All other assets & trademarks are property of their original owners. Top 10 Best Martial Arts TV Shows Ever WatchMojo.com 24.8M subscribers Join Subscribe 2.6K 123K views 2 years ago Check out our featured song: "It's Just Not Right" by The Jephries!. Lets just say it takes a more artistic route instead of the usual fast-action sequences. | The fights, the plots, and most important, Shannon Lee (Bruce's daughter) is hot!!!!! Jack De Sena, TV-14 Benjamin Winship 22 episodes 1998-1999 Gretchen Egolf Amy Dylan 22 episodes 1999-2000 Louis Mandylor Det. Stars: Now let's look at three martial arts TV shows you most likely remember but probably wish you didn't. Mortal Kombat: Conquest (1998-1999) This show came along much later than I remembered. Did you imagine an afro samurai facing ninjas and a fellow samurai wearing a teddy bear mask? 384 min Where people view MMA, kickboxing, boxing and Muay Thai not place you send you kid. The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada.It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. As one of the big three shonen anime alongside One Piece and Bleach, Naruto has done it all. But there existed no forum in which to prove these claims. For centuries, each of the various martial arts disciplines declared its techniques superior to those of the competing combat arts. [1] It was produced by DIC Animation City, Bohbot Entertainment, and Italian studio Reteitalia, S.p.A., in association with Spanish network Telecinco. Iconic villains like Shishio Makoto and Seta Sojiro? In this three-season series, the viewer is taken on a fun journey full of relevant lessons and exciting action. In most movies and TV shows about it (including those in this very list! Nobody expected just how popular Kimetsu no Yaiba would become. If the zords fail to accomplish their mission, the Rangers can unite to form a giant humanoid robot called Megazord. Byrne, Amber Nash, Doc Harris, William Zabka, Analysis: Although at times the actors looked awkward while executing their techniques, the series set new standards in fight choreography by using creative camera angles, unique audio effects and, prudently, slow motion. | Mountain Biker $14 (not many) Series 20 1. As you may have already noticed, my list contains quite a lot of old anime. Check out our 90s martial arts selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. Judy Greer, TV Track Series. Space Fan $8 7. Naruto Uzumaki, is a loud, hyperactive, adolescent ninja who constantly searches for approval and recognition, as well as to become Hokage, who is acknowledged as the leader and strongest of all ninja in the village. Akemi Okamura, TV-MA The Young And The Restless Spoilers: Could Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson) Lose Chelsea Lawson (Melissa Claire Egan) To Daniel Romalotti Jr. (Michael Graziadei)? Some real-life inspirational figures in his own life and philosophy also made their own appearances on the show, which is a real testament to the impact Bruce Lee had on the industry. Think of it as Martial Arts: Slice of Life. The vampire Alucard, his master Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, and his newly sired ward Seras Victoria, try to protect England from a war-crazed SS-Major who seeks to start an eternal war with his vampire army. Arguably one of the all-time most popular anime alongside Pokemon, the series is the granddaddy of shounen and super-powered MCs. Which Martial Arts Styles Are Most Effective for Self Defense? As we mentioned, this 1970s Kung Fu series was the original, and its what led to not only the aforementioned adaptation but a couple of sequel films and series as well. No one really stood out as interesting and the storylines from episode to episode were immortal-of-the-week for chunks of the series. Christopher Collins, See titles to watch instantly, titles you haven't rated, etc. The '90s when things were whack if they weren't rad and you bounced from a lame party full of capital-L losers yadda, yadda, yadda. Furank Sakai. Premise: Secret Service agents James T. West (Robert Conrad) and Artemus Gordon (Ross Martin) battle psychotic criminals who are planning to take over America and sometimes the world. 1. (, 25 Best Anime Dogs: Man's Best Friend in Anime Shows & Movies, 20 Best Anime About Gambling You Have To Watch (Shows & Movies), Top 22 Best Mystery Anime To Watch (Shows & Movies), 18 Most Wholesome Anime Shows & Movies: Our Top Recommendations, The Best Box Arts From All PS4 Games (Ranked). He also enjoys strategy games, simulators, and anything open world. Po is a great role model, showing that his uniqueness also makes him both heroic and worthy of respect. The series explores the life and relationship of friends Ryu and Ken, who were in the process of learning and honing their skills in the art of Ansatsuken, a combat technique with the aim of killing an opponent. Junko Takeuchi, Yet Conrad, who was not a trained stuntman, insisted on doing everything himself, as did his fight crew: Whitey Hughes (stunt coordinator), Jimmy George, Jerry Laveroni and Dick Cangey. A talented athlete as a young man, Ed O'Neill won a football scholarship to Ohio . Mortal Kombat was one of my favorite games to play (and really one of the only games I played) at the arcade when I was a kid in the 90s. Analysis: Six years after the success of the film Highlander, this series ran for 119 episodes. Plus its got a unique visual look like a hybrid of Western and Japanese styles. Akane is also a skilled martial artist but is also a hardcore man-hater. As an ode to these amazing skills and to those who have them, weve put together a list of the best live-action TV shows about martial arts! The Best Movies Characters Who Do Kung Fu. J.K. Simmons, Not Rated I don't care what anyone else says. Stephanie Sheh, But its not over-the-top kind of violent. It had over-the-top Hong Kong action to the max. Decades after their 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament bout, a middle-aged Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence find themselves martial-arts rivals again. AMCs Into the Badlands was described by Liz Shannon from IndieWire as a high-octane sci-fi martial arts series where the creators were inventing whole cloth something so unique that nothing could ever possibly follow in its wake. | While it was a ratings success in Japan(against my next entry on this list) it didnt do as well outside the country. His opponents spanned the spectrum, from a 400-pound gorilla and a giant pneumatic puppet to a killer with prosthetic appendages and an invisible man. Stars: A samurai, sent through time, fights to return home and save the world. 24 min 0. When a failed alchemical ritual leaves brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric with severely damaged bodies, they begin searching for the one thing that can save them: the fabled philosopher's stone. As viewers are taken on this journey with him, we are also treated to relevant lessons during his Shaolin training that are relevant to his current experiences as the series unfolds. Anime has always had rivalries, but only so few can compare to that of Guts and Griffith. Action, Adventure, Drama. The story revolves around a quartet of humanoid warrior turtles, taught by their spiritual, wise master Splinter who happens to be a rat. Premise: Four-hundred-year-old Duncan MacLeod (Adrian Paul) of the Clan MacLeod lives in modern society, but he uses an ancient katana to slice, dice and behead ne'er-do-well immortals out to become "the one.". 23 min Synopsis: Mutant heroes live in New York sewers and train in martial arts to protect the city from crime.. But traditional martial arts is also known as folk wrestling. 1 of 26 "Rugrats" Nickelodeon Sure, the animation may have looked a little odd from time to time - it was. Richard Chamberlain, Your email address will not be published. Rebecca Forstadt, TV-MA For centuries, each of the various martial arts disciplines declared its techniques superior to those of the competing combat arts. The show was developed out of a concept from martial arts legend Bruce Lee, and his daughter Shannon even served as an executive producer through its two-season run on Cinemax and will continue to do so for the upcoming third season on HBO Max! As 2019s undisputed top anime, it inspired memes and led to a surge of Zenitsu, Tanjiro, and (most especially) Nezuko merch sales. Premise: Sammo Law (Sammo Hung), a top Shanghai cop, relocates to Los Angeles to search for a female undercover officer who's gone missing. | Highlander: The Seriesstarts off mid, picks things up around seasons three and four before petering out midway through season five which was meant to be the final season. J.J. McQuade (Lone Wolf McQuade, movie) Chuck Norris fights his way onto this list as one of the most successful martial artists in movies of the 80s. Iron Fist tells the story of Danny Rand, a billionaire, and martial arts practitioner. | In one episode, I found out later, Jackie Chan made a small appearance as a drunk. Michael C. Pizzuto, All Rights Reserved. Yes, these shows were actually a thing and yes, they obviously ended either a cliffhanger or abruptly. Cobra Kai was a reputable martial arts school founded in 1971 by the late Grandmaster Steven G. The Cast of Cobra Kai Are Proud of Doing Their Own Stunts. Although much of the talent relied on low-level sword skills at least, on camera and slow movements, the smoothness of the techniques, the continuity of the action, the clanging of the weapons and the spray of sparks that ensued whenever steel met steel served to enthrall audiences. There are tons of Wuxia TV series during the 80's, 90's and 00's. Here are my picks of the top 10 best Wuxia series ever. 10 Carter Wong Best Known For: Big Trouble in Little China, Born Invincible Trivia:The Master was the first ninja-based TV series in America. What is it about watching a good old-fashioned fist fight that just does it? Phil LaMarr, This web series served as a prequel story to the original video games and featured nearly all the fan-favorite fighters. For anyone in search of hard-hitting fight scenes, just stay home because thats where the action is. The Legend of Condor Heroes Year: 1983 Stars: Felix Wong, Barbara Yung, Michael Miu, Sharon Yeung The Legend of Condor Heroes is a Hong Kong drama based on Louis Cha's novel of the same title. The 100 Best '90s TV Shows. Flashbacks to Caine's childhood, in which he was learning kung fu at Shaolin Temple, proved a novel storytelling device. Find more reviews, pictures, and how to buy The Jade Fox 1993 7. Toshir Mifune, Animation, Action, Adventure. Check out our 90s martial arts top selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. | Showdown is arguably his finest cinematic outing. The Cinemax series ended on a high note, but this is one town fans wouldn't mind returning to. The famous mystery treasure named "One Piece". 19/20. Each character has their own standalone MCU series, but were going to hone in on Iron Fist for this list. . This list wouldnt be complete without Ryuu, Chun-li, Guile, and the rest of the iconic characters in the Street Fighter franchise. He enters training at a Shaolin monastery and eventually becomes a master in martial arts. Lee delivered extended uncut fight sequences that were enhanced by adlibbed moves. Decades after their 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament bout, a middle-aged Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence find themselves martial-arts rivals again. Street Fighter II V yes, two roman numerals features a variety of fighting styles ranging from Muay Thai and kickboxing to Shotokan karate and ninjutsu. Martial Law (TV series) Masked Rider (TV series) The Master of Tai Chi (TV series) The Master (American TV series) Maximum Choppage Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Mind, Body & Kick Ass Moves Mo Min Kap Sin Fung Mortal Kombat: Conquest Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm Mue Nuer Mek N Naruto Negcio da China A New Life (Hong Kong TV series) On a philosophical level, Caine epitomized Shaolin philosophy, perhaps more so than any other character in the history of entertainment. The show runs on the premise that his persona as Jean Claude Van Damme the action movie star is actually a cover for his real self: secret agent Jean Calude Van Johnson. Each Baron houses elite warriors known as Clippers to do their bidding. Stars: The following 178 pages are in this category, out of 178 total. Fox Costume Girl $12 (last one) 15. | Last edited by Ken Cheng; 10-30-12 at 11:18 PM . Stars: On top of that, there's also great storytelling set to a unique aesthetic. The Americans don't want them there, his sister doesn't want him there, and he's thrust into a local gang that is on the verge of war. Check. Its gripping and full of tightly filmed fights and memorable casting choices. Street Fighter is yet another well-known martial arts franchise, though this time with its origins in a video game! The Japanese fights scenes were influenced by Hong Kong's high-flying "fant-Asia" action, as well as Jackie Chan's choreography from Police Story. Animation, Action, Adventure. It was there he displayed his lighting-quick . Running for two seasons,Martial Lawwas a detective show starring kung fu film legendSammoHung and Arsenio Hall as detectivesSammoLaw and Terrell Parker. Premise: In the 1870s, a half-Chinese/half-American Shaolin priest named Kwai Chang Caine (David Carradine) wanders the American West while fleeing agents of the Chinese emperor, who believes he's responsible for a murder. Many regard the series as the last American TV show to capture the essence of martial arts choreography. Finding a good Martial Arts TV show to watch can be hard, so we've ranked the best ones and included where to watch them. This award-winning film doesnt compromise its story to create some stunning set pieces and clever cinematography. Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, TV-PG In fact, the live-action movie adaptations turned out much better than expected. Avatar: The Last Airbender Ages 9+ But apart from its emotionally engaging story and lovable bunch of characters, Kimetsu no Yaiba proved why Ufotable is still a top-tier studio: It knows how to craft top-notch action sequences. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) Have You Seen? The futuristic misadventures and tragedies of an easygoing bounty hunter and his partners. Mobile Suit Gundam, The Second Century Pt 3. 9 "Showdown" Is A Classic '90s Movie From The Tae Bo Titan Billy Blanks As Billy Blanks is most famous for his invention of the late '90s fitness program Tae Bo, many fans are familiar with him without having seen the martial artist in action on the big screen. Its a sparring technique that comes from kumite, a main aspect of karate. 50 min Kung Fu is now set in modern times and follows a young Harvard Law School dropout named Nicky Shen. No. As one of the most infamous anime and manga ever, this dark fantasy has always gone all out in terms of spectacle and terror. | For 50 episodes you can witness the rise of Kenichi from a weakling to a formidable teen fighter. Related: Best Martial Art's Movies of the 2000s, Ranked. Action, Adventure, Drama. Entdecke Hannah Montana Das Spiel (DVD) Disney Kids 2000er Miley Cyrus SELTEN in groer Auswahl Vergleichen Angebote und Preise Online kaufen bei eBay Kostenlose Lieferung fr viele Artikel! | This idea was promptly nixed, however, out of concern that the show might encourage gambling among young people. He eventually decides to reopen his karate dojo, which leads to events that re-ignite the decades-old rivalry with Daniel LaRusso (Macchio). Stars: Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Mariduea Votes: 190,287 10. Matthew Leonhart, This list of the greatest martial arts shows also includes pictures from the shows when available. Warrior was the last original program from Cinemax before it stopped production on all originals, and what a show to close out on. Trivia:Kung Fu had as guest stars many actors who were or would become famous. Does Berserk even need any introductions at this point? M artial arts have been around for thousands of years throughout the world in different forms in different cultures. The fights against the Devils of Kimon are gorgeously choreographed the fluid animation is timeless. Popular martial arts TV shows have been a staple of television for years, so there's often debate about what the most entertaining martial arts show of all time is. However, this reignites his rivalry with Daniel LaRousso, whose seen nothing but success. Trivia: The combative side of Buffy's character was inspired by the essence of Hong Kong's top female film fighters, including Michelle Khan, Cynthia Khan, Moon Lee and Oshima Yukari. While there, he endeavors to find out more about his familial roots on this side of the world. Instead Katanagatari is pretty much Sword Fights: The Anime. I have no doubt that all of us have played at least one variation of the Capcom video game at least once in our lives. The stylized form of fighting seen in Spy Game has been aped by other martial arts-inspired programs, including Chaos (2000), Bionic Woman (2007) and Chuck (2007-2012). And Tiger Mask W is all about wrestling shenanigans. Analysis: The simple fact that the series co-starred Lee makes it worthy of inclusion here. Starring: Rob Paulsen, Cam Clarke, Barry Gordon, Townsend . Arguably one of the all-time most popular anime alongside Pokemon, the series is the granddaddy of shounen and super-powered MCs. Ayako Kawasumi, Week in and week out, Norris executed spinning backfists, elbow strikes, hooks, crescent kicks and back kicks. He picks up on how American detective work goes but will resort to Chinese detective worksteamrolling criminalsto get things done. In sheer contrast to the death and blood in Afro Samurai is the comedy classic Ranma . This show was so bad ass. But it also adds in a whole set of sword-fighting styles called breath styles and it is an absolute visual delight. Is it the best-looking martial arts anime? H. Jon Benjamin, Gamestingr - Your TV & Entertainment Hive! The franchise has seven schools of martial arts and theres also the World Martial Arts Tournament. We love a good series with a mix of the supernatural, and Wu Assassins is just that. With the help of the powerful Dragonballs, a team of fighters led by the saiyan warrior Goku defend the planet earth from extraterrestrial enemies. Like the shows before it, Cobra Kai is one part of a major martial arts film franchise: The Karate Kid. Its like Shigurui in that its not safe for kids, but it thankfully has much less gore. | Though not the first series adaptation, Assassins Fist was the 12-episode web series that was developed to focus on Ryu and Ken as the main protagonists. Its definitely for kids, but I also cant put the series any higher on the list. Stars: Dee Bradley Baker, 15. 8. Though now retired, he begins to miss the work that he did both as an actor and a secret agent so he takes the first chance to jump back into the business by starring in a new action film while working as a spy to track down and apprehend a major drug kingpin. Hugo Ng's prime at TVB was during the late 80s and early 90s where he starred in martial arts dramas such as The Jade Fox and The Black Sabre. Thorson's action was the most athletic and energetic she'd run around the sets with dramatized movements, crash through windows and wooden doors, and drop bad guys with neck chops and finger thrusts. WMAC Masters is an American live-action television show produced by Norman Grossfeld featuring choreographed martial arts fights. Almost every fight, it feels like Baki is about to lose. Banshee brought the blood, bullets, and a surprising amount of heart to a small Pennsylvania town. These soldiers, called clippers, are trained in the martial arts to become expert warriors on behalf of the Barons. Finally, the grand masters set aside their differences and formed a governing body, The W For centuries, each of the various martial arts disciplines declared its techniques superior to those of the competing combat arts. Unluckily for her, Yawara often dips into obstacles in her everyday life that force her to use her hidden talent. Natsuki Hanae, I will say while I enjoyed the show, it did have a problem with mid characters. The shows comedic elements stem from the absurd juxtapositions between his real life encounters as a spy and the borderline unrealistic situations that occur in most action films! I will say that in watching it, youll notice a similar progression toLucha Undergroundwhere contenders had to turn in their Gift of the Gods title for a shot at the Lucha Underground Championship. and feature Jackie Chan but that fell through. | These techniques can have varied applications such as self-defense, psychological health or advanced use of weaponry, amongst others. In season 2, Shannon Lee was no longer the host, and the show focused more on fantasy and less on real-life issues. Truly one of the best fighting/action shows of this past century. Bear Costume Guy $8 (not many) 16. | Trivia:Spy Game served as the springboard for some of today's top talent, including Mike Gunther, who works as a stunt coordinator, writer and producer; and Chad Stahelski, who taught jeet kune do at the Inosanto Academy before becoming a stuntman, actor and director. Mayo Suzukaze, Kevin Michael Richardson, It's also a show about friendship and courage as the characters go through a journey that breathes life back into the decades-old franchise. One such clipper, Sunny, takes a young teen named M.K. Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, TV-MA But there existed no forum in which to prove these claims. Black Belt Plus+ is HERE, Top 20 Martial Arts Actors of All Time - Black Belt Magazine , The Martial Arts of Marvel's Daredevil TV Series, Part 2 - Black Belt , Remembering David Carradine, Star of the Kung Fu TV Series , Jim Kelly Flashback: Exclusive Interview With the Karate Superstar - Black Belt Magazine , Lance Krall - The Return - Black Belt Magazine , Vettori Wins Bruising Over the Weight Battle at UFC Fight Night 196 - Black Belt Magazine , Grand Master J.Pat Burleson Has Passed Away - Black Belt Magazine , The Martial Arts of Marvels Daredevil TV Series, Part 2 - Black Belt Magazine , The Martial Artists Guide to Watching Muay Thai - Black Belt Magazine , Prime Video Announces Multi-Year Agreement with ONE Championship - Black Belt Magazine , The Apprentice ONE Championship Edition Arrives On Prime - Black Belt Magazine , 4 Martial Arts Shows to Binge-Watch During the Holiday Break , 10 Best Martial Arts Films & Shows on Netflix in 2019 , Best Martial Arts TV Shows Streaming Online | Reelgood , Martial Arts Podcast - Black Belt Magazine, The First American Female Martial Arts Movie Star. starts off mid, picks things up around seasons three and four before petering out midway through season five which was meant to be the final season. Cobra Kai doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon either, as its set to premiere its fifth season later this year. Cobra Kai isn't just about karate and nostalgia. In between, he could be seen wielding Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese and medieval European weapons. Unfortunately, America wasn't quite ready for an Asian lead or at least Hollywood didn't think so. 1 show in the country. Over the next three years, she becomes a master of combat and Shaolin techniques but is forced to return to San Francisco when her mentor is killed by a rogue warrior. He becomes the last of the eponymous Wu Assassins imbued with increased agility, physical strength, amplified martial arts skills, and the ability to change his appearance. 76/100. While most famous for his roles in Married with Children and Modern Family, where he plays the quintessential "dad" role, Ed O'Neill is actually a highly-skilled martial artist. Dramacool is a popular streaming platform among movie buffs who like watching Asian dramas, films, and shows. From Dragon Ball to Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Kai, you get a saga featuring insane fights. And if the hero had to fight four or five adversaries, the baddies attacked together, not one at a time like they do in most movies and TV shows. This series of action sequences would be nothing without its spiritual and emotional core as the storytelling tackles heavy themes on morality and justice, as well as the emotional connections of a hero. Alexandre Crepet, When pistols are fired there are no movement of the weapons slides. P.J. | Stars: Animation, Action, Crime. Animation, Action, Comedy. Frank Welker, Trivia:Martial Law lasted just 44 episodes apparently, the star and the second-season producers didn't see eye to eye. Stars: Christopher Sabat, Stars: Simpson's murder trial, President Bill Clinton's infidelity with a White House intern, and. Balsa Yonsa, with her trusty spear, is one of the most fearsome female characters in all of anime. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023, All Rights Reserved | tvshowpilot.com, The 12 Best Live-Action TV Shows About Martial Arts. Stars: It was initially planned for the series to be set in Las Vegas, at a fictional themed hotel/casino where the Masters trained and competed for high stakes. Knight SOLD 5. Corey Burton, But its undoubtedly a martial arts anime through and through. Names like Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris and Jet Li were recognized, but there were hundreds of famous martial arts stars who shined a bit dimmer. Joan Chen, You could argue Guts has become OP and less realistic. Its an adaptation of a Baku Yumemakura novel. Here are 25 of the favorite shows of '90s kids.