Plot summary

In China, Shaolin monks are shown training to fight.Li Long finds himself in New York City, quite confused. The audience soon learns his brother and sister-in-law were killed and their son Michael needs someone to take care of him.Social worker Sarah, who is attractive and really nice, has been staying with Michael at his large suburban New Jersey home. But she will have to leave. Li Long doesn't seem quite up to the task, but he is willing to try. Sarah will stay longer because Li Long is not ready, but her bosses won't let her stay indefinitely, even though Michael would really like that.Li Long seems incompetent in this modern world, leading to some comedy, and he will need to make a living. He meets Dave, a former student, and they decide to start a martial arts school. When the two meet in a restaurant, some bad guys are harassing beautiful waitress Mei and the other staff. Dave confronts them and gets beat up. The otherwise peaceful Li Long can't just let this go, and the bad guys soon learn what he is capable of.At home, Li Long encounters more bad guys running from the cops. Cusamano is impressed and asks Li Long to teach the other cops a thing or two. One particularly disagreeable cop gets taught a lesson.Li Long seems very capable as a teacher, and his students, including the restaurant staff, appear to be learning a lot. But the school is losing money. Dave has to deal with mobsters, and they want Li Long to participate in organized fighting. Li Long refuses, but mobsters have a way of getting what they want.Meanwhile, Sarah has a choice to make: Michael or her job.And all this time there are flashbacks of Li Long's life in China, including scenes that are supposedly with his brother. One saves the other from danger.