Martial Arts Manga
The majority of action-packed shounen and seinen manga include martial arts as an essential element. The skill of hand to hand combat makes action sequences thrilling for every reader, whether it be through real martial arts like Karate or fictional ones like the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist from One-Punch Man.
This is a top 10 list that has been updated. The entries will therefore be completely different from the previous one. For more excellent suggestions on martial art manga, be sure to check out that one. Additionally, this list will emphasise manga that has received official English licencing. This means that any manga on this list can be easily found in your preferred bookstore or from any other authorised distributor. Here is our ranking of the top 10 martial arts manga, with that out of the way.
10. One Punch Man
- Authors: ONE (Writer); Murata, Yuusuke (Artist)
- Genres: Action, Comedy, Sci-fi, Seinen
- Volumes: 23+
- Published: Sep 2015 – Present
In One Punch Man, a bald man named Saitama chooses to take up the pastime of becoming a hero. Few people are aware of Saitama in a world where monsters and heroes coexist. Saitama is one of the strongest people on Earth and can kill any monster with a single punch, but this is something that no one is aware of.
There are many different kinds of powers in One Punch Man, including martial arts, from laser beams to psychokinesis. The S-Class hero Bang and his student, the hero hunter Garou, are the most notable martial artists in the series. They both practise the martial art of Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, which emphasises quick, fluid hand moves. A skilled practitioner may employ this technique to strike, parry, and even counter any attacks coming from any angle.
One Punch Man is a fascinating novel for reasons other than just martial arts. On the other hand, it is difficult to envision One Punch Man without characters like Bang and Garou because they are such an essential part of the entire narrative. Additionally, their combat scenes offer some of the series’ most exciting action sequences.
9. Tokyo Revengers
- Authors: Wakui, Ken
- Genres: Action, Drama, Sci-fi, Shounen
- Volumes: 25+
- Published: Oct 2018 – Present
When Takemichi Hanagaki learns that his ex-girlfriend Hinata Tachibana was murdered by the infamous Tokyo Manji Gang, he is in the lowest point of his life. Takemichi finds himself abruptly transported back in time 12 years to the period when the Tokyo Manji Gang was still in its infancy, his heart ripped to pieces and his head full of regrets. Takemichi infiltrates this brutal gang in an effort to gradually demolish it from inside because he is determined to alter the course of history.
Tokyo Revengers offers a lot of uncut street fights rather than traditional martial arts. In this series, there are very few, if any, one-on-one battles. Street fights involving tens, if not hundreds, of people are the answer to every problem. It could be argued that street fights like this are what gave rise to all martial arts in the first place. The brutal expression of resentment, anger, and vengeance in the fighting scenes is what makes them so compelling to watch.
8. Dragon Ball
- Authors: Toriyama, Akira
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Shounen
- Volumes: 42
- Published: May 2003 – June 2006
Son Goku, a young boy in the Dragon Ball series, aspires to be the world’s best martial artist. From the time he is a 12-year-old boy with little knowledge of the outside world until the time he becomes a grandfather and has faced up against aliens and androids, we follow his journey.
Goku was trained by his grandfather to be an expert martial artist, particularly in a style resembling Chinese Kung Fu. In Dragon Ball Z and later, Goku frequently uses energy beams and special attacks, yet in his early years, we see him relying only on his martial arts prowess to take down formidable foes.
In fact, the early episodes of Dragon Ball feature a number of tournament arcs where we can watch a variety of martial artists, including Goku, compete to become the best fighter in the universe. These include the students of the Turtle School versus the Crane School, a world-class boxer versus the best wrestler, and even absurdities like a monster versus an alien. Those are undoubtedly some of the most entertaining plots in the entire Dragon Ball series.
7. Levius
- Authors: Nakata, Haruhisa
- Genres: Action, Martial Arts, Sports, Seinen
- Volumes: 1
- Published: Sep 2019
Boxing has a completely different structure in an alternate universe where steam power powers the entire world. The combatants have mechanical arms driven by steam, and they will fight until their adversaries are immobile.
A little child named Levius lost his right arm during the last war. He has always found mechanical boxing to be fascinating. With the assistance of his uncle, Levius begins his boxing career by taking on opponents who have either custom-made or military-grade technology on both of their arms.
Actually, the combat scenes don’t differ all that much from traditional boxing. However, the additional explosiveness provided by the mechanical arms propelled by steam cranks up the battles’ ferocity to eleven. Naturally, the combatants’ abilities and craziness increase as Levius moves up the ladder. And all of these amazing battles are depicted through Nakata-gorgeous sensei’s and meticulous artwork.
6. Tenjou Tenge
- Authors: Oh! Great
- Genres: Action, Romance, Martial Arts, Seinen
- Volumes: 11
- Published: Jun 2011 – Feb 2013
In order to become the strongest student at Toudou Academy, Souichiro Nagi and his best friend Bob Makihara enrolled there. Toudou Academy is the most well-known martial arts school in the nation, after all.
Sadly, Nagi’s seniors completely and abruptly shatter his aspirations. In order to learn correct martial arts techniques from one of the school’s best fighters, a bombshell female by the name of Maya Natsume, they decide to join the Juken club. But the road to the summit is far more treacherous and arduous than they ever anticipated.
The majority of the characters in Tenjou Tenge merge real martial skills with street fighting. Nagi employs a combination of his street fighting skills and the Maya-taught Forged Needle attack. There are numerous one-on-one bouts in this movie, and each character uses a different martial arts style. They all begin with a punch to the face and conclude with concrete and broken walls.
5. Dolkara
The former boss of the K-1 martial arts group, Kazuyoshi Ishii, is killed when he is struck by a truck. A mysterious cat materialises right before he ascends to the higher area and grants him a second opportunity. Suddenly, Kazuyoshii awakens in the body of Kei Ichinose, a high school student who has been unconscious for the previous three days.
After doing some research, he discovers that Kei is the inheritor of a dilapidated karate dojo that her late father left behind, along with mounds of debt. So begins Kazuyoshi’s mission to bring Ichinose dojo back to its former splendour while simultaneously rekindling interest in karate across the country.
Dollkara not only teaches correct karate techniques but also offers a wealth of information on the Japanese martial arts industry. The fighting scenes, though, are unquestionably the story’s high point. Dollkara features a variety of authentic martial arts fights, from karate to kickboxing, colliding in incredibly exciting action scenes.
4. Abyss Rage
- Authors: Narita, Nariaki
- Genres: Action, Drama, Martial Arts, Shounen
- Volumes: 7
- Published: Jan 2019 – Feb 2021
Despite being born blind, Shinobu is inspired to learn Mikoto’s family’s martial arts, the “Mibuchi Toshujutsu,” out of love for his boyhood friend. Shinobu is learning the non-fatal variation of Mibuchi martial arts, which was once a lethal method that targeted important parts including the neck, joints, and genitalia. Shinobu finally gains the right to inherit the Mikoto dojo as a result of his great hearing, mastery of echolocation, and years of daily training.
At that point, a shadowy figure enters the scene, beats Mikoto’s father, and kidnaps Mikoto. The man then extends an invitation to Shinobu to take part in his death game. If he wants to save his girlfriend, he will be sent to prison and ordered to kill 100 guys. Thus begins his deadly duel inside the lawless prison with a number of dangerous martial artists.
Most of the martial arts depicted in Abyss Rage, with the exception of the aforementioned Mibuchi martial art, are actual martial arts, including Sumo and mixed martial arts (MMA). Even while the combat scenes themselves are thrilling to watch, the fact that Shinobu is a blind fighter gives the action scenes an entirely new element.
3. Hinomaru Zumou (Hinomaru Sumo)
- Authors: Kawada
- Genres: Action, Sports, Martial Arts, Shounen
- Volumes: 28
- Published: Jan 2019 – Oct 2019
There is no weight class distinction in this traditional martial art, which is one of its most distinctive features. Therefore, it will be obvious that the bigger athlete will triumph over the smaller one. Hinomaru Ushio, who is only about 5’2″, is obviously too short for the sport. However, he was able to use his unique style of fighting to take on foes who were much bigger and stronger than he is because of his unshakable passion and dedication to Sumo. And here is the story of how he rose to become the Yokozuna, the top-ranked sumo wrestler in the nation.
Sumo is a traditional Japanese martial art, and the underlying rules and ideologies have mostly not altered since its inception. The best thing about Hinomaru Sumo is how it sets out the process for someone who wants to be a professional sumo wrestler, from school competitions to being a professional athlete. Additionally, every sumo match in the series appears to be incredibly exciting and furious. It really is a unique martial arts tale.
2. Sun Ken Rock
- Authors: Boichi
- Genres: Action, Comedy, Romance, Seinen
- Volumes: 25
- Published: May 2020 – Jul 2021
Kitano Ken is a vicious individual who will not think twice to engage in a duel with anyone. But he utterly failed to prevail in the war of love. Yumin, his first love, simply rejects his confession and leaves to pursue a career as a police officer in Korea.
He accumulates money and purchases a one-way ticket to South Korea to meet Yumin, but he feels that there is nothing in his life that is worthwhile fighting for. As a result of a series of events, Ken ends up serving as both the neighborhood’s guardian and the head of a small gang.
Sun Ken Rock could be thought of as Tokyo Revengers with more maturity. After all, the majority of the action involves street fights involving fists and baseball bats. The scope and specifics are the only things that differ. In Sun Ken Rock, every combat scene is depicted in amazing detail. Every line on the pages moves, giving the impression of motion. It is simultaneously captivating and violent, ruthless and raw.
1. Kengan Ashura
- Authors: Sandrovich, Yabako (Writer); Daromeon (Artist)
- Genres: Action, Drama, Martial Arts, Shounen
- Volumes: 27
- Published: Oct 2021 – present
Every conflict between merchants and the noble groups in this world has been resolved through what are known as the Kengan wars since the Edo period. Each side selects a fighter to further their position, and the dispute is decided by the victor of the contest. Even in the present era, this distinctive heritage has been preserved.
In a legal battle over who has ownership rights to a building, Tokita Ohma is the fighter who is standing in for the Nogi Group conglomerate. Tokita is a young man with a standard build when compared to the other fighters from various firms. And yet, he always finds a way to outnumber and defeat his opponents until he locates the one monster he has been searching for his entire life.
Similar to other titles on this list, Kengan Ashura has a combination of martial arts from the actual world and fantasy. All of them are depicted in a style that is greatly overdone but nevertheless believable and tremendously thrilling. Kengan Ashura is unquestionably one of the best and most fascinating martial arts comics to read, from the intriguing idea to the inventive and quick-paced action sequences.
Final Thoughts
Some of the manga on this list will entertain you with high-level martial arts battles, while others may be able to pique your interest in the fascinating world of martial arts. And that demonstrates the impact of a strong manga.
Have any of the manga on this list been read by you? Perhaps you are aware of other books that ought to be included? Post your comments in the space provided below.
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