fights. Kung Zi, seeing the gravity of the situation, helps Ho Tao by warning him of Takeno's mastery of ninjutsu. A series of duels follows, as Ho Tao comes up with a way to counter each Japanese martial artist’s specialist expertise. In a final showdown, Ho Tao faces Takeno. Chow Kan (Cheng Hong-Yip), Ho Tao's servant, provides a lot of the comedic relief for the film through various schemes that often bring unintended consequences for Ho Tao. Martial arts The film is noted for the exhibitions of various martial-arts styles and weapons: Japanese Samurai Sword vs. Chinese Straight Sword (double-edged long sword) Sino-Okinawan Karate vs. Chinese Drunken Fist Okinawan Bruce Lee's Nunchucks & Tonfa vs. Chinese Three sectional staff (melee weapons) Japanese Long Spear vs. Chinese Qiang (spears) Okinawan Tekpis vs. Chinese Wing Chun Butterfly Swords (short swords) Japanese Judo vs. peanut oil (a comedic duel) Japanese ninja skills Hensojutsu, Shinobi-iri vs. peanut shells (another comedic duel) Japanese Ninja Star Darts, Darts vs. Chinese Needles, Sleeve Arrows (throwing weapons) Japanese Sickles as compared to Chinese Long Rope Dart (chained/roped weapons) Japanese Ninja Short Sword vs. Chinese Broadsword (single-edged broadsword/saber) Japanese Crab-style vs. Chinese Crane Fist In a departure from the norm for a Hong Kong film of that time, instead of stereotyping the Japanese characters as villains, the film portrays both the Japanese characters and their fighting skills with respect. Another unusual aspect of the film is that director Lau insisted that none of the fights ended in death. It is consistent with Lau's insistence on no characters being killed when in the film, Ho Tao criticizes the lethal technique of Ninjitsu as being dishonorable. He refers to it as an "ambush" only used by "treacherous criminals", and by contrast "the way of (Chinese) kung fu emphasizes on being fair and open". (All quotes were taken from the subtitle translation used on the Celestial Pictures/IVL DVD release. The English dubbed version, usually titled Shaolin Challenges Ninja, is even more harsh in its assessment of Ninjutsu, with Ho Tao referring to it as "murder" instead of "ambush".) Cast Gordon Liu - Ho Tao, the main protagonist, Yumiko Kōda's husband and Kung fu fighter Yuka Mizuno - Yumiko "Kung Zi" Kōda, the female protagonist, Ho Tao's japanese wife from Kyoto, Japan and Japanese martial arts fighter Yasuaki Kurata - Takeno, Japanese ninjutsu expert Naozō Katō - Japanese Master Riki Harada (English credits