If you are someone who is an MMA enthusiast and a weeb as well, this article is for you, because we are going to tell you about some of the best martial arts-themed anime of all time that you should definitely watch and take in the experience of solid action, flashy techniques, and power-ups. Shounen anime have great fights; however, very few anime stand out when it comes to fighting sequences, particularly those that emphasize martial arts. Unlike Shounen and action anime, martial arts anime focuses on dynamic movement and practicality and shows realistic fight scenes.
The God of High School
Anime that takes place in a school often features fights, but The God of High School shows a world where it is possible to become the best fighter in all of Korea’s high schools. In this anime, a high school student named Jin Mori becomes embroiled in a mysterious tournament, where he fights and eventually becomes friends with karate expert Daewi Han and another prodigy, Mira Yu. As a team, the trio fights with several other students, using mysterious abilities obtained from supernatural entities. The God of High School has a pretty interesting story, and the fights shown in it will definitely make your eyes stick to them. With each character having a unique style, this anime will be a fun watch for martial arts fans.
Hajime No Ippo
Boxing is also a part of martial arts; hence, Hajime No Ippo shows boxing’s potential to have engaging stories. This anime’s manga began in 1989, and it gives many stories and matches for each anime adaptation. Ippo Makunouchi is the protagonist of this anime, and his journey in boxing since the beginning of high school is shown in the anime. Martial arts fans will definitely love the extensive level of detail in both fighting and technical analysis shown in the anime.
The fighters in the anime possess the strengths and weaknesses that exist in today’s modern boxers and embrace them. Ippo is known for his disruptive power and tendency to pursue knockouts. However, his lack of technical knowledge puts him at a constant disadvantage.
Afro Samurai
Afro Samurai is an anime that shows the greatness of martial arts with perfection. This got popular as a manga from 1998 to 2002 and got an anime adaptation in 2007 that turned the breathless fight scenes of the manga into epic moments. Afro is on a search for his father’s killer in the anime. Apart from this premise,the anime revolves around the awesomeness of swordplay, an amazing soundtrack, and attractive visuals. In addition to the arrangement of battles and atmosphere, the battles are beautifully woven together with fantastic choreography.
Fist of The North Star
Fist of the North Star is a classic anime that was adapted from Buronson’s manga in 1983. The anime follows the life of Kenshiro, who travels the world in the aftermath of the nuclear war in the 1990s. In order to save his fiancee, Yuria, Kenshiro abandons his peaceful life and walks down the path of violence. Despite being an old anime, it doesn’t fail to captivate audiences from the start. The blend of martial arts and special techniques makes it an interesting watch. When Kenshiro pulls out his 3-second killing move, Gekitsui Shi, which made the popular meme “Omae wa mou Shindeiru” (you are already dead), it is a fun watch.
Grappler Baki
Grappler Baki is the best anime to start with if you want to indulge in martial arts. In this anime, fights are at stake, with no rules and sometimes death. The manga series has been running since 1991, so Keisuke Itagaki’s story has plenty of volumes that could cover its many anime adaptations. The premise remains the same, and Baki Hanma gradually opts out of traditional martial arts to learn brutal techniques in the name of defeating and killing his father.
After suffering a crushing defeat from his father, Baki travels around the world and joins various underground tournaments to sharpen his skills. Unlike other martial anime, Grappler Baki attracts fans with its pure and brutal approach to combat and spectacular techniques and physiques. In terms of rawness in martial arts, this is the best anime.
Kengan Ashura
Kengan Ashura is set in modern times, and it tells the story of Yamashita Kazuo, a salaryman for the Nogi group, as he is assigned to manage the affairs of Tokita Ohma, a sharp fighter. The pair is invited to the Kengan Annihilation Tournament, where the winner gains a seat of power in the Reputed Kengan Association. In addition to subduing Ohama, Kazuo has to discover the impious nature of the association and their true intentions for inviting Ohma to the tournament.
Kengan Ashura shows a blend of 2D art and 3D graphics, portraying battles as high-quality game scenes. This made the anime wonderful with the unique techniques of the fighters in the story, from violent punches to genuine physical altercations.
Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple
This is an intense martial arts anime that was released in 2006. The story revolves around a school student named Kenichi Shirahama and his search to learn martial arts so he can stop being bullied. It has it all- action, comedy, adventure, and martial arts. Kenichi continually improves his performance as a martial artist with each passing season. You can see his improvement from a budding warrior to a master, and his progress is a joy to watch.
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