Kisu

Kisu
Biographical information
Born	1954 Rabat, Morocco
Further information
Link(s)	IMDb Facebook Myspace Official website Tumblr

Sifu Kisu is the fighting instructor and consultant for the Avatar franchise. He is known for his extensive knowledge and abilities with various styles of martial arts. Sifu Kisu related the four bending arts to actual styles of fighting in real life, in order to give bending in the series authenticity. His extensive work with the series is highlighted in the behind-the-scenes featurettes Creating the Legend and The Essence of Bending.

Avatar: The Last Airbender credits

Martial Arts consultant

61 episodes

101. "The Boy in the Iceberg" 102. "The Avatar Returns" 103. "The Southern Air Temple" 104. "The Warriors of Kyoshi" 105. "The King of Omashu" 106. "Imprisoned" 107. "Winter Solstice, Part 1: The Spirit World" 108. "Winter Solstice, Part 2: Avatar Roku" 109. "The Waterbending Scroll" 110. "Jet" 111. "The Great Divide" 112. "The Storm" 113. "The Blue Spirit" 114. "The Fortuneteller" 115. "Bato of the Water Tribe" 116. "The Deserter" 117. "The Northern Air Temple" 118. "The Waterbending Master" 119. "The Siege of the North, Part 1" 120. "The Siege of the North, Part 2" 201. "The Avatar State" 202. "The Cave of Two Lovers" 203. "Return to Omashu" 204. "The Swamp" 205. "Avatar Day" 206. "The Blind Bandit" 207. "Zuko Alone" 208. "The Chase" 209. "Bitter Work" 210. "The Library" 211. "The Desert" 212. "The Serpent's Pass" 213. "The Drill" 214. "City of Walls and Secrets" 215. "The Tales of Ba Sing Se" 216. "Appa's Lost Days" 217. "Lake Laogai" 218. "The Earth King" 219. "The Guru" 220. "The Crossroads of Destiny" 301. "The Awakening" 302. "The Headband" 303. "The Painted Lady" 304. "Sokka's Master" 305. "The Beach" 306. "The Avatar and the Fire Lord" 307. "The Runaway" 308. "The Puppetmaster" 309. "Nightmares and Daydreams" 310. "The Day of Black Sun, Part 1: The Invasion" 311. "The Day of Black Sun, Part 2: The Eclipse" 312. "The Western Air Temple" 313. "The Firebending Masters" 314. "The Boiling Rock, Part 1" 315. "The Boiling Rock, Part 2" 316. "The Southern Raiders" 317. "The Ember Island Players" 318. "Sozin's Comet, Part 1: The Phoenix King" 319. "Sozin's Comet, Part 2: The Old Masters" 320. "Sozin's Comet, Part 3: Into the Inferno" 321. "Sozin's Comet, Part 4: Avatar Aang"

The Legend of Korra credits

Traditional Martial Arts consultation

22 episodes

101. "Welcome to Republic City" 102. "A Leaf in the Wind" 103. "The Revelation" 104. "The Voice in the Night" 105. "The Spirit of Competition" 106. "And the Winner Is..." 107. "The Aftermath" 108. "When Extremes Meet" 109. "Out of the Past" 110. "Turning the Tides" 111. "Skeletons in the Closet" 112. "Endgame" 201. "Rebel Spirit" 202. "The Southern Lights" 203. "Civil Wars, Part 1" 204. "Civil Wars, Part 2" 207. "Beginnings, Part 1" 208. "Beginnings, Part 2" 209. "The Guide" 210. "A New Spiritual Age" 214. "Light in the Dark" 305. "The Metal Clan"

Selected other credits

Television work

• Big Bad Beetleborgs (actor and stunt player)
• Iskelmä-Suomi

Filmography

• WantAd (2011 - stunt coordinator)
• Curse of the ShadowBorg (1997; video - actor and stunt player)
• Sworn to Justice (1996)
• Ring of Fire (1991)

Biographical information

Raised in Toronto, Canada, Sifu Kisu was first exposed to the world of martial arts at an early age. After spending time in the military he moved to Los Angeles and worked as an Executive Protection Specialist for many celebrities and VIPs. In the late 70's, Sifu Kisu began studying karate and jujitsu with his uncles upon their return from Vietnam. Kisu was later sent off to learn Shorin-ryu under Robert Yarnell in St. Louis. After this, Sifu Kisu got involved with taekwondo, specifically the ITF fighting style system, and had the great fortune to study with Master Kong Eng Moo. He later accompanied Master Kong to the Kukkiwon in Korea. Kisu continued to learn taekwondo from his master and former Korean president Park Chung-hee's bodyguards.

In 1980, he became a disciple of Master Hui Ho Kwong and trained with him for the next twenty-six years. During this time, Sifu Kisu was introduced to the Northern Shaolin style and learned that martial arts are not just about learning how to fight, but more importantly they are a vehicle to master oneself.

"Chinese Martial Arts embody harmonized teaching and training techniques which serve as either self-defense, healing, psychological revelation, vivifying exercise, or a spiritual path, and could act as a catalyst to people who would normally not be interested in spiritual practices or other esoteric training. This knowledge changed me on levels I have no words to explain. My life's work now is the practice, teaching and promotion of the Northern Shaolin system of traditional Chinese martial arts. Recently I was hired by one of my students who works for Nickelodeon to consult on their hit TV show Avatar: The Last Airbender. Through that show I have attempted to promote the higher concepts of Martial Art virtues. I am proud to say this is the first show for young people I have seen passing along the concepts of honor, duty, loyalty, friendship and harmony."

―Sifu Kisu.

Influence on bending arts

Sifu Kisu related the four bending arts and several other specific bending styles to real life fighting styles.

• Tai chi formed the basis of waterbending. Kisu took inspiration from the style's fluidity, connectivity and adaptability, all of which became fundamental concepts for all three waterbending styles. In addition, the 24-step form from Tai Chi was used to create the waterbending scroll that Katara ended up with.
• Hung Gar formed the basis of earthbending. Kisu took inspiration from the style's low stances, rooted power and strength. He used a lot of the techniques from Gung Gee Fook Fu, the "taming the tiger" form and the "tiger crane" form.
  • Toph's seismic sense and unique method of earthbending was based on the Chu Gar Southern Praying Mantis style; while Sifu Kisu was not a master of it, he brought in his friend, Sifu Manny and Manny's son to become the example.
• The Northern Shaolin system formed the basis of firebending. In particular, Northern Shaolin highlighted fire in the sense that the element has many manifestations. When controlled, it is one way and when out of control, the art becomes something completely different. Firebending features very powerful and dynamic footwork, arrow-like forward attacking techniques, feather-like retreating techniques and employs the "light as a leaf, heavy as iron" concept of fighting.
  • Lightning generation was based on the movements of Shaolin form number two, "dragon shoots its whiskers".
• Ba Gua formed the basis of airbending. It utilizes light circle walking techniques and the "Eight Trigram Palm". The fundamental concept of airbending is similar to Ba Gua in that a bender shifts and rotates their center in order to counteract resistance and attack.
• Pro-bending is heavily influenced by aerial acrobatic martial arts in concurrence with MMA and UFC styles of fighting.
• The Metalbending Police Force of Republic City use a few moves based on the Chu Gar Southern Praying Mantis form. It also uses entry techniques based on elements Sifu Kisu learned when he was in the military, particularly in terms of fire, ranging, covering sectors and vectoring.

Trivia

Master Piandao was created in dedication to Sifu Kisu.

• The creators of Avatar dedicated the character appearance and personality of swordsmaster Piandao to Sifu Kisu.
• Kisu also possesses two swords which that were the references for Sokka's sword and Piandao's sword. The other swords and weaponry in his collection were used to outfit the weapons store in Shu Jing.