Including the spinning punches of Goku to the brick-breaking chops of Super Saiyan to unique fight scenes of Fist of the North Star, fight scenes depict some of the Best Martial Arts Anime Series and Movies of characters, through them, we can identify the restrictions of their bodies and see the most brilliant ways of attacking and protecting throughout the running of that show which we believe anime fans will love.
For clarity’s sake, brawls in anime are perceived to be cruel. In contrast, forms of martial arts performed with responsibility and regulation may be an essential center may prove to be a critical sufficient within the storyline. We’ll go through 40 such shows with epic fight scenes for anime fans in this list.
40. Katanagatari
- First episode date: 25 January 2010 (Japan)
- Final episode date: 10 December 2010
- Genres: Anime, Action/Adventure, Animation
- Adapted from: Katanagatari
Katanagatari is not the demon slaying franchise, despite the fact that the plot—a sword-wielding brother traveling with his sister in ancient Japan—sounds strangely familiar.
The series, which is an adventure quest anime with a martial arts theme, centers on Shachika Yasuri, who practices Kyotoury, a style of unarmed combat without the use of blades. The group searches for 12 special swords known as the Deviant Blades along with strategist Togame.
39. Yawara!
- Author: Naoki Urasawa
- Volumes: 29
- Magazine: Big Comic Spirits
- Music by: Ken Yajima; Kaname Kato
- Genres: Coming-of-age story, Romantic comedy, Sports manga
Yawara is a teenage schoolgirl who spends her free time keeping up with the newest fashion trends and crushing on boys.
She excels in judo, a contemporary Japanese martial art, but she prefers to live a normal life, much to the dismay of her grandfather, a well-known judo master.
38. History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi
- Genres: Anime, Action, Comedy, Adventure, Martial Arts, Adventure fiction, Action/Adventure, Animation
- First episode date: 7 October 2006 (Japan)
- Final episode date: 29 September 2007
Until he stumbled upon Miu’s dojo, Kenichi, also known as “Weak Legs,” had consistently been a target of bullying. He undergoes training that could end his life and gets stronger every day. But he is the target of the deadly Ragnarok gang. Can he withstand the gang’s threats?
37. Hajime no Ippo
- Author: George Morikawa
- Episodes: 76 (List of episodes)
- Studio: Madhouse
- Published by: Kodansha
- Genres: Shonen manga, Sports manga, Action manga
Ippo Makunouchi was bullied constantly and was a loser. But after being spared from a beating by a rising boxer, he made the decision to follow the boxing route. His commitment is put to the test by his newfound passion, and he encounters terrifying opponents along the way.
With its exquisite story, Hajime no Ippo will give you blow after blow of twists and turns that will make you drool. You cannot deny that boxing is a form of martial arts, despite the fact that it belongs more to the category of sports anime.
36. Baki
- Author: Keisuke Itagaki
- Volumes: 146 (List of volumes)
- Published by: Akita Shoten
- Magazine: Weekly Shōnen Champion
- Platform: PlayStation 2
Baki Hanma has always strived to outdo his father, who is regarded as the world’s strongest “Ogre,” through battle and physical and mental evolution.
The methods his mother taught him are no longer sufficient, so he decides to improve his strength on his own.
35. Tales of Demons and Gods
Nie Li returned to his 13-year-old self after getting killed by the Sage Emperor with future memories intact. Can he now defend his loved ones from the impending catastrophe after hitting the reset button?
If you haven’t read the manhua or novel that inspired it, Tales of Demons and Gods is a fantastic anime series to watch. Although the animation appears strange, the action scenes are quite captivating.
34. Against the Gods
- Author: Mars Gravity (火星引力)
The main character has endured a lot; his clan deserted him, the public ridiculed him, and on the wedding day, someone murdered him. He is reborn in this world to achieve the height of power, though, thanks to the Mirror of Samsara.
33. Hitori no Shita: The Outcast
- First episode date: 9 July 2016
- Languages: Japanese, Chinese
- Final episode date: 26 June 2018
- Cast: Xupeng Cao, Jiven Teng, Atsushi Tamaru, Jing Xu,
While visiting his grandfather’s grave, Chou Soran is attacked by zombies; however, a mysterious girl saves him. But he soon runs into her at the university and other people with talents. It appears that his life will no longer be the same as mysteries keep crashing into it.
32. Crying Freeman
- Release date: 24 April 1996 (France)
- Director: Christophe Gans
Freeman started working for the Chinese mafia known as the 108 dragons and forced himself to become an assassin. He is an expert hunter who sheds tears while stalking his prey, but who would have thought that falling in love with a girl would cause everything to change?
31.Virtua Fighter
- Developers: Sega, Sega AM2, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, Genki, Tose, Tiger Electronics, Aspect Co., Sega AM1, 3D Ages
- Designers: Yu Suzuki, Seiichi Ishii
- Publishers: Sega, Samsung Electronics, SEGA of America, Tectoy, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Tiger Electronics, Expert Software
- Genre(s): Fighting
- Spin-offs: Fighters Megamix; Virtua Quest; Anime
Akira Yuki spent years perfecting his Bajiquan techniques in order to achieve his single objective: to see the constellation of the eight stars in the heavens. He sets out on a mission to battle various enemies because only individuals with true strength are permitted to view them.
This is a traditional martial arts tale, and the anime has a lot in common with older programs. The premise explains everything, but you still need to see this anime’s breathtaking action sequences and character development for yourself.
30. Dragon Ball
- Spin-offs: Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball GT
- First episode date: 26 April 1989 (Japan)
- Genres: Anime, Action, Comedy, Drama, Adventure, Fantasy, Martial Arts, Thriller, Adventure fiction, Science fantasy, Animation
- Program creator: Akira Toriyama
When people consider the classic martial arts anime, they frequently think of Dragon Ball, particularly the original Dragon Ball.
The first season of Dragon Ball focused on some of the most thrilling martial arts battles and competitions. With tools like Ultra Instinct, even Dragon Ball Super has reintroduced technique and skill into the equation. Although Dragon Ball Z was more known for its violent battles, it occasionally included some fundamental martial arts.
29. Fighting Spirit
- Author: George Morikawa
- Episodes: 76 (List of episodes)
- Studio: Madhouse
- Published by: Kodansha
The most well-known boxing anime is probably Fighting Spirit, and for good reason. Any anime fan will be pumped up by Fighting Spirit, which features some of the most intense and visually stunning fighting in the genre.
What’s so incredible about these fights is how unpredictable they are. The fights rarely turn out the way fans expect them to, which makes the show seem more enjoyable and realistic. After all, nobody wants to watch a fighting anime where the protagonist consistently triumphs.
28. Fist of the North Star
- Director: Toyoo Ashida
- Writer(s): Tetsuo Hara, Buronson
- Cast: Akira Kamiya, Shigeru Chiba, Teiyû Ichiryûsai
- IMDb Rating: 8.2
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 79%
- Where to Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll, Funimation.
Human civilisation has been essentially devastated by an atomic holocaust in the year 199X. During a period when the strong ruled over the weak, the survivors of the aftermath fought for the remaining supply food and water.
Kenshiro, a substitute for an outdated, devastating military craftsmanship known as Hokuto Shinken (Fist of the North Star), wanders the no man’s land with seven wounds on his chest that resemble the Big Dipper.
This scandalous method exploits the body’s hidden 708 stress points to demolish opponents from within, allowing practitioners to unleash their full human might. This rescuer, accompanied by a juvenile criminal and a homeless young girl, brings justice to this rebellious universe with the most solid fist on the globe.
27. Holyland
- First episode date: 1 April 2005 (Japan)
- Genre: Martial arts
- Published by: Hakusensha
- Volumes: 18 (List of volumes)
They also accurately explain them, and they add depth and realism to a story that is already fantastic. While it might seem like explaining every technique would be excessive, the series actually flows quite well and has excellent action.
26. Tomorrow’s Joe
- Authors: Tetsuya Chiba, Ikki Kajiwara
- Adaptations: Ashita no Joe 2 (1981)
- Genres: Shonen manga, Sports manga
In Tomorrow’s Joe, a man named Danpei trains Joe to become a boxer and tries to channel his anger inside the ring. Joe is a sympathetic character in the story. Joe differs from many of the typical martial arts anime protagonists who start out meek or weak and instead starts out as the bully and delinquent who grows into a kinder and better person.
In Tomorrow’s Joe, a man named Danpei trains Joe to become a boxer and tries to channel his anger inside the ring. Joe is a sympathetic character in the story. Joe differs from many of the typical martial arts anime protagonists who are initially meek or weak and is instead the bully.
25. Cowboy Bepop
- Director: Christopher L. Yost
- Writer(s): Shinichirō Watanabe
- Cast: John Cho, Mustafa Shakir, Daniella Pineda
- IMDb Rating: 6.7
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 60%
- Where to Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll, Funimation.
The plot follows Spike Spiegel and his cloth label crew of abundance trackers, or Cowboys, as they strive to apprehend the system’s most heinous hoodlums and withstand the unexpected dangers, they face all around space, occasionally rescuing the planet while leaving millions in punitive penalties.
24. Sengoku Basara
- Director: Itsuro Kawasaki
- Writer(s): Yasuyuki Mutō
- Cast: Kazuya Nakai, Souichirou Hoshi
- IMDb Rating: 6.8
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll, Funimation.
The Sengoku period of Japan was a savage time in Japan’s history where the nation was eventually bound together – such an imperative occasion has already been pulled off in numerous anime that have had the same motivation.
Sengoku Basara is an anime adaption of an actual time, where two individuals of opposite clans – Yukimura Sanada and Masamune Date – clash with each other and come to grow regard for one another.
23. Kurozuka
- Director: Tetsuro Araki
- Writer(s): Yoshinobu Fujioka, Tsutomu Shirado, Tetsuro Araki.
- Cast: Romi Park, Mamoru Miyano
- IMDb Rating: 6.8
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Stream: Crackle
If you misinterpret this show and take it for something else, you will be forgiven for it. Kurozuka came out a long, long time ago. This is one of those types of shows with vampires and other such things that fall into this genre. An example of a non-anime version of this show could be Twilight.
22. Air Master
- Director: Daisuke Nishio
- Writer(s): Michiko Yokote
- Cast: Romi Park, Tomoko Kaneda, Yukana, Mariko Suzuki.
- IMDb Rating: 6.8
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll.
Aiwaka Maki is a former gymnast who changed her life course by turning her skills towards street fighting. Her use of gymnastics earns her the title of ‘air master’ from her opponents. Violence is the only way through which she can feel anything.
21. Juubee Ninpuuchou
- Director: Tatsuo Satō
- Writer(s): Toshiki Inoue
- Cast: Rikiya Koyama, Houko Kuwashima.
- IMDb Rating: 7.0
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Stream: Crunchyroll
Juubee Ninpuuchou is the sole motion picture that is on this list, and others are shows. This one is like Shigurui, meaning it is not meant to be seen by kids, but it is much less gore when making actual comparisons.
The battles against the Fiends of Kimon are gorgeously choreographed — the liquid loveliness is ageless. On the off chance that you actually discover this in your country, find a duplicate, or see it online, I would recommend you give it a try.
20. Tiger Mask W
- Director: Toshiaki Komura
- Writer(s): Katsuhiko Chiba
- Cast: Taku Yashiro, Yuuichirou Umehara.
- IMDb Rating: 7.1
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Stream: Crunchyroll
Is wrestling considered to be an artistic performance of differences? Many individuals nowadays think of martial arts as an original creation of the Asians, which indirectly means that it is disconnected from boxing and wrestling, both of which are creations of the western civilization and are more famous around the world.
And Tiger Cover W is all about wrestling shenanigans.
19. Legend of the Condor Hero
- Director: Keiji Hayakawa, Masami Annou, Jun Takagi.
- Writer(s): Louis Cha
- Cast: Mie Sonozaki, Daisuke Namikawa.
- IMDb Rating: 7.2
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Stream: Amazon Prime Video
Youka, a 13-year-old boy, is forced to learn the martial art of Zenshinkyou by his uncle, Kakusei. However, when he is poorly treated, he runs away. Youla finds his way to a Forbidden Tomb and meets a woman named Shouryuujo. With her, he learns the techniques of the Koboha. This begins their journey of martial arts and love.
18. Carried by the Wind: Tsukikage
- Director: Akitaro Daichi
- Writer(s): Akitaro Daichi, Yōsuke Kuroda.
- Cast: Reiko Yasuhara, Akemi Okamura.
- IMDb Rating: 7.4
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Stream: Hulu, Tubi TV.
The story is set during the Edo or Tokugawa period, where a female samurai Ran is joined by Lady Meow, a Chinese Martial artist. The series showcases the adventures they have during their journey together.
17. Street Fighter II: V
- Director: Gisaburō Sugii
- Writer(s): Kenichi Imai
- Cast: Kouji Tsujitani, Chisa Yokoyama, Kenji Haga.
- IMDb Rating: 7.5
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Stream: Netflix, Crunchyroll.
Street Fighter II-V is an adjustment of the well-known Street Warrior II videogame (and manga) that takes after martial artists Ryu and Insight Aces in their youth.
A bar brawl that closes with both of them being beaten down by Cunning makes them realize how tremendous the world of fighting is. They look to make strides themselves by traveling the world in the look of other warriors to challenge.
16. Shura no Toki: Age of Chaos
- Director: Shin Misawa
- Writer(s): Masatoshi Kawahara
- Cast: Hiroki Takahashi, Kouji Yusa, Hozumi Gouda.
- IMDb Rating: 7.6
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Stream: Crunchyroll
The story tells the journey of the three generations, which bear the name of Mutsu, an invincible martial art that allows the user to defeat any number of opponents using speed and strength. The anime is the journey of their encounters and battles against invincible fighters.
15. Akame ga Kill!
- Director: Tomoki Kobayashi
- Writer(s): Makoto Uezu
- Cast: Sora Amamiya, Yukari Tamura, Souma Saitou, Yuu Asakawa.
- IMDb Rating: 7.8
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Stream: Netflix, Hulu, Crunchyroll.
Akame ga Kill! Follows Tatsumi, a naïve boy, and his journey to fight against the Empire. He comes face-to-face with powerful weapons, enemy assassins, and challenges to his own morals and values on this mission. He learns along the way what it truly means to be an assassin with a cause.
14. Shigurui: Death Fantasy
- Director: Hiroshi Hamasaki
- Writer(s): Seishi Minakami
- Cast: Nozomu Sasaki, Daisuke Namikawa.
- IMDb Rating: 7.8
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll, Funimation.
During the time of Lord Tokugawa Tadanaga, even the fighting tournaments were peaceful while the fighters fought with wooden swords.
However, time has changed, and now real swords will be used. Disciples of Iwamoto Kogan, Fujiki Gennosuke, and Irako Seigen will fight. Their goal? To prove themselves to be the successor of their master’s school and be the only champion.
13. Ranma 1/2
- Director: Tomomi Mochizuki, Tsutomu Shibayama.
- Writer(s): Rumiko Takahashi
- Cast: Megumi Hayashibara, Noriko Hidaka.
- IMDb Rating: 7.9
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Stream: Hulu
Ranma 1/2 is one of the foremost prevalent expressions of anime, stemming from the long-running manga. It tells the story of the main protagonist Ranma Saotome, an adolescent military craftsman.
He bumbles into a reviled spring and hence gets to be afflicted with a revile that leads him to change into a female at whatever point sprinkled with cold water and back to a male when uncovered in hot water.
12. Kengan Ashura
- Director: Seiji Kishi
- Writer(s): Makoto Uezu
- Cast: Tatsuhisa Suzuki, Cho.
- IMDb Rating: 8.0
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 89% (Average Audience Score)
- Where to Stream: Netflix
The world of Kengan Ashura is different from others as business deals mean hiring gladiators. It is a world of action, violence, and martial arts. Powerful gladiators fight in arenas to settle disputes of the rich people. The Ashura, aka Ouma Tokita, tries his hardest to be the strongest in the arena.
Hideki Nogi hires him with Kazuo Yamashita as his manager. Kengan Association holds fights in which the duo has to participate. They will have to do their best to be the best.
11. Hokuto no Ken (Fist of the North Star)
- Director: Toyoo Ashida
- Writer(s): Hiroshi Toda
- Cast: Akira Kamiya
- IMDb Rating: 8.3
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 78% (Audience Score)
- Where to Stream: Netflix, Crunchyroll.
Based on the 1983 to 1988 manga arrangement, Hokuto no Ken, aka Fist of the North Star, is one anime adaptation based on a world where an atomic war has wiped out 70% of the populace and cleared out the Earth desolate.
Our hero, Kenshiro, is a military craftsman who voyages with the look of another man who has already impacted Earth, Yuria. The series is one of a kind which gives the characters their own personality inculcating with martial arts.
10. Yu Yu Hakusho
- Director: Noriyuki Abe
- Writer(s): Yukiyoshi Ōhashi
- Cast: Nozomu Sasaki, Nobuyuki Hiyama, Megumi Ogata, Shigeru Chiba.
- IMDb Rating: 8.4
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Stream: Hulu
Yu Yu Hakusho is based on a manga that takes after the experiences of Yuusuke Urameshi. After his startling passing and resurrection, he becomes a Soul Criminologist or a spirit detective, a specialist who bargains with powerful dangers. The part closes up with him. Putting him into fights after fights, with the stakes consistently expanding to decide the destiny of the world itself.
9. Rurouni Kenshin
- Director: Kazuhiro Furuhashi
- Writer(s): Michiru Shimada, Yoshiyuki Suga, Akemi Omode, Nobuaki Kishima.
- Cast: Mayo Suzukaze, Yuuji Ueda, Miki Fujitani, Miina Tominaga.
- IMDb Rating: 8.4
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Stream: Netflix, Hulu.
The main protagonist, Kenshin, is originally known as Hitokiri Battousai, but he leaves his bloody life behind for peace. The anime, also known to the fans as Samurai X, the series follows the story of Kenshin as tries to save and protect the people in need. While helping the weak, he meets his various foes along his journey.
8. Samurai Champloo
- Director: Shinichirō Watanabe
- Writer(s): Shinji Obara
- Cast: Kazuya Nakai, Ginpei Sato, Ayako Kawasumi.
- IMDb Rating: 8.5
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 88%
- Where to Stream: Hulu
Without question, Samurai Champloo is one of the finest anime from the early 2000s. It narrates the tales of Mugen, Jin, and Fuu, the three travelers who travel over Edo-era Japan looking for a samurai who particularly gives off the aroma of a garden filled with flowers, roses maybe.
7. Naruto: Shippuden
- Director: Hayato Date, Masaaki Kumagai, Yasuaki Kurotsu, Osamu Kobayashi, Chiaki Kon.
- Writer(s): Junki Takegami, Satoru Nishizono, Yasuyuki Suzuki, Yasuaki Kurotsu.
- Cast: Junko Takeuchi, Kazuhiko Inoue, Noriaki Sugiyama, Chie Nakamura.
- IMDb Rating: 8.6
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
- Where to Stream: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll, Funimation.
There are few who have not seen or at least come across the Naruto establishment. Centered around the titular character, Naruto goes through fight after fight in the interest of his dream and follows great character development.
It is to get to be the pioneer of his town. The original series based on the manga of the same name has bloomed into an interactive media establishment. The fights are expansive challenges of control, aptitude, and arranging.
6. Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple (2012-2014)
Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple is one of the most intense martial arts anime ever made, despite the fact that it is a comedy. The story, which was first published in 2006, centers on high school student Kenichi Shirahama’s effort to stop bullying by becoming a martial artist.
While many of the episodes feature shenanigans and other hijinks, Kenichi steadily gets better at martial arts with each passing day.
Over the course of the anime’s 50 episodes, viewers eventually witness his development from a novice warrior into a master, which makes watching him advance quite enjoyable.
5. Sword Of The Stranger (2007)
Fans of fluid fighting must watch Sword Of The Stranger, another martial arts anime. Despite its 2007 release, Sword Of The Stranger is a spectacular watch even though it is an adventure movie rather than an anime series.
Its plot centers on the young orphan Kotaro, who is being sought out by Ming Dynasty swordsmen. When the ronin Nanashi begins to stand up for Kotaro, however, the situation turns in his favor.
4. Moribito: Guardian Of The Spirit (2007)
It hailed as the adaptation of the first of a 12-part novel series, is every bit the fantastical tale one could hope for.
Moribito examines the life of spear-wielding Balsa and her work as Prince Chagum’s bodyguard in a historical fantasy version of Asia. Balsa and Chagum quickly learn about the prince’s connection to the supernatural while avoiding the assassins who are after him.
3.The God Of High School (2020)
In The God Of High School, there is a world where it is possible to become the best fighter among all of Korea’s high schools. School fights are frequently depicted in anime. Mori Jin, a high school student in The God of High School, engages in combat with karate master Daewi Han and epeeist prodigy Mira Yoo before becoming friends with both of them.
They must battle different students from all over Korea as the Korea Team using Borrowed Power, a mystical talent acquired from supernatural beings. And granting any wish is the reward for winning The God of High School.
2. Hinomaru Sumo (2018)
Even though Japan is known for sumo, it didn’t really have a television series that devoted its time to the martial art until Hinomaru Sumo. Hinomaru Ushio is the protagonist of Hinomaru Sumo, a sports manga that originally ran from 2014 to 2019.
Hinomaru Ushio joins the sumo club at Odachi High. Despite his already diminutive stature, Hinomaru wants to one day compete in sumo tournaments and advance to the yokozuna rank, the highest rank in the sport.
1. Afro Samurai (2007)
The sense of style that comes from Afro Samurai may be the best when it comes to the overall awesomeness of martial arts. Afro Samurai was first popular as a manga from 1998 to 2002. In 2007, an anime version was released, and the breathless fight scenes in the manga became unforgettable scenes.
The story of the titular Afro Samurai is set in a feudalistic Japan in the near future, and it centers on Justice, the man responsible for the murder of the hero’s father Rokutaro.
