Noble Elder! How do you feel?
Like crap.
- Good morning, Noble Elder. - Sorry about this.
I'd like to run a few more tests.
We'll need to keep you here a little longer.
CENTER BOXING GYM NEW STUDENTS WELCOME
Akio Mani, the Oriental and Pacific super welterweight champion.
One last thing.
You've never lost even a single fight!
And what's more, all 14 of your fights ended in first-round knockouts!
So the number of matches fought is the same as your number of rounds!
Is that something you've tried to do?
I don't have any interest in those kinds of numbers at all.
What I keep my focus on
is strictly the business of what goes on inside the ring.
In that space, I don't wanna waste any time.
I watch my opponent's actions and react in the way that is most logical.
If I'm correct, then three minutes is all I'll need.
Then are you predicting
that you'll win this next match in one round?
One round? You bet I will.
Thank you, Mani!
Go get 'im, Champ!
Can't wait for the match!
I hate all of that commotion.
What the hell?
Oh, uh...
Mm, well, I think that was just a...
That can't be.
Someone destroyed a heavy bag with a single hit?
That makes no sense.
Well, it's unusual, that's for sure.
Who did it?
Over there, facing the mirror.
Let me spar with 'im.
Huh?! What do ya want with him?
He can handle it. I'm sure.
Don't worry. I won't hurt him.
Yes?
Would you be interested in sparring with one of my fighters?
Sure, that would be fine with me.
Which one did you have in mind?
Hey! With me, over here!
Hm?
Sorry, not with him.
Are you really saying no? You won't fight?
Fighting him would be too much of a handicap for me.
I'd be forced to hold back.
I couldn't use my full strength against him.
It could even be fatal! For him.
Never underestimate martial arts.
Somebody get this man some gloves.
That wasn't too smart!
Look out, 'cause you're finished now!
You're about to learn! Boxing and kung fu are different!
You're the one doing all the underestimating!
Oh, and Mr. kung fu? You're allowed to kick too.
If you can kick, that is.
C'mon, Mani!
I thought it was just boxing you were interested in.
I don't plan on kicking. There's no need for it.
But all the same, this is going to be dangerous for you.
I can't believe this!
What are you jerks waiting for?
Get some gloves on this guy already,
so I don't have to hear him keep yammering away!
Coach, a minute ago, I heard you say
that boxing and kung fu are different disciplines.
You're wrong about that.
Because boxing uses the fists, it can be considered kung fu!
But it's still incomplete.
Hm.
I'll now show you
definitive proof of this.
Begin!
One who is supremely comfortable in a situation
is said to be "in his element."
Asked about that day,
Coach Genichi Fukamachi would say that he had had a bad feeling
because the one-legged fighter's stance showed that he was in his element.
- What? - No way!
I saw that!
- That was incredible. - Dang, he's strong.
Right hook?
I didn't even see it.
- Hey, you. - Hmm?
What're you here for?
For training.
What kind of training? Huh?
'Cause what we do here is strictly boxing training.
Indeed.
So you better get busy doin' some proper boxing!
Jumping rope, shadowboxing, the sandbag, working the speedball!
Box the right way, or there's no damn point!
That so?
Then how come your proper boxer just went down like a sack of potatoes?
There's no better way than fighting to justify your opinion.
If you're so certain your way is correct, then show me I'm wrong.
Show me a proper boxer who's so strong that I'm no match for him.
And if your man can knock me down,
I'll jump rope, shadowbox, punch your speedball,
or even stand on my head and do a dance, if you want me to.
Now, just--
Your logic is flawless, friend.
You don't win because you're correct. You're correct because you win.
Coach,. we have to accept being losers.
At least for today.
But I'm sure you understand this, pal.
Today, you've turned all the boxers in the world against you.
SHINSHINKAI HEADQUARTERS THE WAY OF KARATE
Hmm.
Don't think of it as having lost something
You haven't lost something.
You've obtained something.
What? What have I obtained?
Being one-armed.
My own original one-armed style!
Huh? How ?
I know the building's doors are locked at this hour.
So I have to assume that you snuck in through a window.
Well, that was a pain in the ass,
climbing all the way up here to the ninth floor.
You're something else, Baki Hanma!
So, what brings you here to see me?
You're amazing, Katsumi.
It hasn't been that long since you lost that arm,
but you are already mastering a new style.
Well, I'm tryin'.
And I'll admit that it's been hard.
But I don't think about the loss.
I concentrate just on what I've gained instead.
In the world of sword fighting,
they strive to master the use of a single sword.
But that doesn't make it in any way inferior
to the two-sword method of fighting.
There are plenty of men who fought and lost more than me.
I choose to see it like this.
There has to be something positive that I can take away
from finding myself with only one arm.
Right?
You're really incredible, Katsumi!
It's been a little tough for me, being the son of a big shot.
A father-and-son fight like none other in the history of the world!
Just a bunch of hype!
Come on, what do you expect?
Yujiro Hanma versus Baki Hanma? Just think about it, man!
The world's never seen a matchup like that.
Fact is I don't even hate him anymore.
But I still think I'm gonna fight him.
I wonder why?
D'you really need a reason?
Good point.
Even if I did understand, there'd be no stopping it now.
The fact that we're father and son,
that's enough, isn't it?
Whoa! That's wild.
You're father and son, that's true.
Hmph.
And that's enough.
It's spread everywhere!
Wait. Did you say "boxing"?
Yes. You heard me right.
But why that?
Retsu's already reached the title of "Sea King" in kung fu,
so what would be the point?
Why start boxing?
He won't be boxing.
Ahh!
Sea King Retsu will still remain Sea King Retsu,
and get in the ring fighting Sea King Retsu-style.
Okay...
He's not gonna use boxing techniques.
He'll work his way up using only kung fu skills.
Boxing's really that easy, huh?
Ahh!
No, of course it isn't easy.
Mastering it is as hard as any other discipline.
"Punch without getting punched."
This simple game has existed unchanged for over 150 years.
Kung fu has a 4,000-year history.
There's no need to defend its value or influence.
Boxing is a modern sport by comparison,
having existed for only a century and a half,
but there's nothing slack about it.
Objectively, though,
its rapid development cannot be compared to that of kung fu.
This western method can be harsh.
It will test the present version of Sea King Retsu.
And his future too.
What's he weigh? Retsu?
106 kilos.
Is that it!
Can he win?
Well, according to him,
yes.
At least until he loses.
Man!
SHINSHINKAI HEADQUARTERS
He's an idiot.
CENTER BOXING GYM NEW STUDENTS WELCOME
- Hey, Retsu. - Yes?
Go get some gloves on.
Sparring session. Get ready.
Against who?
Hey, listen, pal. You're just a student here.
So do what you're told and don't be asking me any questions, you got that?
Understood.
Sorry if I was a little rough on you earlier.
But that's a part of my job.
I gotta show you we mean business around here.
This guy's probably exactly what you're lookin' for.
An opponent you can fight with all your strength,
but one your skills won't work so good on.
An honest-to-god heavyweight.
He was in the military until three years ago.
He used to come from the base to practice here.
Since he's so big, he couldn't debut in Japan.
But he did debut in his home country after he got out of the service.
He's nine for nine with eight knockouts.
He knocked out all of his opponents except in his debut match.
He came back here to his old haunt the other day to get ready.
As you can see, in his weight, his technique, his career record,
heck, in everything,
he's better than you in every single way.
Here's your chance to learn something! Suit up!
I don't need any headgear.
I've heard that one a few times before.
But I'm not havin' anyone die in my gym today.
Huh?
Try not to die.
I see what Coach is talking about.
It's obvious he's got a lot of talent.
And his frame is massive.
He must outweigh me by 20, no, 30 pounds.
Yet despite that, for someone his size,
his footwork is smooth and fast.
And that reach.
- Oh! - What a hit!
Oh man!
- No way! - Whoa...
Hmm.
I see.
Now I see.
His speed, excellent.
His power, excellent.
Hmph.
His grip? Weak.
Combat sports are not based on street fighting.
As long as rules dictate the use of boxing gloves,
it is inevitable that the attributes of the glove
will be used as weapons.
Hence, compared to barehanded karate and kung fu,
the boxer's grip is weaker.
Retsu, who lives by martial arts alone,
perceived the weakness in his opponent's grip
just from the feel of his punch.
Now for his reach.
The thickest and strongest bone in the human body
is the front of the skull.
A clenched fist consists of 27 large and small slivers of bone.
Because every part of the boxer's fist had not been individually trained,
its destruction was inevitable.
You met with Baki, huh?
So? What did he have to say?
He wants to see you.
What for?
I think Baki's changed.
And what he wants to do with you is...
How dare that little bastard suggest such a thing?!
His hand is completely shattered!
And Retsu's still not finished!
Time to end this.
What the hell is he gonna do from that stance?!
Three!
Two!
Retsu was aiming, not at the boxer's weak spot,
but at the humerus bone in his blocking arm!
The boxer's humerus took the full force of Retsu's punch.
And with that, the legend of the boxer Sea King Retsu had begun!
Did those words really come out of that arrogant little jerk's mouth?!
Come on, calm down, Ogre. You're scaring everyone in the restaurant.
Strydum.
I want all the details.
I was just as surprised by it as you are because the request came out of nowhere.
Wh- What the hell?!
What did you just say?!
You heard me.
Do you have any idea how abnormal that request is?
Yeah, you know what?
You acting like you didn't just hear what I clearly said
is what's really abnormal.
Uh...
Yeah, I get what you're saying...
So, then, what's so damn crazy about it?
I just want to share a nice meal with my own father.
What's the big problem with that?
Ya saying a son can't do something like that?
Nothing weird about it!
I agree with you.
- No you said-- - Baki.
Don't act so innocent.
You know perfectly well that what you're asking for is outrageous.
Baki Hanma and Yujiro Hanma,
the two of them actually sharing a table?
Just the thought of that is shocking!
It's... it's so unnatural
that I can't even picture it!
To cook some rice.
Heat up some miso soup.
Take some time to enjoy a simple meal.
Hell, make some small talk.
And dessert would be nice.
Maybe even a little scoop of ice cream.
We'd laugh and say, "Man, how good is this?"
That kinda stuff.
Stuff normal people talk about when they get together.
Sometimes when normal people talk, they argue.
It's not easy to change Dad's mind.
"Agh! Hey, Baki, you idiot!"
"Maybe you need me to kick your head in so you can start thinking right!"
Any new idea, he just rejects.
And, of course, I won't give any ground either.
"Dad, you're always like this!"
"You don't listen to any opinion that's different than yours!"
Baki...
"You are so narrow-minded!"
Baki...
"Don't you go and smart off to me, ya punk!"
-" I'll tear you a new--" - Baki!
Tell me.
Do you really believe the Yujiro Hanma you're imagining exists?
The kind of normal bickering and chatter you're talking about.
The ordinary things that ordinary families enjoy.
Those are things that don't exist for you and your father.
Sorry.
Why is it always me?
Hmm?
Why's it always have to be me that ends up cooking the rice?
Dads gotta step up,
and for once be the one who cooks the rice.
Hm?!
Huh?
You never can predict what might happen in this world.
But that is never going to happen!
He said he wants what?
Me to cook rice?!
Hmm?
Cook rice, huh?