EP40 Sifu Kisu: Behind the Legendary Moves in the Avatar Series

Staying in the Game, A Plum Dragon Herbs Podcast

Show Notes:

In this podcast, we're speaking with Sifu Kisu, a 5th generation Bak Siu Lum Pai (Northern Shaolim Gate) disciple descended from Great Grand Master Ku Yu Cheong through Master Kenneth Hui of the Northern Shaolin Kung Fu Association.

Sifu Kisu, also known as Kisu Stars, has been a dedicated practitioner of Traditional Chinese Kung Fu for over 50 years and is a master in the Chinese martial arts focusing on the style of Northern Shaolin Kung Fu. He is most famously known for being the chief martial arts director and consultant for the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender and Avatar: The Legend of Korra.

3:00 Sifu Kisu tells about his life getting started in martial arts and meeting his teacher (Master Kenneth Hui)

10:30 Martial arts students are often interested in what is trendy at the time.

16:00 Kisu's role as ​​chief martial arts director and consultant for the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender.

18:23 Selecting elements from a few styles of martial arts, such as the Hung Gar style and Bagua style for incorporating into the choreography of the Avatar characters.

21:00 How the characters’ movements are based on authentic martial arts.

27:00 Martial arts is more about self-defense. It’s about self-cultivation and healing.

30:00 The Northern shaolin style follows the rules of natural body development.

32:00 Martial arts is learning to control your own blood, breath and chi–your lifeforce energy–and also those of your opponent.

34:00 As an instructor, you teach the rules of engagement–it’s not just about learning how to fight, but making your movement and your life a work of art.

42:00 How some of his attempts to bring other creative projects to production resulted in ideas being stolen and not wanting to deal with Hollywood anymore.

50:00 Lucky to have helped and watched people grow to their fullest potential as their instructor.

51:30 Using Dit Da Jow and trying out Plum Dragon’s formulas.

54:00 How Kung Fu has made him a better snowboarder.

Connect with Kisu Stars:

Instagram

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Try Plum Dragon Dit Da Jow Mentioned in this Episode:

• Dit Da Jow Collection

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Podcast Music Credit: Motherlode Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/