[[TheMatrix http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/trinity.jpg]]

->'''Dale''': The guy got into a little, you know, stance. And I'd just seen that movie, ''[[CrouchingTigerHiddenDragon Crouching Tiger]]'' or whatever, and I thought...
->'''Judge Frasier''': You thought he could fly?
--> - ''ThisIsWonderland''

ChopSockey, assisted by the fact that the actor is tethered to the ceiling.

A (comparatively) easy way to make a fight scene more impressive is to use fine wires to support the actor during acrobatics that would not be possible for a normal human: long lateral jumps, jumping "off the air", being thrown back by an explosion, or even hanging suspended. Wires can also be used to slow down an actor's movement without the undesirable side effects of [[OverCrank Overcranking]].

WireFu is an important device of the entire {{Toku}} genre and of {{Wuxia}}.

Also called "Wirework" (though that term is more general; "WireFu" usually refers only to the use of wirework for fight scenes).

Expensive and time-consuming, it is often now replaced by computer-generated effects. (which continue to look really fake)
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Examples:
* ''PowerRangers'', in every episode. Surprisingly, ''SuperSentai'' (and sister franchise ''KamenRider'') use very little WireFu in comparison.
** Used quite ludicrously on one episode: the Yellow Ranger is surrounded by [[{{Mooks}} Putties]], leaps into the air, hovers for a few seconds (surely there was some ChromaKey involved here), falls back down to Earth, and then beats them up. The jump accomplished nothing, but the Red Ranger then compliments her on her "good move".
** On another occasion (possibly from the very same episode), an out-of-costume Blue Ranger leaps into the air and lands with his legs around a Putty's head, killing it. That's right, he killed a guy with his crotch.
* {{Wuxia}} films use WireFu to perform exaggerated feats of ''qingqong''. For example, the film ''Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'', ''Hero'', and ''House of Flying Daggers'' demonstrate perhaps the ultimate achievement in WireFu that Western audiences have seen.
* WireFu is noticeably absent in Jackie Chan films; Chan insists on doing all his own stunts and eschews this technique. This may end in the near future, however: Jackie Chan is getting older.
** Jackie has also expressed his distaste of Hollywood films, because in Hollywood, Jackie is forced to wait a very long time just to complete ONE stunt due to the bureaucratic hurdle of insurance coverage required to get the stunt started. Jackie is used to using real hazards such as hot coals or thicker glass in lieu of props in his native films. So because of his age and VERY battered body, the WireFu is easier to get green lighted by insurance companies. However, Jackie and his troupe are already blacklisted by nearly all Hollywood insurance companies anyways.
* ''TheMatrix'' popularised it in the west.
* Just about every single Jet Li film. His training just makes it look really good.
* The Pili series from Taiwan. Wire-fu puppets. Very awesome wire-fu puppets.
* Spoofed in one of the ''Wayne's World'' movies, during a fight between Wayne and Cassandra's father featuring leaps and flips with curiously flat trajectories.
** Never one to leave a dead horse unbeaten, Mike Meyers used this in ''AustinPowers'': Goldmember'' with Fat Bastard, who--to make sure he was ready to fight Austin--shouted "I hope my wire-fightin' team's r-r-r-r-ready!"
* Spoofed in [[http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/952/1200425345296ic2.jpg this comic]] by Chewri.
* The ''{{Game/Munchkin}}'' card game set "Munchkin Fu" has a style card literally called [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Wire Fu]]. It gives a +6.
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