Shifu - The Furious Five

The Furious Five

With the exception of Oogway, Shifu, Po and Tai Lung, the Furious Five are deemed the most skilled warriors in China. The Five were all trained by Shifu, and are homages to the Crane, Snake, Monkey, Praying Mantis, and Tiger styles of Chinese martial arts. The Furious Five initially refused to believe that Po was the Dragon Warrior, but later grew to respect his courage and tenacity. When Tai Lung was defeated by Po in single combat, they were convinced enough to bow to the giant panda as a master.

Po has become fast friends with the Five and regularly fights alongside them and they have incorporated their group tactics with him to become an even more formidable fighting force. Discussing Po's new placement with the Furious Five in Kung Fu Panda 2, Jack Black has regarded Po as the "technical leader" of the quintet. However, because he is "still finding his way" through his insecurities and clumsiness, the group doesn't become the "Furious Six", but rather "The Furious Five and the Dragon Warrior" — with Master Tigress as the "real" leader according to Black.

In the Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness episode "Owl Be Back," it was revealed that there had been other members of the Furious Five before Tigress, Monkey, Viper, Mantis, and Crane back when Master Oogway was still alive. The original line-up consisted of Shifu, Fenghuang, an unnamed rooster, an unnamed snow leopard, and an unnamed Asian elephant.