My kung fu is stronger than yours

"My kung fu is stronger than yours" is a popular cultural trope and catchphrase, originally referring to the clichéd plots of martial arts films. The trope was popularized during the pursuit of computer hacker Kevin Mitnick in 1994. The phrase is also rendered as "My kung fu is better than yours", "My kung fu is stronger than your kung fu", "My kung fu is the best", etc.

Early mentions

In 1976, magazine Black Belt published an article about martial artist Leo Fong, where he was quoted as saying: "The plot [of kung fu movies] is usually 'my school-is-better-than-your school' or 'your-master-killed-my-master-so-we'll-kill-yours'. Those are the basic two themes, even in some of the Bruce Lee movies. The first and second generation Chinese have still heard the legends of the kung fu masters and their exploits and exploitations".[1]

In a 1995 interview to Black Belt martial arts instructor Ip Ching recalled a man skilled in the Eagle Claw style who around 1928 joined a martial arts school that was open to every style. The man claimed the title of chief instructor believing that "none of the instructors there had good kung fu" and told the others "your kung fu is rubbish".[2] Ip Man was ultimately chosen to defend the others against the intruder.[2]

Zeke Shif

On December 25, 1994 the computers of computer security expert Tsutomu Shimomura in San Diego experienced an IP spoofing hacker attack.[3] The attack was launched from toad.com domain in San Francisco via computer owned by John Gilmore.[3] On December 27 Shimomura received a message "Damn you, my technique is the best" on the voice mail.[4] Three days later the caller left another message, starting with a kung fu scream and saying: "Your security technique will be defeated. Your technique is no good".[4] Shimomura's search for the hacker ultimately led him to Kevin Mitnick, but the caller was identified as phone hacker and pranker Zeke Shif. Shif later explained: "I heard that this guy named Shimomura had been hacked... So I just thought, What the hell, I'd leave some voice mails. I used to watch kung fu movies a lot".[4] The phrase has been initially attributed to Mitnick until Shif's identity was revealed.

Modern culture

The phrase became what ZDNet called "a cultural touchstone in its own right", equating hacking with kung fu.[4] In the The X-Files episode "Unusual Suspects" the "Lone Gunmen" hackers are heard to mutter, "My kung fu is the best". The phrase also appears in hacking context in the film The Core.

The reviews of some modern martial arts films, such as Ip Man 2,[5] still evoke the "my kung fu is stronger than yours" trope. Two trophies in the 2011 video game Mortal Kombat are called My Kung Fu Is Strong and My Kung Fu Is Stronger.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "The Chinese Minister from Arkansas Who Makes Martial Arts Movies". Black Belt. Active Interest Media, Inc. 14 (11): 40. November 1976. ISSN 0277-3066.
  2. 1 2 "The Legacy of Yip Man Bruce Lee's First Instructor". Black Belt. Active Interest Media, Inc. 33 (7): 61. July 1995. ISSN 0277-3066.
  3. 1 2 "Kevin Mitnick, Hacking". SANS Institute. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Kevin Poulsen (January 21, 2000). "The case of the kung fu 'phreak'". ZDNet. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  5. ↑ Chris Bumbray. "Ip Man 2". JoBlo.com. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  6. ↑ "Mortal Kombat (PS3) Trophies". Playstation Trophies. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
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