In the late 1960s, a revered and aging Wing Chun grandmaster travels from Hong Kong to San Francisco at the behest of his student, Bruce Lee. He embarks on the journey with the hope of securing a future for his son by enrolling him in a school there. Upon arrival, the grandmaster gets caught in the crossfire of cultural and racial tensions between the local kung fu community and the disrespectful and xenophobic attitudes prevalent in the foreign lands.

The grandmaster's visit to San Francisco becomes more complicated as he is drawn into a dispute between Lee and the local martial arts associations. They believe Lee’s decision to teach Westerners their sacred martial arts is a betrayal of their Chinese heritage. Meanwhile, the grandmaster attempts to earn the favor of the Chinese Benevolent Association to secure a school recommendation letter for his son. His principles and fighting skills are put to the test amidst the challenges posed by an arrogant U.S. Marine Corps karate instructor and deep-seated racial discrimination.