History Main / BareFistedMonk

Subtrope of AnAdventurerIsYou. Supertrope to BoxingBattler. Contrast with the HeavyEquipmentClass, who are defined by the heavier weaponry they use.

* [[Manga/BakiTheGrappler Doppo Orochi]], as the CombatPragmatist he is, still gives us this wonderful speech on the aesthetics that a karateka should keep on:
-->''Actually, we already carry various weapons on us at all times. That's why there's no point in carrying other ones. A student who gets in a fight on his way to school can use his backpack… you can use a fan you just happen to have in your pocket… in a pinch, maybe a belt, too… your shoes are also okay… at the most, is acceptable to use a knife in your attacker's hands. Those are all the thing you might end up using. But nothing else is allowed! Even a pencil… or a fistful of sand… as soon as you arm yourself in preparation for a fight, you're tipping the scales! And tossing away your pride in the process!''

* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'': J.E. Sawyer of the canceled ''[[VideoGame/FalloutVanBuren Van Buren]]'' project said that he intended unarmed fighters to be 'like mobile grenades', and that's a good description for them in ''VideoGame/Fallout2'' and ''VideoGame/Fallout3''. In both of those, barehanded attacks have a quicker attack rate and markedly higher crit rate. In both of them, a single strike to the head has a good potential for instant kills, even against tougher opponents. In both, the unarmed fighter was somewhat left behind at the finale, against Frank Horrigan in ''Fallout 2'' and during Liberty Prime's march in ''VideoGame/Fallout3'', but the form is still a viable game-finisher.

* The ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' series: J.E. Sawyer of the canceled Van Buren project said that he intended unarmed fighters to be 'like mobile grenades'. And that's a good description for them in ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 2}}'' and ''3''. In both of those, barehanded attacks have a quicker attack rate and markedly higher crit rate. In both of them, a single strike to the head has a good potential for instant kills, even against tougher opponents. In both, the unarmed fighter was somewhat left behind at the finale, against Frank Horrigan in ''Fallout 2'' and during Liberty Prime's march in ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'', but the form is still a viable game-finisher.

* ''{{VideoGame/Yakuza}}'': Sotaro Komaki looks the part, and is a fearsome unarmed fighter. However, he is quite open about his disdain for unarmed combat, calling it both inefficient and uncivilized, and will happily use any and every weapon he can get his hands on.

* In ''VideoGame/BaldursGateIIThroneOfBhaal'', the penultimate boss is Balthazar, a Bhaalspawn monk and one of only three enemies in the game to be [[spoiler:immune to Time Stop]].
** Interestingly, said [[spoiler:immunity]] is implemented differently for Balthazar than for the other two, in a way that actually allows bypassing it in the right circumstances and implies it might have something to do with his monk abilities and not just him being a Bhaalspawn. [[spoiler:It is an automatic ''counter-move'' done in response to Time Stop being cast. As such, if Balthazar is kept from acting, he will ''not'' be immune]].

* In ''VideoGame/BravelyDefault'', characters with the Knuckle Lore passive skill, which Monks get automatically, get a bonus to attack power equal to twice their level when fighting bare handed in addition to having max proficiency with Knuckle class weapons. At high enough levels this bonus can surpass the strongest weapons in the game, but it comes at the cost of not getting any elemental effects or non-attack stat increases that some weapons have.
** The final skill unlocked for the Monk, Natural Talent, gives you yet another damage boost if you wear ''no equipment at all''.
* This also pops up in ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger''; the party gets tossed into a prison without weapons or armour, or even a way to swap party members, and until you find where the jailers have hidden your equipment, any enemies the party encounters will automatically defeat them and throw them back in jail. ''Unless'' you have the bare-handed fighter Ayla in the party, in which case she can start tearing through bad guys as soon as you get out of your cell.
** Ayla is notable also because she is an exception to the "weakens by endgame" tendency. At higher levels she can still do more damage with her bare fists than ''Crono with his InfinityPlusOneSword.'' And at level 96+ [[note]]Way higher level than you'll ever need to be in order to win the game[[/note]], critical hits with her fists do a ''guaranteed'' [[{{Cap}} 9999 damage]].

* ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes''

* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' has Ifrit, Beowulf and Gilgamesh Devil Arms which gives Dante (and Vergil in [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry4 DMC4]]) a sizeable movelist and variety of combos making for DifficultButAwesome gameplay.

** Downplayed but Nero’s combat style in 4 and [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry5 5]] is much more focused on punching, grabbing and slamming than it is on just swordplay. Nero is more of a brawler compared to Dante and Vergil.
* The Monk class in ''VideoGame/DiabloIII'' is this, unless you have his using a bo staff or brass knuckles. Any other weapon you put on him, while you [[StatSticks will get all the stats from it]], will remain at his hip while he punches fools to death.
** For added points, he learns a technique that has him [[LudicrousGibs channeling]] [[Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar Kenshiro]], [[YouAreAlreadyDead of all people]].
** The Monk also appears in ''VideoGame/HeroesOfTheStorm'' as an aggressive melee [[CombatMedic healer]] named Kharazim.

* ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'':

* The Monk Class in ''VideoGame/DungeonFighterOnline'' sheds his weapon in the battlefield (by implanting it into the ground for myriad bonuses), then goes on to use those fistcuffs. Doing so gives the Monk unparalleled [[GlassCannon speed and juggling capability]], and makes the class quite popular. However, one can still break their equipped weapon after shedding it like any other class.

** ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]:

* ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'''s Albert Wesker is unique in being the only character who fights completely unarmed (apart his Samurai Edge which he barely uses) and can demolish the heroes with his martial skill alone, though given Wesker has superpowers he is probably very justified in his GunsAreWorthless approach.
** Wesker’s son Jake Muller from ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil6'' has a entire combat system focusing on melee combat over guns, and can perform entire combos on enemies.
*** [=RE5=] and [=RE6=] Mercenaries Modes fully allows you to invoke this trope as a play style with a large variety of melee attacks and takedowns for all the MainCharacters.

* Sonic and Knuckles from ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'', particularly in spin off titles, ''VideoGame/SonicBattle'' and ''VideoGame/SonicChroniclesTheDarkBrotherhood''. They're the only characters who don't use weapons, gadgets, or any ability outside their physical ones. Sure, Sonic has SuperSpeed, but outside of that he fights either using himself as a projectile or using just his legs.

* As the [=PS2=]-exclusive character in ''Videogame/SoulCalibur II'', Heihachi of ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' fights bare-handed in a weapons-based game.
* In ''VideoGame/SoulcaliburV'', created characters can use a unique moveset based on [[VideoGame/{{Tekken}} Devil Jin]], which foregoes weapons in favor of fighting bare-handed (in addition to EyeBeams and [[PowerGivesYouWings occasional wings]]).

%%''Franchise/FinalFantasy''. Not only is he capable of highly effective hand to hand combat but either his training or his Munchausen-esq foolishness allows him to utterly defy the laws of physics.%%

[[folder:Other]]
* Being the TropeCodifier, every {{Wuxia}} title has plenty of these, sometimes mixed with SupernaturalMartialArts and KungFuWizard. KiManipulation are things characters in this kind of stories eat for breakfast, and the best of them can [[OneManArmy annihilate hordes of mooks in a couple of moves]].
* Masutatsu Oyama, the founder of the Kyokushinkai style of karate, has this reputation. He would hold public demonstrations where he would "fight" a bull with no weapons, though the bulls might have been restrained during the demonstration.
* Monks in ''VideoGame/ZAngband'' lose their special monk attacks when wielding weapons, and lose bonuses when wearing heavy armor. Their magic skills are fairly good, though.
* ''TabletopGame/YuGiOh'' has two monsters that fit this trope -- Monk Fighter and Master Monk. Both are (inexplicably) Rock-Types, both are seen smashing rocks with their hands (Fighter) and feet (Master), and both come with useful effects -- when your Fighter battles, your life points don't feel it, and Master Monk can attack twice. They also get two support cards -- Lone Wolf, and Kaminote Blow. Kaminote Blow, in particular, makes it so that, during the turn it's played, any monster attacked by your Monk Fighter or Master Monk will invariably DIE at the end of the battle. This is made sufficiently noteworthy due to the fact that its card picture shows Master Monk shattering the (3000-Defense-to-his-1900-Attack) Millenium Shield with his BARE FIST. Thus securing the Monks a spot on this page.
* Princess [[spoiler: Suzushiro Shikikagura]] from ''VisualNovel/PrincessWaltz'' is this, made from equal parts HotBlooded and {{Determinator}}. Funnily enough, she becomes rather cocky whenever the fighting starts, which is a stark contrast to [[ProperLady how she usually is]] outside of them.
* Chen-Chen in ''Webcomic/{{Harkovast}}'' is a Kung-fu nun who can shatter her enemies skulls with her [[http://www.harkovast.com/index.php?id=91 fists!]]
* Mostly averted in [[RealLife Real Life]]. Unless you are targeting specific areas of the body, punching somebody full-force is a good way to injure your hand, which is why all striking combat sports require some form of gloves or protection. Self-defense instructors often teach to hit with the palm of your hand instead, as it is much harder.
** However the tropes comes in full force in the traditional sport of bare-knuckle boxing.
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''Franchise/FinalFantasy''. Not only is he capable of highly effective hand to hand combat but either his training or his Munchausen-esq foolishness allows him to utterly defy the laws of physics.

* ComicBook/BlackPanther has some enhanced physiology thanks to the Heart-Shaped Herbbut apart from that and some Vibranium claws he fights completely unarmed and is often up against vastly more powerful opponents but prevails regardless. Averted with later comics as T’Challa is willingly to use gadgets and PoweredArmor similar to ComicBook/IronMan.

** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIV'': Alevna's one of the game's physically oriented fighters, along with Ragnar. She doesn't wield weapons, other than claws, but she hits real hard.

** Velvet Crowe ''and'' Eizen from ''VideoGame/TalesOfBerseria''. Velvet's fighting style is dependent on her artes. Her hidden artes use wrist blades, but all her martial arts use her legs. Eizen is more exclusively bare-fisted, utilizing stomps, a few kicks, and mostly bashing things with his fists.