Mr. Han is the revered shifu (master) of a large wuguan (kung fu school) in Beijing, China, with many young students learning his ancient way of kung fu. Among them is Li Fong, a quiet teenager living in the wuguan and hiding from his mother, a doctor who soon arrives to bring him back. She accepts a job position in New York City and makes Li promise to give up martial arts and violence before they leave China, after Li's brother was stabbed to death by his defeated rival.
