Lady Shiva is DC Comics' deadliest martial artist; Shang-Chi is Marvel’s Master of Kung Fu. Both are experienced open-hand fighters who have tangled with some of the toughest villains and heroes of their respective worlds. While neither possesses powers, their training has given them superpower-like abilities. Both rarely lose in a fight. However, only one can hold the mantle as the best martial artist in the comic books universe

Despite their differences, Shang-Chi and Lady Shiva’s backgrounds are rather similar. Singled out from a young age to train in martial arts, both soon showed themselves to have a natural affinity for and skill in the art of fighting. However, due to the machinations of others, as young adults, their skills were put to evil use. In the case of Shang-Chi, his father, the founder of an international criminal organization, duped him into killing an innocent man who stood in the way of his father’s interests. As for Lady Shiva, an assassin killed her sister to free her from the familial loyalty he believed was holding her back from greatness. In both cases, the experiences shattered their innocence and cemented their belief that only through their martial arts abilities would they be able to free themselves from the burdens they each beared.

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Their skills sets are also quite similar. While Shang-Chi’s training mainly focused on the Chinese martial arts system known as Kung Fu, over the years he has trained in and become adept at a range of martial arts styles. While he prefers to just use his hands and feet, he has mastered several weapons such as the nunchaku and will use them when necessary. Shang-Chi’s secret weapon, however, is his mastery of “chi,” the vital force that flows in every human. Through the control of his chi, he can perform superhuman feats such as when he battled The Thing to a standstill.

Lady Shiva does not confine her mastery of martial arts to one system. Consequently, she is the Master of Mixed Martial Arts. In addition to being an expert in Kung Fu, she has also perfected aspects of almost every martial art known to humanity. Unlike Shang-Chi, she prefers to use weapons, making any weapons she touches an extension of her hand. She has no problem seeking out the “best” fighters and challenging them to a duel if it will improve her skills. Her special power is her ability to observe an opponent's movement and accurately predict where they will attempt to strike next. She has used these skills to defeat Batman in more than one fight.

A fight between these two masters is unlikely to be decided by fists and feet. When on their game, both are nearly invincible in hand-to-hand combat. Neither is likely to fear any technique or weapons that the other makes use of in the fight. Ultimately, the fight will be decided by the opponent with a better ability to remain focused in the moment. Here, Shang-Chi has a slight advantage. Whereas Lady Shiva has succumbed to pride and arrogance in a fight, Shang-Chi tends to double-down on his concentration the longer the fight continues. One prideful loss of focus by Lady Shiva would give Shang-Chi the opportunity he needs to strike a blow to win the match. It will be close. It will be bloody. But Shang-Chi will prove himself to be the true Master of Martial Arts.

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