Why?

Rabid wrote: When they have a fight in Kung-fu films, one guy takes on 50 opponents and they all take it in turns to fight him one at a time, and invariably get whupped.   Why don't all 50 just pile onto the guy, at the same time,  and kick the crap out of him?

It is a matter of honor for Eastern warriors to take on an opponent one on one, thus ensuring a fair fight using honorable, culturally-approved combat tactics.  Such an approach would guarantee that a fighter did not bring shame upon his house, his village, or his dynasty.  Ganging up on one man would surely create collectivist scorn and permanently damage the reputation of all the "victors," no matter how imperative such a victory was.  For the ancient Orientals, shame was to be avoided at all cost, even if it meant death and defeat. 

Also, it wasn't in the script.

^ (@ Epignosis) Oh, you're no fun

Edited by Tarquin Underspoon - July 24 2010 at 22:09

Guns take the fun out of everything.  Unless you're Jack Bauer.

Where's the honor in getting whupped? 

Edited by Rabid - July 24 2010 at 22:24

all good points, suffice to say you'll never see real fighting in a film, I'd add; why are the multiple bad guys always poor fighters?  Even the more realistic scenes in, say, a Steven Seagal movie have the same problem.  Obviously a fight scene in a film must always be choreographed so everyone knows what's going to happen and no major injuries occur, but real hand-to-hand is usually a clumsy, ugly, explosive event involving little skill and more instinct  & aggression.  True martial artists know this, which is why they'll usually either avoid a fight or try to end it quickly with a simple punch or take-down (if they're lucky that is, and have the skill, like a mixed martial artist).

   

that's the charm of a chopsocky flick

I once spent a summer teaching Fencing to young kids. For fun I would challenge five of them at once and would invariably whip them soundly. Why? Because they all attacked me one at a time rather than ganging up on me all at once, Conclusion? Kung-Fu fighters are children.