History Main / KungFuKid

** A straighter example of this trope is present in the SequelSeries ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra''. Korra, the new Avatar, first started earthbending when she was ''five years old'', something completely unheard of in the history of the Avatar. Even Aang, the youngest Avatar to ever master all four elements, didn't start learning his second element until he was twelve; and most Avatars don't even find out their identity until after they turn [[DangerousSixteenthBirthday sixteen.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Typical Kung-Fu Kid in ''Film/TheKarateKid''... which has as much to do with ''karate'' as [[WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic Halloween 3 does with Halloween 1 and 2]].]]

* ''Manga/{{Dragonball}}'' - Goku, Krillin and Chichi

* ''Manga/KenichiTheMightiestDisciple'' - A number of characters, most notably the titular Kenichi Shirahama.
** Elementary-school aged Chikage Kushinada is easily the youngest fighting character.

* ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' - Almost the entire teenage cast, except the older two Tendo sisters

* ''Manga/MutekiKanbanMusume'' - Deconstructed with protagonist Miki and TheRival Megumi, they were Kung-Fu Kids in their childhood, and at their 20's they are [[{{OneOfTheKids}} One of the Kung Fu Kids]].
* ''Manga/ClampSchoolDetectives'' has Suoh Takamura, an elementary school-age martial arts expert with a 3rd dan black belt in Karate, Judo, Aikido, and Kendo. He is also the descendant of a Japanese [[NinjaBrat ninja clan]].
%%* ''Manga/{{Dragonball}}'' - Goku, Krillin, and Chichi
%%* ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' - Gohan in the first few seasons, later Goten
* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' - [[PrettyPrincessPowerhouse May Chang]], despite her young age, can handle herself well enough in fights (including with [[PersonOfMassDestruction state alchemists]] and [[HumanoidAbomination homunculi]]) through [[KungFuWizard a combination of martial arts and]] [[AlchemyIsMagic alkahestry]]. Justified, as she HadToBeSharp to avoid assassination attempts back in Xing.
%%* ''Manga/KenichiTheMightiestDisciple'' - A number of characters, most notably the titular Kenichi Shirahama.
%%** Elementary-school aged Chikage Kushinada is easily the youngest fighting character.
%%* ''Manga/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaVivid'' - As this is essentially a FightingSeries with {{Magical Girl}}s, several characters fall under this, including the main character Vivio and her main rival Einhart.
%%* ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' - Many of the major characters would qualify, particularly Ku Fei. Negi Springfield combines ChildMage with this trope to become a Child KungFuWizard.
%%* ''Manga/OuranHighSchoolHostClub'' - Mitsukuni "Hani (Honey)" Haninozuka. In a subversion, he's already ''17/18'' years old, though he's OlderThanTheyLook as well.
%%* ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' - Almost the entire teenage cast, except the older two Tendo sisters
%%* ''Manga/TekkenChinmi'' - The titular young boy Chinmi trains to be a world-class kung fu master.
%%* ''Anime/TigerAndBunny'' - Pao-Lin Huang aka Dragon Kid uses kung fu against criminals at least as much as she uses her [[ShockAndAwe lightning powers]].
%%* ''Manga/RamenFighterMiki'' - Deconstructed with protagonist Miki and TheRival Megumi, they were Kung-Fu Kids in their childhood, and at their 20's they are [[OneOfTheKids One of the Kung Fu Kids]].

* ''ComicBook/{{Batgirl|2000}}'': The Cassandra Cain Batgirl is a teenager trained to be an assassin, but whose empathy for human beings prevents her from ever actually going lethal.

[[caption-width-right:350:Typical Kung-Fu Kid in ''Film/TheKarateKid'']]

* Referenced by name in the ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPandaLegendsOfAwesomeness'' episode "The Kung Fu Kid", starring [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute Peng the young snow leopard]]... who although he claims to have had no formal kung fu training and is just a potter, is able to go toe-to-toe with Po, Temutai, and even Shifu and the Furious Five while under MoreThanMindControl. Justified by it being InTheBloo[[note]]Peng claims to Po at the end of his debut episode that Tai Lung (the main villain of the first movie) is his [[EvilUncle uncle]].[[/note]]

* ''Series/CobraKai'', being a SequelSeries to the aforementioned ''Film/TheKarateKid'', unsurprisingly features a number of youngsters skilled in martial arts. However, four of them in particular - [[TheAce Miguel]], [[ActionGirl Sam]], [[AxCrazy Tory]], and [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor Robby]] - stand out even by the show's standards.

%%* ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'' - Though [[VagueAge the protagonist ages are never given]], they don't seem to be older than 14

%%* ''Series/KungFu''- Young Caine in the OnceAnEpisode {{Flashback}}s

* Referenced by name in the ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPandaLegendsOfAwesomeness'' episode "The Kung Fu Kid", starring [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute Peng the young snow leopard]]... who although he claims to have had no formal kung fu training and is just a potter, is able to go toe-to-toe with Po, Temutai, and even Shifu and the Furious Five while under MoreThanMindControl. Justified by it being InTheBlood[[note]]Peng claims to Po at the end of his debut episode that Tai Lung (the main villain of the first movie) is his [[EvilUncle uncle]][[/note]].

* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' - May Chang, despite her young age, can handle herself well enough in fight with adults through [[KungFuWizard a combination of martial arts and]] [[AlchemyIsMagic alkahestry]]. Really, the fact that her first interaction with the Elric brothers has her kicking [[AnimatedArmor Alphonse]] in the head and being completely okay afterward says a lot about her skill. Justified, as she HadToBeSharp to avoid assassination attempts back in Xing.

%%* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' - May Chang

* ''Film/TheKarateKid'' - Daniel Larusso, Andre Parker

%%* ''ComicBook/{{Legion of Super-Heroes}}'' - [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karate_Kid_(comics) Karate Kid (Val Armorr)]] is a master of every form of martial arts to have been developed by the 31st century

%%* ''ComicBook/ImmortalIronFist'' - Pei, Danny Rand's potential successor as Iron Fist, and Wah Sing-Rand, the Iron Fist of 3099.

** A straighter example of this trope is present in the SequelSeries ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra''. Korra, the new Avatar, first started earthbending when she was ''five years old'', something completely unheard of in the history of the Avatar. Even Aang, the youngest Avatar to ever master all four elements, didn't start learning his second element until he was twelve; and most Avatars don't even find out their identity until they turn [[DangerousSixteenthBirthday sixteen.]]
* Referenced by name in the ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPandaLegendsOfAwesomeness'' episode "The Kung Fu Kid", starring [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute Peng the young snow leopard]]... who although he claims to have had no formal kung fu training and is just a potter, is able to go toe-to-toe with Po, Temutai, and even Shifu and the Furious Five while under MoreThanMindControl. Justified by it being InTheBlood.

%%* ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'' - Many of the major characters would qualify, particularly Ku Fei. Negi Springfield combines ChildMage with this trope to become a Child KungFuWizard.

%%* ''Manga/RamenFighterMiki'' - Deconstructed with protagonist Miki and TheRival Megumi, they were Kung-Fu Kids in their childhood, and at their 20's they are [[{{OneOfTheKids}} One of the Kung Fu Kids]].

[[folder:Web Comics]]

%%* ''Manga/MutekiKanbanMusume'' - Deconstructed with protagonist Miki and TheRival Megumi, they were Kung-Fu Kids in their childhood, and at their 20's they are [[{{OneOfTheKids}} One of the Kung Fu Kids]].

%%[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
%%* ''Super Kung Fu Kid'' - Man Lung
%%* ''Film/TheKarateKid'' - Daniel Larusso, Andre Parker
%%* ''Film/ThreeNinjas'' - Samuel Douglas Jr., Michael Douglas, Jeffrey Douglas, Miyo
%%* ''Film/{{Sidekicks}}'' - Barry Gabrewski
%%[[/folder]]

The Kung-Fu Kid is a child or teenager with a very high level of skill in martial arts, whose skills are particularly noteworthy in the context of the story. Sometimes the skills are first acquired during the course of the story, and sometimes the character begins the story already having a significant level of martial arts talent. If it is a SportsStory, the Kung-Fu Kid will likely be working toward a [[BigGame major tournament]]. In a FightingSeries, this guy will regularly battle against enemies, often in [[TournamentArc tournaments]], but sometimes in deadly serious combat. In SpyFiction, the TeenSuperspy is often a one of these. In {{Fantasy}} or {{Superhero}} stories, a character's martial arts skills might be sufficient to qualify them as a BadassNormal that can stand toe to toe against more supernatural enemies. Some characters may have martial arts skills that could be classified as SupernaturalMartialArts, or even as a CharlesAtlasSuperpower. Sometimes the kid combines spell casting with martial arts to be a KungFuWizard.

This is the martial arts equivalent to the ChildMage or the KidDetective. Compare to KidSamurai, NinjaBrat, CuteBruiser and WaifFu. This character might also be a KidSidekick or a KidHero. If female, she may be a LittleMissBadass.

* ''Manga/ClampSchoolDetectives'' has Suoh Takamura, an elementary school age martial arts expert with a 3rd dan black belt in Karate, Judo, Aikido, and Kendo. He is also the descendant of a Japanese [[NinjaBrat ninja clan]].
%%* ''Manga/{{Dragonball}}'' - Goku, Krillin and Chichi

%%* ''Manga/TekkenChinmi'' - The titular young boy Chinmi trains to be a world class kung fu master.

* ''Webcomic/HowIKilledYourMaster'' - The stories with the younger versons of the main character are something of a deconstruction, since he still has to spend a great deal running away or being rescued. Then again [[{{Tsundere}} some of the rescuers]] count as this trope as well.

%%* ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'' - Though [[VagueAge the protagonist ages are never give]] they don't seem to be older than 14

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': The young heroes (and villains), though proficiency in kung fu is pretty common in that world regardless of age.

!Examples:

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]
* ''[[ComicBook/{{Batgirl 2000}} Batgirl]]'' - The Cassandra Cain Batgirl is a teenager trained to be an assassin, but whose empathy for human beings prevents her from ever actually going lethal.

%%[[folder: Film ]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kung_Fu_Kids Kung Fu Kids]]'' - A Philippine TV series tells the story of seven kids of different personalities united by a prophecy. The Kung Fu Kids train under the village idiot who turns out to be a Kung Fu master from China.

%%[[folder: Tabletop Games ]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kung_Fu_Kid Kung Fu Kid]] - A 1987 Sega Master System video game about a kid that uses his knowledge of kung fu to fight enemies.

[[folder: Webcomics ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' - the young heroes (and villains), though proficiency in kung fu is pretty common in that world regardless of age.

* Referenced by name in the ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPandaLegendsOfAwesomeness'' episode "The Kung Fu Kid", starring [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute Peng the young snow leopard]]...who although he claims to have had no formal kung fu training and is just a potter, is able to go toe-to-toe with Po, Temutai, and even Shifu and the Furious Five while under MoreThanMindControl. Justified by it being InTheBlood.

* ''Manga/{{Dragonball}}'' - Goku, Krillin and Chichi
* ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' - Gohan in the first few seasons, later Goten
* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' - May Chang
* ''Manga/KenichiTheMightiestDisciple'' - A number of characters, most notably the titular Kenichi Shirahama.
** Elementary-school aged Chikage Kushinada is easily the youngest fighting character.
* ''Manga/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaVivid'' - As this is essentially a FightingSeries with {{Magical Girl}}s, several characters fall under this, including the main character Vivio and her main rival Einhart.
* ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'' - Many of the major characters would qualify, particularly Ku Fei. Negi Springfield combines ChildMage with this trope to become a Child KungFuWizard.
* ''Manga/OuranHighSchoolHostClub'' - Mitsukuni "Hani (Honey)" Haninozuka. In a subversion, he's already ''17/18'' years old, though he's OlderThanTheyLook as well.
* ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' - Almost the entire teenage cast, except the older two Tendo sisters
* ''Manga/TekkenChinmi'' - The titular young boy Chinmi trains to be a world class kung fu master.
* ''Anime/TigerAndBunny'' - Pao-Lin Huang aka Dragon Kid uses kung fu against criminals at least as much as she uses her [[ShockAndAwe lightning powers]].
* ''Manga/MutekiKanbanMusume'' - Deconstructed with protagonist Miki and TheRival Megumi, they were Kung-Fu Kids in their childhood, and at their 20's they are [[{{OneOfTheKids}} One of the Kung Fu Kids]].

* ''ComicBook/ImmortalIronFist'' - Pei, Danny Rand's potential successor as Iron Fist, and Wah Sing-Rand, the Iron Fist of 3099.
* ''ComicBook/{{Legion of Super-Heroes}}'' - [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karate_Kid_(comics) Karate Kid (Val Armorr)]] is a master of every form of martial arts to have been developed by the 31st century
* ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'' - Robin is a BadassNormal whose skill in martial arts allows him to keep up with his superpowered teammates.

[[folder: Film ]]
* ''Super Kung Fu Kid'' - Man Lung
* ''Film/TheKarateKid'' - Daniel Larusso, Andre Parker
* ''Film/ThreeNinjas'' - Samuel Douglas Jr., Michael Douglas, Jeffrey Douglas, Miyo
* ''Film/{{Sidekicks}}'' - Barry Gabrewski
[[/folder]]

* ''Literature/AlexRider'' - Alex has a black belt in karate, which alone is not enough to qualify for this trope, however he regularly uses his martial arts skills during his spy missions.

* ''[[Literature/CherubSeries CHERUB]]'' - All CHERUB agents train in advanced martial arts, however Bruce Norris is particularly noted for his martial arts talent.

* ''Series/KungFu''- Young Caine in the OnceAnEpisode {{Flashback}}s

[[folder: Tabletop Games ]]
* ''TabletopGame/FengShui'' - Scrappy Kids are based on this character type in Hong Kong cinema.
* You can also play a Kung-Fu Kid in ''TabletopGame/HongKongActionTheatre'', though you will need "To Live and Die in HK" to do so.

[[folder: Video Games ]]
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kung_Fu_Kid Kung Fu Kid]] - A 1987 Sega Master System video game about a kid that uses his knowledge of kung fu to fight enemies.
[[/folder]]

* ''Webcomic/TheBullysBully'' - The unnamed heroine appears to be an example although this is not yet canon.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLifeAndTimesOfJuniperLee''
* ''WesternAnimation/ShurikenSchool'' - Eizan Kaburagi, Jimmy B. and Okuni Dohan
* ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'' - Though [[VagueAge the protagonist ages are never give]] they don't seem to be older than 14

The '''Kung-Fu Kid''' is a a child or teenager with a very high level of skill in martial arts, whose skills are particularly noteworthy in the context of the story. Sometimes the skills are first acquired during the course of the story, and sometimes the character begins the story already having a significant level of martial arts talent. If it is a SportsStory, the Kung-Fu Kid will likely be working toward a [[BigGame major tournament]]. In a FightingSeries, this guy will regularly battle against enemies, often in [[TournamentArc tournaments]], but sometimes in deadly serious combat. In SpyFiction, the TeenSuperspy is often a one of these. In {{Fantasy}} or {{Superhero}} stories, a character's martial arts skills might be sufficient to qualify them as a BadassNormal that can stand toe to toe against more supernatural enemies. Some characters may have martial arts skills that could be classified as SupernaturalMartialArts, or even as a CharlesAtlasSuperpower. Sometimes the kid combines spell casting with martial arts to be a KungFuWizard.

Not to be confused with ''TheKarateKid'', though the movie series does provide several perfect examples.