In films about martial arts, the decisive final battle often ends with a decisive final reception. They are usually teased throughout the film, and their performance symbolizes the hero’s new found mastery in his art form. Although the endings vary greatly from the ridiculous to the downright terrifying, each of them is a thrilling final scene that neatly wraps up the narrative and the hero’s journey. Indeed, the best achievements in martial arts have become cult moments in cinema. Some outstanding films have become legendary thanks to their final scenes and the amazing performance of talented actors.
10. Daniel’s Crane Kick
The Karate Kid (1984)
During the dramatic climax of The Karate Kid, protagonist Daniel suffers a leg injury in the final round of the tournament. Daniel assumes the Crane stance he practiced on the beach earlier in the film. As his opponent, Johnny, rushes towards him, Daniel lands a frontal “Crane” kick, scoring the final point and winning the championship. Daniel “The Crane” punch in The Karate Kid really shows off the character development and newfound martial arts prowess. It also brings a triumphant ending to the classic film and fleshes out the titular character in preparation for The Karate Kid sequel and the Cobra Kai spin-off series.
9. The Five Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique
Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004)
In Kill Bill: Volume 2, Bill tells the Bride about the legendary martial artist Pai Mei and his famous killing blow called the Five Pointed Palm Exploding Heart Technique. During her final confrontation with Bill, the Bride unexpectedly uses this powerful and complex move, striking him in the chest. Bill is shocked to discover that Pai Mei taught the Bride the move and collapses dead shortly after. It’s another cleverly twisted homage to martial arts genre stereotypes, a common occurrence throughout the Kill Bill timeline.RELATED:
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8. Jackie Chan’s Overhead Throw
Drunken Master II (1994)
In Drunken Master II (aka The Legend of the Drunken Master), Jackie Chan reprises his role from the 1978 original as the real Chinese martial artist and folk hero Wong Fei-hung. During the movie’s dramatic final fight, he faces a grueling and complicated fight sequence that culminates in him lifting his opponent above his head. He then throws the man behind him onto a wooden box, which collapses. It’s not the most graceful of finishing moves, but it’s certainly a satisfying testament to Jackie Chan’s ability.
7. Bruce Lee’s Brutal Foot Stomp
Enter The Dragon (1973)
Bruce Lee is one of the most iconic martial artists in cinematic history, and he pulled off plenty of entertaining finishes during his many on-screen fights. One of the most epic events occurs in Enter the Dragon during Lee’s battle with O’Hara, the bodyguard of crime lord Khan. After Lee defeats the antagonist in battle, O’Hara arms himself with broken glass bottles and charges at the hero. Lee makes short work of him with a series of kicks before leaping into the air and violently stomping O’Hara’s body. The move itself happens off-screen, but Lee shows off a fantastically distinctive expression to the sound of O’Hara’s bones crunching.
6. The Iron Fist Technique
Five Fingers Of Death (1972)
“Five Fingers of Death” is filled with impressive fight scenes and includes an epic final move called the “Iron Fist” method. The film follows a promising young martial arts student named Chi-Hao, who is chosen by his trainer Shen Chin-Pei to learn a deadly secret move, which he later reveals during the final scenes. While not the most fiery show-stopper, Shaw Brothers’ Iron Fist is a powerful and exciting moment in martial arts cinema.
5. Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Flying Kick
Death Warrant (1990)
Death Warrant is a prison thriller starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. He plays police detective Burke, who goes undercover in a prison and faces a deadly enemy called the Sandman. During the couples’ climactic final fight, Sandman nearly defeats Burke and attempts to throw him into the boiler room. However, before he can do so, Van Damme’s character throws a spectacular kick, causing the Sandman to fall back into the flames. It’s an incredibly melodramatic but extremely entertaining finishing move, executed with typical Van Damme fervor.
4. Tony Jaa’s Knee Drop
Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior (2003)
Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior is a Thai martial arts film starring Tony Jaa as Ting. The plot concerns a rural village whose sacred statue has been desecrated and partially stolen, and Ting Jaa volunteers to return it. During the explosive final bout, Tony Jaa flies into the air above his opponent as he lies on the floor. Jaa bends his legs and lands a knee on his opponent with such force that both go through the floorboards. It’s a particularly brutal and cinematic finishing move that perfectly combines the realism of the martial arts genre with amazing acting.
3. Mang Hoi’s Spear-Hand Attack
Buddha Assassinator (1980)
“Buddha-killer” (also known as “Slaughter of the Shogun”) is a film about martial arts, in which the famous Korean kicker Hwang Chan Lee plays the villainous Prince Yi. It depicts a young kung-fu scholar named Shao Hai (Mang Khoi), hired by the prince, and until he discovered his evil intentions. Shao Hai meets Prince Yi in a carefully thought-out final battle, in which he knocks Yi on his back and then jumps on his chest. Then Shao Hai puts his hands together and thrusts them into his throat.
2. Jet Li’s Belt & Sword Combo
Fist Of Legend (1994)
Fist of Legend stars Jet Li as Chen Zhen, a martial artist investigating his old master’s death at the hands of Japanese occupiers. The final fight depicts an intense encounter between Chen and General Fujita (Billy Chow). Chen elegantly dodges Fujita’s katana blade before he uses his belt as a weapon. It demonstrates the creativity often associated with Li and the martial arts genre and proffers one of the most thrilling final fights.RELATED:
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