Baki Hanma is a young fighter who yearns to follow in the footsteps of his father, Yujiro, and become the strongest fighter in the world. Through that he trains tirelessly and fights constantly to hone his skills and develop his body to achieve these goals. Many intense battles lay ahead of Baki as he goes about his quest to be the best and ultimately take the title of "King" from his father.
Best Episodes of Baki the Grappler
Lullaby
S1 Ep14
8.4
9th Apr 2001
Baki fights his own father, Yujiro.
Gaia
S1 Ep11
8.4
19th Mar 2001
Baki fights Gaia (an alter ego of Nomura).
Demon
S1 Ep8
8.2
26th Feb 2001
Baki's father, Yujiro Hanma, shows up after Baki's fight with Kaoru Hanayama. After the story of how Yujiro met Baki's mother is told, Yujiro and Hanayama fight.
Medical Miracle
S1 Ep23
8.2
18th Jun 2001
The fight between Doppo Orochi and Yujiro Hanma continues; after Dr. Shinogi Kureha performs a medical miracle, he demonstrates his physical abilities to the crowd; one of Kureha's former patients visits Baki.
The Division
S1 Ep9
8.2
5th Mar 2001
Baki explains to his mother why he fights, visits Hanayama in the hospital, and trains. After a brief encounter with Yujiro, who killed the Yasha Ape, which made Baki angry since Yasha was Baki's friend after their fight, they decide that Baki and Yujiro will fight in one month. Baki then meets Captain Gerry Strydum, who tells him of a mercenary group in Hokkaido, and Baki decides to go there to defeat them.
Rencounter
S2 Ep24
8.2
24th Dec 2001
In flashback, the United States government sends its special forces to South America to kill a young Yujiro.
The Right To Fight
S1 Ep19
8.1
14th May 2001
Kiyosumi Katou spars with the fighters in Doppo Orochi's dojo; Kozue Matsumoto interferes with some bullies that are bothering Baki Hanma, which causes problems for her later; several fighters petition Mitsunari Tokugawa to be Baki's next opponent; Baki trains with Izou Motobe.
Spirit
S1 Ep6
8.1
12th Feb 2001
After being knocked down by Baki, Hanayama flies into a rage in his office. Afterward, he visits his sick mother in the hospital. Also, Baki visits Yuri and his sister, Nina in the hospital before his rematch with Hanayama.
Head On Collison!
S1 Ep22
8.1
4th Jun 2001
Dr. Shinogi Kureha reveals to his brother, Kousho Shinogi, the Cord-Cutter, why he is fighting Baki Hanma; Doppo Orochi and Yujiro Hanma fight.
The Cord-Cutter
S1 Ep18
8.0
7th May 2001
Baki Hanma fights Kousho Shinogi, a master of Cord-Cut Karate.
Gripper
S1 Ep7
8.0
19th Feb 2001
Baki and Hanayama continue to fight, and Hanayama's tattoo is explained.
Battlefield
S1 Ep10
8.0
12th Mar 2001
Captured by the mercenaries as soon as he parachutes in, Baki must free himself and fight his way out against Nomura's jungle warfare team (Copperhead, Kuraishi, and the Chiba twin brothers, Sanada and Chiba). Meanwhile, an old friend warns Strydum of Gaia's fighting ability.
Coming Home
S1 Ep16
7.9
23rd Apr 2001
Antonio Igari, a pro wrestler, tells Mitsunari Tokugawa, an old man who runs an underground fighting circuit, about Baki Hanma and his recent global travels. In the narrative, Baki is seen training and fighting, and, while in Brazil, he visits a fighting master named Dickson. Learning of the circuit, Baki returns to Japan to meet with Tokugawa, and he fights Tokugawa's bodyguards to earn a chance to enter the circuit.
The King's Ransom
S1 Ep24
7.9
25th Jun 2001
Baki fights Dr. Shinogi Kureha.
Worst Episodes of Baki the Grappler
Reflections
S1 Ep15
6.9
16th Apr 2001
A recap episode. Detective Kido reflects upon his experiences with Baki Hanma, and Hitoshi Kuriyagawa tells Kido about Baki's relationship with his mother and his fight with Yujiro.
The Finals
S2 Ep20
6.9
3rd Dec 2001
Baki and Jack Hammer think about the training and hardships they've endured to reach their current level of ability.
Eras End
S2 Ep8
6.9
10th Sep 2001
In the second A-Block match of round two, Igari faces Kinryuzan; in the first B-Block match of round two, Retsu Kaio faces Mount Toba.
Darkness from Light
S2 Ep3
7.1
6th Aug 2001
Baki saves the Yasha Ape's son from Katsumi; in the third B-Block match of round one, Hanayama fights the Japanese Kenpo master Inagi Bunnoshin; in the fourth B-Block match of round one, Roland Gustaf, a catch-as-catch-can wrestler, fights Orochi Katsumi.
Fighting the Past
S2 Ep7
7.1
3rd Sep 2001
The fourth D-Block match of round one continues as Shinogi Kureha and Shinogi Kousho continue to fight; Baki faces Zulu in the first A-Block match of round two.
Deception
S2 Ep14
7.1
22nd Oct 2001
Igari begs Baki to let him win, and they fight in the first match of the quarter-finals.
Reverse
S2 Ep2
7.2
30th Jul 2001
In the third A-Block match of round one, heavyweight kickboxing champion Rob Robinson takes on the professional wrestler Anton Igari; in the fourth A-Block match of round one, Motobe Izo fights the grand sumo Kinryuzan; in the first B-Block match of round one, the Sambo master Sergei Taktaroff fights Retsu Kaio, a master of Chinese Kenpo; in the second B-Block match of round one, Kato fights the son of the Yasha Ape.
Measure of a Man
S2 Ep9
7.3
17th Sep 2001
In the second B-Block match of round two, Hanayama faces Orochi Katsumi.
The Chained Patriot
S2 Ep11
7.3
1st Oct 2001
Andreanof Garland, the last reserver, is introduced when it is deemed that Shiba is in no condition to fight in the next round; in the second C-Block match of round two, Jack Hammer faces Misaki Kengo.
Blood Battle
S2 Ep21
7.3
10th Dec 2001
Baki faces Jack Hammer in the final match of the tournament. Also, in flashback Yujiro meets Jack's mother in Vietnam.
Brazilian Jiu-jitsu master Sergio Silva faces pit-fighter Jack Hammer in the fourth C-Block match of round one; Yujiro tries to fight Hammer, but Baki intervenes; shoot wrestler Yamamoto Minoru faces Amanai Yu in the first D-Block match of round one.
Robe of Death
S2 Ep10
7.3
24th Sep 2001
In the first C-Block match of round two, Shiba Chiharu faces Ian McGregor.
The Tigerslayer Returns
S2 Ep6
7.4
27th Aug 2001
Richard Filth, a bouncer, faces Orochi Doppo in the second D-Block match of round one; Roger Harlon, an amateur wrestler, faces the jujutsu master Shibukawa Goki in the third D-Block match of round one; Shinogi Kureha faces Shinogi Kousho in the fourth D-Block match of round one.
Baki the Grappler Episode Guide
Stirrings of Destiny
S1 Ep1
7.5
8th Jan 2001
Baki Hanma fights a gang of 100 thugs; afterward, he is walked home by Detective Kido and his partner, who watched the fight. Baki then trains and thinks about what he should do to get stronger. Meanwhile, Kuriyagawa, the man who hired the thugs to fight Baki in order to test his strength, pays the gang's leader. Also, Baki watches a sparring match between Yuri Chakovsky, the international welterweight boxing champion, and Dinoy, Thailand's Muay Thai champion.
Those Who Squirm
S1 Ep2
7.5
15th Jan 2001
Baki spars with Yuri. Meanwhile, Kuriyagawa meets with Kaoru Hanayama, a gangster and renowned brawler, to set up a fight with Baki.
The Beast of Yasha Crag
S1 Ep3
7.5
22nd Jan 2001
Baki meets his friend Reiichi Ando in the woods and stays with him. While there, Baki adopts some of Ando's training techniques, and he camps alone on Yasha Rock, hoping to fight with the Yasha Ape.
The Fang and the Tears
S1 Ep4
7.9
29th Jan 2001
Baki Hanma fights a rematch with the Yasha Ape. After very hard fight, Baki eventually defeat the giant monster. Later he and Yasha Ape becomes a friends and Yasha Ape gives Baki his fang.
A Warrior's Heart
S1 Ep5
7.9
5th Feb 2001
After returning home, Baki learns that Yuri will be fighting for the heavyweight title, so he visits Yuri at his gym. Meanwhile, Kuriyagawa tells Hanayama that he can't fight Baki until Baki has fought Yuri, but Hanayama has other plans. Before Yuri's title fight, he is attacked by Hanayama who defeats him and destroys his hand.
Spirit
S1 Ep6
8.1
12th Feb 2001
After being knocked down by Baki, Hanayama flies into a rage in his office. Afterward, he visits his sick mother in the hospital. Also, Baki visits Yuri and his sister, Nina in the hospital before his rematch with Hanayama.
Gripper
S1 Ep7
8.0
19th Feb 2001
Baki and Hanayama continue to fight, and Hanayama's tattoo is explained.
Demon
S1 Ep8
8.2
26th Feb 2001
Baki's father, Yujiro Hanma, shows up after Baki's fight with Kaoru Hanayama. After the story of how Yujiro met Baki's mother is told, Yujiro and Hanayama fight.
The Division
S1 Ep9
8.2
5th Mar 2001
Baki explains to his mother why he fights, visits Hanayama in the hospital, and trains. After a brief encounter with Yujiro, who killed the Yasha Ape, which made Baki angry since Yasha was Baki's friend after their fight, they decide that Baki and Yujiro will fight in one month. Baki then meets Captain Gerry Strydum, who tells him of a mercenary group in Hokkaido, and Baki decides to go there to defeat them.
Battlefield
S1 Ep10
8.0
12th Mar 2001
Captured by the mercenaries as soon as he parachutes in, Baki must free himself and fight his way out against Nomura's jungle warfare team (Copperhead, Kuraishi, and the Chiba twin brothers, Sanada and Chiba). Meanwhile, an old friend warns Strydum of Gaia's fighting ability.
Gaia
S1 Ep11
8.4
19th Mar 2001
Baki fights Gaia (an alter ego of Nomura).
Bite Marks
S1 Ep12
7.6
26th Mar 2001
Yujiro Hanma breaks into the Prime Minister's office to prove a point; Baki Hanma fights the swordsman Kurokawa; Yujiro forces the archer Kanemoto to shoot an arrow at him; Baki visits his mother after she is rejected by Yujiro.
The Midnight Hour
S1 Ep13
7.7
2nd Apr 2001
All of Baki's friends show up to watch his fight with Yujiro and to help him warm up; meanwhile, Yujiro fights Gaia. Also, Hanayama opens up to Baki about his mother.
Lullaby
S1 Ep14
8.4
9th Apr 2001
Baki fights his own father, Yujiro.
Reflections
S1 Ep15
6.9
16th Apr 2001
A recap episode. Detective Kido reflects upon his experiences with Baki Hanma, and Hitoshi Kuriyagawa tells Kido about Baki's relationship with his mother and his fight with Yujiro.
Coming Home
S1 Ep16
7.9
23rd Apr 2001
Antonio Igari, a pro wrestler, tells Mitsunari Tokugawa, an old man who runs an underground fighting circuit, about Baki Hanma and his recent global travels. In the narrative, Baki is seen training and fighting, and, while in Brazil, he visits a fighting master named Dickson. Learning of the circuit, Baki returns to Japan to meet with Tokugawa, and he fights Tokugawa's bodyguards to earn a chance to enter the circuit.
Champion
S1 Ep17
7.7
30th Apr 2001
Flash forward three years: Baki Hanma is now the champion of the underground arena. Mitsunari Tokugawa meets with Doppo Orochi, a great Shinshinkai karate fighter, and asks him to enter his son in the arena. Doppo finds Kiyosumi Katou, a former student, at his dojo beating up his fighters, and he introduces Katou to the arena. Baki trains for a fight at the boarding house where he is staying, where Kozue Matsumoto, the daughter of the woman who owns the house, has a crush on him.
The Cord-Cutter
S1 Ep18
8.0
7th May 2001
Baki Hanma fights Kousho Shinogi, a master of Cord-Cut Karate.
The Right To Fight
S1 Ep19
8.1
14th May 2001
Kiyosumi Katou spars with the fighters in Doppo Orochi's dojo; Kozue Matsumoto interferes with some bullies that are bothering Baki Hanma, which causes problems for her later; several fighters petition Mitsunari Tokugawa to be Baki's next opponent; Baki trains with Izou Motobe.
An Honorable Loss
S1 Ep20
7.5
21st May 2001
Baki fights Mount Toba, a professional wrestler.
An Unlikely Challenger
S1 Ep21
7.8
28th May 2001
Yujiro Hanma shows up after Baki's fight and knocks him out, and Doppo Orochi challenges Yujiro to a fight. After watching Doppo spar with his students, Baki spars with him. Yujiro starts a fight with a group of boxers at their gym, and he fights with Izou Motobe and Baki's next opponent is revealed.
Head On Collison!
S1 Ep22
8.1
4th Jun 2001
Dr. Shinogi Kureha reveals to his brother, Kousho Shinogi, the Cord-Cutter, why he is fighting Baki Hanma; Doppo Orochi and Yujiro Hanma fight.
Medical Miracle
S1 Ep23
8.2
18th Jun 2001
The fight between Doppo Orochi and Yujiro Hanma continues; after Dr. Shinogi Kureha performs a medical miracle, he demonstrates his physical abilities to the crowd; one of Kureha's former patients visits Baki.
