[Aradael]

Logical reasons? In the medium of film entertainment, WHO CARES!?

First off, the "logical reason" you might be searching for is that due to the mysticism surrounding martial arts over 1500 years ago, martial artists were superhuman demi-gods of legend and cultivated that very image by keeping their greatest secrets from the public for centuries. Think about it!

According to Chinese history/mythology, the temple of ShaoLin was almost wiped from the face of the Earth because Emperor K'ang Hsi witnessed their superior combat skills and they refused to come serve him permanently at his palace. Fearful of their abilities, his army slaughtered countless monks in an effort to destroy their power forever. He failed and a handful of monks escaped to continue the teachings of ShaoLin.

Now knowing these stories about the sheer power, speed and skill of martial artists to be a "slight" embellishment, how could anyone possibly wonder WHY they would use wirework, camera tricks and special effects in martial arts movies? Because they wanted to recapture the awe and wonder of these stories! I could watch Chuck Norris kick the crap out of black masked guys for a while but in the end it would be BORING.

Now, watching Jet Li perform anime-style moves by hurling 100lb poles with single palm strikes that shatter a wall because his opponent flips fifty feet into the air to dodge while throwing fireballs etc., that's ENTERTAINMENT.

Some people need to let go of their anal-retentive grasp on physics and simply watch a movie to have fun.