Japanese Title: Balkie and the Karate King Nobuhiko!
Original Airdate: January 24th, 2002
US Airdate: February 1st, 2003
Ash and friends chance into a Tyrogue, nearly falling victim to a ploy he lays out in an attempt to make off with all of their Pokémon food. Just as they tie things up with the Tyrogue, they learn that he is in fact not wild, but owned by a devoted student of Chuck, the Cianwood Gym leader. This student, who prides himself for his martial arts ability, explains that he is now taking his Tyrogue to an exhaustive tournament in which Fighting type Pokémon vie for the title. Meanwhile, though, he is having a terrible time disciplining his mischievous Pokémon. As if to accent this complaint, an angry local arrives, exclaiming that Tyrogue has wrought havoc in town for the last time.
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- Animal Stampede: The Tyrogue makes one using Tauros.
- Artistic License: Tyrogue uses Jump Kick during his battle with Kiyo despite not being able to learn that move in the games.
- Badass Normal: Kiyo. Not only does he help break a boulder to save the gang, he also defeats the Tyrogue that easily beat his Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee.
- Big Damn Heroes: Kiro saves the gang after Bayleef inadvertantly triggered a landslide with Vine Whip.
- Call-Back: Ash's battle with Chuck is directly brought attention to with Kiro having been a student of Chuck's.
- Continuity Nod: The P1 Grand Prix (the tournament Primeape entered in) is mentioned.
- Freudian Excuse: Tyrogue's hatred of people stems from him being an abandoned Pokémon.
- Height Angst: The Tyrogue is stated to suffer from this.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: The Tyrogue is established as being a thieving jerk and starts an Animal Stampede but when it looks like Togepi is going to get crushed by said stampede, he runs in front of the stampede and saves Togepi.
- Momma's Boy: Kiyo is implied to be one with him mentioning her cooking is better than his.
- No One Gets Left Behind: When Tyrogue accepted Kiyo's request to join him, the Primeape and Mankey it was leading were saddened to lose their friend. Fortunately, Kiyo offered for them to come along as well, which they gladly accepted.
- Pint-Sized Powerhouse: Tyrogue effortlessly beats his evolved forms.
