The martial arts teacher voiced by Michelle Yeoh in Minions: The Rise of Gru is Master Chow.
Master Chow is introduced as a former kung fu teacher who now runs an acupuncture clinic in San Francisco. When Kevin, Stuart and Bob are being pursued by Wild Knuckles’ henchmen, Chow intervenes and defeats them. She then agrees to teach the Minions martial arts so they can rescue Gru and face the Vicious 6.
Their training is deliberately comic rather than realistic: the Minions learn quickly but struggle to control their new abilities. Even so, Chow’s lessons help them become brave enough to confront the villains during the Chinese New Year parade. Her role connects the film’s slapstick comedy with classic kung fu and martial arts cinema.
Master Chow is separate from the film’s major villains. Wild Knuckles is Gru’s former enemy and reluctant mentor, while Nunchuck is one of the Vicious 6. Michelle Yeoh’s casting is especially fitting because she is widely known for action and martial arts roles in films such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.