Po's kung-fu training took a single day. That is to say, it took a single day to turn his formidable natural abilities and a lifetime of self-training into something recognisable as kung-fu.
All day long, Shifu trained Po, taking him through all sorts of exercises—
deep breathing, push-ups, sit-ups, climbing, and more, all while holding a bowl of
food just out of Po’s reach. Finally, Shifu set a bowl of dumplings on
a boulder. “After you, panda,” Shifu said, gesturing toward the bowl.
Po stopped short, suspicious. “Just like that?” he asked the teacher. “I don’t have to do any more sit-ups? Or take a ten-mile hike?”
“I vowed to train you,” Shifu told him. “And you have been trained. You are free to eat.”
Kung-fu Panda: The Junior Novel
The movie script agrees. The kitchen scene takes place at [DAWN] and the subsequent scenes in the Mountain, Field and Clearing all take place [LATER]. There's no obvious gaps in the sequence and it's the same bowl of dumplings as before.
INT. KITCHEN - DAWN
As Shifu turns the corner he sees Po's shadow as he performs some amazing Kung Fu.
EXT. MOUNTAINS - LATER
Shifu is sitting beneath a tree. Winded and wheezing, Po slowly works his way up the hill.
EXT. FIELD - LATER
Shifu leads Po out into an open field.
EXT. FIELD - LATER
Po's training unfolds -- deep breathing exercises, balance tests, push ups, sit ups, climbing, etc. Through it all, he never gets to eat, although he does indeed learn kung fu.
EXT. CLEARING - A MOMENT LATER:
Shifu sets a bowl of dumplings on a boulder.
