While a lot ofanimefeature high-flying battles with energy beams and massive explosions,some of the best fights are the simplest.A good hand-to-hand fight can highlight a show’s art direction and animation through good fight choreography and well-timed set pieces.
Better yet, hand-to-hand fights are often the most significant. They’re intimate, dangerous, and usually, deadly.When a character is willing to get close enough to put their hands on their enemy, they usually have something worth fighting over.
It doesn’t matter if an anime is about fighting, superhero society, or even about an advanced high school — a good hand-to-hand fight can happen anywhere. By their very nature, hand-to-hand fights are the most straightforward type of bout possible.They all involve at least two people who usually dislike each other and want to use their fists to prove it.
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Eren’s firstfight against Reiner in their Titan formswas one of the most emotional moments inAttack on Titan.Reiner, dealing with the immense guilt of breaking down Wall Maria, admits that he’s the Armored Titan. He and Bertholdt then reveal their true identities as traitors and turn into their Titan forms. Eren also turns into his Titan form and punches the Armored Titan in the face before he can react.The fight is brutal both physically and emotionally, as the two tear each other apart inside and out.
Reiner’s reveal is heartbreaking.He was a legitimate friend to the Survey Corps and was also the individual responsible for what can be considered the single worst day in many of their lives. Eren’s fight against him was incredibly cathartic as he was able to take out his rage on a deserving target.He even judo tossed the Armored Titan,reminiscent of Annie from earlier.
9Ayanokoji vs. Ryuen and His Gang – Classroom of the Elite
An Incredible Fight in a Series Without Them
Ayanokoji is one of the most mysterious characters inClassroom of the Elite.He’s incredibly smart and cunning enough to hide it. When he’s not pulling the strings behind the scenes, he’s handling business fiercely.The second season ofClassroom of the Elitefeatures one of the best animated hand-to-hand fights in any series,andCOTEdidn’t even feature a single fight before this one. It was an insane moment that came out of nowhere, and in most other scenarios the fight would’ve been a dud.
Ayanokoji is one of the most mysterious characters inClassroom of the Elite
It was anything but.To say Ayanokoji is a monster on the battlefield would be selling him short.Ishizaki approaches him first and gets dispatched quickly. Next, the hulking Albert fights Ayanokoji and gets knocked out for his troubles. Ibuki also tries to fight Ayanokoji and gets knocked out easily. Finally, Ayanokoji faces Ryuen in a brutal hand-to-hand fight withgreat lighting, choreography, and one of the most sociopathic finishes in anime.
Kiyotaka Ayanokoji inClassroom of the Eliteis voiced by Shoya Chiba in the Japanese version and by Justin Briner in the English version.
8All Might vs. Nomu – My Hero Academia
All Might Set the Tone for My Hero Academia
My Hero Academiawas always destined to be a spectacular shōnen series. It comes after the big three ofNaruto, Dragon Ball,andOne Pieceand looks to create its own identity in a field littered with knock-offs. The first time All Might fought a Nomu at the Unforeseen Simulation Joint, or USJ, everyone knew thatMy Herowas different. The fight was electric. From top to bottom,All Might’s effort, quotes, and overall power made this a hand-to-hand fight to watch.
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This Nomu was specifically designed to kill All Might. It was created with several quirks, including Shock Absorption, so that it could stand toe-to-toe with the Symbol of Peace in battle. The Nomu does a great job for a while, and even pushes All Might to his limits. But the manufactured villain has no chance against the real deal, asAll Might asks if it’s heard the phrase “Plus Ultra” before while promptly punching the Nomu into the stratosphere.
Naruto, Naruto: Shippuden,andBorutoall featurespectacular fights filled with some of the best jutsuand flashiest abilities around. When Naruto takes on Isshiki inBoruto,however, he throws his Shadow Clone Jutsu to the side and beats the Otsutsuki with his bare hands.To win this fight, Naruto enters the incredibly dangerous Baryon Mode.He uses his and Kurama’s chakra as fuel, creating an entirely new type of power that overwhelms Isshiki and shocks Sasuke.Baryon Mode allows Naruto to move at lightning speeds, countering Isshiki’s abilities before he can fully use them.
When Naruto entered Baryon Mode against Isshiki, he used some of the best taijutsu the series has ever shown. Rock Lee and Guy Lee would’ve drooled watching this fight as Naruto bobs and weaves like an expert.He lands some of the best punches and kicksBorutohas animated.
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Garouden: The Way of the Lone Wolfwas a surprising underground hit. It featured a ton of great fights in just eight easy-to-watch episodes, and each fight has enough realism to draw anyone’s attention.Garoudenmight be one of the best anime based on fighting that actually adheres to fighting.While some shows likeBakiorKengan Ashuramay be mostly realistic,Garoudenreally doesn’t have any supernatural or superhero abilities.
Instead, the show features realistic martial arts on a brutal level. The best fight in the show, and one of the best hand-to-hand fights in anime, comes at the end of the series when Juzo fights Himekawa in the finals of a tournament. Their fight is intense, and not just because whoever wins gets to date the sensei’s daughter. Each fighter throws powerful punches and kicks, devastating their opponent. It comes to a thrilling conclusion when Juzo lands his trademark ability, the Kou-ou, on Himekawa.Himekawa was waiting for it though, and finished the fight with an incredibly powerful slam.
5Kanoh Agito vs. Kaolan – Kengan Ashura
The Best Adaptation of Muay Thai
Kengan Ashurais an anime based on an underground fighting tournament. It has great fights and features fighters with different types of fighting backgrounds, like sumo wrestlers, assassins, and more.The best fight in all ofKengan Ashurais Kaolan’s fight against Kanoh Agito.At this point in the series, both characters are warriors who refuse to lose, and nobody has yet made them. They are very different people as well, with different goals in this tournament. Kaolan is known as the “Thai God of War”. He’s the best Muay Thai fighter in the world, but he’s no match for Kanoh.
Kanoh Agito dominated the match against the Thai God of War. He wasn’t as strong towards the beginning of the fight, but after watching his opponent’s moves, he was able to take down Kaolan with a couple of devastating kicks.While Kaolan lays defeated, he put up the best hand-to-hand fight in the tournament
4Naruto and Sasuke vs. Momoshiki – Boruto
Naruto and Sasuke Have Never Looked Better Together
Naruto and Sasuke’s fight against Momoshiki set the standard forBoruto.It’s an incredibly well-animated fight that features some of the most exciting hand-to-hand fighting in Naruto. While it has great hand-to-hand elements, it also has plenty of chakra usage as well. This fight is excellent, not just because of how wellNaruto and Sasuke fight, but because they fight together.
Naruto spent a significant amount of time trying to save Sasuke from himself and has finally succeeded. His reward is his best friend fighting side-by-side with him.The fight between Momoshiki and the Konoha defenders is electric.The pair slide around the battlefield like ice skaters and hit Momoshiki like twin trucks.Naruto’s taijutsu stands out especially in this fight as he gets in close with the Otsutsuki and thrashes him like the Hokage should.
Gon vs. Hisoka was an early high point forHunter x Hunter.It’s a great fight with a lot on the line for young Gon.While he knows he’s probably outmatched, Gon doesn’t hold back at all and instead charges at the killer clown. While Hisoka beats Gon fairly handily throughout the fight, Gon never slows down or shows an ounce of fear. He even picks up a giant stone floor piece and launches it Hisoka to create an opening. Gon’s idea worked, and he was able to distract Hisoka long enough topunch him directly in the face.
While Gon didn’t win the fight, he did put his bravery on display. Hisoka is easily one of the scariest figures inHunter x Hunterand Gon just stood face-to-face with him without flinching.The fight itself features great hand-to-hand choreography and creative fighting moves as well.
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2Kakashi vs. Obito – Naruto: Shippuden
A Hand-To-Hand Fight Spanning the Ages
Kakashi and Obito are two characters closely intertwined inNaruto: Shippuden. Kakashi even has one of Obito’s eyes implanted in his head. They’ve been rivals since they were children and that may never change. The final fight between the two is spectacular.It’s emotional, it’s fluid, and it’s everything anyone could want from a fight scene.While Kakashi and Obito fight in the present, there’s a flashback shown intermittently of them fighting the exact same fight as children.
Kakashi even has one of Obito’s eyes implanted in his head.
A deep orchestral sound fills the fight, cut between the sounds of Obito’s and Kakashi’s strikes landing on one another. The pair start with their bare hands, striking swiftly and fiercely, before moving onto bladed weapons. They then use a jutsu or two before moving back to hand-to-hand combat.After a few more heavy blows, Kakashi stands victorious.
Yuji and Todo vs. Hanami is the best hand-to-hand fight in anime.It features two of the most entertaining characters around having a blastwhile they dispatch a legitimately dangerous foe in Hanami.Yuji and Todo together are hilarious, and they don’t care if they’re in the middle of a fight.There’s even a moment where Yuji is thinking too hard, so Todo slaps him, allowing Yuji to concentrate on nothing more than his enemy. While this sounds cool, Yuji started drooling.
Yuji starts the fight alone before Todo jumps in to help.Todo’s Boogie Woogie ability creates interesting moments and allows Yuji to fight with newfound freedom.With this freedom, he lands an unprecedented four Black Flashes in a row, devastating Hanami and even impressing his “brother” Todo. While Hanami eventually gets away,Todo and Yuji’s efforts made for one of thebest fights inJujutsu Kaisenand the best hand-to-hand fight in anime.
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