The Lightfooted: As a child, Kwai Chang Caine's mentor challenged him to walk a long sheet of delicate rice paper unrolled across the temple floor. After years of Shaolin training and study, he successfully made the crossing without damaging the rice paper. 2020: Remembering the Newsmakers Who Died, K.T. I have been binge watching the 1970’s TV show, Kung Fu. See more ideas about kung fu, grasshopper, martial arts. But it is indeed much more difficult to develop. Premiering in February 1972 with a two-hour pilot originally titled Kung Fu: The Way of the Tiger, The Sign of the Dragon, the world was introduced to “Grasshopper” – the nickname for the young Kwai Chang Caine (David Carradine), given to him by Master Po, the blind Shaolin priest. Following his training at the temple, the series then follows his exploits in the American Old West. The original series starred David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine… He moved as carefully as he could, but still left a trail of rips and footprints. plain version for print outs but it isn't kept up-to-date with changes we make, An introduction to the BBC's "Blake's 7". Seen in that light, Kung Fu was downright progressive, given that it did cast a number of Asian actors in regular roles. your own Pins on Pinterest Kung Fu is about a shaolin monk; Kwai Chang Caine. "-Master Po "There are two kinds of strengths. Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill series featured Carradine as an assassin in a world of martial arts-inspired revenge. If you are looking for tapes/DVDs of the show or where it is playing, check out our News and Frequently Asked Questions pages. For millions of Americans in the 1970s, the face of Asian martial arts was David Carradine…, David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine in “Kung Fu” (Wikimedia Commons / ABC-TV). Kwai Chang Caine is the orphaned son of an American man, Thomas Henry Caine, and a Chinese woman in mid-19th century China. Orphaned after his maternal grandfather's death, Caine eventually found himself outside the local Shaolin temple along with other hopeful candidates. In the show, the main character Kwai Chang Caine played by David Carradine, is half-Chinese, the son of an American man and a Chinese woman. After his maternal grandfather's death he is accepted for training at a Shaolin Monastery, where he grows up to become a Shaolin priest and martial arts expert. The amazing thing about kung fu is that the flashbacks show Caine's past, we see that he has been trained to use kung fu, but he is a monk and would not harm a fly if it wasn't necessary. He … Kung Fu follows the adventures of a Shaolin monk, Kwai Chang Caine (played by David Carradine) who travels through the American Old West armed only with his spiritual training and his skill in martial arts, as he seeks his half-brother, Danny Caine. Then there is the chi, the inner strength. Although taking a student of mixed parentage into the order was unprecedented, the head monk Master Kan (Philip Ahn) sagely noted, "There is a first for everything," and welcomed Caine. Warrior. He travels around the wild west, seeking to help others and avoiding bounty hunters. I have committed each of your Kung Fu fighting techniques to memory. R.I.P. Like a Son to Me: In the pilot episode, and practically every flashback ever, … Running for three seasons from 1972 to 1975, “Kung Fu” followed the adventures of Kwai Chang Caine, played by the late David Carradine, who joins the famed Shaolin monastery in China and grows up to become a kung fu master. Kwai Chang Caine (Chinese: 虔官昌; pinyin: Qián Guānchāng) is a fictional character and the protagonist of the ABC 1972–1975 action-adventure western television series Kung Fu. It is most important to transmit wude, the moral principles of Kung Fu. Carradine’s half-Chinese, half-American Shaolin monk Kwai Chang Caine wandered the Wild West, attempting to be a man of peace in a violent world. American actor David Carridine played Shaolin monk Kwai Chang Caine in the series which followed Caine’s trail through America’s old Wild West in search of his half-brother Danny. Everyone possesses it, too. Kwai Chang Caine is on Facebook. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Television show with David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine, from Ed Spielman, Jerry Thorpe & Warner Bros. 1 9 7 2- 1 9 7 5 (USA) 63 x 60 minute episodes. We also offer a plain version for print outs but it isn't kept up-to-date with changes we make. Twenty-five years before that, Hollywood managed to make the film adaptation of Pearl S. Buck’s Chinese epic The Good Earth without a single Asian actor in a lead role. Discover (and save!) A Retro Ride with “Kwai Chang Caine,” a.k.a. But in 1972, the fans weren’t necessarily thinking about casting choices – they were just drinking in all the great kung fu action by Carradine and company. Kwai Chang Caine (David Carradine) is the orphaned son of an American man, Thomas Henry Caine (Bill Fletcher), and a Chinese woman, Kwai Lin, in mid-19th-century China. From our vantage point, more than 40 years after the debut of ABC-TV’s Kung Fu, it seems more than a little strange that an Asian actor wasn’t chosen to play martial arts expert Kwai Chang Caine, instead of the 100 percent Caucasian Carradine. "-Master Po "Never assume that because a man has no eyes, he cannot see. Priest. 1972 | United States Created by Ed Spielman and developed by Herman Miller, 'Kung Fu' was the award winning US TV series which starred David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine, a Shaolin Priest in the American West of the late 19th Century. The following year in 1987, a pilot show was created to try and continue the legacy of Kung Fu. Caine became the fugitive from China escaping to America in the 1870’s. And the story ends with a harmony characteristic of Caine's constant inner quest. The movies revived Carradine’s flagging career and harked back to his glory days as Kwai Chang Caine. He has been portrayed by David Carradine as an adult, Keith Carradine as a younger Caine and Radames Pera as the child Caine, and Stephen Manley as the youngest Caine. Though Kung Fu aired for only three seasons – and Carradine didn’t know martial arts at all when began the role (he used his skill as a dancer to fake it, picking up real martial arts knowledge as he went along) – the image of Carradine as a kung fu master persisted. Storyline Kwai Chang Caine is a Shaolin Monk who is on the run after he killed the Chinese Emperor's nephew after that coward killed his teacher in cold blood with a gun. Kwai-Chang Caine is, inevitably, compared favourably with the other people in each series, people who display greed, aggression, folly, weakness or despair, and Caine always comes up trumps, restores order and moves on in a way which is silent, respectful and expects nothing in return. Kwai Chang Caine (DAVID CARRADINE) is stalked by two deadly adversaries: The Order of the Avenging Dragon--who act as guardians to the Royal Household of Imperial China and have sworn to avenge the death of the royal nephew--and by Sara Kingsley (PATRICIA NEAL), the matriarch of a ranching empire, who considers Caine's insistent probing into her family's background a threat to her … Carradine’s half-Chinese, half-American Shaolin monk Kwai Chang Caine wandered the Wild West, attempting to be a man of peace in a violent world. Posted on January 18, 2017 by johnhillinkeywest. He often flashed back to his monastic training, remembering the teacher who gave him the nickname “Grasshopper.” Caine’s lessons with Master Po and Master Kan gave pop culture a catchy way to refer to a novice… but they also imparted the wisdom of Eastern philosophy. In addition we have an addendum (containing a collection of quotes from the show done by Steve Geller), links to information on the show and China, and its history and philosophy as well as other related resources. Only Carradine, as Kwai Chang Caine, and Luke, as the blind Master Po, repeated their roles. Actors returning from "Kung Fu" (1972) were David Carradine, Keye Luke, Mako, Benson Fong, Roy Jenson and Tad Horino. Remembering Grasshopper aka David Carradine. According to reports, actor David Carradine, who was in a slew of movies and TV shows, is dead, maybe by his own hand, in Thailand. In flashbacks, Master Po (Keye Luke) playfully teaches … Jun 20, 2017 - Explore Julie-Marie Allan's board "Grasshopper" on Pinterest. View the profiles of people named Kwai Chang Caine. David Carradine stars as Kwai Chang Caine, a man of peace in a land of violence. Apr 28, 2012 - This Pin was discovered by Andrew Demcak. Still, though it may not be PC, we love watching his kung fu. Although this website and guide is about the fictional character and world, we are saddened by the recent death of David Carradine who added so much to this series being the classic it is 40 years after the original broadcast. Caine is wanted for murder in China and has a $10,000 bounty on his head, and so he flees to America, where he must deal with both desperados and bounty hunters as he tries to find his brother Danny. Po: Grasshopper, these techniques are trifles. A slew of movies and TV, but I expect that most people are going to remember him for his role as Kwai Chang Caine, the Shaolin monk who left China, after killing the Emperor's nephew, and went to America to search for his long-lost half brother. Join Facebook to connect with Kwai Chang Caine and others you may know. David Carradine stars as Kwai Chang Caine, a man of peace in a land of violence. Orphaned in China, Kwai Chang grew up in the Shaolin Monastery trained in kung fu and the Way of the Tao. Grasshopper, what are you thinking? Oslin (1942–2020), Grammy-winning country star, John “Ecstasy” Fletcher (1964–2020), rapper with influential group Whodini. Still, though it may not be PC, we love watching his kung fu. The fighting action is fierce. A decade before, Mickey Rooney’s portrayal of Mr. Yuniyoshi in Breakfast at Tiffany’s was seen as funny, not offensive. The outer strength is obvious: it fades with age and succumbs to sickness. Get breaking news alerts& today's headlines inyour inbox. After waiting patiently for several days, Caine and the few other remaining candidates were taken inside the temple where only Caine passed a subtle test in manners. In 1972, though, it wasn’t so unusual. Also featured are Martin Landau, Benson Fong and Keye Luke as Master Po, the venerable blind teacher who likens young Caine to a mere "grasshopper." Quotations and other material copyrighted to Warner's Brothers, et al. David Carradine returned to portray Kwai Chang Caine and was joined by his son Chung Wang played by Brandon Lee who was making his acting debut with this film. The site covers a series guide, an overview, the pilot movie, seasons one, two & three, and notes (including information on the various books written about the show or its subject matter). Join Facebook to connect with Kwai Chang Caine and others you may know. Caine was an expertly trained kung fu master, but his best weapon was his spiritual mindfulness, he was a martial arts master who could kick, but also quote calm and thoughtful words. Wanderer. The grasshopper will leap again as the hit 1970s television show Kung Fu is set to be rebooted – with a female lead.. Four years after Carradine’s death June 3, 2009, the entertainment world has changed, and it’s unlikely he’d ever get to play a character like Grasshopper if he were alive and working today. 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