Best DC Martial Artists

Wide and near-endless, as is the DC multiverse, the concept of martial arts is well woven into the fabric of the DCEU, with it serving as a cornerstone for many of its most iconic characters. From the dark streets of Gotham to the mystical realms of the multiverse, these skilled fighters embody discipline, strategy, and unparalleled combat prowess.

In turn, the purpose of this piece is no more than to carefully highlight and rank the best martial artists across the DC universe. By showcasing their distinct fighting styles and significant contributions to the world of superhero storytelling. Whether they are heroes of justice or villains pursuing their paths, below are the best martial masters the DC multiverse has to offer.

10 O-Sensei

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• Affiliations: Global Organization of Organized Defense
• Origin Universe: Earth-One
• First-Ever Appearance: Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter #1

The legendary martial arts instructor, O-Sensei, is neither a superhero nor a supervillain but a rather legendary trainer. He is responsible for training martial masters like Richard Dragon and Bronze King. Both of them rank much higher in this piece. Very little is known of his past and even current life, other than having a goddaughter in Carolyn Woosan.

A versatile master, O-Sensei mastered several martial arts before his death, including, Aikido, Jiu-Jitsu, Karate, Savate, and even boxing. While he has no high-impact contributions to the DCU, the impact of his students on the universe is more than enough to earn his placement.

9 Ted Grant

Wildcat

• Affiliations: Justice Society of America
• Origin Universe: New Earth
• First-Ever Appearance: Sensation Comics #1

The boxer framed for the death of his opponent, Ted Grant’s life, has been quite tricky even before donning his suit as the Wildcat. Inspired by a Green Lantern comic to become a vigilante, Ted Grant became Wildcat to right the wrongs to his name as a murderer and has since continued to fight crime as his superhero alter ego. Capable of resurrection, alongside his decelerated aging and enhanced vision, Wildcat is quite the troublesome hero to encounter, even without his martial prowess.

In addition to his disturbing ability to not stay dead, Ted is a master of a variety of martial arts, including Hapkido, Krav Maga, Capoeira, Tae Kwon Do, and Kickboxing. However, before any of these, Ted is first a boxer and a veteran at it. His most notable involvements in the DCU included joining the Justice Society of America during the Second World War. It is during this period that he gains his resurrection ability after encountering the pair of King Inferno and Zatara.

8 Connor Hawke

Green Arrow #2

• Affiliations: Team Arrow, Justice League
• Origin Universe: New Earth
• First-Ever Appearance: Green Arrow Vol 2, #0

The son of Oliver Queen, the original Green Arrow, Connor Hawke’s foray into heroism started as a way to carry on the legacy of his father as the Green Arrow. Born to his father’s former lover, Sandra Hawke, Connor is every bit an archer, just as Oliver was as Green Arrow. However, he also surpasses his old man in every aspect, including combat proficiency.

According to Batman, Connor Hawke is second only to Lady Shiva, a compliment of the highest regard. Personally trained by the infamous Richard Dragon, Connor is able to duplicate the skill of others while somewhat being a combat prodigy. Having learned at the feet of the best and rarest martial artists on Earth, Connor has surpassed every one of his teachers, excluding Richard Dragon, which in itself is enough to earn his placement.

7 Constantine Drakon

Constantine Drakon

• Affiliations: Deathstroke the Terminator
• Origin Universe: New Earth
• First-Ever Appearance: Green Arrow Vol 3, #27

Long-time enemy of the Green Arrow and assassin for hire, Constantine Drakon sets his camp in the DCU’s gallery of villains. Considered a killing prodigy, Constantine’s life as an assassin began as a child at the age of ten when he discovered his talent for murder. It is unknown the extent of his martial prowess or which martial arts he learned in his life.

However, his reputation as a fearsome fighter holds true, given that he has bested Ethan Hawke, one of the DCEU’s certified martial masters, on multiple occasions. However, the hitman can not place higher due to not having enough feats to showcase his prowess.

6 Cassandra Cain-Wayne

Batgirl #4

• Affiliations: Batman Inc., League of Assassins, Young Justice
• Origin Universe: New Earth
• First-Ever Appearance: Batman #567

Born to the pair of assassins, David Cain and Lady Shiva, Cassandra Cain, by default, earns her spot in this piece by this mere fact. A member of the Batman Family as Batgirl, Cassandra is also Bruce Wayne’s adoptive daughter. Unlike other characters in the DCU, Cassandra does not choose the life of a superhero or villain but rather is born into it.

Same way she was born into martial arts, having trained all her life and mastering every form of fighting arts, Cassandra is considered the perfect killing weapon by even her parents. With a sponge-like brain being able to absorb and learn techniques from even her opponents, Cassandra’s biggest strength is her ability to learn. Mentored and trained by some of the DCU’s most iconic martial masters, including Bronze Tiger, Lady Shiva, Onyx, and Batman, Cassandra’s talent for martial arts possibly surpasses even her mother, Lady Shiva.

5 Benjamin Turner

Bronze Tiger

• Affiliations: League of Assassins, Justice League Task Force, Suicide Squad
• Origin Universe: New Earth
• First-Ever Appearance: Richard Dragon Kung-Fu Fighter #1

One of the only two students ever taken on by O-Sensei, alongside Richard Dragon, Ben Turner, also known as Bronze Tiger, is as much a martial arts heavyweight as Richard Dragon in the DCU. Like Richard Dragon, he also has no superpowers; however, his martial skills are enough to defeat even Deathstroke and stalemate Batman.

More impressively, he is acknowledged by Lady Shiva and is considered to be on her level in terms of combat, having fought Richard Dragon to stalemates on multiple occasions. With his impressively fast reflexes and strength, Ben Turner is a master of several martial arts, including Hapkido, Boxing, Judo, Muay Thai, Savate, Silat, Jeet Kune Do, Jujutsu, and Taekwondo.

4 Bruce Wayne

Batman

• Affiliations: Batman Incorporated, Wayne Industries, Justice League
• Origin Universe: New Earth
• First Ever Appearance: Batman #401

The protector of Gotham City, Batman, a.k.a Bruce Wayne, is one of the DCU’s most iconic superheroes and, by extension, one of its best-ever heroes. However, not only is he one of the best generally, Batman is also widely regarded as one of the best in the DCU’s martial arts department. Born to the illustrious Wayne family and Thomas and Martha Wayne, Bruce’s interest in self-defense, combat, and martial arts was piqued long before becoming Batman, as it began with a trip to Paris.

Starting with his trip to France, Bruce learned from the best masters across the world in the art of combat, from fencing to training under Grey Shadow to training under Ra’s Al Ghul, until finally returning to becoming the Dark Knight at 25. More than his martial prowess, Bruce Wayne is also responsible for training some of the best fighters in the DCU, including Cassandra Cain. All of which he does without the aid of a superpower.

3 Sandra Wu-San

Lady Shiva

• Affiliations: League of Assassins, Birds of Prey, Brotherhood of the Fist
• Origin Universe: Earth-One
• First Ever Appearance: Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter #5

A master assassin and one of the world’s greatest killers, Lady Shiva is one of the DCU’s most memorable villains due to her involvement in significant points across the DCU. The mother to Cassandra Cain, Lady Shiva, also Sandra Wu-San, is infamous for her ability to kill, having mastered most of the world’s deadly martial arts including Savate, Kokusho, and her specialty, Dim Mak, an ancient martial art form that allows her strike the vital points of her opponents, causing paralysis and death.

According to Batman, Lady Shiva is often regarded as the world’s best martial artist, given some of the opponents she has faced and defeated. She is also considered to be on par with the likes of Richard Dragon, Batman, Connor Hawke, and even her own daughter, Cassandra Cain. However, with her level of experience, she slightly edges most other heroes and villains alike, bar Richard Dragon and Karate Kid.

2 Richard Drakunovski

Richard Dragon

• Affiliations: Global Organization of Organized Defense
• Origin Universe: Earth-One
• First Ever Appearance: Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter #1

One of the DCU’s main reference points when it comes to martial arts, Richard Drakunovski, also Richard Dragon, is largely considered one of the world’s greatest martial artists, by extension, one of the DCU’s best martial artists. Neither a hero nor villain, Richard Dragon’s martial prowess allows him to take on the greyer roles like a thief, secret agent, and an instructor.

With no superpower, Richard’s reputation as a deadly opponent all stems from his understanding of the mystic arts of combat and versatility across all of Earth’s most lethal martial arts, having learned personally from the renowned O-Sensei. He is also capable of using virtually all martial arts weapons despite his preference for hand-to-hand combat. Even after retiring as an adventurer, he became a martial instructor and is responsible for teaching heroes like Huntress, The Question, and Oracle.

1 Val Armorr

Karate Kid

• Affiliations: Legion of Superheroes
• Origin Universe: Pre-Zero Hour
• First Ever Appearance: Adventure Comics #346

The DCU’s undisputed top martial artist, Val Armorr, also Karate Kid, is a superhero from the future and a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. The son of Japan’s greatest crime boss, Kira Nezumi, Val Armorr is a martial master who has mastered every martial art form ever created up until the 30th Century. Taken in and trained by the legendary Sensei Toshiaki, Val was the youngest warrior to earn the title of samurai.

With the combination of all forms of unarmed and armed combat techniques, Val is able to go against much stronger opponents without much difficulty, using their strength against them like against Equus. Also, with no superpowers other than the Legion Flight Ring, Val was classified by Superman as a Class 15 fighter, whereas Batman was classified as a Class 12. He claims this piece’s top spot for many reasons but specifically for the sheer amount of his martial techniques.