Champions, the new martial arts action comedy directed by Tsui Siu-ming, opened in China on October 31st 2008. The latest martial arts blockbuster features a variety of Kung-fu styles including: Southern Fist, Tai Chi, Eagle Claw, Praying Mantis, Ditang Fist, Fanzi Fist, Arhat Fist, Tiger Taming Fist as well as an assortment of weaponry; and appearances by numerous Chinese national wushu champions.

One notable wushu star in the film is Xu Xiang-dong, who plays An Yong, the Chief of Eagle Claw Clan, who enjoys challenging everybody he meets. As one who stands by the motto ”The one who remains standing is the winner, the one who is lying on the ground is the loser!” in Champions, he organises a martial arts contest to let everyone witness his power and skills.

Xu Xiang-dong says that it was Tsui Hark who advised him to grow his beard back when they were filming Seven Swordsmen, telling him that that was the look he really wanted. And subsequently, he has been getting countless film and TV offers after doing that, one of which was A Battle of Wits. It was then that Xu Xiang-dong got reunited with Tsui Siu-ming, who later invited him to join Champions.

In Champions, Xu Xiang-dong will be fighting Yu Rong-guang again. In their second collaboration, Xu Xiang-dong is looking at Yu Rong-guang from a different perspective, “For example, the director designed an action simulating the eagle  swooping down, and I had to clutch at Yu Rong-guang from above, but as he is much taller, how much higher did I have to leap? Yu Rong-guang turned to me and said, he would lower himself when I jumped, so that I’d appear higher. He would find ways to help you conserve strength, while not compromising on the standards of filmmaking.”

Wushu is not just a combative technique, but is a means of cultivating oneself. This is what Tsui Siu-ming is trying to explain through Champions.