Sifu: How to get permanent upgrades

You can spend XP earned during combat to unlock numerous skills ranging from strong damage-dealing moves to swift, evasive maneuvers as you progress through Sifu's campaign. You will, however, lose every skill you have acquired thus far if you get a game over. Fortunately, there is a way to maintain whatever talents you've gained after a game is over, but it will cost you a lot of XP.

You must first purchase a skill with XP in order to permanently unlock it. This can be done at a Shrine, the Wuguan's tree, or on Sifu's death screen when given the choice to resuscitate yourself. Then you'll have to spend five times as much money on the talent to permanently unlock it. If a skill costs 1,000 XP to unlock, you'll need to spend an additional 5,000 XP to permanently unlock it.  

Fortunately, you don't have to pay for the extra XP all at once; instead, you pay in five increments. In essence, you're buying the same talent six times in order to permanently unlock it. You won't have to buy a talent again after you've permanently unlocked it, regardless of whether you get a game over or not. It will always be a part of your initial moveset.