As the son of Hanma Yuujiro, Hanma Baki trains intensely every day in order to finally beat and surpass his father. However, at this very moment, five of the world’s most dangerous and deadly criminals are breaking out of jail. They all seek out one thing – Baki. They all crave the taste of defeat and hope Baki can grant it to them. However, in this dangerous fight, Baki is not alone.
Bursting with muscle, violence, and general machismo, Baki is a battle anime for the testosterone-filled. If you are looking for something equally as vicious, then head on down below.
Anime Like Baki
For Fans of Underground Fighting
Kengan Ashura
While many business deals are settled through contracts and meetings in the boardroom, since ancient times, many merchants in Japan have had another way to settle business disputes – Kengan matches. In the underground merchant world of Kengan Ashura, businesses ranging from smaller shops to mega-corporations settle disputes and make business deals through gladiatorial bare-handed fights in the arena. However, the competitors aren’t the the businessmen, but rather a series of proxy warriors. Every business scouts powerful fighters to field in Kengan matches in hopes of claiming profitable victories. Tokita Ouma is one such prospective Kengan fighter. Recruited by the CEO of the Nogi Group, he hopes the attraction of strong fighters to Kengan matches will eventually lead him to the fighter he seeks to conquer in order to fully call himself the strongest.
If there is one series most like Baki, it is this one. The plot is basically just “fight!” and that’s it. The rest of the series is just well-muscled men beating each other bloody, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Tenjo Tenge
A new school can mean a fresh new start. For Nagi and Bob, their new start means a new school to take over. However, this one will be a tough one. Touhou Academy is no ordinary school, but one that was created for the sole purpose of reviving the martial arts in Japan. This means every student is a rival to stand in their way.
While set in a high school, Tenjo Tenge is as much a battler as Baki is. The fights are often spontaneous and brutal. Of course, less brutal then they are in Baki.
Megalo Box
Megalo Box is an underground sport in which fighters utilize mechanical limbs that augment the power of the fighters. Junk Dog, despite big potential, needs money and makes it by throwing matches. However, after he is defeated by a champion in disguise, he is presented with a challenge to fight his way up to fighting him again.
While Megalo Box is a little more structured and “legal” with its fights, they are still somewhat underground. Unlike Baki that depends on pure muscle, Megalo Box is augmented fighting. This adds a little more explanation to the ridiculous and really allows the violence to amp up.
For Fans of Furious Muscle
Fist of the North Star
After being betrayed and left for dead, martial arts master Kenshiro now wanders the post-apocalyptic world looking for his rival Shin, the man that kidnapped his fiancee, Yuria. Trained in the Hokuto Shinken school of martial arts, Kenshiro uses his martial skills to defend the weak from those that roam the wasteland. As new challenges and even stronger enemies continue to present themselves, Kenshiro puts all his skills to the test in order to bring Shin and his disciples in the Nanto Seiken school of marital arts to justice and get back his beloved.
If you watch the original Baki the Grappler, you will see some more similarities here, but it is still applicable. Both shows are what one might describe as ultra-violent, but also about martial arts.
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
In 1868, Dario Brando saves the life of English nobleman George Joestar. When Dario dies, George hopes to repay the favor by taking in his son Dio. Unfortunately, Dio wants the Joestar household for his own and tries to take it with the help of an Aztec stone mask with supernatural powers. This triggers a chain of events that will affect the Joestar house for generations to come.
Jojo has a bit of a legendary weirdness to it, but like Baki, everyone has bodies chiseled from marble. Both shows know their muscular men and show them off well. Unfortunately, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure moves past martial arts and onto Stands by the third part.
Hajime no Ippo
Makunouchi Ippo has been bullied his entire life, but dreams of changing himself. One day, he is saved by Takamura Mamoru, who happens to be a boxer. After Ippo faints from his injuries, Mamoru takes him to his gym where Ippo asks to be trained in the sport of boxing.
Any show about martial arts immediately sets an expectation for well muscled fighters. Both shows deliver on that, but think of Hajime no Ippo as the more shounen and less vicious option. The fights are still plenty good, but less bloody.
For Fans of Small But Tough
Hinomaru Sumo
Ushio Hinomaru is a new student, small of stature and body. However, he appears before the sumo club of his school and wishes to join. Although all the other members are big men, the sumo club is hardly renowned. However, this little sumo wrestler has a goal – the Hinoshita Kaisan, the pinnacle of sumo wrestling.
Like Baki, Hinomaru has a small but muscular main character that is determined to fight. While Sumo is still dripping with machismo, it isn’t as violent as Baki can be. Yet, it is the characters that really carry this particular show.
The Mightiest Disciple Kenichi
After years of reading self-improvement books, “weak legs” Kenichi finally works up the courage to join the karate club. Unfortunately, his school bully challenges him, intent on literally kicking him out. While all hope seemed lost, new classmate Miu invites him to her dojo for training. While he was able to defeat the bully, his new strength attracted the attention of a powerful group of students, and in order to overcome them, he must train in many martial arts styles.
Baki uses whatever martial art is brutal enough to do the most damage. Kenichi is similar, but really he uses the martial art that is good enough to counter his opponent. Both are fighting anime series, but Baki is brute force while Kenichi more more strategic fighting.
Time of Shura
The legends tell of a bare first martial arts style called Mutsu Enmei-Ryu. It is said to be able to disarm any opponent. This is the tale of three generations of Mutsu users and their struggles.
Both series focus on hand to hand combat and have a sort of generationality to them. However, where Baki is serious and violent, Shura is a little more shounen and upbeat.
Do you have more anime recommendations like Baki? Let fans know in the comments section below.
