History Main / FightingPanda

* ''Manga/KillingBites'': Brute Panda is a panda theriantrope who participates in the last tournament. Compared to other Brutes, he looks mostly the same as a normal panda, only larger and strictly bipedal, emphasized by him [[FullFrontalAttack not wearing any clothes]]. Apart from his [[Acrofatic]] fighting style, he makes use of the [[CutenessProximity panda's cuteness to gain the audience's support]]. [[spoiloer:And when his transformation is undone, turns out "he" was a [[AnimeChineseGirl Chinese girl]] [[SamusIsAGirl all along]].]]

Pandas are [[NationalAnimalStereotypes strongly associated with their native China]], and since AllChinesePeopleKnowKungFu and AllAsiansKnowMartialArts, pandas will invariably be skilled in the martial arts. Despite their [[{{Acrofatic}} big size]], they will be portrayed as forces to be reckoned with. This trope exists despite, or because of, real-life giant pandas stereotyped as generally being [[PandaingToTheAudience lazy lumps of bamboo-eating cuteness]].

A SubTrope of PandaingToTheAudience, and a specific type of BearsAreBadNews. Subverts the usual [[AnimalStereotypes stereotype]] of pandas as lazy or slow and not nimble animals. Also a subtrope of AnimalOccupationStereotypes.

* May Chang from ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' is a princess of Xing, a FantasyCounterpartCulture of China, and is suitably trained in martial arts. Her HeadPet, runt panda Xiao May, seems to know quite a bit too in imitation of her, although Shao May mostly runs on RuleOfCute and has [[PandaingToTheAudience no direct impact on the plot]].

[[folder: Comic Books]]

** PlayedWith in regards to Po the panda. Despite being the protagonist and the franchise's title being ''Kung Fu Panda'', Po starts the [[WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda first film]] with no martial arts training at all, and spends much of it as the least competent martial artist among the other animals. However, he does eventually grow into the position of TheChosenOne, and is a good martial artist for the rest of the franchise.

* ''Wakfu's'' Pandawa race/class are martial arts Pandas with most of their attacks revolving around the use of bamboo milk.

* ''TabletopGame/YuGiOh'': [[https://yugioh.fandom.com/wiki/Gyaku-Gire_Panda Gyaku-Gire Panda]] is a beast-type monster with the appearance of a vicious and angry panda. It's special effect grants it 500 attack points for every monster on the opponent's field. It appeared in [[Anime/YuGiOh the anime]] as one of the monster used by model, actress and martial artist Vivian Wong.

Pandas know kung fu.

Basically, pandas know kung fu.

* [[ADogNamedDog Panda]] from ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' series is a giant panda that's Li Xiaoyu's pet mascot and is also the DistaffCounterpart of Kuma (a grizzly bear and Heihachi's mascot). Having martial artists as their owners, both bears can fight any opponent, having the "style" of Kuma Shinken made by Heihachi, who also taught Panda to be Xiaoyu's bodyguard.

* The protagonist Pancada from ''WesternAnimation/TheLittlePandaFighter'', clearly inspired by ''Kung Fu Panda'', plays with this trope by doing boxing rather than Kung-Fu Fighting.

A SubTrope of PandaingToTheAudience, and a specific type of BearsAreBadNews. Subverts the usual [[AnimalStereotypes stereotype]] of pandas as lazy or slow and not nimble animals.

* ''Manga/JujutsuKaisen'': Panda is a large bipedal panda-looking creature (he insists several times he isn't really a panda) who is just as capable of kicking ass as the human jujutsu sorcerers, and unlike most of them, his size and bulk lends itself to a close-combat fighting stye. He's actually [[{{Golem}} a sentient Cursed Corpse]], meaning Principal Yaga [[InvokedTrope deliberately chose to make his prize fighter in the shape of a panda]].

* ''VideoGame/JurassicWorldAlive'' features ''Ailurarctos,'' an extinct genus of Panda as one of the roster's epics. Downplayed in that it shares the same animations as the other bears in the game and the closest thing it has to a martial arts move is it simply slamming into its opponent by its side.

* ''VideoGame/JurassicWorldAlive'' features ''Ailurarctos,'' an extinct genus of Panda as one of the roster's epics.

* ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'':
** PlayedWith in the first movie. Despite being the protagonist and the title of the film being ''Kung-Fu Panda'', Po the panda starts the film with no martial arts training at all, and spends much of it as the least competent martial artist among the other animals. However, he does eventually grow into the position of TheChosenOne, and is a good martial artist for the rest of the [[Franchise/KungFuPanda franchise]].
** His teacher and master of the Jade Palace, Shifu, also plays with this trope, due to being a panda as well. A red panda, to be exact.

* ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}}'': The Pandarens are an entire race of Pandas who know kung fu.

* Website/{{Facebook}}-only game ''[[https://www.facebook.com/Panda-Fighting-172299080163544/ Pandas Fighting]]'' is a half-{{fighting game}} half-VideoGame/ClashOfClans game about pandas fighting between each other and against monstruous bosses, using not just martial arts, but different weapons to win.

[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/9b861ee9_4d63_46f6_978b_5fa3fcd1a0e8.jpeg]]]]

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
* PlayedWith in the first ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'' movie. Despite being the protagonist and the title of the film being ''Kung-Fu Panda'', Po the panda starts the film with no martial arts training at all, and spends much of it as the least competent martial artist among the other animals. However, he does eventually grow into the position of TheChosenOne, and is a good martial artist for the rest of the [[Franchise/KungFuPanda franchise]].

-->'''Danny''': You've really got to agitate the pandas to get them engaged in combat. They're very docile by nature. ...I laced their bamboo.

Subtrope of PandaingToTheAudience, and is a specific type of BearsAreBadNews. Subverts the usual [[AnimalStereotypes stereotype]] of pandas as lazy or slow and not nimble animals.

[[folder: Anime & Manga]]

[[folder: Film -- Animated]]
* ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'': PlayedWith. Despite being the character and the title of the film being ''Kung-Fu Panda'', Po the panda starts the film with no martial arts training at all, and spends much of it as the least competent martial artist among the other animals. However, he does eventually grow into the position of TheChosenOne, and is a good martial artist for the rest of the franchise.
** His teacher and master of the Jade Palace, Shifu, also plays with this trope, due to being a panda as well. A red panda to be exact.

[[folder: Music]]

[[folder: Tabletop Games]]

[[folder: Video Games]]

[[folder: Western Animation]]

[[/folder]]

-> "To ask why we fight... is to ask why the leaves fall. It is in their nature. Perhaps, there is a better question. Why do we fight? To protect Home, and Family... To preserve Balance, and bring Harmony. For my kind, the true question is: What is worth fighting for?"

[[folder: Film]]

* The protagonist Pancada from ''WesternAnimation/TheLittlePandaFighter'', a ripoff of Kung Fu Panda, subverts this trope by doing boxing rather than Kung-Fu Fighting.