Baki the Grappler

Baki Hanma is a young fighter who yearns to follow in the footsteps of his father, Yujiro, and become the strongest fighter in the world. Through that he trains tirelessly and fights constantly to hone his skills and develop his body to achieve these goals. Many intense battles lay ahead of Baki as he goes about his quest to be the best and ultimately take the title of "King" from his father.

AnimationAction & AdventureDrama

Seasons

1. Stirrings of Destiny

Air Date: 2001-01-08

Baki Hanma fights a gang of 100 thugs; afterward, he is walked home by Detective Kido and his partner, who watched the fight. Baki then trains and thinks about what he should do to get stronger. Meanwhile, Kuriyagawa, the man who hired the thugs to fight Baki in order to test his strength, pays the gang's leader. Also, Baki watches a sparring match between Yuri Chakovsky, the international welterweight boxing champion, and Dinoy, Thailand's Muay Thai champion.

2. Those Who Squirm

Air Date: 2001-01-15

Baki spars with Yuri. Meanwhile, Kuriyagawa meets with Kaoru Hanayama, a gangster and renowned brawler, to set up a fight with Baki.

3. The Beast of Yasha Crag

Air Date: 2001-01-22

Baki meets his friend Reiichi Ando in the woods and stays with him. While there, Baki adopts some of Ando's training techniques, and he camps alone on Yasha Rock, hoping to fight with the Yasha Ape.

4. The Fang and the Tears

Air Date: 2001-01-29

Baki Hanma fights a rematch with the Yasha Ape. After very hard fight, Baki eventually defeat the giant monster. Later he and Yasha Ape becomes a friends and Yasha Ape gives Baki his fang.

5. A Warrior's Heart

Air Date: 2001-02-05

After returning home, Baki learns that Yuri will be fighting for the heavyweight title, so he visits Yuri at his gym. Meanwhile, Kuriyagawa tells Hanayama that he can't fight Baki until Baki has fought Yuri, but Hanayama has other plans. Before Yuri's title fight, he is attacked by Hanayama who defeats him and destroys his hand.

6. Spirit

Air Date: 2001-02-12

After being knocked down by Baki, Hanayama flies into a rage in his office. Afterward, he visits his sick mother in the hospital. Also, Baki visits Yuri and his sister, Nina in the hospital before his rematch with Hanayama.

7. Gripper

Air Date: 2001-02-19

Baki and Hanayama continue to fight, and Hanayama's tattoo is explained.

8. Demon

Air Date: 2001-02-26

Baki's father, Yujiro Hanma, shows up after Baki's fight with Kaoru Hanayama. After the story of how Yujiro met Baki's mother is told, Yujiro and Hanayama fight.

9. The Division

Air Date: 2001-03-05

Baki explains to his mother why he fights, visits Hanayama in the hospital, and trains. After a brief encounter with Yujiro, who killed the Yasha Ape, which made Baki angry since Yasha was Baki's friend after their fight, they decide that Baki and Yujiro will fight in one month. Baki then meets Captain Gerry Strydum, who tells him of a mercenary group in Hokkaido, and Baki decides to go there to defeat them.

10. Battlefield

Air Date: 2001-03-12

Captured by the mercenaries as soon as he parachutes in, Baki must free himself and fight his way out against Nomura's jungle warfare team (Copperhead, Kuraishi, and the Chiba twin brothers, Sanada and Chiba). Meanwhile, an old friend warns Strydum of Gaia's fighting ability.

11. Gaia

Air Date: 2001-03-19

Baki fights Gaia (an alter ego of Nomura).

12. Bite Marks

Air Date: 2001-03-26

Yujiro Hanma breaks into the Prime Minister's office to prove a point; Baki Hanma fights the swordsman Kurokawa; Yujiro forces the archer Kanemoto to shoot an arrow at him; Baki visits his mother after she is rejected by Yujiro.

13. The Midnight Hour

Air Date: 2001-04-02

All of Baki's friends show up to watch his fight with Yujiro and to help him warm up; meanwhile, Yujiro fights Gaia. Also, Hanayama opens up to Baki about his mother.

14. Lullaby

Air Date: 2001-04-09

Baki fights his own father, Yujiro.

15. Reflections

Air Date: 2001-04-16

A recap episode. Detective Kido reflects upon his experiences with Baki Hanma, and Hitoshi Kuriyagawa tells Kido about Baki's relationship with his mother and his fight with Yujiro.

16. Coming Home

Air Date: 2001-04-23

Antonio Igari, a pro wrestler, tells Mitsunari Tokugawa, an old man who runs an underground fighting circuit, about Baki Hanma and his recent global travels. In the narrative, Baki is seen training and fighting, and, while in Brazil, he visits a fighting master named Dickson. Learning of the circuit, Baki returns to Japan to meet with Tokugawa, and he fights Tokugawa's bodyguards to earn a chance to enter the circuit.

17. Champion

Air Date: 2001-04-30

Flash forward three years: Baki Hanma is now the champion of the underground arena. Mitsunari Tokugawa meets with Doppo Orochi, a great Shinshinkai karate fighter, and asks him to enter his son in the arena. Doppo finds Kiyosumi Katou, a former student, at his dojo beating up his fighters, and he introduces Katou to the arena. Baki trains for a fight at the boarding house where he is staying, where Kozue Matsumoto, the daughter of the woman who owns the house, has a crush on him.

18. The Cord-Cutter

Air Date: 2001-05-07

Baki Hanma fights Kousho Shinogi, a master of Cord-Cut Karate.

19. The Right To Fight

Air Date: 2001-05-14

Kiyosumi Katou spars with the fighters in Doppo Orochi's dojo; Kozue Matsumoto interferes with some bullies that are bothering Baki Hanma, which causes problems for her later; several fighters petition Mitsunari Tokugawa to be Baki's next opponent; Baki trains with Izou Motobe.

20. An Honorable Loss

Air Date: 2001-05-21

Baki fights Mount Toba, a professional wrestler.

21. An Unlikely Challenger

Air Date: 2001-05-28

Yujiro Hanma shows up after Baki's fight and knocks him out, and Doppo Orochi challenges Yujiro to a fight. After watching Doppo spar with his students, Baki spars with him. Yujiro starts a fight with a group of boxers at their gym, and he fights with Izou Motobe and Baki's next opponent is revealed.

22. Head On Collison!

Air Date: 2001-06-04

Dr. Shinogi Kureha reveals to his brother, Kousho Shinogi, the Cord-Cutter, why he is fighting Baki Hanma; Doppo Orochi and Yujiro Hanma fight.

23. Medical Miracle

Air Date: 2001-06-18

The fight between Doppo Orochi and Yujiro Hanma continues; after Dr. Shinogi Kureha performs a medical miracle, he demonstrates his physical abilities to the crowd; one of Kureha's former patients visits Baki.

24. The King's Ransom

Air Date: 2001-06-25

Baki fights Dr. Shinogi Kureha.

1. The Opening

Air Date: 2001-07-23

Mitsunari Tokugawa announces his plans for a world martial arts tournament, and fighters from around the world gather for it. In the first fight of round one in the A-Block, Baki Hanma fights Artemis Regan, a professional wrestler; in the second fight of round one in the A-Block, Vale Tudo master Zulu fights Muay Thai master Dentoranee Jitpika.

2. Reverse

Air Date: 2001-07-30

In the third A-Block match of round one, heavyweight kickboxing champion Rob Robinson takes on the professional wrestler Anton Igari; in the fourth A-Block match of round one, Motobe Izo fights the grand sumo Kinryuzan; in the first B-Block match of round one, the Sambo master Sergei Taktaroff fights Retsu Kaio, a master of Chinese Kenpo; in the second B-Block match of round one, Kato fights the son of the Yasha Ape.

3. Darkness from Light

Air Date: 2001-08-06

Baki saves the Yasha Ape's son from Katsumi; in the third B-Block match of round one, Hanayama fights the Japanese Kenpo master Inagi Bunnoshin; in the fourth B-Block match of round one, Roland Gustaf, a catch-as-catch-can wrestler, fights Orochi Katsumi.

4. The King Returns

Air Date: 2001-08-13

Yujiro arrives and enters his protégé Amanai Yu in the tournament; in the first C-Block match of round one, heavyweight boxing world champion Ian McGregor fights Taekwondo master Li Moko; in the second C-Block match of round one, biker gang leader Shiba Chiharu fights judo master Hatanaka Kohei; in the third C-Block match of round one, Shorinji Kenpo master Misaki Kengo fights pro wrestler Mike Queen.

5. User

Air Date: 2001-08-20

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu master Sergio Silva faces pit-fighter Jack Hammer in the fourth C-Block match of round one; Yujiro tries to fight Hammer, but Baki intervenes; shoot wrestler Yamamoto Minoru faces Amanai Yu in the first D-Block match of round one.

6. The Tigerslayer Returns

Air Date: 2001-08-27

Richard Filth, a bouncer, faces Orochi Doppo in the second D-Block match of round one; Roger Harlon, an amateur wrestler, faces the jujutsu master Shibukawa Goki in the third D-Block match of round one; Shinogi Kureha faces Shinogi Kousho in the fourth D-Block match of round one.

7. Fighting the Past

Air Date: 2001-09-03

The fourth D-Block match of round one continues as Shinogi Kureha and Shinogi Kousho continue to fight; Baki faces Zulu in the first A-Block match of round two.

8. Eras End

Air Date: 2001-09-10

In the second A-Block match of round two, Igari faces Kinryuzan; in the first B-Block match of round two, Retsu Kaio faces Mount Toba.

9. Measure of a Man

Air Date: 2001-09-17

In the second B-Block match of round two, Hanayama faces Orochi Katsumi.

10. Robe of Death

Air Date: 2001-09-24

In the first C-Block match of round two, Shiba Chiharu faces Ian McGregor.

11. The Chained Patriot

Air Date: 2001-10-01

Andreanof Garland, the last reserver, is introduced when it is deemed that Shiba is in no condition to fight in the next round; in the second C-Block match of round two, Jack Hammer faces Misaki Kengo.

12. Survivor

Air Date: 2001-10-08

In the first D-Block match of round two, Doppo faces Amanai Yu; Baki takes Kozue to the site of his mother's death.

13. Misdirection

Air Date: 2001-10-15

Yujiro fights against all of the tournament losers; in the second D-Block match of round two, Shibukawa Goki faces Shinogi Kousho.

14. Deception

Air Date: 2001-10-22

Igari begs Baki to let him win, and they fight in the first match of the quarter-finals.

15. The Ace and the Serpent

Air Date: 2001-10-29

In the second fight of the quarter-finals, Katsumi faces Retsu Kaio; Andreanof Garland fights an anaconda to make things fair, since he hasn't fought in the tournament yet, and then he faces Jack Hammer in the third fight of the quarter-finals.

16. How to Build a Better Monster

Air Date: 2001-11-05

Andreanof Garland and Jack Hammer continue to fight in the third match of the quarter-finals. Also, Hammer's training history is revealed.

17. Doppo vs Shibukawa

Air Date: 2001-11-12

Shibukawa Goki faces Doppo in the fourth match of the quarter-finals.

18. Warriors Legacy

Air Date: 2001-11-19

Baki fights Retsu Kaio in the first match of the semi-finals.

19. Monster

Air Date: 2001-11-26

In the second match of the semi-finals, Shibukawa Goki faces Jack Hammer.

20. The Finals

Air Date: 2001-12-03

Baki and Jack Hammer think about the training and hardships they've endured to reach their current level of ability.

21. Blood Battle

Air Date: 2001-12-10

Baki faces Jack Hammer in the final match of the tournament. Also, in flashback Yujiro meets Jack's mother in Vietnam.

22. Soldiers Misfortune

Air Date: 2001-12-17

Baki and Jack Hammer continue to fight in the final match. In flashback to Vietnam, Yujiro breaks into an American base and terrorizes the soldiers; later, Jack is born.

23. Final Strike

Air Date: 2001-12-24

Baki and Jack Hammer continue to fight in the finals as Jack's body breaks down.

24. Rencounter

Air Date: 2001-12-24

In flashback, the United States government sends its special forces to South America to kill a young Yujiro.

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Rating

7.9/10

Release Date

2001-01-08

Episodes

48 (2 seasons)

Status

Ended

Cast

Production Companies

Group TAC