There’s no denying thatDragon Ballis one of the best martial arts anime of all time, but there are a few series that might have the franchise’s number. One ofDragon Ball’sstrong points has always been in the series' fights, butit’s not the only shōnen anime out there with top-tier brawls.
There aren’t a lot of realistic martial arts anime out there, and that’s fine. A lot of the best martial arts anime feature some form of magic or otherworldly energy, taking the fights to an entirely different level.
Still, these series do a great job of making their somewhat unreal magic systems feel grounded. Even if they’re not realistic, it doesn’t mean that they’re not great.Dragon Ballwill always be at the pinnacle of martial arts anime, and these anime series are great choices for anyone who wants something similar.
Naruto
Narutohas a lot in common withDragon Ballas a franchise. Both series show their main character as he grows from a wild child to a (relatively) responsible young adult. Both the originalDragon Ballseries andNarutofocus a lot more on martial arts than energy-based attacks as well,showcasing some of the best hand-to-hand fighting in anime.
The originalNarutoseries features amazing hand-to-hand combat mixed in with ornate hand seals that create powerful jutsu.Naruto: Shippudensteps away from the hand-to-hand combat and focuses a lot more on giant attacks, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t great martial arts in the sequel series too.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisenhas made waves as one of thebest shōnen anime series of the new generation.It’s brutal, bleak, violent, and features amazing hand-to-hand combat scenes.The main character, Yuji Itadori, is no stranger to martial arts and is more than willing to go toe-to-toe with some of the strongest characters in the series.
WhileJujutsu Kaisenfeatures a lot of powers and abilities, everything stems from the series' appreciation of martial arts. Even the two strongest characters in the series, Satoru Gojo and Ryomen Sukuna, are often found in their opponents' faces trying to take their heads off with a clean punch.
Hell’s Paradiseis one of the freshest shōnen series around. It stars a death-row convict who is given a chance at getting his sentence repealed if he heads to a dangerous island and retrieves a legendary item for his jailers. The main character is Gabimaru the Hollow,a fiercely strong fighter with some of the best martial arts skills around.
Gabimaru uses a mixture of realistic martial arts and energy attacks, just like characters inDragon Ball.He’s more than familiar with punches, kicks, joint locks, and more. He’s also willing to set himself on fire if it means breaking his enemy down, and that’s just one of the many reasons people should giveHell’s Paradisea chance.
Wind Breakeris one of the most realistic martial arts anime series around that still plays around with unrealistic elements. It features a school of some of the toughest fighters around as they look to protect their community, each other, and everything else that they care about.
Wind Breakerfeatures fights on an unreal scale.Whether one character is taking on another, or entire clans are feuding, an entire city block can get decimated by their action. The characters inWind Breakerare lovable, the fights are well choreographed, and there are plenty of different types of martial arts to keep things interesting.
The God of High Schoolis one of thebest animes series that can be finished in less than 15 episodes. It’s not a full adaptation of the hit manhwa series, but the anime is still absolutely worth watching.The God of High Schoolis a tournament-style anime that features amazing, fast-paced fights any martial arts fan will love.
The God of High Schoolis willing to take its fights to crazy levels.The finale of the anime showcases everything that the series was building towards in amazing color, a wild scale, and finishes with an amazing twist that makes the entire series better all at once.
There aren’t many fighting anime series likeKengan Ashura.It feels like a typical shōnen anime in the best ways possible,using some of the most common tropes in the art form to its advantage.The main character is mysterious, brooding, and one of the first people to get into a fight.
There aren’t a lot of good computer-generated anime series, andKengan Ashurais one of the best. While CGI can hold an anime back, it makesKengan Ashuragreat. The martial arts featured are diverse, including Muay Thai, Sambo, Boxing, and so much more.
Megalo Boxis the spiritual successor toAshita no Joe,one ofthe greatest fighting anime series of all time.Megalo Boxis one of the best-looking martial arts anime series around as well, featuring a wonderfully dystopian society saturated in amazing colors, brutal landscapes, and one of the most determined main characters in shōnen.
Megalo Boxuses a lot of fancy technology, but at its core, it’s an anime about boxing. The main character couldn’t care less about all the technological advancements around him. He just wants to get in the ring, fight whoever is unlucky enough to stand in front of him, and beat them senseless:the traits of a superb martial arts anime.
Garouden: The Way of the Lone Wolfis an interesting martial arts series that could have been so much better than it is. Even though it feels like it left a lot of potential on the table, it’s still one of the best martial arts anime around. The characters feel dangerous, their blows feel heavy, and the series features a range of martial arts that keep everything fresh.
Garoudenfeatures some ofthe best fights in anime. While the story might not be there, the fights certainly are. Characters are fighting with their lives on the line, and they’re willing to do what it takes to walk away as a winner.Garoudenis one of the best martial arts animefor anyone who wants to watch some seriously brutal brawls.
Bakiis one of the most ridiculous martial arts anime series in the best way possible. There are two types of martial arts anime: one that focuses on realism, and another that doesn’t.Bakisomehow slots into both categories, but it really thrives when it leans towards the latter.
Bakiis so unbelievably over the top that it’s hilarious.The titular character has devoted himself to becoming strong enough to one day defeat his father, the strongest man alive. He’s fought animals, prehistoric men, and everything in between in order to get stronger, and every fight is a treat to watch.
Hajime no Ippoisn’t just one of the best martial arts anime series of all time: it’s one ofthe best sports anime ever made. LikeDragon Ball,Hajime no Ippoinfluenced anime on such a massive scalethat the martial arts genre wouldn’t be the same without it.
There are so many tropes found inHajime no Ippothat resonate throughout the genre that it’s become synonymous with what a fighting anime should be. The training in the series is incredibly exciting, the main character feels vulnerable in a very real and dangerous way, and the fights in the series are so explosive that it transcends boxing altogether.
