History Main / BadassArmFold

* ''Webcomic/BasicInstructions:'' Though most of the comic's run, resident superhero Rocket Hat silently appears in the [[LazyArtist same]] not-very-heroic pose with all of his [[ComicallyInvincibleHero effortless beatdowns]] of the Moon Men's Emperor occuring [[OffscreenMomentOfAwesome off-camera]]. Toward the end, he finally adapts this trope's pose.

* Kirino's pose on the cover of the first volume of ''LightNovel/{{Oreimo}}'' is more [[{{Tsundere}} tsun-tsun]] than badass, but it's enough to undergo MemeticMutation as seen [[http://danbooru.donmai.us/post?tags=can%27t_be_this_cute&searchDefault=Search here]] ({{N|otSafeForWork}}SFW).

* All three {{Team Shot}}s in the first three anime season openings feature [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Zelgadis]] of ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'' doing this.

* Treecko/Grovyle/Sceptile does this often in the ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' anime (and man is it badass).

** Ash's Infernape can be seen in this pose while taking a picture with Ash and the rest of his Pokémon at the end of Best Wishes.

** Kurtis is doing one in his ''Disgaea 3'' and 4 character portrait, and in his cut-in portraits starting from 2. Despite being a [[EverythingsBetterWithPenguins Prinny]], it's still effective.

* ''VideoGame/AsurasWrath'' has a few characters that do this, like Yasha, Augus, and Asura himself. Asura even does this when in outer space , very similar to [[Anime/DieBuster Nono]] and even does it on the tip of his personal flagship similar to The [[Anime/GunBuster Original gunbuster]].

See also ReverseArmFold and DynamicAkimbo. Sometimes combined with DramaticHighPerching. Often leads to RebelRelaxation, but this [[SisterTrope is when they aren't leaning]]. Among {{Anime}} fans, this is known as the "Gainax Pose" because so many badass Gainax characters used it (including the page image).

* In ''VideoGame/{{Rift}}'', this is the default idle pose for a [[TheBigGuy male bahmi character]] on a {{t|urtlePower}}artagon mount.

* The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has this on [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volodymyr_Zelenskyy his page]] on [[Wiki/{{Wikipedia}} The Other Wiki]].

* The FinalBoss of ''VideoGame/{{Splatoon}}'''s single-player mode, being an octopus, keeps two of his arms folded while using another pair to operate his HumongousMecha-slash-[[InstrumentOfMurder turntable]].

** Doctor Doom has this as his idle pose in ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3: Fate of Two Worlds'' along with his [[BadassLongcoat signature cape]]. And it is awesome.

* Ryu from ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' gives us the classic 'wind blowing' win pose, which involves this. M. Bison is also fond of this pose, as is Sagat.

** Every {{Expy}} of Kaiba.

* ''Manga/SaintSeiya'': Taurus Aldebaran in the original series and the ''Manga/SaintSeiyaTheLostCanvas'' spin-off. He even [[UpToEleven fights multiple opponents (and wins!) in this position]].

** [[spoiler:Cranked UpToEleven in the finale with the entire cast pulling this as Simon saves Nia from the Anti-Spiral. Then in the second movie: this is the pose first assumed by the Super Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (a HumongousMecha just over half the size of the universe) in the film's climax.]]

See also ReverseArmFold and DynamicAkimbo. Sometimes combined with IHaveTheHighGround. Often leads to RebelRelaxation, but this [[SisterTrope is when they aren't leaning]]. Among {{Anime}} fans, this is known as the "Gainax Pose" because so many badass Gainax characters used it (including the page image).

* Nod on the cast poster for ''WesternAnimation/{{Epic}}''.

* In ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' this is [[PoliticalCorrectnessGoneMad PC]] [[JerkJock Principal]]'s default stance, when he's not beating up politically incorrect people (or [[AIIsACrapshoot sentient Advertisements]]), or ranting about Social Justice.

* The Batman's first in-story appearance (Detective #27) had him on a rooftop with this pose confronting baddies in the middle of a break-in. One of the most luminary first entrances in comic fiction.

* Robin and Cyborg from ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' do this from time to time.

* The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has this on [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volodymyr_Zelenskyy his page]] on TheOtherWiki.

* ''ComicBook/TheMightyThor'' does this (or something very similar) when he is facing down [[Comicbook/IronMan Tony Stark]] on the subject of Ragnarok ([[FanNickname aka Clor]]) and the superhuman registration act. Tony wildly underestimates how powerful Thor actually is, and hits him with the full power of his repulsors when Thor refuses to play ball. When the dust clears, Thor is shown unharmed, and a mix of angry and disappointed with Tony. He then proceeds to beat the crap out of Tony while chiding him for not acting as a friend should.

* In the old Creator/DataEast medieval-themed wrestling/fighting game ''VideoGame/MutantFighter'' (aka ''Death [[{{Engrish}} Brade]]''), This was Pazuzu the Demon's default pose. He even did it while performing his super attack.

** Many rival characters are very prone of this. Namely, Tenshinhan, Piccolo, Vegeta, Hit and Jiren. All of them are also very serious dudes.

** ''Anime/MazingerZ'': Kouji Kabuto sometimes does this. A good example in an episode in which Mazinger-Z is nearly completely depleted from energy during a battle, the control deck is smoking and giving off sparks due to the strain, the weapons don't work, Prof. Yumi is ordering--''repeatedly''--for Kouji to retreat because he'll die otherwise... and Kouji simply folds his arms across his chest as he calmly waits for one chance to blast the Beast down! It is hard to convey how badass he seemed right then.

* Volfogg is prone to this in ''Anime/GaoGaiGar''. Considering he's a [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot ninja policecar robot]], well, it's certainly justified. His VA then went on to do [[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann Kamina]].
* ''Manga/GetterRobo'': This pose is THE signature pose of Getter Dragon, the first HumongousMecha to use it.

* The title mecha of ''Anime/GunBuster'' is famous for it. ''Anime/GunBuster'' is associated with this trope enough that anime fans tend to refer to it, when combined with the proper leg positioning and facing forward, as the Gunbuster Pose. Which is a case of ParodyDisplacement. Gunbuster is a mish-mash of references to ''Kamen Rider'' and other {{super robot|Genre}}s, with that pose being a nod to the signature pose of ''[[Manga/GetterRobo Getter Dragon]]''.

* In ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'', a variation of this (legs almost closed and leaning back a fair bit, because the standard pose is clearly not fabulous enough) is Dio Brando's signature pose.
* In ''Franchise/SailorMoon'', Tuxedo Mask often does this as he delivers his pre-battle speeches. Makoto and Rei also demonstrate this.
* Izumi and Sig Curtis from ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist.''
** Ed does it a few times when he's sulking, but he's still just as badass as the others.
** Special mention goes to Greed/Ling (Greed being dominant) while he descents slowly in the elevator of the government's central building; about to destroy the Amestris' soldiers below.
* Treecko/Grovyle/Sceptile does this often in the ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' anime (and man is it badass).
** Ash's Buizel has this, no matter if it's serious or relaxed.
** Ash's Infernape can be seen in this pose while taking a picture with Ash and the rest of his Pokémon at the end of Best Wishes.
** This is pretty much the default pose (and cover image) of Ash's Greninja whether he's in battle or not or if he's transformed into [[SuperMode Ash-Greninja]], though when he drops this pose, this lets one know [[LetsGetDangerous things are about to hit the fan]].
** When she learns Surf in [=SM099=], Lana's Popplio has one while she and Nagisa are riding on it.
** In ''Manga/PokemonAdventures'', all of Chuck's Pokemon (And Chuck himself) do this, even while fighting. They're quite badass too.
%% * In ''Anime/DigimonDataSquad'': Commander Sampson
* Two more Words: [[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam Master Asia]]. And the ''actual'' King of Hearts that appeared [[spoiler: as part of the ''[[HeartBeatdown Sekhia Love-Love Tenkyoken]]'']] in the finale. Who cares what it was, it rocked all the same.
* ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'':
** [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Voltaire]] of has a tendency to do this, as shown during the final mission in ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers''. Considering its [[{{Kaiju}} size]] and black color scheme, maybe it's a subtle ''Gunbuster'' reference?
** Dearche, the LargeHam leader of the Dark Materials in ''Manga/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaInnocent'', does this pose so often that even the SuperDeformed computer-controlled avatar based on her does it when it's on standby.
* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' has a habit of doing this when he's feeling particularly confident, or after having accomplished a BigDamnHeroes moment.
** This is often Gaara's default position. Justified, as his absolute sand defense ''and'' sand armor prevent much of anything from touching him.
** [[spoiler:Madara in the Fourth Great Shinobi War also holds this as his default stance when he's not in combat. He also enters this when using his Susano'o, as he no longer ''needs'' to move his body at all to fight.]]
* Dynamis from ''[[Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi Negima!]]'' ''fights'' in that position. He still has [[MultiArmedAndDangerous two hands free]], though.

* All three {{Team Shot}}s in the first three anime season openings feature [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Zelgadis]] of ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'' doing this.
* {{Space Pirate|s}} ''Anime/CaptainHarlock'' does this from time to time, especially when he's behind the Arcadia's ship's wheel.
* ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'': In the manga, Ranma Saotome does this on a regular basis.
* Kirino's pose on the cover of the first volume of ''LightNovel/{{Oreimo}}'' is more [[{{Tsundere}} tsun-tsun]] than badass, but it's enough to undergo MemeticMutation as seen [[http://danbooru.donmai.us/post?tags=can%27t_be_this_cute&searchDefault=Search here]] ({{N|otSafeForWork}}SFW).
* ''Webcomic/OnePunchMan'': This is King's default pose in battle, and many fear what would happen if he ever ''uncrossed'' his arms. [[spoiler:He's actually standing like this because with his arms crossed, it's easier for him not to flip out and run away.]]
* ''Anime/SpacePatrolLuluco'': Luluco does this in episode 12 while standing on the bow of [[spoiler: her mother's CoolStarship]] in a clear ShoutOut to ''Anime/GunBuster''.
* ''Anime/AngelBeats'': Kanade Tachibana does this in episode 4 when she's wearing her baseball couch clothes.

* Several characters in the ''ComicBook/XWingRogueSquadron'' comics do this, including Wedge while pondering TheChainsOfCommanding.
* The Batman's first in-story appearance (Detective #27) had him on a rooftop with this pose confronting baddies in the middle of a break-in. One of the most luminary first entrances in comic fiction.

* ComicBook/BlackAdam uses this all the time. [[PunctuatedForEmphasis All. The. Time.]] Normally while hovering a few inches off the ground. Alexander Luthor one time called him on it, saying that his constant hovering was creeping people out.

* ''ComicBook/TheMightyThor'' does this (or something very similar) when he is facing down [[Comicbook/IronMan Tony Stark]] on the subject of Ragnarok ([[FanNickname aka Clor]]) and the superhuman registration act. Tony wildly underestimates how powerful Thor actually is, and hits him with the full power of his repulsors when Thor refuses to play ball. When the dust clears, Thor is shown unharmed, and a mix of angry and disappointed with Tony. He then proceeds to beat the crap out of Tony while chiding him for not acting as a friend should.
* Kate Kane does this fairly often, whether in uniform as ComicBook/{{Batwoman}} or not.
* If ComicBook/RichardDragon decides to interrupt someone with a smirk paired with an armfold they're about to have their day ruined if they're not smart enough to run or have some level of NighInvulnerability.
* Slight variation with ComicBook/{{Darkseid}}, as the Lord of Apokolips tends to fold his arms behind his back.

* Chernabog crosss his arms over his chest when he awakens in ''WesternAnimation/{{Fantasia}}''.

* Borf, the evil alien commander from ''VideoGame/SpaceAce'' does a Badass Arm-Fold ''and'' a CheshireCatGrin during his "You cannot win!" taunting of the player after the player makes a bad move.
* Ryu from ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' gives us the classic 'wind blowing' win pose, which involves this. M. Bison is also fond of this pose, as is Sagat.
* Kazuya Mishima from ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' likes folding his arms in front of him, whether it's opening sequence, or it's winning pose. He's been doing this since his debut.
* In ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear XX'', whenever Sol Badguy fights a certain people (e.g.: Dizzy, I-No, Slayer), he folds his arms and fire comes out around him. Justice loves doing these as well.

* Sonic, Knuckles and especially Shadow from the ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' series fold their arms on a regular basis.
* In ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'', Magus does this on the world map if the player waits too long.

* Yuffie in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII''.

* Bang Shishigami, the hot blooded Ninja turned superhero from ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'' does this.
* Hotsuma in the UsefulNotes/{{P|layStation2}}S2 ''[[VideoGame/Shinobi2002 Shinobi]]'' folds his arms when standing or walking. As does his successor, [[VideoGame/NightshadeKunoichi Hibana]].
* [[VideoGame/StarFox Falco]] in the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' games.
* Both Franziska von Karma and her father Manfred do this in the ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' series. As does [[VisualNovel/ApolloJusticeAceAttorney Apollo]].
* Commander Shepard in ''Franchise/MassEffect'' is rather prone to doing this. During [[VideoGame/MassEffect1 the first game]], they tend to switch to a ReverseArmFold when speaking to superior officers or the Council however.

* As mentioned earlier in the anime and manga section, Master Asia is fond of this, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioAAx0z_2jo as seen here in]] ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriorsGundam 2'' even Domon indulges in it.
* In the ''Franchise/TouhouProject'' fighting games, this is the neutral stance of Gensokyo's resident TimeMaster NinjaMaid, Sakuya. Considering she is a walking [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure Dio Brando]] reference, it makes sense. Amusingly, it's also the neutral stance of the [[CannonFodder fairy]] Cirno; no doubt an attempt to look stronger than she is.
* Legendary {{ninja}} Fuma Kotaro's default stance in ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara''. Takeda Shingen does it too, when he means business. And Date Masamune rides his horse with arms folded (not holding the reins).
* Kratos Aurion in ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'' does this quite often. Succeeding him in ''VideoGame/TalesOfXillia'' and ''VideoGame/TalesOfXillia2'' is Gaius, who's almost always doing this when he's idle. He even does it in battle while he's participating in Rowen's Dual Capriccio link arte (Which has him take a short ride atop a magically produced air glider). The rest of the cast [[LampshadeHanging lampshade]] this and one victory pose even has a few of them ''copying'' him while he looks on in bafflement.
** [[BadassNormal Yuri]] [[BreakoutCharacter Lowell]] from ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'' does this in a skit pose.
* Ansem (or [[spoiler:Xehanort's Heartless]]) has this as his battle pose in the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' series, mainly because he lets his Guardian Heartless do all the work. His previous persona Terra-Xehanort also had a badass arm-fold. To add they also both examples of PowerFloats.
* [[EvilTwin Liquid Snake]] did this a lot in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid''.
* It's ''[[VideoGame/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness Disgaea]]'''s very own main character's default pose. [[Characters/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness Laharl]] seems to be quite aware of its indication, as the trope description suits him really well.
** Kurtis is doing one in his ''Disgaea 3'' and 4 character portrait, and in his cut-in portraits starting from 2. Despite being a [[EverythingsBetterWithPenguins Prinny]], it's still effective.
* Duke's IdleAnimation in ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters Maximum Impact'' is to slowly fold his arms. He's an SNKBoss.

* As might be expected from the large number of badasses in the franchise, ''VideoGame/FistOfTheNorthStarKensRage'' has quite a few of its characters do this, especially after [[LimitBreak Musou attacks]]. Most notable is [[SpellMyNameWithAnS Souther/Thouzer]], whose Badass Arm Fold and EvilLaugh are both weaponized as part of his Nanto abilities.

* ''VideoGame/AsurasWrath'' has a few characters that do this, like Yasha, Augus, and Asura himself. Asura even does this when in outer space , very similar to [[Anime/DieBuster Nono]] and even does it on the tip of his personal flagship similar to The [[Anime/GunBuster Original gunbuster]].
* In ''VideoGame/BrainDead13'', Lance makes a pose like this in resurrection scenes [[spoiler:and in the final confrontation, showing that he is brave in the face of certain death]].
* Izanami default pose when fighting her first form in ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}''.

* The FinalBoss of ''VideoGame/{{Splatoon}}'''s single-player mode, being an octopus, keeps two of his arms folded while using another pair to operate his HumongousMecha-slash-[[InstrumentOfMurder turntable]].
* As her default mugshot sprite and non-battle IdleAnimation, [[VideoGame/TheLegendaryStarfy Snips]] tends to do this.
* This is VideoGame/{{Strider}} Hien's idle pose in ''[[VideoGame/StriderArcade Strider 2]]'', in contrast of Hiryu's battle-ready stance. Hiryu himself later borrows it as his idle pose in ''VideoGame/Strider2014''.
* A lot of characters do this in ''VideoGame/ProjectXZone'' but this is hilariously parodied in the sequel ''Brave New World'' where [[VideoGame/VirtuaFighter Kage Maru]] does this while Akira Yuuki is rowing the boat all by himself.
* ''Franchise/MortalKombat'''s [[http://mortalkombat.wikia.com/wiki/Kintaro/Gallery?file=Kintaro_%281%29.png Kintaro]] takes up this pose. This is also Stryker's winning pose in Mortal Kombat 3.
* In ''VideoGame/PerfectDark'', one of Trent Easton's bodyguards takes this pose as he accompanies him to a meeting in the G5 Building.
* In the old Creator/DataEast medieval-themed wrestling/fighting game ''VideoGame/MutantFighter'' (aka ''Death [[{{Engrish}} Brade]]''), This was Pazuzu the Demon's default pose. He even did it while performing his super attack.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}'', Grahf and his [[AMechByAnyOtherName Gear]] pose like this in almost every scene they appear. It reflects his immense power and confidence.
* ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield'' has Gigantamax Cinderace take this stance while standing atop its massive [[{{Fireballs}} Pyro Ball]]; the fact that the Pyro Ball has a face rapidly brings that scene from [[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann TTGL]] to mind.
* ''VideoGame/SoulSeries'': A few playable characters have a knack with this posture from [[GhostPirate Cervantes]] to [[PhysicalGod Algol]]. Special mention goes to [[HighlyVisibleNinja Taki]], as this has becoming one of her postures before battle. She is always seen with her arms folded in the Character Select screens for ''Soulcalibur II'' and ''Soulcalibur IV''.

* Kamina pulls one of these [[http://doublek.thewebcomic.com/comics/1359081/chapter-1-017/ while standing on a car full of whores]] in the early pages of ''Webcomic/DoubleK''. The author notes that he simply ''had'' to do it, since he never did in [[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann the main series]].
* ''Webcomic/BasicInstructions:'' Though most of the comic's run, resident superhero Rocket Hat silently appears in the [[LazyArtist same]] not-very-heroic pose with all of his [[ComicallyInvincibleHero effortless beatdowns]] of the Moon Men's Emperor occuring [[OffscreenMomentOfAwesome off-camera]]. Toward the end, he finally adapts this trope's pose.

* ''WebAnimation/{{Dreamscape}}'': Its Melissa's default pose, and reflects her arrogance.

* ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'': [[BrainwashedAndCrazy XANA-Wil]][[TheDragon liam]] does this in "Hot Shower", since even he doesn't need to do anything since XANA's plan is absolutely perfect. [[spoiler:Heck, [[GoneHorriblyRight too perfect]].]]

* The title mecha of ''Anime/GunBuster'' is famous for it. ''Anime/GunBuster'' is associated with this trope enough that anime fans tend to refer to it, when combined with the proper leg positioning and facing forward, as the Gunbuster Pose. Which is a case of the WeirdAlEffect. Gunbuster is a mish-mash of references to ''Kamen Rider'' and other {{super robot|Genre}}s, with that pose being a nod to the signature pose of ''[[Manga/GetterRobo Getter Dragon]]''.