Tesla's Optimus robot "kung fu fights" awakens like a real person! Musk: The V3 version is very different
Musk released a video of Optimus "learning kung fu" from a martial arts teacher on the X platform, showing the terrifying adaptability of Tesla's humanoid robot in vision, control and dynamics.
(Preliminary summary: Musk: SpaceX starship "flying to Mars by the end of next year" will carry the Tesla robot Optimus, and the earliest manned landing will be in 2029)
(Background supplement: Musk is seeking trainers for the robot Optimus: the robot soldiers will participate in the future and "shoot with perfect accuracy")
The video posted by Tesla CEO Musk on the X platform today was very attractive, and for a while I thought it was generated by AI. The content is Tesla Optimus robot learning Kung Fu! I saw Optimus sparring with a martial arts coach. From evasion, blocking to counterattack, the movements were smooth and the reaction time was very short. The video was only tens of seconds long, but it was enough to stir the nerves of the global technology circle and capital market.
Tesla Optimus learning Kung Fu pic.twitter.com/ziEuiiKWn7
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 4, 2025
The AI leap behind the Kung Fu demonstration
The most eye-catching thing about the video is that Optimus no longer relies on pre-arrangement, but real-time judgment through the visual system and neural network. Tesla copied the image perception, environment mapping and decision-making algorithms used in fully autonomous driving (FSD) to the robot and trained it with multi-angle video data.
Optimus can therefore "understand" the trainer's punches and steps, combine actions and respond appropriately. The Optimus body is about 173 centimeters tall, weighs 56 kilograms, and has 40 degrees of freedom (freely moving joints).
Musk previously estimated that Optimus would be in mass production in 2026 and cost about US$18,999, indicating that commercial feasibility has been included in the design.
Humanoid robots heading towards mass production lines
Why does Musk say the Optimus V3 version is special? Because this version of Optimus emphasizes increased freedom and endurance, it is suitable for operations in manufacturing, logistics and hazardous environments.
Tesla hopes to build a closed-loop ecosystem with the advantages of large-scale data and its own chips, turning robots into multi-functional assistants to assist in transporting materials, assembling parts, and even play a role in long-term care or disaster relief missions.
Although the market is optimistic about the prospects of humanoid robots, the outside world still questions the stability and difficulty of precise operation of robots. For example, Boston Dynamics Atlas, which also focuses on flexibility, is still more flexible than Optimus in crossing obstacles and high-speed movements, because Optimus must work for hours in real factories and warehouse situations to convince more potential customers to pay.
