Unskilled but Strong: Difference between revisions

Compare [[Skilled but Naive]]. Contrast [[Weak but Skilled]]. Often pursues a [[Bigger Stick]]. Can also overlap with [[Brilliant but Lazy]], or [[Incompletely Trained]] (or both). This character is often the Goliath in [[David Versus Goliath]]. Characters with explicitly superhuman abilities can have this cured with [[Boxing Lessons for Superman]]. If they never get formal training, they may instead be [[Taught By Experience]].

== Anime & Manga ==

** Kaidoh Kaoru fits to a lesser extent. While he is a strong tennis player, most of his techniques merely revolve around variations of his signature technique "Snake" (until the nationals arc, he possessed only two; the rest were developed through Inui's guidance). However, [[Determinator|he is extremely tenacious]], able to hold his own against the much more skilled and violent Kirihara.

* In ''[[Durarara]]'', Shizuo Heiwajima's typical fighting style is described as the real-life equivelent of [[Button Mashing]]. Given that he can bench-press a van and deflect or occasionally break a blade on his skin, this is just about all he needs.

* ''[[Ikki Tousen]]'s'' Hakufu Sonsaku is considered to be the worst fighter of Kanto. Despite that, she's also the strongest of the fighters and has rarely ever been defeated. She's even the leader of Nanyo Academy.

* Gao of ''[[Eyeshield 21]]'' only started playing football that season, yet he's already one of the best linemen in Japan. Why? Because he can bench press 440+ pounds and flings opponents away like nothing. People even nickname him things like "caveman", "dinosaur", "monster", and "muscle brains." His lack of technique, however, is a conscious choice since he wants to find someone who equals him in strength. When he finally does meet someone who overpowers him, he quickly starts improving on technique.

** Katou also applies. Despite his lack of real training, he wins through brute strength, [[Combat Pragmatist|fighting dirty]] and drug-taking that makes him [[Feel No Pain]]. {{spoiler|He gets utterly destroyed later on when a MMA exponent decides to get serious.}}

* Noted by Touma during his first fight with Accelerator in ''[[To Aru Majutsu no Index]]''. Accelerator's powers are among the most powerful in the series, but is at a bit of a loss when he can't just [[Curb Stomp Battle|curb stomp]] Touma like he has all his previous opponents.

** Touma himself is tough as nails and an experienced street fighter, but he gets his ass handed to him when he faces trained martial artists like Kaori and Motoharu.

** Another major villain, {{spoiler|Fiamma of the Right}} is obscenely powerful but, like Accelerator, is at a loss when he can't simply win with a [[Curb Stomp Battle]]. One of his comrades, however, {{spoiler|Acqua of the Back}}, is very much strong ''and'' skilled.

** To a degree, Shishio's [[The Dragon|Dragon]] Soujirou is this. He's stated to have talent that at the very least, equals Kenshin. However, his strategy basically boils down to relying on his superior speed to overwhelm Kenshin.

* Most of the Homunculi of ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist (Manga)|Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' (with the exception of master swordsman Wrath) seem to rely on their regenerative abilities and special powers far more than their fighting skills:

** Gluttony possesses decent physical strength {{spoiler|and an ability to fire a giant beam which sucks up everything it touches}}, but spends most of his time getting pounded on by the heroes.

** Greed, admittedly not a ''poor'' fighter, can harden his body to make himself impervious to attack, but he tends to fare poorly against opponents who can counter his ability, such as Ed, who {{spoiler|uses alchemy to convert his armor into charcoal}}. This is later used by Greed himself against {{spoiler|Father in a [[Chekhov's Gun]] moment}}.

* While [[Irredeemable|The Plutonian]] often shows himself to be very intelligent and more then able to outwit his foes, when finally forced into combat with someone on his level of power he gets his ass kicked as he never needed to learn to fight.

* The Juggernaut in ''[[X Men]]''

* ''[[The Mighty]]'' has Alpha One who wasn't used to fighting others with his power level and just used his power.

* Psylocke in ''[[X Men]]'' after she becomes telekinetic; she can level mountains, but literally lacks the finesse to pick up a dime. Later, Hellion of the New X-men is shown to be similarly strong but unskilled in the use of his telekinesis.

== Live Action TV ==

* Season 1 and 2 of ''[[Heroes (TV)|Heroes]]'' has Peter Petrelli and Hiro Nakamura, the former a huge catalogue of power but wildly inept in use of them (at least until his power gets seriously downgraded and he starts using his head), the latter a manchild "master of time and space".

** Glorificus/Glory, a powerful yet bratty [[Physical God]] that could tear apart buildings with her bare hands, but when Buffy used a weapon that could actually hurt her she was swiftly trashed.

** In the 6th season the otherwise physically unremarkable Warren Mears temporarily became this thanks to some [[Applied Phlebotinum]]. In a fight with Buffy the far more skilled Slayer got in several punches and kicks to every blow Warren landed on her - but while he shrugged off her hits almost at once Buffy felt every one of his and was visibly tiring before she was able to destroy the source of his power.

* ''[[The Order of the Stick (Webcomic)|The Order of the Stick]]'': Xykon doesn't have the refined techniques of a wizard, and quite frankly doesn't ''want'' it. In his own words, the only two things a person needs are "Force in as great a concentration as you can manage, and style. And in a pinch, style can slide." However, you don't get to epic levels without a ton of practice.

** It's also worth noting that Xykon is also ''dangerously'' clever and full of nasty tricks. That [[Unskilled but Strong]] behavior isn't actually a lack of skill, it's Xykon being ''lazy''.

* Bob the Beholder in ''[[Yet Another Fantasy Gamer Comic]]'' isn't terribly bright and lacks finesse. He succeeds at his tasks in spite of this because he's... [[Eye Beams|well, a beholder.]]

* Subverted in ''[[Spinnerette]]'', where the titular hero's [[Super Strength|spider strength]] is no match for a black belt in aikido.

== Web Original ==

{{quote| "OH GOD! Is this pain?! I think this is what pain feels like! MOMMY! SOMEONE MATERNAL!"}}

* Gustave and Alfred from ''[[Darwins Soldiers]]'' are both [[Funny Animal|Funny Animals]] (Nile crocodile and American bison, respectively) with [[Super Strength]]. Neither of them is a trained martial artist so their fighting style consists of "beat the opponent with anything handy until they stop moving".

{{quote| '''Katara:''' She's strong. <br />

'''Other Master:''' She lacks restraint. }}

{{reflist}}