[[quoteright:350:[[Series/CobraKai https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cobrakai_parentinglessons_header.jpeg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''[[Music/{{Queen}} Here we are, Born to be Kings...]]'']]

-> ''It could be quite easy to boil ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' down as a consecutive series of one-on-one fights, and you know what? It totally was. All of ''Dragon Ball Z''[='=]s major plot points center around the idea of combat. But I also don't view that as an objective flaw, either, and the reason for that is that these characters are all written around the concept of fighting. (...) Combat wasn't actually a way to solve problems to these characters - rather, it was justification for why they exist at all. These were all proud fighters who put an immense amount of personal weight into their physical strength and skill - or to put it a different way, ''Dragon Ball Z'' wasn't a story about fighting, it was a story about a group of characters who really '''loved''' to fight.''
-->-- '''WebVideo/SuperEyepatchWolf''', ''[[https://youtu.be/tuvSwb5KM6Q "The Impact of Dragon Ball Z: The Series that Changed Everything"]]

A Fighting Series, as its name suggests, is one that places a lot of emphasis on fighting. Different fighting styles and learning new moves and abilities are a major part of the plot. There will be lots of emphasis on training, technique, and practice. The main character often, though not always, wants ToBeAMaster; whether he does or not, he usually is by the end. Common in Chinese movies from the 1970s and ubiquitous in Japanese [[ShonenDemographic Shōnen]] anime/manga.

Note that simply having a lot of fighting does not mean that a show is a Fighting Series; in order to qualify, the fighting has to be integral to the plot, rather than a means to an end.

Related to the MartialArtsMovie. See FightingGame for the VideoGame equivalent. Should not be confused with DuelingShows. For {{fight scene}}s happening in one of these series, take a look at FightingInAllTheWrongPlacesIndex. Also see ThisIndexKnowsKungFu.
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!!Common tropes in this genre include:
* ArchEnemy
* ArrogantKungFuGuy
* ArtisticLicenseMartialArts
* BigBadassBattleSequence
* CombatPragmatist
* CharlesAtlasSuperPower
* ChewingTheScenery
* DangerousForbiddenTechnique
* {{Determinator}}
* DuelToTheDeath
* EccentricMentor
* EverybodyWasKungFuFighting
* ExtremityExtremist
* FightScene (usually OnceAnEpisode)
* GoodOldFisticuffs
* ImprovisedWeapon
* {{Kiai}}
* KickChick
* KungFuKid
* MartialPacifist
* MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours
* OldMaster
* OpposingCombatPhilosophies
* RapidFireFisticuffs
* TheRival
* RivalDojos (normally a PacifistDojo and a ThugDojo)
* RivalTurnedEvil
* RuleOfCool
* SceneryGorn
* ScreamingWarrior
* SortingAlgorithmOfEvil
* SpiritedCompetitor
* StormingTheCastle (or in this case, {{Rival Dojo|s}})
* TimeToUnlockMoreTruePotential
* ToBeAMaster
* TournamentArc
* TrainingFromHell
* TrainingMontage
* TrashTheSet
* TriadsAndTongs (if there is a MobWar arc)
* WaxOnWaxOff
* WhenYouSnatchThePebble
* WorldOfBadass
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!!Examples:
[[index]]
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Multimedia Franchises]]
* ''Franchise/DragonBall''
* ''Franchise/TheKarateKid''
* ''Franchise/TheKingOfFighters''
* ''Franchise/MortalKombat''
* ''Franchise/StreetFighter''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* ''Manga/AbyssRage''
* ''Manga/{{Aiki}}''
* ''Manga/{{Airmaster}}''
* ''Manga/{{Arachnid}}''
** ''Manga/{{Caterpillar}}''
** ''Manga/ChoubuNoShinobi''
** ''Manga/{{Blattodea}}''
* ''Manga/AttackOnTitan''
* ''Manga/BadCompany''
* ''Manga/BakiTheGrappler''
* ''Manga/Bastard1988''
* ''Manga/BlackClover''
* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}''
* ''Manga/BoboboboBobobo''
* ''Manga/BootyRoyaleNeverGoDownWithoutAFight'': Part this, part SliceOfLife WorkCom about sex workers.
* ''Manga/ChoujinX''
* ''Manga/{{Claymore}}''
* ''Manga/{{Crows}}''
* ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba''
* ''Franchise/{{Devilman}}''
* ''Franchise/DragonBall'' is a TropeCodifier alongside ''Manga/SaintSeiya''.
** ''Manga/DragonBall''
** ''Anime/DragonBallZ''
*** ''Anime/DragonBallZKai''
** ''Anime/DragonBallGT''
** ''Anime/DragonBallSuper''
*** ''Manga/DragonBallSuper''
** ''Anime/DragonBallDaima''
* ''Manga/FairyTail''
* ''Manga/FatalFuryDevilStreetOfHorror''
* ''Manga/FireForce''
* ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'', which, along with ''Kinnikuman'', launched the entire [[ShonenDemographic Shōnen]] fighting genre.
* ''Manga/FlameOfRecca''
* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist''
* ''Manga/{{Gamaran}}''
* ''Manga/GTOTheEarlyYears'', though it started out as more of a GagSeries.
* ''Manga/HajimeNoIppo'' - Although it leans more towards to GamingAndSportsAnimeAndManga, the series showcases many of the tropes commonly found in FightingSeries. The fact that it is focused on boxing helps.
* ''Manga/HighSchoolExcitingStoryTough''
* ''Manga/{{Holyland}}''
* ''Manga/HunterXHunter''
* ''Manga/IkkiTousen'', combined with {{Fanservice}}
* ''Manga/{{Jackals}}''
* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' takes this to the weirdest facets, as the title already implies.
* ''Anime/JungleKingTarChan''
* ''Manga/KarakuriCircus''
* ''Manga/KenganAshura''
* ''Manga/KenichiTheMightiestDisciple'' (an affectionate parody of the genre)
* ''Anime/KillLaKill''
* ''Anime/TheKingOfFightersAnotherDay''
* ''Manga/{{Kinnikuman}}'' - Predating ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' by 4 years, it arguably did just as much as, if not more, for the genre.
* ''Manga/KotaroMakaritoru''
* ''Manga/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaVivid'' combines this with MagicalGirl.
** ''Anime/VividStrike'' is basically MagicalGirl MMA.
* ''Manga/MakenKi'' is set at Tenbi Academy, where everything is [[LetsFightLikeGentlemen settled officially in duels.]]
* ''Manga/{{MAR}}''
* ''Manga/MashleMagicAndMuscles''
* ''Webcomic/MobPsycho100''
* ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'' [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot combines this concept]] with HumongousMecha.
* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia''
** ''Manga/MyHeroAcademiaVigilantes''
** ''Manga/MyHeroAcademiaTeamUpMission''
* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}''
** ''Manga/{{Boruto}}''
* ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'', combined with the HaremGenre.
* ''Manga/OnePiece''
* ''Webcomic/OnePunchMan'', a DeconstructiveParody of [[ShonenDemographic Shōnen]] {{superhero}} tropes.
* ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries''
* ''Manga/PrecariousWomanExecutiveMissBlackGeneral''
* ''Anime/PrettyCure'', especially ''Anime/HeartcatchPrettyCure'', also combine this with MagicalGirl, and did so before Vivid.
* ''Anime/QueensBlade'', combined with HeroicFantasy and {{Fanservice}}
* ''Manga/RamenFighterMiki'' is a DeconstructiveParody of the genre.
* ''Manga/RankingOfKings''
* ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf''
* ''Manga/{{Ratman}}''
* ''Manga/TheRedRangerBecomesAnAdventurerInAnotherWorld''
* ''Manga/RealBoutHighSchool''
* ''Manga/Reborn2004'' became this from the Kokuyo Arc onward.
* ''Manga/RecordOfRagnarok''
* ''Manga/RikiOh''
* ''Manga/RosarioPlusVampire'', like Negima above, eventually combines with the Harem genre.
* ''Manga/SaintSeiya'', arguably the TropeCodifier together with ''Dragon Ball''
* ''Anime/ScottPilgrimTakesOff''
* ''Manga/TheSevenDeadlySins''
* ''Anime/ShadowSkill''
* ''Manga/ShamanKing''
* ''Anime/{{Shenmue}}''
* ''Manga/SoulEater''
* ''Manga/StarStrikeItRich''
* ''Manga/SumomoMoMomoMo''
* ''Anime/TabooTattoo''
* ''Manga/TenjhoTenge''
* ''Manga/TenkaichiNihonSaikyouBugeishaKetteisen''
* ''Manga/TomorrowsJoe''
* ''Manga/{{Toriko}}''
* ''Manga/UntilDeathDoUsPart'', focusing on urban guerilla warfare.
* ''Manga/UQHolder''
* ''Manga/{{Vagabond}}''
* ''Anime/VirtuaFighter''
* ''Franchise/YuGiOh'', especially before the CardGames appeared; in fact, the original concept was that of "a fighting series where the main character never throws a punch."
* ''Manga/YuYuHakusho''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''Fanfic/AreYouMyDad''
* ''Fanfic/{{Chiaroscuro}}''
* ''Fanfic/DragonBallZDynasty''
* ''Fanfic/DragonballZLegacies''
* ''Fanfic/KaraOfRokyn''
* ''Fanfic/LieInReverse''
* ''Fanfic/MoreThanEnemies''
* ''Fanfic/SupermanOf2499TheGreatConfrontation''
* ''Fanfic/TokimekiPokeLiveAndTwinbee'': Applies to the Pokémon Battles that take place in both the Main Stories and Side Story arcs.
* ''Fanfic/TheWarriorsDaughter''
* ''Fanfic/WitchbladeSakura''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* ''Franchise/KungFuPanda'':
** ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda1''
** ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2''
** ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda3''
** ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda4''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''Film/BestOfTheBest''
* ''Film/{{Bloodsport}}''
* ''Film/FistOfFury''
* ''Film/IpManFilmSeries''
** ''Film/IpMan''
** ''Film/IpMan2''
** ''Film/IpMan3''
** ''Film/MasterZIpManLegacy''
** ''Film/IpMan4''
* ''Film/TheKarateKid'':
** ''Film/TheKarateKid1984''
** ''Film/TheKarateKidPartII''
** ''Film/TheKarateKidPartIII''
** ''Film/TheNextKarateKid''
** ''Film/TheKarateKid2010''
* ''Film/{{Kickboxer}}''
* ''Legend of a Fighter''
* ''Film/MortalKombat2021''
** ''Film/MortalKombat2''
* ''Film/NeverBackDown''
* ''Film/OngBak''
** ''Film/OngBak2''
** ''Film/OngBak3''
* ''{{Franchise/Rocky}}'':
** ''{{Film/Rocky}}''
** ''Film/RockyII''
** ''Film/RockyIII''
** ''Film/RockyIV''
** ''Film/RockyV''
** ''Film/RockyBalboa''
** ''{{Film/Creed|2015}}''
** ''Film/CreedII''
** ''Film/CreedIII''
* ''Film/SnakeInTheEaglesShadow''
* ''Film/{{Warrior}}''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/ParasiteCode''
* ''Literature/WiroSableng''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/AmericanBornChinese2023''
* ''Series/CobraKai''
* ''Series/IntoTheBadlands''
* ''Franchise/KamenRider''
* ''Series/KickinIt''
* ''Series/KungFu1972''
** ''Series/KungFuTheLegendContinues''
** ''Series/KungFu2021''
* ''Series/MajisukaGakuen''
* ''Series/MortalKombatConquest''
* ''Series/OnePiece2023''
* ''Franchise/PowerRangers''
* ''Franchise/SuperSentai''
* ''Series/MetalHeroes''
* ''Series/SevenStarFightingGodGuyferd''
* ''Franchise/UltraSeries''
* '' Series/Warrior2019''
* ''Series/WeakHeroClass1''
* ''Series/WuAssassins''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Manhua]]

* ''Manhua/CyberWeaponZ''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Manhwa]]
* ''Manhwa/{{Veritas}}''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* TabletopGame/NinjasAndSuperspies by Creator/PalladiumBooks is a hybrid James Bond/Jackie Chan style action thriller in tabletop game form with a very heavy focus on combat mechanics. About 90% of the characters know at least one style of martial art and there are several who can learn multiple styles.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/AsurasWrath'' is influenced by these types of series in Japan, with the idea that it's an Interactive version of this type of Anime series. [[RuleOfCool It works]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* ''Webcomic/ThirtyTwoKickUp'' does this with InkblotCartoonStyle FunnyAnimals.
* ''Webcomic/GirlsOfTheWild''
* ''Webcomic/GurralTheSmasher'' starts out with the titular kaiju Gurral as a gladiator working for the Arena Lords.
* The Korean webtoon ''WebComic/{{Lookism}}'' is strangely this. It starts with a fat guy being tired of being [[ExtremeDoormat beat up]] [[ItMakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext and he]] [[LiteralSplitPersonality splits into two]]. One of them a Bishonen with a HeroicBuild, the other the same old one. Due to his past of being beat up he as had the reflexes to avoid but not the speed and now he does. Turns out that this new body [[spoiler:and his old body too [[DareToBeBadass if he had dared to]]]] is pretty strong and he is able to defend himself against the strong guys at his new school. This is a [[KoreanWebToon Web Toon]] with many {{Action Fashionista}}s, [[BadassBookworm Badass Architects]], {{Dance Battler}}s, and more. In this DefeatMeansFriendship as well.
* ''Webcomic/MyBestFriendMarneao'''
* ''Webcomic/StudyGroup''
* ''Webcomic/ViralHit''
* ''Webcomic/WeakHero''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''
** ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra''
* ''WesternAnimation/BattleKitty''
* ''WesternAnimation/CelebrityDeathmatch''
* ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures''
* ''Franchise/KungFuPanda'':
** ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPandaLegendsOfAwesomeness''
** ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPandaThePawsOfDestiny''
** ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPandaTheDragonKnight''
* ''WesternAnimation/OkKoLetsBeHeroes''
* ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack''
* ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown''
** ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinChronicles''
[[/folder]]

[[/index]]
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