The Art of Rivalry

**The Art of Rivalry** is the second episode of Kung Fu Panda: The Beginning

## Plot

### Synopsis

After Baboon's Ninja Monkeys manage to fail to invade the Valley of Peace yet again much to Baboon's own personal dismay and frustration, Rabbit, fed up with Knut's teachings which demonstrate patience, decides to starts his own Kung Fu school with cool-colored belts, and Daniel is faced with a choice: stick with Knut or go to Rabbit's school. He ends up going to both schools as a student, and everything is fine until a tournament pits the best students from each school against each other, and now Daniel has to fight himself.

### Summary

Baboon sends a huge army of ninja Monkeys to attack the Valley of Peace and the main target of the attack is the Jade Palace. Daniel, Knut, Oogway, Elida, Fox, Leopard, Rabbit, Pig, Ox, Bird, Ms Duck, Tiger, Frog, Snake, Killer Bees, Crane and Mantis stand outside the palace. Rabbit is eager to fight, but Master Knut says he must be patient. Rabbit gets more and more eager but Knut stops him, Rabbit thinks that Knut will let them all get killed. Just then the ninja monkeys arrives the Jade Palace are they so hot and tired that they fell to the ground and roll down the stairs. Baboon orders the monkeys to stand up but they don't so he shouts out in disappointment and Rabbit is surprised.

On the way to the training courtyard,Daniel asks Knut how he do that and Knut gives him a advice "victory is often a matter of allowing your opponent to defeat himself" but Daniel doesn't get it. They meet Rabbit, he takes Knut's advice as if they were all just lucky and that they should instead beat the monkeys instead of being slow and careful. Rabbit decides to start his own kung fu- school and invites Daniel to become his first student, but Daniel won't leave his grandfather. Rabbit gets annoyed and says that everyone will join his school and leaves.

Later, Pig, Snake, Ox, Bird and Mantis participate Rabbit's school. Rabbit is sure his school will beat Knuts but he wants more students. He sees two ninja monkeys in a tree, he threatens to beat them up or that they can join his school and the monkeys do. In Rabbit's first hour, he's going to show a move that he calls "the powerful triple reverse kick" he shows it on the monkeys and gives them the "atomic twister." Mantis doesn't think it looks like fighting, but Rabbit says it's trind 1 "always surprised your opponent" and kicks down the monkeys.

Daniel spies on Rabbit's lesson and returns to the training courtyard and meditates with Knut, after three hours Daniel is bored and asks Knut why he has to meditate. Knut says "meditation is all about looking into your heart", but Daniel asks if they can do something else, as to ripping out a heart, but Knut explains that "getting to know your mind and your heart is achieved by silent meditation. But now that Daniel has broken that silence they must begin again, which makes Daniel tired.

Later, he spies at Rabbit's school again. Rabbit shows students color belts and explains that when they get better, the darker the color will be and one day they will the black belt. Daniel becomes envious (because Knut doesn't give out color belts). He sneaks closer and accidentally takes Snake's tail and bins him around himself. Snake gets annoyed and Daniel asks for apology. Snake quits Rabbit's school and leaves. Rabbit shows up and Daniel says he wants to try one of the belts but Rabbit replies that if he wants a belt Daniel has to quit Knut's school and join his. Daniel says he won't quit, then Rabbit tells him to go (in a bad way).

Daniel goes to a small cliff (where Snake also sits) and whines over the situation, Snake explains that it was down when he lost the love of his life. Then Daniel gets a idea, he's going to secretly join Rabbit's school and still be in Knut's school. Snake likes the idea. Daniel lies to Rabbit that he has quit Knut's school, Rabbit believes him but Daniel tells him not to tell that to Knut and lies that Knut thinks that Rabbit is not a good teacher but if Rabbit training Daniel will Knut see how good he has become and that way he can really stick it to him. Rabbit welcomes Daniel and throws him to the ground and pronounces as Master Rabbit.

Later, Rabbit learns a new technique (the wes willy) he stuffs spit into the one ninja monkey's ear and teaches his students his slogan"always fight dirty make the enemy hurry". Rabbit challenges Daniel in a fight, they block and evades their punches and kicks until the Rabbit says "look out Daniel" it turns out to be a distraction and Rabbit beats Daniel down. Daniel says that it is cheating and that Knut says that it is not honorable to fight like this, Rabbit says that Knut's path is past and his path is future. Daniel says Rabbit is most skilled and kicks him into a rock face (which shocking the other students). Rabbit is pleased (although he had blue rings around his eyes and abrasions on his head) and gives Daniel a dark green belt. Daniel asks if they're finish and Rabbit asks him that he should go somewhere, Daniel says him must to go and wash his feet and Rabbit lets him go.

Daniel rushes back to the training courtyard and apologises to Knut for being late. Knut asks Daniel that he is ready for their meditation, but Daniel asks that they can do something else and Knut agrees. Knut asks Daniel about the eternal riddle "what is the sound of one hand clapping?" Daniel asks how long he has. Knut says that the true enlightenment knows no time and adds that it is three hours for dinner. Daniel slaps himself in the forehead and finds out that's the answer to the question.

Over the next few days, goes Daniel under hard training with Rabbit and wisdom training at Knut until one day Knut says that they have finished training the mind and now Daniel will run up a hill with two buckets of water without letting go of a drop. Daniel would rather meditate (because he was tired) but Knut gets him started.

Meanwhile, Knut heads to Rabbit's school and explains that it's been too long time they have talked together and that it seems Rabbit has forgotten his duty to the valley, and the Wall, and he's been told Rabbit refuses his order to go on patrol. Rabbit says he'll do it when he's ready and call Knut "old timer." Knut asks that he is ready but Rabbit says that he believes that the valley is ready to get a new leader and that he is challenging Knut to a competition. They agree that if Rabbit's student wins, he will be the new leader of the valley and if Knut's student wins, Rabbi's school will disband and Rabbit have to retune to his duty.

Later, all kung fu gathered the masters and their students in the Palace Arena (Bird is domer while Ox sells souvenirs) Bird order Knut and Rabbit to choose their best student. to everyone's surprised, Knut and Rabbit chooses Daniel. They argue about which school Daniel attends, but Daniel admits that they both has right and explain that he does not want to quit in Knut's school and would learn Rabbit's cool moves. Oogway explains that once a challenge has been accepted there is no going back and that Daniel has to choose a school and Daniel chooses to fight against himself. Daniel goes out into the arena and gives himself hard damage with what he has learned from his masters, Rabbit is pleased and repeats over and over again the motto sit until Daniel finally falls and smashes all the souvenirs.

Fox runs up to him worried and asks if he's okay and Daniel smiles at her and says "Mommy." Fox and Knut help Daniel up but Rabbit tells them to stay away from him and let Daniel finish the fight but Fox holds Daniel to show she doesn't want him to continue. Knut says that he does not care who's student Daniel is and that he does not want to see him hurt himself. Rabbit tries to tempt Daniel by giving him a black belt if he continues, but Daniel says he doesn't want any more and says the true warrior never uses his fists in battle, but his heart and his head, and that's what he wants. Bird declares that Knut's school wins and everyone carries Daniel. Rabbit gets angry above his defeat, then the ninja monkeys take their chances, attack Rabbit and tie him with his own belt before throwing him up in the air, then the episode ends with a new banner written with (School of ninja monkeys fighting).