What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedIp Man
Wilson Yip · Film · 2008
If you loved Ip Man, start with Fighting Spirit (2000) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 2 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Ip Man across media.
What hooked you in Ip Man was the way personal discipline and martial skill become tools for resisting systemic oppression.
Books on the same thread
Dog Man
Dav Pilkey · Book · 2016
Explores: Good vs. Evil, Crime-fighting, Animal Heroes.
If Ip Man hit, Dog Man shares the thread.
Imperial Twilight
Stephen R. Platt · Book · 2018
Explores: Opium Wars, British Empire, Qing Dynasty.
Just as Ip Man navigates the historical pressures of the Sino-Japanese War, this history provides deep context for the structural shifts that defined China's struggle against foreign imperial influence.
The Man in the High Castle
Philip K. Dick · Book · 1992
Explores: World War II, Occupation, Totalitarianism.
If you admired the way Ip Man stood against occupation, you will appreciate this exploration of resilience and resistance within a society fundamentally altered by a foreign, totalitarian power.
Dog Man (Captain Underpants: Dog Man #1)
Dav Pilkey · Book · 2016
Explores: Superhero, Crime-fighting, Transformation.
If Ip Man hit, Dog Man (Captain Underpants: Dog Man #1) shares the thread.
Series on the same thread
Fighting Spirit
Series · 2000
Explores: Underdog, Self-Improvement, Coming of Age.
Much like Ip Man, this series centers on a protagonist who masters a fighting discipline, using rigorous training and self-improvement to overcome the challenges posed by his environment.
Warrior
Jonathan Tropper · Series · 2019
Shares a thread with Ip Man: Honor.
This series mirrors the martial arts mastery found in Ip Man, focusing on a skilled fighter navigating complex cultural tensions and power dynamics during a period of historical conflict.
Podcasts on the same thread
Lex Fridman Podcast
Lex Fridman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, technological ethics, deep thinking.
If Ip Man hit, Lex Fridman Podcast shares the thread.
Mahabharatam
Podcast
Explores: ancient warfare, family conflict, duty (dharma).
This epic saga captures the same heavy sense of duty and honor seen in Ip Man, exploring how individuals uphold their moral code amidst the chaos of ancient warfare.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Ip Man based on a true story?
Ip Man is a semi-biographical account of the life of Yip Man, the martial arts master who taught Wing Chun. The 2008 film depicts events occurring in the city of Foshan between the 1930s and 1940s during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
Who is the lead actor in Ip Man?
Donnie Yen stars in the lead role of Ip Man. The film was directed by Wilson Yip and features fight choreography by Sammo Hung, focusing on the historical period surrounding the protagonist in Foshan during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
What martial art is featured in Ip Man?
Ip Man features the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun. The film follows the life of Yip Man, who is recognized as the first martial arts master to teach this specific style during his time in Foshan in the 1930s and 1940s.
When does the story of Ip Man take place?
The events depicted in Ip Man occur between the 1930s and 1940s. The film focuses on the life of the Wing Chun master in the city of Foshan throughout the duration of the Second Sino-Japanese War.