Photo Gallery

Extensive animated biography of Yuen Woo-Ping and Leung Kar-Yan

Rare interviews with Yuen Woo-Ping and Lau Kar-Yan covering a lot behind the history of the movie and HK filmmaking in general.

Further Attractions

Click here to read my R2 HKL DVD Review

Written on April 15th 2002

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