In Fist of Legend, Jet Li plays Chen Zhen a chinese student attending class in Kyoto University in Japan in 1938. Some Japanese martial arts students try to force Chen out because he is Chinese. One the girls in Chen's class that has a crush on him, some fellow students and Chen's professor stand up for Chen.

He returns to Shanghai to find his martial arts master dead and his school harassed by the Japanese. Chen sets out to to prove his maser's defeat was the result of poisoning. Both Chinese and Japanese pride are at stake. Throughout his journey, Chen learns he must face the ruthless, undefeated Japanese general Fujita.

Fist of Legend is a remake of Bruce Lee's "Fists of Fury" and both are based on actual events.