History Main / PunchCatch

[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]

* Wrestling/MarkHenry also pulled this off once in a Wrestling/WWERaw match with Wrestling/{{Carlito|Colon}}. Then, he proceeds to squeeze Carlito's fist in his hand for extra humiliation.

* In actual combat, catching an opponent's punch would be AwesomeButImpractical. Not only would it hurt and possibly break your hand, but you would need a huge strength difference to be able to pull it off. If you've got the reflexes to catch a punch, it's far easier and safer to simply dodge or deflect the punch. Of course, the whole ''point'' of this trope is to demonstrate immense physical superiority, and [[RuleOfCool look totally badass in the process]].
* A somewhat more practical method in real life that is less common in fiction is to instead catch the ''wrist'' of the punching hand and pull it out to the side.

* A simpler way to do so, as taught in some Martial Arts schools, is to block the punch first, then grab it after the block. Not quite the same, but much more practical than just catching it in midair.

* Fighter from the first episode of ''LightNovel/GoblinSlayer'' is making a pretty good showing against the goblins in the wake of Warrior's death. But then her kick gets caught in the grip of a Hobgoblin, the very first big goblin we see in-series, and from there, things go badly for Fighter. [[MetronomicManMashing Very]], ''[[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown very]]'' [[RapeAsDrama badly]].

** And in ''[[Film/Deadpool2 the Sequel]]'', Colossus is on the receiving end again, this time courtesy of Juggernaut[[/folder]]

** In "Apprentice", Robin tries to punch Slade who just catches it with his hand.

* In ''Fanfic/{{Displaced}}'', Spider-Man effortlessly catches the fist of a bank robber who tries to hit him. Wisely, the crook surrenders.

* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'' Season Ten has Maine do this. He was strong before, but this was to demonstrate his new enhancements after his injuries from Season 9.

[[/folder]]

* ''Anime/MegaManNTWarrior'': In the very first episode, when Lan decides to have his first Net Battle with Mega Man against Dex and Guts Man, the latter's opening move is a to punch Mega Man [[UpToEleven with a giant fist]]. Mega Man simply stands where he is and stops the punch with an open palm.

* ''Franchise/Arrowverse'':

%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1633357103030710900
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[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/Invincible2021 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/590.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:"[[VerbThis Block this.]]" "[[RhetoricalRequestBlunder If you insist.]]"]]

* Seen in the first chapter of ''kiss×sis'', when Keita catches his teacher's punch. It's also a bit of a {{deconstruct|edTrope}}ion, as the character got hurt badly enough as to spend several chapters with his right hand in a bandage.

* In ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'', [[AccidentalPervert Negi]] may often be a target of [[FieryRedhead Anya's]] {{Megaton Punch}}es, but the one time he gets serious, he easily blocks her [[PlayingWithFire Flame]] [[ElementalPunch Knuckle]] and proceeds to explain why she was wrong.
* ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'' shows just how physically strong Nanoha is when she does this to Subaru's PowerFist, and later, to the [[GodEmperor Sankt Kaiser]][[spoiler:[[OlderAlterEgo -form]] of [[MysteriousWaif Vivio]]]] immediately before she ends those fights. Impressive, since the punches of those two are capable of shattering DeflectorShields.

* In ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'', Batou intentionally lets his idol, a former silver-medalist boxer to knock him out during an investigation. When he later finds out that his idol had betrayed him by spying on the country, he confronts him and challenges him to another boxing match to settle things. He tries to knock Batou out using the same move as before, confident that it worked, but Batou caught the punch with his hand and countered with a right hook, knocking him out.

* ''Anime/GhostInTheShellArise''. Motoko does this to another cyborg with an ArmCannon. Both damage their hands, but the damage to the Arm Cannon prevents him firing on Motoko again.

* In ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf: TheMovie'', ''Big Trouble in Nekonron China'', the Lucky God Kirin ''never'' touches anything himself, he uses his foot-long steel chopsticks to grasp and manipulate objects. Therefore, his defense consists of him catching punches with said chopsticks at absurd speeds, seemingly creating an impregnable wall in front of him until Ranma notices the marks the chopsticks leave on his hand. When he tried it on Akane, though, she just ''let'' her first fist stay caught and punched him across the room with her free one.
* In ''Anime/SDGundamForce'', Captain tries to punch Professor Gerbera, only for Gerbera to catch the blow easily.

* In ''Anime/YuGiOhArcV'', Reiji did this to Yuya, then scolded him for not trying to settle things with a duel.
* In ''Manga/PuellaMagiSuzuneMagica'', one of the first things Arisa did with her new SuperStrength was to catch a bully's fist and slowly crush her hand.
* In ''Webcomic/OnePunchMan'', Saitama does this to Tanktop Black Hole after the latter tried to discredit Saitama's destruction of the meteor, claiming that Saitama was taking a threatening stance, then lunging down at him. This is after Saitama had swatted away the equally belligerent Tanktop Tiger, which might've been a good indicator that Saitama is more than he appears--not that it stops Tanktop Black Hole. Saitama just casually catches Tanktop Black Hole's fist (and inadvertently starts crushing it), reducing him to a simpering wuss who confesses he was lying to try and make Saitama look bad.
* [[KungFuWizard Natsu]] has been on the giving and receiving ends of this trope numerous times in ''Manga/FairyTail''. During the [[TournamentArc Grand Magic Games]], he does this to his opponent [[ArrogantKungFuGuy Sting]] after the later punches him with an attack that releases an explosion of energy that engulfs the arena, [[TheWorfEffect completely unharmed]] and causing Sting [[OhCrap to realize maybe he underestimated him a little too much]]. During the ''Nirvana'' arc, he finds one of his [[ElementalPunch flaming punches]] caught barehanded by [[EvilRedHead Cobra]], who not only doesn't react, but makes ''Natsu'' recoil in pain when he activates his own Dragon Slayer Magic and [[PoisonousPerson fries his hand with a burst of poison]].
* In ''Manga/PokemonAdventures'', Blue does to Red twice in the exact same manner. The first was provoked when he takes down his Poliwhirl, and the second was when he criticizes him for sending Eevee to Professor Oak's lab, leaving both it and Oak to be captured by Team Rocket.
* ''Anime/StreetFighterIITheAnimatedMovie'':
** During the climax, Ryu battles M. Bison in order to free Ken of the latter's Psycho-Powered mind control. The duel ends as Bison catches Ryu's fist in his palm, raises it above his head, and starts ''crushing it'' while Ryu screams. Cue Ken's [[BigDamnHeroes heroic]] [[HesBack comeback]] that frees his friend before the villain grinds his fist to powder.
** Earlier in the same movie Ryu does a variation in his fight with Fei Long, catching one of Fei Long's kicks, not with his hand but between his elbow and knee, stopping it dead, leaving Fei Long in a very awkward position and hampering his mobility for the rest of the fight since Ryu performed the move with enough force to hurt.
* Fighter from the first episode of ''LightNovel/GoblinSlayer'' is making a pretty good showing against the goblins in the wake of Warrior's death. But then her kick gets caught in the grip of a Hobgoblin, the very first big goblin we see in-series, and from there, things go badly for Fighter. [[MetronomicManMashing Very]], ''[[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown very]]'' [[RapeAsDrama badly]].
* ''Anime/MegaManNTWarrior'': In the very first episode, when Lan decides to have his first Net Battle with Mega Man against Dex and Guts Man, the latter's opening move is a to punch Mega Man [[UpToEleven with a giant fist]]. Mega Man simply stands where he is and stops the punch with an open palm.

* In Creator/FrankMiller's ''ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}'' run, ComicBook/TheKingpin of Crime sometimes used this to demonstrate his immense strength and skill.
* In ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'', [[spoiler:Alpha Lantern Kraken]] does this while fighting ComicBook/GreenLantern John Stewart. The mark of his ring left on [[spoiler: her]] palm clues Batman in that [[spoiler:she attacked John, and that she's possessed by {{ComicBook/Darkseid}}'s ally Granny Goodness]].

* ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'': While Peter was first learning his powers, Flash Thompson tried to fight him and Peter did this instinctively. Flash's hand was broken and [[CantGetAwayWithNuthin his parents sued Ben and May for the hospital bills.]]
* In ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'' #300 Hulk [[http://www.incrediblehulkonline.com/ironfiststrength.html catches]] ComicBook/IronFist's punch in his hand and redirects the power of the punch back into Fist.
* In ''ComicBook/{{Preacher}}'', Jesse Custer does just this to a punch thrown by Cassidy, the Irish vampire. Stops it dead. Of course, because Cassidy has SuperStrength as a result of being a vampire, Jesse thinks he's broken every bone in his hand doing it, but Cassidy doesn't know that, and because Jesse doesn't flinch or emote in any way, Cassidy is intimidated into meekly leaving. As soon as Cassidy is gone, Jesse has [[ActionGirlfriend Tulip]] and Amy immediately drive him to the hospital. [[spoiler: It turns out his hand is just badly sprained, not broken.]]
* In an ''ComicBook/XMen'' / ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' {{crossover}}, Data does this when Colossus takes a swing at him, though he still [[KnockbackSlide is shoved back a few feet]].

* ''ComicBook/SpiderGirl'': May Parker is threatened by a schoolmate's abusive boyfriend who intends to intimidate her into keeping her nose out of his business. His punch never connects, though: May catches his fist and ''squeezes''.
* ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'' does this to Bachmann at the end of ''Trifecta'', after she has [[CurbStompBattle taken down]] Jack Point and Dirty Frank (from the spin-offs ''ComicBook/TheSimpingDetective'' and ''ComicBook/LowLife'', respectively) with ease. [[spoiler: It's more of a distraction, as [[TheChessmaster Judge Smiley]] comes up from behind and [[BoomHeadshot takes her down]].]]
* In ''ComicBook/AtomicRobo'', one of Vanadis's [[SuperSoldier Brutes]] does this to Robo's improvised ''battering ram.''
* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'': During Wonder Woman's fight with a brainwashed Superman in "The Witch and the Warrior" she catches a punch he throws her way in Times Square, which causes her some immediate bleeding and which she notes nearly snapped her arm.
* ''ComicBook/WonderGirl'': ComicBook/{{Herc|ulesUnbound}} catches Cassie's first punch when he had the gal to show up at the cemetery pretending to be Conner (who had died stopping Superboy-Prime), but she quickly jabs Herc's throat with her other arm.
* ''ComicBook/ArchieVsPredator'': After being given enhanced strength, Archie catches the Predator's fist when he tries to stab Archie in the head with his wrist blades. Unfortunately, the Predator then gets his hand free and stabs him in the head anyway.

* In ''Fanfic/FatesCollide'', Bazett effortlessly catches Yang's ''flaming'' punch, then punches her with her free hand and knocks Yang out.

* In ''Fanfic/NeitherABirdNorAPlaneItsDeku'', [[spoiler:The Ultra-Humanite]] manages to catch a punch from [[WorldsStrongestMan All Might]] and tosses him into the ceiling. This is all thanks to the Villain's Quirk, Over Man, which takes away up to 75% of the physical prowess of all humans nearby.
* In ''Fanfic/{{Displaced}}'', Spider-Man effortlessly catches the fist of a bank robber who tries to hit him. Wisely, the crook surrenders.
-->Walking over, he grabbed the nearest bank robber that he hit with the door and lifted him so they were eye to eye. The man seemed terrified but he quickly schooled his emotions before taking a swing at Spider-Man. He didn't even look away as he caught the man's fist with a grip of steel.\\
Just like that, the fight left the man's eyes.
* In ''ComicBook/{{Shazam}}'' fanfiction ''Fanfic/HereThereBeMonsters'', Ibac shows off his greatly-enhanced strength by grabbing and holding Captain Marvel's fist during their first brawl.
-->He rocketed his mighty fist forward and slammed it into Ibac's mouth.\\
The villain's mohawked head ratcheted back. For a moment, Cap was sure he had done some damage, and sent his other fist forward to follow up on it. But Ibac's larger hand caught Marvel's fist, and held it firmly. Cap was astonished.

* ''Fanfic/{{Boldores and Boomsticks}}'': Even after Yang uses her Semblance to massively boost her strength, Tapu Koko is able to stop her punch dead without budging.

* In ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDoom'', Superman catches Ace's punch with the most peaceful expression. Ace continues to pound Superman's face, and the latter barely flinches.
* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueCrisisOnTwoEarths''. Superwoman catches Batman's punch, then deliberately breaks a rib in retaliation with a FingerPokeOfDoom. Owlman being Batman's EvilCounterpart also catches a punch thrown by Batman (it helps that he's wearing PoweredArmor).

* One of Ada's punches are blocked this way in ''Anime/ResidentEvilDamnation''. Played with in that the punch was caught at full extension.

* Done by ComicBook/{{Brainiac}} to one of Superman's punches in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanUnbound''. Later in the film, Superman returns the favor.

* ''WesternAnimation/SupermanRedSon''. Wonder Woman effortlessly catches Superman's punch, to his shock as in this alternate reality no-one has truly matched his strength before.

* Bane does this both fights with [[Franchise/{{Batman}} The Dark Knight]] himself in ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises''. A notable contrast is done with both fights. The first fight, he is stopped so dead, Bane forces Batman to punch himself in the face. The second fight, Batman gets his hand free and lands his first blow on Bane's mask, changing the tide of the fight.
* ''Film/TheMatrix'':
** In the subway fight, Agent Smith stops Neo's punch by grabbing his wrist, but Neo immediately extends his fingers to jab him in the throat.
** At the end, Neo performs an arm catch when Agent Smith is trying to beat him down, then twists his arm and kicks him away. Originally this was planned as a recurring motif in the film - Morpheus would do it to Neo, Agent Smith would do it to Morpheus, and so on. This was replaced with the BringIt hand gesture.
* ''Film/TheMatrixReloaded'': Agent Johnson catches Neo's punch, causing him to realize the Agents have been upgraded.
* ''Film/TheMatrixResurrections'': Neo catches Morpheus' punch twice during a spar.
* ''Film/UndercoverBrother''. When Conspiracy Brother tries to punch Lance in the face, Sistah Girl effortlessly catches and holds his fist.
* ''Film/BatmanAndRobin''. While Robin is fighting Bane he throws a punch at Bane's head. Bane catches his hand and throws him down a flight of stairs.

* In ''Film/HotFuzz'', [[BigBad Simon Skinner]] catches [[TheHero Nicholas Angel's]] fist and crushes it. A few seconds later, Angel returns the favor.
* In ''Film/KungFuHustle,'' [[ArrogantKungFuGuy The Beast]] combines this with the NoSell to demonstrate just how powerful and skilled he is compared to the Landlord & Landlady, first by performing a ''foot catch'' on Landlady's table-shattering kick, and then by catching and twisting Landlord's arm with enough force to rip his shirt sleeve to shreds, and then doing the same to a length of wood Landlady tried to jab into his face, twisting it to splinters.
* ''Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse'':
** ''Film/ManOfSteel'': General Zod catches Superman's punch and immediately retaliates with an uppercut of his own.
** ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'': Superman catches Doomsday's punch and twists his arm. Since Doomsday is so huge, he has to use both hands to do it.
** ''Film/Shazam2019'': After acquiring super powers of his own, Dr. Sivana catches Shazam's punch. Near the end, Shazam does this to Sivana.
* ''Film/PacificRimUprising'': Obsidian Fury catches Gipsy Avenger's punch before retaliating with a stronger one of its own.
* ''Film/XMenApocalypse'': En Sabah Nur does this to both Quicksilver and Professor X in the physical world and on the astral plane, respectively. Apocalypse then twists Peter's arm, and he ''crushes'' Xavier's fist.
* ''Film/FrightNight1985''. Charlie, Amy and the vampire Jerry Dandrige are at a nightclub, with Jerry trying to seduce Amy. Charlie tries to punch Jerry but Jerry catches Charlie's hand.
* In ''Film/{{Deadpool|2016}}'', Angel Dust does one to Colossus and crushes his hand as well, while earlier no-selling a few punches from him. This shows just how powerful Angel Dust really is.

* ''Franchise/JamesBond'':
** ''Film/GoldenEye''. After Boris got into a fight with Natalya at the Janus Base in Cuba, he walks towards her after the guards restrain her and says "Don't ''ever'', do that again!" which Natalya replies with "This is not one of your games Boris, ''real'' people will ''die''! You pathetic little worm!". Boris tries to punch her out of anger, but Alec Trevelyan catches his arm just in time and orders him to check the computer to see if she did anything that would stop their plan.
** ''Film/NeverSayNeverAgain''. During the fight between Bond and the SPECTRE assassin at Shrublands, Bond throws a punch at the assassin and the assassin calmly grabs Bond's fist, demonstrating his tremendous strength.
* ''Film/JohnWickChapter2'': Doing this to a push dagger just gets you an ImpaledPalm. John Wick just keeps on pushing and pushes it into their heart.
* ''Film/AlienResurrection''. Hybrid-Ripley does a full-arm extension catch of a basketball thrown hard at her head, though the subsequent bit where she shrugs off being smacked in the face with a dumbbell is [[MadeOfIron far more impressive.]]
* ''Enter the Fat Dragon'': Creator/SammoHung's character Ah Lung is cast as a mook for a film starring a BruceLeeClone, but the clone is an arrogant bully and starts hitting Lung for real. Eventually, Lung has enough and stops the clone's punch by catching his wrist and squeezing before kicking his ass.
* ''Film/SpeedRacer'': A ninja attacks the Racer family at night, and makes the mistake of taking a swing at [[PapaWolf Pops Racer]]. Pops catches the ninja's punch without a blink and effortlessly puts him into a belly-to-back cross-chest hold. How the large and admittedly ponderous-looking Pops Racer is capable of such a feat is revealed when the camera zooms in on the class ring Pops is wearing: Greco-Roman Wrestling State Champion.
-->'''Ninja:''' [[OhCrap Uh oh]].
* Downplayed ''Film/{{Predestination}}''. A [[TimePolice temporal agent]] catches a punch thrown by the Fizzle Bomber, only to get knocked out by a punch from the Bomber's other hand.

* In ''Literature/OfMiceAndMen'', Curley is beating up Lennie. As Curley swings at him, Lennie grabs his fist and holds onto it, then crushes it with his great strength, without even meaning to.
* In ''Literature/{{Citadel}}'', when Duncan challenged [[TheJuggernaut Coach Achala]], Achala caught one of his punches and Duncan's whole arm broke.

* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'':
** Clark does it many times, even against Kara and Zod.
** [[spoiler:Also against Oliver / ComicBook/{{Darkseid}} in the GrandFinale.]]
** Aldar and Doomsday both pull it on Clark.
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
** "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS6E19SeeingRed Seeing Red]]", Warren does it while under the influence of orbs that give him super strength, and breaks the guy's hand.
** In "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS6E21TwoToGo Two to Go]]", Spike does this during the Demon Trials, and discovers it's not a good idea when your opponent has [[KillItWithFire flaming fists]].
* Series/{{Angel}} and his son Connor do this a few times. So does VampireHunter Holtz when he first meets Justine in "[[Recap/AngelS03E10Dad Dad]]" -- she's not impressed and follows it up by headbutting him.
* ''Series/JukenSentaiGekiranger'' - Retsu / Geki Blue's brother Gou reappears after several years as a rabid WolfMan. While Gou's the same age as before the transformation, he's not happy to learn the kid brother he remembers as a crybaby is now both a fellow martial artist and a superhero. After an argument about whether Retsu can handle it, he tries to prove his point by throwing a punch -- and is very surprised when Retsu catches his fist and pushes him back.
* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}''. In "Hammer of the Gods" a bunch of pagan gods get together to stop the Apocalypse, only for Lucifer to turn up and CurbStompBattle them all. At one point, he does a punch catch to [[UsefulNotes/{{Voudoun}} Baron Samedi]]. We don't see what happens after Lucifer catches his fist, but it involves a lot of [[GoryDiscretionShot blood splattering against the wall]].
* ''Series/{{The Flash|2014}}'': In the episode "Grodd Lives", the Flash tries to sucker-punch Grodd with a super-sonic punch starting 5 miles away. Unfortunately Grodd senses the Flash's intentions and charges in to grab the punch and hurl Flash away.
* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager''. Tuvok does this in "[[Recap/StarTrekVoyagerS3E18Rise Rise]]" when one of the other illogical humanoids questions his right to give orders. As he's stronger than he looks, Tuvok then squeezes the fist just enough to cause pain, though not to cripple (which would be illogical). He does it again during his BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind in "[[Recap/StarTrekVoyagerS4E9RandomThoughts Random Thoughts]]". As YourMindMakesItReal, his opponent feels the sensation physically; as he's an AssholeVictim, Tuvok doesn't stop until he collapses.

* In ''Series/{{Preacher|2016}}'', The Saint of Killers easily does this to Jesse.
* ''Series/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths2019'': Lex Luthor has been going through the multiverse killing various Supermen. He confronts the Clark Kent from ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', only to find his kryptonite has no effect because Clark gave up his powers to start a family. Lex angrily tries to punch him, but Clark, who despite not having powers is twice his size and heavily muscled, catches his punch and knocks him down with a punch from his other hand.
* A variation in ''Series/IronFist2017''. Trying this trope straight with the Iron Fist would break your hand, so when Davos gains the power of the Fist, Danny Rand grabs his arm instead, stopping the blow from landing.
* ''Series/Titans2018''. Kory does a nastier version by picking up a fork during a BarBrawl and 'catching' the punch on the sharp end.

* Wrestling/MarkHenry also pulled this off once in a Wrestling/WWERaw match with Wrestling/{{Carlito|Colon}}. Then, he proceded to squeeze Carlito's fist in his hand for extra humiliation.

* KOS-MOS blocks one of T-elos' punches this way in the third ''VideoGame/{{Xenosaga}}'' game. She's alot stronger than her so she breaks her arm doing it. T-elos does this to Ziggy just before the second fight.
* Wesker does this to Chris in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5'' proving just how much stronger he's become after being reborn.
* ''VideoGame/DoomEternal'':
** A subverted example appears as part of a [[FinishingMove Glory Kill]]. The Marauder (an EvilCounterpart to the Doom Slayer) easily catches the Slayer's fist and looks at him smugly. Since the fist he caught happened to be the same one the Slayer's [[BladeBelowTheShoulder arm-mounted blade]] is attached to, the Slayer promptly responds by extending the blade deep into his skull.
** In a flashback to when the Doom Slayer [[spoiler:was Doomguy, he was arrested by the Night Sentinels and sentenced to GladiatorGames. Doomguy catches an opponent's punch and knocks him out with his other hand.]]

* In ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureACrackInTime'' Sigmund the robot ends up fighting [[spoiler: Alister]] at the game's climax. He tries punching him with one fist and he catches it. He tries punching him with his other arm and the same thing happens. Then a cucukoo bird pops out of a chest compartment and whacks him in the face a few times before he knocks Sigmund away.
* In ''VideoGame/InjusticeGodsAmongUs'' Insurgency Deathstroke catches two of Regime Franchise/WonderWoman's punches, showing how good he is fighting against the amazon's old and predictable moves.
* Kyuu does this in Chapter 7 of ''VideoGame/RakenzarnTales'' when the weaker Samuel tries a sneak attack. It also serves to show how Kyuu has gotten more skilled over the game in comparison to how he was winded from the tutorial at the start.
* ''Videogame/DwarfFortress'': Adventurers can do this, and not just with their hands, if they spot the enemy is about to throw a punch and grab the attacker's hand, interrupting the attack. It works with other attacks and their corresponding body parts as well, leading to foot, horn and beak catches among others. Remarkably, this is a very necessary part to one of the most lethal techniques in the fandom's FantasticFightingStyle, as having their fist in your hand makes it a cinch to put it in a lock and snap their wrist in two, or do [[CombatPragmatist something brutal]].
* In ''VideoGame/{{Vindictus}}'', this is [[TheBigGuy Karok's]] signature anti-boss move Clash. He catches the boss's incoming blow, forces it back, then throws them off-balance and hits them back. It doesn't matter what they wield, as long as it's a melee attack, but the downside is that he can only do it when the boss tries a smash move on him.

* Some {{Giant Mook}}s can do this to you in ''VideoGame/IndianaJonesAndTheEmperorsTomb''. If it happens, Indy will stare at his caught fist in disbelief before getting punched back. However, if you hit the secondary attack button before the counter, Indy will [[GroinAttack kick his opponent between the legs]], knocking them down for some free hits.
* In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries'', the punch catch is a possible counter to various mooks. In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'' the counter button is also the same button as 'interrogate', so if you press it as a Riddler informant swings at you, Batman might catch his fist, squeeze it until the guy falls to his knees in pain, and ''then'' interrogate him.

* In ''Webcomic/LeagueOfSuperRedundantHeroes'', Mary-Sue the FlyingBrick can catch Apocalizard's fist [[http://superredundant.com/?comic=466-gesture casually and without looking]], despite the supervillain being two or three times her size.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans''
** In "Apprentice", Robin tries to punch Slade who just catches it with his hand.
** In "The Beast Within", as Cyborg wails on Adonis with multiple punches, he finally recovers enough between hits to catch Cyborg's fist and squeeze hard enough to cause sparks to form from Cyborg's fist.
* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'':
** In "The Demon's Quest", Ra's al Ghul's henchman Abu keeps shoving Batman, who says, "I'll call that...strike one." then "Okay, that's ''two''." Eventually, Abu throws a punch at him. Batman catches it and says, "And that's three!" He crushes Abu's fist and throws him over his shoulder.
** In "Robin's Reckoning", Robin does this to Zucco, and then proceeds to give the mobster the beating of his life. Batman barely shows up in time to prevent his sidekick from killing the man.
* ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'':
** In "The Company Man", when Hank finally tells off the idiotic Bostonian he's been stuck with, he throws a punch at him. Hank catches it without missing a beat.
** During a flashback in "Be True To Your Fool", when a drunken Hank pokes a beefy guy in a punk rock bar, the then-in-shape and badass Bill intercepts the fist.
* ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'':
** When Superman's drained powers start to return in "Solar Power", Luminus makes a last-ditch attack on him. He gets a few punches in, and then Superman recovers enough to catch his fist and [[CrushingHandshake painfully squeeze it]] moments before decking him.
** In "Father's Day", Kalibak catches Superman's punch and then punches him with his other hand. At the end of the fight, Superman catches Kalibak's punch and then twists his wrist, sending Kalibak to his knees in pain.
** During the final fight in "Legacy", ComicBook/{{Darkseid}} catches one of Superman's punches after Superman hits him a few times. He crushes Superman's fist until Superman punches him away with his other hand.
--->'''Darkseid:''' [[WhoDares You DARE strike me?!?]]
* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'':
** In the first season episode "Agendas", when Match punches Superboy [[spoiler: after Superboy uses a [[HourOfPower Shield patch]]]], Superboy catches it before [[PunchedAcrossTheRoom sending him flying]].
** Black Beetle ''loves'' this trope, to show off just how much stronger he is than everyone else. In "Before Dawn", he does it to Batgirl, Wonder Girl, Superboy, and Blue Beetle ''in the same fight''!

* In ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'', Megabyte does this to Matrix.

* In ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', Peter tries to punch Creator/LiamNeeson, who catches and crushes Peter's fist. Peter then follows up with his other fist and Neeson does it again.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'':
** In "The Winning Edge", after Mason Forrest gives himself super strength with the Slappers, he catches Batman's punch by the wrist and painfully squeezes it before lifting and slamming him.
** In "Bloodsport", Stalker catches Batman's fist and painfully squeezes his hand. Batman tries to punch him with his other hand, but Stalker catches and squeezes it too. Batman escapes by kicking him.

** When Hank finally tells off the idiotic Bostonian he's been stuck with, he throws a punch at him. Hank catches it without missing a beat.

** During a flashback in "Stand By Your Fool", when a drunken Hank pokes a beefy guy in a punk rock bar, the then-in-shape and badass Bill intercepts the fist.

* In ''Manga/PokemonAdventures'', Blue does to Red twice in the exact same manner. The first is when he takes down his Poliwhirl, and the second is when he criticizes him for sending Eevee to Professor Oak's lab, leaving both it and Oak to be captured by Team Rocket.

* In ''ComicBook/{{Preacher}}'', Jesse Custer does just this to a punch thrown by Cassidy, the Irish vampire. Stops it dead. Of course, because Cassidy has SuperStrength as a result of being a vampire, Jesse breaks every bone in his hand doing it, but Cassidy doesn't know that, and because Jesse doesn't flinch or emote in any way, Cassidy is intimidated into meekly leaving. As soon as Cassidy is gone, Jesse has [[ActionGirlfriend Tulip]] and Amy immediately drive him to the hospital.

* ''Series/Titan2018''. Kory does a nastier version by picking up a fork during a BarBrawl and 'catching' the punch on the sharp end.

Compare BareHandedBladeBlock for when catching a sword instead of a fist and PunchParry for when the fist is blocked with another fist.

* One of Franchise/{{Batman}}'s favorite techniques, since it emphasizes just how immovable and unstoppable he is to the superstitious and cowardly criminals.
** ''ComicBook/RedRobin'': Tim will grab an opponent's punch on occasion but as he doesn't have his mentor's bulk or raw strength he generally moves with the punch and uses it as the first step in grabbing them in a hold or temporarily keeping control of their arm during a fight.

** ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton'', Superman catches Darkseid's fist during their final battle.

[[caption-width-right:350:"[[VerbThis Block this]]." "[[RhetoricalRequestBlunder If you insist]]."]]