History Main / BadassBack

* [[https://youtu.be/geaWb37ZzrQ?t=6m10s Certain variants of Bajiquan]] actually emphasize training the back and shoudersfor the sake of using a 鐵山靠 (lit. "Iron Mountain Lean"), where one can smash their shoulders or back into the opponent to put them off balance when necessary. Usually considered DifficultButAwesome as messing it up can mean giving your opponent your back in a life-or-death situation, and [[TrainingFromHell practicing it can involve impacts to the spine and shoulder joints if done incorrectly]]. Done correctly by a well-trained and fit person is [[PunchedAcrossTheRoom the equivalent of getting hit with a Football tackle without a windup or running start]].

* [[https://youtu.be/geaWb37ZzrQ?t=6m10s Certain variants of Bajiquan]] actually emphasize training the back for the sake of using a Tetsuzanko[[labelnote:*]]A usually considered apocryphal Bajiquan move that involves striking with one's back[[/labelnote]] when necessary.

* Lara does this to Larson in the original ''VideoGame/TombRaiderI''.
* Link from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' gains the Mortal Draw late in the game. He performs it by sheathing his sword and shield, not targeting an enemy, and turning his back to them. When they attack, he spins and delivers an ''instant kill.''
* The blind warrior Voldo, in the later ''[[VideoGame/SoulSeries Soul Calibur/Soul Edge]]'' games, is the only fighter in the series who can fulfill this trope. He has a full array of moves he can use with his back to an opponent, including throws, and, unlike every other member of the cast, can block attacks directed at his back (at least, as a normal part of his gameplay. Other [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard CPU-controlled]] characters who shouldn't be able to do this ''can'' in ''Soulcalibur III'').
** Another fighter, Yoshimitsu, is a kind of... [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot undead cyborg alien samurai]]... thing. Anywho, one of his attacks is turning his back to his opponent, and stabbing his sword through his gut (which ''does'' also hurt him). The attack has a very short range, justified in that it is hilarious every time it is pulled off.
* The most badass version? Yoshimitsu in the ''Franchise/{{Tekken}}'' series and his same-named ancestor in the ''VideoGame/SoulSeries''. Why is it the most badass? Well, the move's English names are [[DeliberateInjuryGambit Suicide and Turning Suicide]] ...
** The series also has several characters who enter a different series of moves based on having their back turned. Keep in mind that with Feng Wei (Kempo), such techniques do exist.
* In the ''VideoGame/DeadOrAlive'' fighting game series, several of Ayane's most powerful attacks require her to have her back turned towards her opponent before they can be executed.
** In the same series, Brad Wong has a whole slew of attacks that are only effective when his back is turned, or even when he's laying down. This is more the result of his fighting style: ''DrunkenBoxing'', than badass-ness.
* ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' 's Akuma tends to do this after winning a fight, especially if he ends it with his lethal signature attack, the Shun Goku Satsu. The back of his gi also glows with the kanji for "heaven," where some of his opponents surely get sent after being felled by his fist. He takes it even further in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterV'' and with his Shin incarnation in the ''VideoGame/SNKVsCapcom'' series. In those games, after either winning or successfully pulling off the Shun Goku Satsu, his back becomes emblazoned with a unique kanji that means '''"GODLIKE."'''
** Evil Ryu also does this after a Shun Goku Satsu in ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha Alpha 3]]'', ''[[VideoGame/SNKVsCapcom CvS2]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterIV SFIV]]'', though no kanji appears on his back. Meanwhile Kage in ''[=V=]'' has the kanji for "destruction" appear on his back after his Shun Goku Satsu.
** Ryu in ''[=Alpha 3=]'' will turn his back towards the screen if he finishes his opponent with a Shin Shoryuken or Metsu Shoryuken.
** Cammy also turns her back as part of one of her victory poses. In some games she does it while flashing a peace sign at the screen with her hat off, and in others she does it while giving a thumbs up and with her hat still on.
* In the ''VideoGame/SNKVsCapcom'' series, Akuma does this, as mentioned above--whether in his regular form or in his Shin form, and either as a victory pose or after pulling off his Shun Goku Satsu. Rugal does this as well in his God/Ultimate form after pulling off his Shun Goku Satsu, though he does not have a kanji appear on his back, like Evil Ryu.
* ''VideoGame/SamuraiShodown'': Tachibana Ukyo fights like this all the time. He's pretty good at it, too.
* Part of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMUkjcI1s3M SSJ4 Gogeta's ultimate move]] in ''VideoGame/DragonBallZBudokai 3'':
* Practically all of the characters in Capcom's fighting games back away in a defensive retreat, but Dio/Shadowdio of ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' will turn his back on his opponent to casually saunter away. Many of his special moves include the back-turning animation, crossing his arms over his chest before unleashing the power.

* In ''Franchise/TheKingOfFighters'', one of the characters, K, has a backward walking animation which is just him turning around and walking the opposite way.
* Similar to the above example, in ''VideoGame/MeltyBlood'' Act Cadenza onwards, Kishima Kouma's backward walk is just turning around and walking away. He doesn't even look directly at his opponent when he guards.
* The ''VideoGame/EternalFighterZero'' character Unknown, takes this trope even further by having her ''default standing animation'' face away from the players and her opponent.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Gradius}} V'', a few bosses, most notably the third boss in the boss rush of Stage 2, can fly behind your ship and attack you. Unless you have a tail gun or directional aiming, our only hope is to dodge until they fly back in front of you.
* In ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'' [[spoiler: Nero impales the final boss with a sword held backhand while facing away.]]
** Dante also has Shotgun skill, which lets him literally shoot behind himself without looking there.
** The above is a MythologyGag. When we first see Vergil draw Yamato in ''Devil May Cry 3'', he slices a Hell Vanguard into several pieces without even turning to face it, establishing himself as every bit the badass his brother is. [[spoiler: Makes sense, since WordOfGod confirms that Nero is Vergil's son]].
* ''VideoGame/BloodyRoar'': While Shenlong's backward stance doesn't give him a lot of options and is mostly for comboing into moves that you can't perform facing forward. However, his backwards punch is abnormally fast and hilarious to spam. It works great against human players who don't see it coming.

* Zappa of ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear'' spends most of his fights facing away from his opponent and bent over backwards. His backwards-walking animation is him standing up straight and walking away; he also has several attacks in the vein of this trope, most notably his back growing a face and [[{{Squick}} vomiting on his opponent]].
** Also, Johnny does this with his [[IaijutsuPractitioner Mist Finer moves]].
** Leo Whitefang's entire gameplay revolves around a "stance change" mechanic whereby certain attacks leave him with his back facing the opponent and completely change his moveset.

* Ezio can do this in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedBrotherhood''. One kill animation involves him killing one guard, attacking a second, moving on to a third, then finishing the second off with a throat stab.
* It's not turning his back on an enemy but in the introduction to ''VideoGame/VagrantStory'' we get to see Ashley Riot striding into certain danger, his back to the camera (and the person he's talking to) while delivering my favourite badass line ever. "Reinforcements? I am the reinforcements."
* [[VideoGame/MegaManX Zero]] teleports in facing away from his opponent in ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3''.

* In ''VideoGame/TalesOfGraces F'', once all of the conditions are met, Malik can perform the [[LimitBreak Blast Caliber]] Malik Beam, which has him turning his back to the enemy and FIRING A HUGE LASER AT THEM WITH HIS BACK.
--> '''Malik''': A man speaks with his back! [[CallingYourAttacks MALIK BEAM!]]
* There are a number of ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' that keep their backs turned towards the enemy in battle for varying reasons:
** [[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Mawile]]'s main method of attack is a set of [[TooManyMouths huge steel jaws]] protruding from the back of its head.
** [[VideoGameRemake Mega]] [[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Sceptile]] can fire off [[BewareMyStingerTail the end of its tail]] like a missile.
** [[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Turtonator]] has a critical weak point on its chest, while its shell is incredibly tough.
** [[VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield Gigantamax Blastoise]] keeps its back turned to its opponents, the better to use its myriad cannons against them.
* Ogres in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' are able to deliver backward kicks in combat, which makes flanking them with a rogue something of an unrewarding experience.
* Rigwarl the Bristleback from ''VideoGame/Dota2'' has a back covered in quills. One of his abilities means he takes 40% less damage from attacks that hit his back and if he takes enough damage from the back, he sprays some of his quills, damaging anyone close enough. Considering he can also cast the Quill Spray independently every 3 seconds and that the damage from the quills increases each time an enemy is hit, it is not unheard of for Bristleback to take down multiple enemies with his back to them.
* In ''VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns'', you can shoot at a 360 angle, so its possible to shoot behind you without turning around. [[ExcuseMeWhileIMultitask You can even do it while running]].

* ''[[VideoGame/GuiltyGear Guilty Gear -Strive-]]'': Leo Whitefang enters Brynhildr stance, turning his back to his opponent, after a Zweites Kaltes Gestöber or holding S after Turbulenz. In Brynhildr, Leo has more offensive options but cannot jump or block.
* Lyn as a Blade Lord in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade'' will turn her back to the screen before delivering a critical hit unto her enemy, if she is wielding a sword other than the Sol Katti.
* ''VideoGame/{{Blackthorne}}'' has the titular character able to shoot his shotgun behind the back, using what amounts to the gunner equivalent to an OffhandBackhand.