Who composed the song “Kung Fu Fighting” used in Kung Fu Panda?

Carl Douglas composed and performed “Kung Fu Fighting,” the song used in Kung Fu Panda.

The song was originally released in 1974 and became a major disco hit. Its lyrics and rhythmic hook celebrate martial-arts imagery, making it a natural fit for a film centered on kung fu. Kung Fu Panda used the song in connection with its end credits and promotional identity, introducing the classic track to a new generation of viewers.

Carl Douglas wrote and recorded the song, which became strongly associated with the international pop culture image of kung fu. It should not be confused with the orchestral score composed for the film by Hans Zimmer and John Powell.

A common mix-up is to credit the song to the film’s composers or to assume it was written specifically for Kung Fu Panda. It predates the movie by more than three decades: the song appeared in 1974, while the first Kung Fu Panda film was released in 2008.