Best Pokemon Based On Martial Arts

Summary

• Throh, inspired by Judo, is a brave warrior, mastering its craft in throwing bigger foes despite some stats disadvantages.
• Sawk, resembling a karate expert, is marginally stronger than Throh, with faster and stronger attacks, such as powerful karate chops.
• Hitmonlee is the strongest martial artist with diamond-hard kicks, outranking his brethren, Hitmonchan and Hitmontop, in speed and power.

Many of the thousands of Pokemon that make up the Pokemon world are based on real-life objects, animals, and themes. For example, Pokemon has a long lineup of beasts resembling monkeys, such as Chimchar and Mankey.

One such real-life resemblance is martial artists, with several Pokemon in the fighting type class of Pokemon resembling combatants of various disciplines. While most of these are normal variants of Pokemon, some of them are, in fact, legendaries. Thus, some martial artist-based Pokemon are stronger than others in their skill and ability when battling. Despite this, most are brave warriors and second to none in their ability to fight.

8 Throh

Master Of Powerful Throws

The least powerful martial arts-inspired Pokemon on this list, Throh is neither void of ability nor weak. Often picking on opponents bigger than itself, Throh travel in packs looking to throw enemies far greater than themselves. Fearless and a staunch warrior inspired by the Japanese fighting style of Judo, Throh is a master of its craft, coming in slightly below Sawk due to certain disadvantageous stats.

7 Sawk

Unyielding, Powerful Karate Chop

The Karate Pokemon Sawk is known for its exceptionally powerful karate chops, training without sleep to become an expert in its craft. Often found in mountainous regions, these Pokemon train to build immense strength without respite.

Its design is based on a karate warrior donning a robe and a black belt in battle. Upon tying its belt, its moves get stronger when conditioning and in conflict. Sawk is marginally stronger than Throh, with better abilities, faster attacks, and more powerful attacks than its Gen 5 counterpart.

6 Hitmontop

Balanced, Defensive Martial Artist

Introduced after the other two Hitmon brothers, Hitmontop spins on its head to deliver rapid kicks that, despite its velocity, are weaker than its sibling’s moves, with slower speed and power, making it more fragile. Nevertheless, it has the highest defense out of the three, making it a rather tanky addition for a martial arts-inspired team.

5 Hitmonchan

Powerful, Defensive Punching Specialist

Otherwise known as the punching Pokemon, Hitmonchan is a Generation 1 Pocket Monster introduced in the original Pokemon Red and Blue games. Resembling an elite boxer, the Pokemon is known for throwing intense flurries of punches that can break even solid concrete.

While this Pokemon has an impressive defense, it is generally considered weaker than Hitmonlee but comes in stronger than Hitmontop in terms of stats.

4 Hitmonlee

Elite, Powerful Kicking Specialist

The strongest of the Hitmon trio, Hitmonlee, or the kicking Pokemon, is a master of using kicks in martial arts due to its elasticated legs that can stretch to smack an opponent from a distance with devasting power. Hitmonlee’s foot is known to go as hard as a diamond when kicking, making an opponent on the receiving end wish they never engaged with the elite fighter.

Hitmonlee stands stronger than its Hitmon brethren, with higher health, speed, and attack.

3 Mienshao

Swift, Whip-Like Kung Fu Master

The third-strongest Pokemon here is Mienshao. Introduced in the Pokemon Black and White games, Mienshao uses its fur like a whip to attack opponents at extreme speed. The Pokemon was inspired by whip-fighting and a Chinese variation of kung fu known as Shaolin, with the pocket monster’s stance resembling a kung fu fighter.

Mienshao is stronger than Hitmonlee, with a higher overall stat ratio and superiority across most stats apart from special defense.

2 Kubfu

Legendary Martial Arts Trainee

The pre-evolved form of Urshifu, Kubfu was introduced in Pokemon Sword and Shields Ilse of Armour DLC, acting as a central part of the expansion. Players must befriend Kubfu, train it, and bond with the pocket monster before it can evolve into the powerful Urshifu.

While small in stature, Kubfu is no pushover as a warrior, being a legendary Pokemon of powerful proportions. Nevertheless, Kubfu is weaker than its evolved form, Urshifu, but it is far more powerful than the other Pokemon mentioned previously.

1 Urshifu

Unstoppable Master Of Martial Arts

Urshifu is the strongest martial arts Pokemon here. An evolved form of the legendary Pokemon Kubfu, Urshifu is central to the Pokemon Sword and Shield DLC, Ilse of Armour. Urshifu can take two forms: single strike and rapid strike style, differing in typing and moves learned, such as rapid strike as well as Urshifu’s ability to use water moves due to its water typing.

Urshifu’s name means wushu, a Chinese martial arts term. Packing a real punch in battle, it can gigantamax and use signature moves such as G-Max One Blow and G-Max Rapid Flow to squash opponents under its might.