History Main / SupernaturalMartialArts

One can achieve amazing things [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower by properly training the body.]] But in fiction, it's possible to gain even greater ability through daily meditation and training ''[[EnlightenmentSuperpowers the mind.]]'' The end result being, the characters condition themselves to exceed their human limitations until they unlock [[KiManipulation their true potential.]] As such, it's a staple of martial arts related media, {{Anime}}, and {{Fighting Game}}s. It often overlaps with MartialArtsAndCrafts and frequently includes the use of {{Dangerous Forbidden Technique}}s.

* ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'': Hard training will not only let you do KiManipulation, but give you SuperStrength, at the very least specific [[RapidFireFisticuffs forms]] of SuperSpeed, SuperToughness if not outright NighInvulnerability, [[HealingFactor massively amplify your recovery abilities]] and let you [[MartialArtsAndCrafts use even the most unlikely things]] [[ImprobableWeaponUser as lethal implements of destruction]].

* Breathing Styles in ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba'' take the real-world concept of training breathing control and push it into the realm of fantasy, where these skills are the gateway to superhuman abilities that allow the [[DemonSlaying Demon Slayer Corps]] to stand on equal footing with their prey. Breathing Styles are categorized by ElementalMotifs, but [[StylizedForTheViewer despite appearances]] do not grant magical powers. However, later down the story more overt supernatural abilities are unveiled as the pinnacle of Breathing discipline; [[spoiler:[[PowerTattoo Demon Slayer Mark]], [[HyperAwareness Transparent World]], and finally [[HotBlade Crimson Blades]].]]

* ''Manga/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaVivid'' introduced the "Strike Arts", a magic-augmented close-combat martial arts form. Later, a character appears with knowledge of the "Kaiser Arts", basically a stronger form from the Ancient Belkan era. Belkan magic in general is essentially weapon-using magical martial arts that started by augmenting the user's strength, speed and defense, later moving on to elemental energy. The focus on physical enhancement distinguishes Belkan magic from the Mid-Childan style of FullContactMagic.

* ''Webcomic/OnePunchMan'' has the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist - it allows an 80-year old man to slice through extremely dangerous monsters like they were butter.

* In ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'', Hamon is an ancient form of martial arts that allows a human with the right potential to generate energy similar to [[ThePowerOfTheSun sunlight]] using precise breath control. Hamon is especially powerful against beings that are weak to sunlight such vampires, zombies, and the Pillar Men.
* In ''Manga/DragonsRioting'', Koei Sougetsu a martial art style taught to the main character by his father that leaves the rest of the cast whose abilities are normally [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower physical in nature]] in awe... despite this he primarily uses it to run away from [[WeaksauceWeakness attractive girls]].

** Connected to the above is Fishman Jujutsu and Merman Combat, which is much more focused on manipulating the water as a tangible substance, including to shape and form it.

* The post-apocalyptic world of ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' (and its prequel, ''Manga/FistOfTheBlueSky'', set in pre-[=WW2=] China) is the home of literally hundreds of different supernatural martial arts techniques, usually involving the manipulation of chi, either the users own or his opponents. The main one being of course the ''Hokuto Shinken (North Star Dipper Fist)'' used by main character Kenshiro, and his step brothers and fellow students Raoh, Toki and Jagi. By manipulating pressure points and chi channels, the Hokuto Shinken can be used both as an incredibly devastating weapon, causing your opponent to explode violently, or as a method of healing. There is also the ''Nanto Seiken (South Dipper Holy Fist)'' which is essentially the counterpart to the Hokuto Sinken, and involves using chi and pressure points to cause damage from the outside rather than the inside. It's used by both villains such as Shin and Souther, and heroes such as Rei. On top of these two, there are dozens of minor styles used by other characters.

* ''[[ComicBook/GIJoeARealAmericanHeroMarvel G.I. Joe]]'': When Creator/LarryHama is writing, ninja characters are nearly invincible. Storm Shadow can disappear from locked rooms with no windows. The first example was in issue 10, with Snake-Eyes slowing down his heart beat to fake death in order to fool Dr. Venom.
* ''ComicBook/NthManTheUltimateNinja'': John routinely uses a form of AsianRuneChant to affect his surroundings and screw with his enemies plans.

* ComicBook/RichardDragon, ComicBook/LadyShiva and their teacher The O-Sensei all have martial arts skills that extend to healing abilities and slowed aging, Dragon's has "evolved" into functional telekinesis.
* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': Originally most of Wonder Woman's abilities (outside of immortality) were the result of Amazon martial arts which granted her powers like SuperStrength, SuperSpeed, SuperReflexes, [[{{Telepathy}} mild telepathic abilities]] and [[NotQuiteFlight the ability to glide on air currents]]. It was implied any human could master these abilities with enough time and patience .

* ''Film/KungFuHustle'' is a {{Troperiffic}} AffectionateParody of all the over the top supernatural martial arts films to ever come out of Hong Kong. For example, there are two {{Musical Assassin}}s, a woman with a [[MakeMeWannaShout weaponized voice]], and a main villain who uses toad style kung.
* ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'': Films featuring Doctor Strange showcase a lot of the sorcerers using martial art moves in spellcasting, with many of their training sessions involving them practicing their posing. Many also use magic to generate swords, shields, javelins and whips. While not ''everyone'' can perform magic, a great deal of the populace have the potential for it and were once ordinary folk who stepped into the Sanctum. In ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'' Ned accidentally discovers he too is able to perform magic by picking up a sling ring and mimicking the poses that Strange did.

* Pai Mei from ''Film/KillBill''. His mastery of martial arts has granted him superhuman strength, speed, agility, balance and an extended lifespan (he is said to have been born before the year 1000 and lived all the way up to 2003). And then there's his "Five Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique".

* A variant in ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'' is used by Szeth, [[TheDreaded the Assassin in White.]] While highly-trained in martial arts of various styles, the martial arts themselves aren't magical. However, when coupled with the powers of Surgebinding, particularly [[GravityMaster Windrunning]], they become terrifyingly deadly. A soft style focused on grapples and throws can be absurdly lethal when coupled with the ability to change which direction gravity is pulling someone. At one point Szeth flows through an entire room of opponents, lightly touching them and sending them smashing into the ceiling far above.

* ''Series/IntoTheBadlands''' first season finale features monks who use this against Sunny. M K, when cut, also turns into a OneManArmy.
* ''Series/IronFist2017'' features Danny Rand AKA The Immortal Iron Fist performing Kung Fu while demonstrating increases speed and agility... and of course the [[EnhancedPunch Iron Fist.]]
* ''Series/MarcoPolo'' has the character of Hundred Eyes doing some kung fu of...questionable plausibility. The in-universe explanation is that he has access to all of the original works of Lao Tzu, the founder of Taoism (including secret ones, that were only accessible at his original monastery). The real explanation is probably that the directors just really like Wuxia movies (and likely knows that their audience does too: so they're putting it in to make all the "boring" history go down easier). The moves are all real, but their power-level is just a smidge too high. Nothing is so far out of the ordinary as to be ridiculous to the uninitiated, but far enough to raise the eyebrows of any dancer or actual martial artist. The series also has Jia Sidao, the Chinese prime minister, know some of these moves. The "Grasshopper" Technique that they both use was indeed a real thing (as was the practice of keeping grasshoppers and getting them to fight by tickling them). However, it did not actually let you defy the laws of physics. It is also not biologically possible to reset a dislocated joint on your own body, which Hundred Eyes does several times. Slightly justified in that Marco Polo is not a completely reliable narrator, and people at the time actually believed that martial artists manipulated the energy of the universe (chi or ki) to do things which people (wrongly) assumed were impossible. This belief is kind of the reason why this trope exists in the first place, so [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools its presence in the series is not ridiculous]]. Especially since removing the physics-defying moves would not affect the story's continuity.

** ''Series/GoseiSentaiDairanger'' is a Wuxia inspired Sentai show, in which the Rangers can [[KiManipulation manipulate their Ki]]. This gives them abilities like PlayingWithFire, [[GravityMaster mastery over gravity]] and being able to slow down or rewind time.

* ''Series/StarTrekPicard'': A Qowat Milat who has [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower completed the order's training]] can DodgeTheBullet while attacking SwordAndFist against multiple assailants with {{Ray Gun}}s. SuperReflexes are a superpower in the Franchise/TrekVerse because they were hitherto limited to Soong-type androids and Augments, and the Romulan warrior nuns are neither synths nor genetically-engineered.

** The Tome of Battle. Some Diamond Mind maneuvers allows you to [[TimeStandsStill slow time down]] by being really focused and good at hitting people with swords. The Desert Wind maneuver group, which creates fire (usually). The Shadow Hand maneuver group, which allows you to turn invisible, teleport, walk through walls, and create illusions by being really focused.

** Death Fist from ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}: Martial Arts'' combines martial arts and chi powers then backs up all of that with magic that allows you to alter yourself and opponent. There's also Dragon-Man Kung Fu where you learn to breathe fire.

* ''TabletopGame/AnimaBeyondFantasy'' has a whole system for building from scratch any kind of Supernatural Martial Arts technique. The official techniques are a varied bunch; among the weirdest we find a Rose-themed style of fencing and a KillSat invoking martial art.
* Mysticism in ''TabletopGame/RuneQuest'' is all about supernatural martial arts, usually gained by giving in to temptation while trying to AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence. (Frankly, a lot of monastic disciples are really there just to advance to the point where the temptations offered are ''really'' good.) Some non-mystic religions offer similar powers; notably, in Mongoose Publishing's Second Age books there's a brawler who can literally hit you so hard your ''parents'' die.

* Starting in ''VideoGame/DiabloII'', the Assassin is a member of clan that were originally sorcerers before they dedicated themselves to kill rogue sorcerers. As such they decided to forsake magic and instead focus on using technology and supernatural martial arts including the ability to attack enemies with their minds, meld with shadows to make themselves resistant to damage, kick fire at foes and run faster than the eye can see to kick someone. The Barbarian and Amazon may also count as some of their skills mix supernatural powers with combat expertise. The sequel ''VideoGame/DiabloIII'', the Monk takes over here with the Demon Hunter following behind.
* PowerFist techniques in ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'' allows for such various techniques as teleportation, the MegatonPunch, and, at maximum levels, punching a hole in the universe and making a black hole.

** [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII Zell Dincht]] can crack open yawning chasms with a punch, turn himself into an energy missile that can go through enemies, somersault-kick enemies high up into the stratosphere, and run around the world in less than five seconds as wind-up for an explosive punch. He can also do the now-famous "lift and toss mountain-sized enemies."

* ''VideoGame/PhantomDust'' has the ki school as one of its five skill sets. In addition to basic punches and kicks strong enough to put holes in solid conrete walls, it allows the player to [[InASingleBound jump thirty feet in the air]], [[SuperSpeed dash at lightning speeds]], [[KiManipulation fire ki blasts]], enhance their strength and walking speed, brush aside speeding fireballs and laser blasts, regenerate health, and apparently punch the memories out of their target, making them forget their skills.

** Same goes for Captain Falcon, what with his flaming punches, kicks and bearhugs.

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' are something between this and FullContactMagic, as bending is basically regular, real-world martial arts moves used by people who can cause [[ElementalPowers movement of a certain element]] to utilize the element more efficiently. All four bending styles are based off of real-world Chinese martial arts: Waterbending is Tai chi, airbending Baguazhang, firebending Northern Shaolin kung fu, and earthbending Hung Gar. Also as with real-world martial arts, they [[WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra evolve and change]] over long periods of time, with new schools spinning off of the ancient traditions.

** Toph Beifong's earthbending style is actually unique from the other earthbenders, and is based on Chu Gar (Southern Praying Mantis style, to be exact), which, incidentally, is said to have been created by a blind woman.

* ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'': The Xiaolin Warriors all have elemental powers which they combine with their martial arts abilities. The characters also use magical objects named Shen Gong Wu.

* ''Webcomic/KillSixBillionDemons'': Based as it is ([[FantasyKitchenSink partially]]) on eastern mythology, there are a ton of supernatural martial arts in the universe, both shown in-comic, described in TheRant in the "Manual of Hands and Feet" segments, or described in ''[[AllThereInTheManual Shattered Worlds]]''. Martial arts are separated into External and Internal arts (with some being both) depending on how they manipulate the user's [[TheFlameOfLife Atum]] and tend to have fanciful and descriptive names such as [[PowerPalms Empty Palms]], [[RazorSharpHand Pattram Sword Hand]], or [[UseYourHead Head of John]].

* ''WesternAnimation/UnicornWarriorsEternal'': Seng [[(reincarnated as Alfie)]] is a cosmic monk, combining Shaolin martial arts with cosmic awareness and mystic energy manipulation.

* ''Manga/GiantRobo'' combines this with an extensive RuleOfCool. [[MemeticBadass Alberto the Shockwave]] is probably the best example.

* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': Originally most of Franchise/WonderWoman's abilities (outside of immortality) were the result of being a master of Amazonian martial arts, which included training in mild telepathic abilities and were implied to be something any human could learn with enough patience and time.

** Spoofed with the Wuxi Finger Hold in the [[WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda first movie]]'s final battle scene -- flexing a single finger causes a massive blast wave that may or may not disintegrate the target.

* In ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba'', Breathing Styles, it is physical conditioning to the traditional Japanese swordsmanship within the setting, it takes the realistic concept of training breathing control found in general sports to push into grand fantasy levels, where developing such art pushes the common warrior to super human territory, gaining strength, speed, durability to stand a chance against the far more unnatural demons. Breathing Styles are categorized by elemental motifs, they don't grant outright elemental powers, what is seen during battles is just visual flair, however, later down the story more overt supernatural abilities are unveiled as the pinnacle of Breathing discipline: [[spoiler:Demon Slayer Mark, a crest marked into a slayer to show their super human abilities has been amplified; Transparent World, the slayer develops hyper perception, seeing the world in slow motion and through opponents organs; and finally Crimson Blades, heating up swords through grip strength alone, mimicking sunlight properties which is the main threat to demons]].

* In ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara 4'', Kyogoku Maria [[ClothFu channels]] her cloth ribbons through this kind of method, as she is a sorceress.

* ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaStorm'' and ''Series/PowerRangersJungleFury'' both feature organizations that teach Supernatural Martial Arts: students of ''Ninja Storm'''s Wind and Thunder Ninja Academies can pull off [[ElementalPowers elemental]] effects, where the monks of the Order of the Claw in ''Jungle Fury'' are trained in the use of the AnimalBattleAura. The same also applied to their ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' counterparts, ''Series/NinpuuSentaiHurricaneger'' and ''Series/JukenSentaiGekiranger'', respectively.

** A common misconception is that there's a line between martial arts and ki control. [[TruthInTelevision In actuality]], controlling one's ki is important to several real-life martial arts disciplines, therefore the supernatural part isn't the ki itself, but rather how it's being used (a classic facet of wuxia). One of the best demonstrations of this was when Gohan taught Videl how to fly: while Videl was highly skeptical at first, she was able to learn to harness her own ki relatively quickly because of her own martial arts training. In the same way, Spopovich's ability to use ki in spite of his horrid technique tips off the heroes that something's seriously wrong.

* The Jeskai Way, one of the clans of Tarkir in ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'', practices these. It's telling that the main [[KillEmAll Wrath effect]] in "Khans of Tarkir", [[http://media-dominaria.cursecdn.com/avatars/61/931/635451630633201980.png End Hostilities]], represents a particular Jeskai martial arts move that wipes out everything in the area.

* ''Anime/TheGodOfHighSchool'' revolves around Charyeok, a supernatural martial art that allows users to borrow power from [[AllMythsAreTrue mythological entities]] to enhance their own abilities.

* ''Manga/{{Beastars}}'': Chapter 160 introduces "Imaginary Chimera", where practitioners use an obsession with other species to project an illusory avatar that's a fusion of their species and the species they're obsessed with (hence the name). Its existence is almost universally despised, being cited as "too weird", ([[TheSeriesHasLeftReality which considering all the weird stuff that goes on in the last arc, is saying quite a bit]]). Not helping matters is that [[AbortedArc it was supposedly going to be Legosi's trump card in his final confrontation with Melon before its existence was completely forgotten about after just a few chapters]].

** [[OldMaster Lao G]] practices a martial arts style unique to himself, Geo-Fist, which [[ItRunsOnNonsensoleum grows stronger the older the user is]]. It also prevents him from feeling pain, and, when mastered, can restore his body's musculature to that of someone in their prime.

* ''Franchise/DragonBall'': Thanks to the wuxia influences on the series, the story jumps into ki moves very early on with the introduction of the Kamehameha. More uses include flying, cloning yourself, reading minds, teleportation, and endless other examples. For quite a long time however they are used primarily as special moves due to the amount of ki required to use them, but at about the time the ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' split occurs, they start becoming more common in battle. In the early ''Manga/DragonBall'', a character knowing how to use their ki, such as Tao Pai-Pai and Tenshinhan, is a clear indicator that they are someone to be taken seriously, and thus there's a clear divide between them and the more generic fighters and wrestlers who tend to be knocked out early in the Tenkaichi Budokai by the ki-using characters.

** A common misconception is that there's a line between martial arts and ki control. [[TruthInTelevision In actuality]], controlling one's ki is important to several real-life martial arts disciplines, therefore the supernatural part isn't the ki itself, but rather how it's being used (a classic facet of wuxia). One of the best demonstrations of this was when Gohan taught Videl how to fly: while Videl was highly skeptical at first, she was able to learn to harness her own ki relatively quickly because of her own martial arts training.

* Creator/MarvelComics invokes this with many characters such as Shang-Chi, the Master of Kung-Fu, and every single one of the many scions of the [[ComicBook/ImmortalIronFist Immortal Weapons.]]. They all have various chi-based abilities.

* ''Literature/TheGardellaVampireChronicles''.

* ''Manga/{{Beastars}}'': Chapter 160 introduces "Imaginary Chimera", where practitioners use an obsession with other species to project an illusory avatar that's a fusion of their species and the species their obsessed with (hence the name). Its existence is almost universally despised, being cited as "too weird", ([[TheSeriesHasLeftReality which considering all the weird stuff that goes on in the last arc, is saying quite a bit]]). Not helping matters is that [[AbortedArc it was supposedly going to be Legosi's trump card in his final confrontation with Melon before its existence was completely forgotten about after just a few chapters]].

* The ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' series of video games. Characters can hurl fireballs and even shoot lasers from Ki attacks. In ''VideoGame/MortalKombatDeadlyAlliance'', characters can still fight on despite having what looks like a giant World War 1 trench sword sticking out of them from an "impaling" move.
** Special mention to EvilSorceror Quan Chi, whose martial art skills actually stem from using his magic to become an InstantExpert in fighting styles like Tang Soo Do and Escrima. At one point he loses access to his powers, and it transpires that his actual, native skill level is closer to a novice.
* ''VideoGame/JadeEmpire'', in addition to more conventional martial arts, has Ki-powered styles that involve throwing fire from your hands, bringing down storms of hail, and causing localized earth tremors, among other things. Even one of the "conventional" Martial Styles lets you grow Wolverine-like claws out of your knuckles.
** And don't forget the martial arts that turn you into various monsters.
* ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' games let you throw fireballs, or even make your body a fireball.
** Averted with Guile's Sonic Boom. In one licensed strategy guide, techniques such as Ryu and Ken's ''hadouken'' fireball were stated to be a form of KiAttack, hence a few frames of lag in-game after they used it - the fighters were weaponizing their own life energy. Guile had no such lag after using his projectile attack, and that was explained as he was [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower literally making a sonic boom by just swinging his fists really fast]].

* ''[[VideoGame/AdvancedVariableGeo Advanced V.G.]]'' features an entire cast of [[KiManipulation Ki-enhanced]] waitresses, who're competing in an MMA tournament. It was later adapted into [[TheAnimeOfTheGame the 3-part OVA.]]

* PowerFist techniques in ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'' allows for such various techniques as teleportation, the MegatonPunch, and, at maximum levels, punching a hole in the universe and making a black hole.
** In a story sense, something like this seems to apply to anyone who fights in this series. As a general rule, demons tend to be stronger than humans but there are some humans, like Almaz who can fight on par with demons.
* Taking the [[BareFistedMonk Unarmed]] skill tree in ''VideoGame/DungeonsOfDredmor'' rewards you with bonuses to Magic Power and Aethereal Damage once you reach the highest levels.
* ''VideoGame/BloodyRoar'': In addition to the standard ki attacks and elemental powers, each member of the cast is capable of [[OurWerebeastsAreDifferent transforming into werebeasts]], which greatly enhances their natural fighting abilities and is the series trademark.
* Starting in ''VideoGame/DiabloII'', the Assassin is a member of clan that were originally sorcerers before they dedicated themselves to kill rogue sorcerers. As such they decided to forsake magic and instead focus on using technology and supernatural martial arts including the ability to attack enemies with their minds, meld with shadows to make themselves resistant to damage, kick fire at foes and run faster than the eye can see to kick someone. The Barbarian and Amazon may also count as some of their skills mix supernatural powers with combat expertise. The sequel ''VideoGame/DiabloIII'', the Monk takes over here with the Demon Hunter following behind.
* Magma Dragoon in ''VideoGame/MegaManX4'' is technically using technology rather than magic, but as a walking ShoutOut to ''Street Fighter'', he has this aesthetic (firing literal fireballs out of his hands and setting his punches and kicks on fire).
* The Eternal Soldier from ''VideoGame/NexusClash'' is, depending on the player, either a wielder of [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower Charles Atlas Superpowers]] or this. Or both.

* ''VideoGame/SuperDarylDeluxe'': Daryl's unique fighting style (learned from a self-help book, "Interacting with Others") includes throwing out fire with punches and kicks, but that's on the ''mundane'' side of what he learns to do. Shooting rubber ducks with a bow and arrow or spontaneously summoning whack-a-moles is where he crosses over into IKnowKungFaux.
* In ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara 4'', Kyogoku Maria [[ClothFu channels]] her cloth ribbons through this kind of method, as she is a sorceress.