Japanese Title: Kapoerer VS Fushigidane! Hand to Hand Showdown!!
Original Airdate: September 28th, 2000
US Airdate: September 15th, 2001
On the way to Ecruteak, a renegade Tauros dashes past our heroes. Seeing an old man in Tauros's path, Ash and Bulbasaur battle the break-away beast. The old man is impressed with Ash's skill and asks him to come to his dojo. Ash quickly realizes the old man is looking for a new Shihan (master teacher) to take over, but the old man's granddaughter believes she will inherit the dojo, even though her method of training has more to do with fitness than fighting. Who will be selected as Shihan?
Tropes
- Break the Haughty: Chigusa thinks her training methods are awesome, until back-to-back butt-kickings from Shiro and Ash knock her ego down a few pegs.
- *Crack!* "Oh, My Back!": Kenzo has this happen just as he starts his battle with Shiro, and his Machoke follows suit. His granddaughter Chigusa and her Hitmontop have to take over.
- The Dreaded: Shiro, the "Dojo Destroyer".
- Grumpy Old Man: Kenzo doesn't like how his granddaughter is running the dojo.
- Heir to the Dojo: Chigusa, even though Kenzo is afraid that she's not up to the task and threatens to have Ash take over instead to help motivate her.
- Is It Something You Eat?: Ash isn't quite clear on what a "shihan" is.
Ash: I think I had that once at a Chinese restaurant.
(everyone face-faults) Brock: Ash, don't you know anything? A shihan is the master trainer of a dojo!
Ash: I thought it was chicken in a garlic sauce.
Kenzo: You're confusing me with General Tso.
- Jerkass Has a Point: Kenzo is harsh, but he does identify the weaknesses in Chigusa's tactics — namely, that she cares more about Hitmontop's attacks looking cool rather than doing real damage and that she's too out of sync with Hitmontop to properly command him in battle. He also yells at her when she doesn't quite grasp that she would've lost her first battle against Shiro had Team Rocket not crashed the party.
- Spectacular Spinning: Subverted. Hitmontop's Rapid Spin/Triple Kick combo is devastating when it actually hits, but the attacks can be dodged if the opposing trainer is paying attention, and just using this combo leaves Hitmontop vulnerable to counterattacks that he can't see coming.
- Technician vs. Performer: In favor of Technician — Chigusa is too busy making her Hitmontop's attacks look good to make sure that they actually work.
- Took a Level in Badass: Chigusa and her Hitmontop, thanks to Ash's help.
- Villainous Rescue: Downplayed. Team Rocket were just trying to steal two pokemon but they inadvertantly prevented Chigusa from losing her battle against Shiro.
