# Shaolin Monks -- Realistic portrayals of their fighting abilities? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 7, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaolin-monks-realistic-portrayals-of-their-fighting-abilities/535296 "2010-04-07T17:33:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaolin-monks-realistic-portrayals-of-their-fighting-abilities/535296/1 "2010-04-07T17:33:11Z")
Due to the popularity of the 1970s TV series “Kung Fu”, the Shaolin martial arts masters were often portrayed as the ultimate fighting machines. However, I seem to recall hearing that some Shaolin monks entered Mixed martial arts (MMA) tournaments and did not do so well. (I may be mistaken about this; if I am, please feel free to correct me). So, I was wondering – What movies have the most realistic portrayals of Shaolin monks in armed and unarmed combat? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaolin-monks-realistic-portrayals-of-their-fighting-abilities/535296/2 "2010-04-07T17:43:33Z")
Read post #8: [http://www.ultimate-fighter.ca/Forum/viewtopic.php?id=2347](http://www.ultimate-fighter.ca/Forum/viewtopic.php?id=2347) ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaolin-monks-realistic-portrayals-of-their-fighting-abilities/535296/3 "2010-04-07T17:59:20Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Read post #8: > > [http://www.ultimate-fighter.ca/Forum/viewtopic.php?id=2347](http://www.ultimate-fighter.ca/Forum/viewtopic.php?id=2347) Hey, that was pretty interesting and informative. Thanks very much!