The Baki series is renowned for its intense battles and graphic violence, making it one of the top battle anime. The use of martial arts, strategy, and technique by each character adds to the appeal of this anime.
Following the release of the second season of Hanma Baki in 2023, we were presented with an abundance of adrenaline-charged battles to anticipate. As each character in this anime continuously challenges their strength against one another, let us track their fights and compile a top 10 ranking of the most epic clashes in the series.
10. Baki vs Shunsei
The purpose of this fight was to determine the stronger fighter between Baki and Shunsei, both of whom were descendants of legendary warriors. However, the outcome was not much of a battle as Baki quickly ended it with three powerful blows, after Shunsei aggressively charged towards him.
This fight is significant because it effectively demonstrates the contrasting strengths between the two and solidifies Baki’s position in a league of his own.
Retsu vs Yaku
The bout between Retsu and Jaku was a captivating one, as both fighters appeared to be evenly matched in terms of abilities and strength. What added to the excitement of the fight was Jaku’s use of cunning tactics to gain an upper hand over Retsu, keeping the latter on edge throughout the match.
The altercation came to an end when the normally composed Retsu became furious at Jaku’s underhanded tactics. A single forceful blow to Jaku’s nose rendered him unconscious, resulting in Retsu being declared the victor.
8. The Ogre vs Kaku Kaioh
Similarly to their previous encounter in the Raitai tournament, Shunsei and Baki’s fathers now face off against each other. The Sea Emperor, who at 120 years old still maintains incredible strength, is pitted against Yujiro Hanma, known as the most powerful being on the planet.
Despite starting with light sparring, the intensity of the fight between Kaku Kaioh and Hanma quickly escalated. Kaku Kaioh was able to inflict wounds on Hanma, but it was eventually revealed that Hanma had been purposely holding back and was actually enjoying the fight. Just as Hanma was preparing to deliver a fatal blow, Kaku Kaioh suddenly passed away from old age, ending the fight.
The Ogre vs Sea King Ryu
The Raitai Tournament began with a highly uneven battle, as The Ogre, Yujiro Hanma, went up against Sea King Ryu, a martial artist whom Retsu considered to be his equal. Yujiro immediately displayed his superiority in terms of skill, power, strength, and speed, leaving no doubt about the vast gap between the two opponents.
Despite Sea King Ryu’s valiant efforts to salvage some pride and confront the world’s strongest creature once more, they were no match for Yujiro. He mercilessly dismantled his opponent, utterly humiliating him in front of his students. Despite Ryu’s attempts, Yujiro swiftly ended the bout with a devastating final blow, leaving the Sea King defeated.
Guevara vs. Oliva
The clash between Oliva and Guevara serves as a precursor to the main event – Baki, the son of the Ogre, challenging Oliva, the unstoppable fighter. Despite being a lead-up, their confrontation demands immense interest. Guevara bears the weight of his people’s honor as he strives to prove himself by defeating Oliva, despite being a high-security inmate seeking special treatment. The entire prison community, including the warden, gathers to witness the epic showdown between the two giants, where their determination is symbolized by holding onto a rag.
In a tense showdown, Guevara and Oliva engage in a fierce and relentless battle, with Guevara utilizing all of his tactics to overpower Oliva. However, in a critical moment, Oliva unleashes his full strength and delivers a devastating blow, causing Guevara to fall to the ground. The brutal confrontation concludes with Oliva as the victor, observed by the entire prison population.
Baki vs Oliva
Undoubtedly, this is one of the most thrilling battles in the entire series. Baki, the son of the most powerful being on the planet, faces off against Oliva, a wild, muscular force of nature in human form. The intense showdown takes place within Baki’s cell, and initially, Oliva proves to be too much for the young challenger. Despite Baki’s relentless assaults, it appeared that Oliva was impervious to all forms of damage.
Despite Baki’s initial success in briefly incapacitating Oliva with a new speed-based technique, their match eventually becomes a test of endurance and plays to Oliva’s strengths. However, driven by his unwavering determination to face his father on equal terms, Baki continues to relentlessly press Oliva in pursuit of victory.
4-Hanayama-vs-Spec
This battle only serves to deepen our admiration for Hanayama. When Spec attempts to ambush Baki on the streets, Hanayama steps in and takes on Spec himself. Despite Spec’s underhanded tactics, Hanayama’s incredible stamina allows him to withstand all of Spec’s attacks and retaliate.
At this stage, Spec resorts to even more deceitful tactics and brandishes a gun in an attempt to attack Hanayama. To everyone’s surprise, Hanayama withstands the gunshot, harnesses his strength to overpower Spec, and turns him over to the authorities.
3. Sea King Retsu vs Pickle
Despite initially appearing to be superior to the man-beast Pickle in their head-to-head fight, Sea King Retsu quickly realized that defeating him would require more than just martial arts skills. Despite his early advantage, Retsu’s attacks proved ineffective against Pickle’s brutal tactics, as he inflicted severe injuries by biting and tearing Retsu’s flesh.
Despite facing the harsh reality, Retsu suffered a mental breakdown. In a state of desperation, he deviated from his usual Kenpo techniques and resorted to throwing wild punches based on instinct. Despite successfully landing a powerful elbow strike that would normally disable his opponent, Pickle easily shrugged it off and quickly rendered Retsu unconscious.
Baki vs Pickle
The confrontation between these two powerful warriors was a remarkable display. When Baki was granted the opportunity to face off against the man-beast, he unleashed all of his rage. He skillfully dodged Pickle’s attacks with incredible swiftness, almost seeming to teleport across the arena.
In addition, Baki instilled fear in the prehistoric fighter by taking on the appearance of a dinosaur hybrid—a formidable figure with the fierce jaws of a T. rex, the sharp talons of a pterodactyl, and the sturdy horns of a triceratops. Despite having the upper hand, Baki ultimately chose to end the fight with a simple fistfight. As a result, Pickle’s unmatched endurance allowed him to claim victory.
Match 1: Katsumi Orochi vs Pickle
Despite being a primitive human frozen for millions of years, Pickle proved to be a formidable opponent to many of Baki Hanma’s top fighters. However, Katsumi Orochi, a skilled karate master and close friend of Kaiou Retsu, was determined to avenge Retsu’s defeat by Pickle. To achieve this, Katsumi honed his skills and developed the Mach Fist technique, which allowed him to use his muscles to their full potential and deliver swift strikes reminiscent of a snapping whip in battle.
Despite successfully halting Pickle’s attack, the use of this technique had a severe impact on Katsumi’s physical well-being. As a result, he not only lost the battle but also ended up losing one of his arms. However, his defeat did not discredit his accomplishment of demonstrating the potential for modern humans to hold their own against pre-historic humans.
About Baki
Baki the Grappler, also known as Grappler Baki in North America, is a manga series created by Keisuke Itagaki. It was first published in Weekly Shōnen Champion and later compiled into 42 tankōbon volumes by Akita Shoten.
The plot centers on the journey of Baki Hanma, a teenager who hones his fighting abilities by engaging in brutal, unregulated hand-to-hand battles with a diverse range of adversaries.
He devotes all of his waking hours to training and combat in hopes of one day surpassing his father Yuujiro Hanma’s fighting prowess. His father is a brutal individual who lives solely for the purpose of fighting and inflicting pain on others.
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