Fighting Series

A Fighting Series, as its name suggests, is one that places a lot of emphasis on fighting. Different fighting styles and learning new moves and abilities are a major part of the plot. There will be lots of emphasis on training, technique, and practice. The main character often, but does not always, want to become the best fighter in the world; whether he does or not, he usually is by the end. Common in Chinese movies from the 1970s and ubiquitous in Shonen anime/manga.

Note that simply having a lot of fighting does not mean that a show is a Fighting Series - in order to qualify, the fighting has to be integral to the plot, rather than a means to an end.

See Fighting Game for the Video Game equivalent. Should not be confused with Dueling Shows

Tropes common to this genre include:


 * Arrogant Kung Fu Guy
 * Dangerous Forbidden Technique
 * Determinator
 * Kung Fu Kid
 * My Kung Fu Is Stronger Than Yours
 * The Rival
 * Rule of Cool
 * Sorting Algorithm of Evil
 * Spirited Competitor
 * Time to Unlock More True Potential
 * To Be a Master
 * Tournament Arc
 * Training From Hell

Anime

 * Airmaster
 * Baki the Grappler
 * Bleach
 * Dragonball
 * Fist of the North Star, which launched the entire Shonen fighting genre.
 * G Gundam combines this concept with Humongous Mecha.
 * Hajime no Ippo-Although it leans more towards to Gaming and Sports Anime And Manga, the series showcases many of the tropes commonly found in Fighting Series. The fact that it is focused on boxing helps.
 * Kenichi the Mightiest Disciple
 * Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Vi Vid combines this with Magical Girl.
 * Mahou Sensei Negima, combined with the Harem Genre.
 * Master of Martial Hearts
 * Naruto
 * Pokémon
 * Saint Seiya
 * Samurai Girl: Real Bout High School
 * Taboo Tattoo
 * Yu-Gi-Oh, especially before the Card Games appeared; in fact, the original concept was that of "a fighting series where the main character never throws a punch."
 * Yu Yu Hakusho

Film

 * Fist of Fury
 * The Karate Kid
 * Legend of a Fighter, and in fact almost anything Bruce Lee appeared in.
 * The Rocky movies
 * Snake in the Eagle's Shadow

Live Action TV

 * Kung Fu
 * Mortal Kombat Conquest
 * ''Tokusatsu
 * Super Sentai
 * Power Rangers
 * Kamen Rider
 * Metal Heroes
 * Ultraman

Video Games

 * Asura's Wrath is influenced by these types of series in japan, with the idea that's it's an Interactive version of this type of Anime series. It works.

Western Animation

 * Xiaolin Showdown