Who Is The Strongest Character In Martial Arts Anime? (2024)

While the diversity of anime content is something to behold, the martial arts story is one of its longest, most popular, and most celebrated traditions. For decades, fans looking for action-packed, fight-centric, stories could always find a quality martial arts tale from among the multitude debuting each year to satisfy their needs. With such a long and broad history, the pantheon of martial arts anime characters is loaded with more than a few overpowered individuals.

One of the telltale characteristics of martial arts anime is the quest to determine who is the best. Rare is the martial arts anime that doesn't include some contest to determine who's the strongest fighter. But while figuring out who's the strongest martial artist in a single title is common, figuring out who's the strongest within the martial artist anime multiverse is not. Determining that individual is more manageable when considering martial arts in its purest form, namely hand-to-hand combat based on human-only power expressed through a practiced martial arts technique.

The Contenders For The Crown - The Martial Arts Masters

Yujiro Hanma (Baki)

With phrases like “The Ogre” and “The Strongest Creature on Earth” used to describe Yujiro Hanma, it’s not hard to see why he’s part of any discussion about the strongest martial arts characters of all time. Yujiro is a physically imposing presence – the epitome of raw, palpable power – and one of the best fight tacticians who can adapt his mastery of nearly every fighting system to provide a road map against any opponent. He's gone up against eye-popping odds and has always been the last man standing.

Baki Hanma (Baki)

Just like his father Yujiro, his son Baki has proven himself to be one of the strongest fighters in Baki and in martial arts anime just as a result of his natural physical talents, which include peak levels of power, endurance, and agility as a result of his relentless and punishing training regimen. Moreover, in addition to sharing his DNA with Yujiro, he also shares his proficiency in mastering multiple fighting systems, which gives him an asymmetric combat style that is hard to counter. His mental toughness is legendary - he'll persist when others tap out.

Ohma Tokita (Kengan Ashura)

There’s a lot to like about Tokita’s martial arts abilities. Most notably, there’s his mastery of the Niko school of martial arts. In addition to teaching adherents deadly kicks, punches, and melee strikes, the Niko style also stresses the idea of adapting to overcome. This gives him the ability to comfortably take on “by the book” fighters as well as those who fight with eclectic battle styles. Tokita's Combat IQ is also off the charts, which allows him to predict - with a high degree of accuracy - an opponent's next move in real-time.

Kuroki Gensai (Kengan Ashura)

If the best offense is a great defense, then Kuroki Gensai has nothing to fear. Based on his extensive fighting experience, in-depth, in-real-time analysis, and tremendous skill, Kuroki is immune to almost any type of attack. However, Kuroki is not simply a defensive specialist. As the master of the Kaiwan school of martial arts – which emphasizes assassination techniques based on movements adapted from Chinese wushu and Okinawan Karate – he’s taken down some of the best fighters of the Kagen-Verse.

Bunshichi Tanba (Garouden)

What separates Tanba from other martial artists is his pure love for combat. The more pain, brutality, and viciousness he experiences in a fight, the better he becomes. While he is adept at a number of combat systems and martial arts styles, his forte is straight-up brawling. He’ll throw everything at an opponent from every angle possible to win the fight – he’s ruthless and proud of it. His chaotic, aggressive, "no holds barred" manner will surprise opponents, and that moment of confusion is all Tanba needs to land the winning blow.

Shozan Matsuo (Garouden)

As an older, more established martial artist, and the founder of a leading school of martial arts, Shozan Matsuo is the “real deal”. Starting out in Karate, Shozan ultimately decided that developing his own style would better suit his needs. Accordingly, Shozan created the Hokushinkai fighting system – a style that thrives on asymmetrical, no-holds-barred, hand-to-hand combat. Shozan lives for the thrill of the fight, and has all the skill to overcome all opponents. He even sliced off the top of a glass bottle with his bare finger.

Juzo Fujimaki (Garouden)

The protagonist of Netflix's first season of Garouden, Juzo Fujimaki is no joke. He is the master – and last disciple – of the Takemiya-ryu school of martial arts, which combines the best of Karate, Judo, and Greco-Roman wrestling. Accordingly, whether in close quarters or from range, Juzo can take a fighter out with a grappling technique of a long fist strike. Juzo honed his skills after years on the run from the law, surviving as best he could on the streets and in the brutal underground fighting network.

Makunouchi Ippo (Hajime no Ippo)

Three things make Makunouchi Ippo a dangerous opponent: technical skill, mental toughness, and combat IQ. In terms of the art of boxing, few are as proficient as Ippo. His punches almost always hit their target and will always inflict damage. Even among a group of grizzled, battle-hardened veterans of combat, Ippo’s willpower sets him apart. Lastly, one of the ways Ippo became good was his study of fighting. He never goes into a fight unprepared and unknowledgeable about his opponent. This allows him to find or understand a vulnerability he can exploit.

Kiichi "Kiibo" Miyazawa (Shootfighter Tekken/Tough)

Kiichi is the heir of the Nadashinkaga-ryu school, a fighting system that is based on killing or debilitating opponents quickly and efficiently using a practitioner's knowledge of the human body and tapping into their ki or life energy, so that when a strike is conducted, extra damage is inflicted with precision. As the head of the generation of the school, Kiichi was bred, born, and raised in a family where nothing matters more than fighting. Taking on and beating opponents twice his size since he was a kid, he's now matured into one of martial arts anime's most experienced and deadly fighters.

The Finalists - The Last Two Standing

Since each contender has the ability to stand at the top of the martial arts world in their own series, success will come down to three key factors: mindset, experience fighting different styles, and consistency of execution. Mindset in this context refers to a combination of mental toughness, will to win, preparation, and calmness. The fighter who can maintain his focus and stick with his plan wont' be deterred by small setbacks.

Second, a fighter with experience fighting against opponents with a diverse skill set is unlikely to be caught off guard by a technique he's never or rarely fought against. They adapt and overcome obstacles seamlessly. Lastly, the character who consistently performs at optimal levels regardless of any setback will always have the upper hand

Based on those metrics, the two finalists that would most likely be the final two opponents left standing are Baki's Yujiro Hanma and Garouden's Shozan Matsuo. Firstly, there's the breadth of their experience. Both are older combatants who have seen more action than anyone else other than themselves. There are few, if any, circ*mstances that they have not experienced already.

Even if they come across a new technique or fighting style, they are confident enough in their abilities to believe that they can overcome the challenge. They will neither panic nor get nervous. Instead, they will cycle through their options until an answer to the challenge is found. Lastly, these are the most consistent characters of the group. Even when they falter, they can absorb the challenge, and quickly overcome it. They are relentless in their pursuit of success.

... And The Winner Is...

Very little separates the finalists in the fight for the crown of the strongest character in martial arts anime. The combat experience of both Yujiro and Shozan includes fights against a wide range of opponents, fighting styles, and environments. They are both versatile and adaptive fighters. They both exude an aura of invincibility and fearlessness. Both are technically skilled in fighting and are widely believed to have high levels of strategic foresight before battles and tactical acumen during battles.

The key difference lies in pure physical dominance, where Yujiro surpasses Matsuo by a considerable margin. While Baki is still a franchise rooted in martial arts, some of the characters are known to perform superhuman feats, and no one more than the Ogre, who once killed a rogue elephant with his bare hands.

Yujiro would ultimately be able to physically wear down Matsuo until he posed little threat and was vulnerable. Although it would not be easy, Yujiro Hanma would outlast all opponents and rightfully claim the title of the strongest character in martial artsanime.