History Main / BoxingLessonsForSuperman

* The officers of Section 2 in the ''Anime/{{Patlabor}}'' manga get trained in martial arts, to make them more versatile when piloting their giant humanoid mecha.

** His classic universe counterpart finally did get some martial arts training from [[Characters/MarvelComicsSteveRogers Captain America]] and [[ComicBook/IronMan Tony Stark]] tried to mentor him. The Ultimate version ''did'' try to take lessons from them as well but... Between Tony being more interested in just hanging out with Spidey in his lab and Cap being an enormous asshole, it didn't go quite as well.

* ''ComicBook/IronMan'': Tony Stark, unable to access his armor for the time being, goes to [[Characters/MarvelComicsSteveRogers Steve Rogers]] to learn how to fight during the Demon In A Bottle story arc, under the pretense of being more vulnerable to his enemies now that his "bodyguard" Iron Man won't be able to protect him. It comes in handy when Stark is captured by Justin Hammer and his goons.

* In Franchise/TheDCU, ComicBook/{{Wildcat}} is a BadassNormal former pro boxer, and considered one of the hero community's go-to guys to get lessons from. The list of people he trained is like a Who's Who of DC Universe {{Badass Normal}}s: Characters/{{Batman|TheCharacter}}, Characters/{{Catwoman}} I & II, Characters/BlackCanary II, Wildcat II & III, and ComicBook/{{Starman|DCComics}} (Jack Knight), among others.

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

* During ''ComicBook/PlanetHulk'', the Characters/{{Incredible Hulk|BruceBanner}} 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''.

* ''ComicBook/NewAvengers'': One issue had [[Characters/MarvelComicsSteveRogers Captain America]] 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, [[Characters/{{Hawkeye|ClintBarton}} did – posthumously. This actually had some basis in earlier Silver Age comics, as an old issue of ''Comicbook/TheAvengers'' had [[Characters/AntManHeroes Goliath]] hold his own in a fistfight with the Super-Adaptoid, which he chalked up to hand-to-hand combat training Cap had given him.

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

Take an already abnormal character and teach them some sort of mundane skill to kick their badassery up another notch. Got an ImaginationBasedPower? Some engineering classes might make your constructs more formidable, along with art classes to stretch the imagination. Got SuperStrength? How about some UsefulNotes/{{Karate}} to avoid being UnskilledButStrong? The power and the skills involved can exist in numerous combinations, but it works to the same effect.

* One issue of ''ComicBook/NewAvengers'' had [[Characters/MarvelComicsSteveRogers Captain America]] 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. This actually had some basis in earlier Silver Age comics, as an old issue of ''Comicbook/TheAvengers'' had [[Characters/AntManHeroes Goliath]] hold his own in a fist fight with the Super-Adaptoid, which he chalked up to hand-to-hand combat training Cap had given him.

* ''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.

* Triela on ''Manga/GunslingerGirl'' takes extra combat training after losing to [[BadassNormal Pinocchio]] despite her cybernetic implants.

** The UrExample comes from the first story in ''ComicBook/Superman1939'' #2, in which Superman meets the former World Champion heavyweight boxer, Larry Trent, who has [[FallenOnHardTimesJob fallen on hard times]] and [[FormerlyFit gotten out of shape]] since [[EtTuBrute his own manager]] was paid to drug him during his big match, forcing him to lose the fight. Superman agrees to [[MasterOfDisguise temporarily disguise himself as Trent]] and [[CurbStompBattle fight in his place]], while taking time to [[TrainingMontage spar with him to get him back into shape]], so he can [[ThisIsSomethingHesGotToDoHimself fight the last match himself and regain his title]]. Superman learned to box as a result.

* ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind]]'':
** Giorno’s Stand gives him the ability to create life by turning inanimate objects into living creatures, as well as accelerating the growth of existing life. To make the most of his powers, Giorno studied extensively in biology and botany, learning about the many different kinds of creatures he could produce to aid him in battle, turning his Stand ability into a SwissArmySuperpower.
** Cioccolata, an EvilCounterpart to Giorno, before becoming a Stand user, trained as a doctor. Spending many years torturing his patients to death, he learned about all kinds of ways to disassemble a person’s body without killing them. This comes in very handy when he gains Stand abilities, as his Green Day’s mold, in combination with his medical knowledge, allows Cioccolata to deconstruct his own body for stealth attacks, as well as being able to reconstruct his body afterwards.

* ''Webcomic/GrrlPower'': Maxima was arguably the most powerful super in the world, with an incredible array of abilities including the ability to produce effects measured in ''kilotons'' and survive the same. And then when she was eighteen, she joined the United States military, and became ''inarguably'' the most powerful super in the world. She combines her jaw-dropping powers with shameless {{Combat Pragmatis|t}}m, use of allies and teamwork, and expert martial arts. There are only two people in the world who have ever fought her to a draw, and she [[NeverFoundTheBody seemingly]] managed to kill one of them. [[DefeatMeansFriendship The other one joined her team.]]

* 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 for what was originally going to be the first of four fanfics until the remaining three were scrapped in-between).

** [[spoiler:Ichigo, like Kenpachi, was always recognized as UnskilledButStrong, having immense spiritual power but little practice in harnessing and controlling it. During the Fullbring Arc, which occurs after the TimeSkip following Ichigo's sacrifice of his Soul Reaper powers, in his training with Xcution, he's forced to actually learn how to harness his spirit energy in more creative ways, especially since he's back at square one. Kugo Ginjo, the leader of Xcution, also put Ichigo under an extensive physical regimen. As using Fullbring powers requires Ichigo to act using his ''regular'' body rather than his soul, as he did when he was a Soul Reaper, Ginjo stated that Ichigo needed to beef up his physical body. This results in a ''dramatic'' increase in Ichigo's strength when his Soul Reaper powers are actually restored, to the point where Ginjo mistakes a regular sword swing from Ichigo as a '''Getsuga Tensho.''']]

* In ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', the BloodKnight Kenpachi is UnskilledButStrong, using absolute brute force to beat most opponents. But when he finally faces one whom brute force is useless against, he switches to his secret weapon: ''a basic kendo swing'' that Commander Yamamoto had forced him to learn... which is so powerful it causes his opponent to explode. In chapter 520, [[spoiler:Kyouraku's first order as the new captain-commander of the Gotei 13]] is to give Kenpachi more formal training to prepare him for Vandereich's next move. [[spoiler:[[InvokedTrope Soul Society's ruling council actually doesn't want Kenpachi to get any stronger]] because they are worried he'll be unstoppable if he decides to rebel against Soul Society. Kyouraku convinces them that they need Kenpachi to become stronger, because if they lose in the current war, they'll be too dead to worry about such things. Kenpachi's teacher is Retsu Unohana, the first Kenpachi.]]

* In ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'', In a nutshell, this is what makes [[spoiler:Titan Shifters]] so dangerous. Imagine fighting a fifteen-meter-tall LightningBruiser. Now imagine fighting one that's also a champion-level boxer. Demonstrated well by [[spoiler:Eren, when fighting against the Armored Titan. Usually Eren's SuperStrength (even by Titan standards) is enough to carry him through most fights, but the Armored Titan's armor is just too tough. So Eren begins utilizing martial arts, throws, and grapples, combining skill with strength to break the Armored Titan]].

* ''Manga/{{Gate}}'': The world beyond the Gate is still working with ElementsOfNature, with mages using them in their magical theory. Lelei studies several Earth books on modern Physics and Chemistry, which makes her magic much more potent.

* In ''LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero'', Agnes and her troops are ordered to train the students of [[WizardingSchool Tristain Academy]] in swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat. Montmorency said she didn't see the point... and then Agnes knocked her MagicWand out of her hand and twisted her arm behind her back before she could react. The students then agree to the training. Saito also takes some lessons after deciding he shouldn't be reliant on the strength, speed, and sword skills his runes give him. When he loses his powers, the sword skills disappear from his mind.

Take an already abnormal character and teach them some sort of mundane skill to kick their badassery up another notch. Got an ImaginationBasedPower? Some engineering classes might make your constructs more formidable, along with art classes to stretch the imagination. Got SuperStrength? How about some karate to avoid being UnskilledButStrong? The power and the skills involved can exist in numerous combinations, but it works to the same effect.

Compare with MundaneUtility, which is a sister trope. It may invoke cases of MundaneMadeAwesome. If the character needs trained combat skills normally rather than just for a few special circumstances, he probably FightsLikeANormal. One place to learn this sort of thing is in a SuperheroSchool, as that's usually the whole point. This trope may also help a character find ways to push the limits of their powers, perhaps even overcoming the limitations imposed by RequiredSecondaryPowers as a result of having new skills and knowledge needed to work around their power's weaknesses. Compare also HowDoIShotWeb, in which the character requires specialized training or knowledge just to use those powers at a basic level.

Contrast CharlesAtlasSuperpower which is effectively the {{inver|tedTrope}}se of this trope. While Boxing Lessons For Superman features an extraordinary being learning a mundane skill to augment their abilities or serve as something extra to fall back on, CharlesAtlasSuperpower has a supposedly ordinary being able to achieve the extraordinary ''through'' proficiency in a mundane skill. See StrongAndSkilled, which is what this trope often results in, or TalentedButTrained, wherein the hero(ine) is already powerful, but focuses and refines their abilities. Also contrast HowDoIShootWeb, where one must learn how to use their powers.

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

** The UrExample comes from the first story in ''Superman Volume 1'' #2, in which Superman meets the former World Champion heavyweight boxer, Larry Trent, who has [[FallenOnHardTimesJob fallen on hard times]] and [[FormerlyFit gotten out of shape]] since [[EtTuBrute his own manager]] was paid to drug him during his big match, forcing him to lose the fight. Superman agrees to [[MasterOfDisguise temporarily disguise himself as Trent]] and [[CurbStompBattle fight in his place]], while taking time to [[TrainingMontage spar with him to get him back into shape]], so he can [[ThisIsSomethingHesGotToDoHimself fight the last match himself and regain his title]]. Superman learned to box as a result.
** The {{Trope Namer|s}} is the comic book ''Superman vs UsefulNotes/MuhammadAli'', where Ali teaches Characters/{{Superman|TheCharacter}} to box. {{Justified|Trope}} since for plot reasons, they'll have to fight [[PowerNullifier under a red sun]] where Supes will be BroughtDownToNormal; Ali trains Superman in a special gym in the Fortress of Solitude that can similarly neutralize Superman's powers. Downplayed in that while they intended to train him for two months, circumstances result in him getting only a single day of training instead.

** In the [[ComicBook/Supergirl2011 Post-Flashpoint comics]], while her training with the Amazons has been {{retcon}}ned away, Supergirl has been taught martial arts as part of her schooling on Krypton, although she's far from an expert.

* The Disney version of ''WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}}'' had Herc go to Phil for training. He already had SuperStrength, but Phil taught him how to use that strength in a real fight, along with other skills like archery and swordsmanship.

* In ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', the BloodKnight Kenpachi is UnskilledButStrong, using absolute brute force to beat most opponents. But when he finally faces one whom brute force is useless against, he switches to his secret weapon: ''a basic kendo swing'' that Commander Yamamoto had forced him to learn... which is so powerful it causes his opponent to explode. In chapter 520, [[spoiler:Kyouraku's first order as the new captain-commander of the Gotei 13]] is to give Kenpachi more formal training to prepare him for Vandereich's next move. [[spoiler:[[EnforcedTrope Soul Society's ruling council actually doesn't want Kenpachi to get any stronger]] because they are worried he'll be unstoppable if he decides to rebel against Soul Society. Kyouraku convinces them that they need Kenpachi to become stronger, because if they lose in the current war, they'll be too dead to worry about such things. Kenpachi's teacher is Retsu Unohana, the first Kenpachi.]]

* In ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', the BloodKnight Kenpachi is UnskilledButStrong, using absolute brute force to beat most opponents. But when he finally faces one whom brute force is useless against, he switches to his secret weapon: ''a basic kendo swing'' that Commander Yamamoto had forced him to learn... which is so powerful it causes his opponent to explode. In chapter 520, [[spoiler:Kyouraku's first order as the new captain-commander of the Gotei 13]] is to give Kenpachi more formal training to prepare him for Vandereich's next move. [[spoiler:Soul Society's ruling council actually doesn't want Kenpachi to get any stronger because they are worried he'll be unstoppable if he decides to rebel against Soul Society. Kyouraku convinces them that they need Kenpachi to become stronger, because if they lose in the current war, they'll be too dead to worry about such things. Kenpachi's teacher is Retsu Unohana, the first Kenpachi.]]

[[folder:Film]]

* ''Iron Man'' series:

* The Disney version of ''WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}}'' had Herc go to Phil for training. He already had SuperStrength, but Phil taught him how to use that strength in a real fight, along with other skills like archery and swordsmanship.

* In ''Literature/{{Worm}}'', Brian teaches [[PestController Taylor]] physical combat so she can be more useful at a close range without relying on her powers. It turns out to be helpful when she fights foes like Mannequin who can NoSell a lot of what her insects can do.

* In ''Literature/{{Worm}}, Brian teaches [[PestController Taylor]] physical combat so she can be more useful at a close range without relying on her powers. It turns out to be helpful when she fights foes like Mannequin who can NoSell a lot of what her insects can do.

* In ''Literature/{{Worm}}, Brian teaches [[PestController Taylor]] physical combat so she can be more useful at a close range without relying on her powers. It turns out to be helpful when she fights foes like Mannequin who can NoSell a lot of what her insects can do.