History Main / BoxingLessonsForSuperman

* During ''ComicBook/PlanetHulk'', the ComicBook/IncredibleHulk becomes a gladiator on a planet with beings who approach him in sheer physical might, so he slowly but surely becomes a craftier fighter, using his strength in more ingenious ways instead of merely relying on it exclusively. The other Marvel "[[NiceJobBreakingItHero heroes]]" were in for a ''rude'' awakening during ''ComicBook/WorldWarHulk''.

* Bruce Banner in ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk'' is using Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lessons to help him control his rage issues, possibly even to induce and control the Hulk, as suggested by his {{Love Interest|s}}, Betty.

** ComicBook/{{Storm}} was taught by ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}, not only to fight but also how to use a gun. [[BroughtDownToNormal Good thing too.]]

* ''Fanfic/MyHeroPlaythrough'': All Might uses his access to TheGamer to invest skill points in boxing and dirty boxing. This leads to Harley and All for One discussing this trope. Except in universe they call it Karate Lessons for TheTick.

* ''Anime/SenkiZesshouSymphogear'''s Hibiki gains {{Magitek}} [[MagicalGirl Mahou Shoujo]] powers but not the {{Impossibly Cool Weapon}}s, flashy [[CallingYourAttacks Called Attacks]], and seemingly inherent fighting skills all the other girls have. Her powers just let her face the enemy with all the combat prowess of an ordinary middle-schooler [[spoiler:until her TrainingMontage with the resident BadassNormal puts her [[PowerFist unarmed combat]] on par with her {{BFG}}- and {{BFS}}-wielding counterparts]].

** Harry develops first a certain talent for PlayingWithFire, then vast PsychicPowers. However, since he's still a GlassCannon and said PsychicPowers are (until around chapter 70, and even then, he only really starts using them in earnest in chapter 74) worse than useless in combat - they're PsychoactivePowers and he's justifiably terrified of using them - he's taught how to fight too, picking up an eclectic mix of combat techniques from the Avengers, and a rigorous education in ''aikido'' from Sean Cassidy. While he still gets trounced by the likes of Daken if he's daft enough to go hand to hand with them, against less skilled opponents he can combine his various skill sets to deadly effect, as demonstrated in the sequel, ''Ghosts of the Past'', when fighting [[spoiler:Dudley Dursley a.k.a. the Blob]] while wearing a PowerLimiter - he internalises his telekinesis, uses it to boost his physical abilities, then promptly brutally dismantles his opponent. Later in that same arc, [[spoiler:he's programmed to become the Red Son, the successor to the Winter Soldier,]] with all the associated skills, which he retains on being deprogrammed... along with a truly hideous degree of [[ShellShockedVeteran PTSD]], and after, he gets trained by Bucky and a number of other teachers.

** Magneto shows (and later explains) that he's expanded his powers far beyond the usual MagnetismManipulation-because electromagnetism is one of the five[[note]] Gravity, atomic strong and weak forces, and magic[[/note]] fundamental forces of the universe, he has a ''very'' broad range of abilities, such as controlling light and the weather to certain extents, EMP blasts, interfering with magic, allowing himself to fly, etc. Unlike in certain points of the comics, where he can do just about anything as long as the writer puts "magnetic" in front, the usage of his powers here actually [[ShownTheirWork make sense.]]

[[quoteright:350:[[Franchise/{{Superman}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/smmapublicity_8662.jpg]]]]

*** A good example of how important this is, comes in the form of Magneto's youngest daughter ComicBook/{{Polaris|MarvelComics}}... who has identical powers but none of his scientific expertise. This results in her being ''far'' less effective at using her control over magnetism.

* In ''Manga/CodenameSailorV'', Minako picks up magic combat [[TaughtByTelevision from the videogame Artemis created as a training tool]] and [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower physically reinforces herself while desperately working to lose weight]] in addition to the martial arts she already knew. It allows her to make short work of powerful youma, and it pays off even more in the ''Manga/SailorMoon'' manga, where at one point [[TheBigGuy Makoto]] gets [[BrainwashedAndCrazy brainwashed in attacking Usagi]] and Minako [[CurbStompBattle brutally trounces her]] [[SingleStrokeBattle with one kick]]. And Makoto is the one with SuperStrength.

* Franchise/{{Superman}}:

* ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}:
** Not only does she have all the powers of [[Franchise/{{Superman}} her cousin]], she has had training in both unarmed and armed combat. By Franchise/WonderWoman and the Amazons in the [[ComicBook/Supergirl2005 Post-Crisis continuity]]. Unfortunately, most writers tend to forget this.

** Like Superman above, Spider-Man's vast history and being completely TaughtByExperience means he did develop extensive street-fighting experience.

* ''FanFic/WithThisRing'':

* The original ComicBook/{{Firestorm}}, whose powers involve molecular transformation, has studied chemistry to make them more effective. Particularly notable in that he's a jock who does not find studying an easy task.

* While Mob of ''Manga/MobPsycho100'' may very well be the most powerful esper in the world, he's also a socially awkward teenage boy who [[IJustWantToHaveFriends wants to be popular]] and get his childhood crush Tsubomi to notice him, [[UnusuallyUninterestingSight and most people stopped being impressed by his powers ages ago.]] Thus, he winds up joining the Body Improvement club, believing [[WomenPreferStrongMen chicks dig muscles]] and Tsubomi will be into him if he's buff. Ironically, this winds up having a bigger impact on his psychic abilities than his naturally frail body, as the strong social support network it provides helps him better manage his long-repressed emotions and neglected social skills, granting him much better control over his PsychoactivePowers and turning him from a self-fearing chronic AngstNuke to an empathic WarriorTherapist. [[spoiler:He DidNotGetTheGirl in the end, but he gets over it.]]

* ''WebComic/TowerOfGod'': By the beginning of the second season, Jue Viole Grace is a phenomenally powerful (for his level) Wave Controller who's also able to learn any new technique by getting hit by it. However, his martial arts abilities and physical strength aren't so great, so he's still a bit of a SquishyWizard. Between the Workshop Battle and Hell Train arcs, he goes to get himself beaten up by martial artists of all schools so that he can absorb their techniques too, becoming a master of all of them.

*** And he got some lessons from ComicBook/ImmortalIronFist... which allowed him to do a BulletCatch.

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'': Effort Values are tiny stat boosts gained by fighting other Pokémon. Simply fighting random Pokémon and gaining EXP would yield a powerful monster, but with specialized EV Training focusing on specific stats, a Pokémon can yield monstrous gains in a stat. A player can just go through the game, train his Pokémon to level 100, and beat his friends. Unless one of his friends knows how to play competitively, and battles with EV trained, IV bred Pokémon with competitive move sets.

* The ''Anime/MonColleKnights'' fic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7199321/1/Cult Cult]]'' is about Mondo and Rokuna being recruited into a newly finalized team of kids their age, each of whom receive a magical weapon of some sort or another. This was all basically an excuse for the author to create the fanfic equivalent to a (standard) RPG, with everyone fighting with their own skills (as well as summoning monsters to fight alongside), but it never went past the prologue, as he was eventually told by someone genuinely knowledgeable about the anime that the concept would not mesh with the theme of friendship between monster and summoner (that being the reason the latter was unable to come up with anything of an actual story).

* ''Franchise/{{Ben 10}}'': Starting with ''WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce'', the protagonist Ben Tennyson starts learning basic martial arts from his cousin, and, according to WordOfGod, received basic [[SpaceCop Plumber]] training from [[OldMaster Grandpa Max]], all so he could be somewhat capable of defending himself whenever the Omnitrix fails him. Most memorably, ''Above and Beyond'' has him put these skills to use, having him disarm a super-strong opponent while in human form.

* [[OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Tsukune Aono]] of ''Manga/RosarioToVampire'' was infused with vampire blood and [[OurGhoulsAreCreepier turned into a ghoul]]. This resulted in a lot of [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomps]] against monsters that were expecting a wimp... and a lot of curb-stomps from monsters who ''weren't'', due to his status as UnskilledButStrong. Five volumes into ''Season II'', [[SplitPersonality Inner Moka]] started training him in martial arts to use in tandem with his ghoulic power. This goes [[TrainingFromHell about how]] [[TookALevelInBadass you'd expect]]. Haiji Miyamoto has this in his backstory; all of his asskicking until the final chapters comes from his karate training. When he does pull out his monster powers [[spoiler:he's a tengu]], his casual attacks are like frag grenades enhanced by his martial arts.

* [[ComicBook/InvisibleWoman Susan Storm]] was mentioned at one point to have studied martial arts under ComicBook/IronFist, which she combined with her ability to project force fields to devastating effect. It was noted she was "a very good student".

* One issue of ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'' had ComicBook/CaptainAmerica acting as a DrillSergeantNasty and teaching several teammates – both supers and {{Badass Normal}}s – how to use martial arts. He tells them they'll thank him later. Years later, Comicbook/{{Hawkeye}} did – posthumously.

** ComicBook/KittyPryde learned martial arts (both {{Ninj|a}}utsu and UsefulNotes/KravMaga) from Franchise/{{Wolverine}} himself, in addition to being an [[{{Intangibility}} Intangible Woman]].

** ComicBook/{{Storm}} was taught by Franchise/{{Wolverine}}, not only to fight but also how to use a gun. [[BroughtDownToNormal Good thing too.]]

* In a cold open of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'', it is revealed that Batman taught Dr. Fate how to box, in case his helmet was ever removed.

** Averted when [[OldMaster "Silver Fang" Bang]] offers Saitama and Genos to become his disciples and learn his martial arts style. Saitama, whose super-power is [[ComicallyInvincibleHero "wins every battle in a single punch"]], says there's no point. Saitama also doesn't want to get more skilled because his goal is to find a WorthyOpponent who can survive more than one of his punches, and getting more skilled would make that harder. Genos also refuses because his fighting style involves [[StuffBlowingUp overwhelming destructive power]] and martial arts don't mesh with it.

** To cite one example, Crocodile of the Seven Warlords of the Sea is an ElementalShapeshifter, having eaten a Devil Fruit that gives him the power to control, create, and turn into [[DishingOutDirt sand]]. He has mastered his Devil Fruit to the point that he can suck up the moisture from objects and people, leaving them as shriveled, withered husks.

* ''Fanfic/AvengerGoddess'' hints at Diana planning to give Tony lessons in some actual combat techniques so that he isn't purely reliant on the more obvious advantages of the armour in case he ever faces someone who can match the armor physically.

** It's easy to forget, but this is what Master Roshi's training was for Goku in the second arc. When he's introduced, Goku is a very strong individual who knows how to fight and take down anyone who challenges him, but his time with Roshi gives him the proper outlook, training and discipline of a martial arts master. Come the following arc, he's running rings around entire armies and all the weapons they can bring to bear. Of course, [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter this being Dragon Ball]], this is merely the ''beginning'' of Goku's journey as a martial artist.

** This is a rule of thumb in the series. Characters who rely purely on their brute strength or natural talent to get ahead will eventually meet their match when paired with an equally strong or even a slightly weaker fighter who is exceptionally well-trained and adaptive. A prime example of this is Frieza. Because he was born naturally strong and easily steamrolled anyone who got in his way, he was completely ill-prepared to fight Super Saiyan Goku, who wasn't just stronger but had the endurance to fight for a long time, something Frieza severely lacked. Even when Frieza actually trains in ''Anime/DragonBallZResurrectionF'' and gains a SuperMode whose power rivals a Super Saiyan God, he still {{subverted|Trope}} this trope. [[spoiler:He stops his training right after he unlocks his Super Mode, [[EpicFail causing him to have the same stamina problems that led to his defeat the first time]].]]

* Kara in ''Series/{{Supergirl|2015}}'' initially rejects the training of her adoptive sister Alex. Eventually, she realizes that she can't just rely on her FlyingBrick power set against the sort of people she's going to have to deal with, many of whom are Kryptonians like her, and were also career criminals dangerous enough to lock in the Phantom Zone, while Kara is a professional office assistant. She undergoes several lessons in hand-to-hand combat, to the point where she can take down a BrainwashedAndCrazy [[spoiler:Superman]] at the end of Season 2.