History Main / KiManipulation

* The Mandarin is a nasty example of a chi user. People tend to forget that he can give himself enough superhuman strength via chi to go hand to hand with Comicbook/IronMan. His son Temugin, has done the same more than once and demonstrated the ability to hit Living Laser even in his photonic form.

* Many characters from Creator/{{Capcom}} [[FightingGame Fighting Games]] can manipulate ki.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' has the martial arts user Sabin, whose special ability is Ki Attacks in combat. The player activates them via ''StreetFighter'' style button commands. These run off his magic stat but do not take up [[{{Mana}} Magic Points]] and can be done indefinitely. Most notable is the Aura Beam/Cannon move, which blasts enemies with pure soul power (and does extra damage to undead enemies to boot) and Fire Dance, which summons fire spirits to burn every enemy on the battle field.

* All of [[Creator/{{SNK}} SNK's]] fighting game series feature casts of characters capable of weaponizing Ki, elemental powers, and even PsychicPowers. Most notably: ''VideoGame/FatalFury'', ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting'', and ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'' which are their three most successful franchises.

* Iron Fist from ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan''.

* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'': Asami Koizumi has this as her metahuman power. She can project her chi outward to break through solid rock, leap at superhuman level and to soften landings, and fire energy beams. When projected, the chi creates an air disturbance which is seen as a trail of concentric circles.

* As [[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq1aPOunsFA detailed]] by [[WebVideo/GameTheory MatPat]], KiManipulation has a RealLife equivalent in [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_(physics) plasma]] the fourth state of matter after gas. Like ki, plasma has strong electric potential and similar to a super heated gas can charged up and become electricity and in anime like ''[[Anime/DragonBallZ DBZ]]'' or ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' [[ShockAndAwe electricity]] forms [[BattleAura around]] the user much like how electricity radiates around plasmas balls. Also to covert any gas to plasma much like ki requires a lot of energy but once the plasma arc has been created, it stays that way with only a 10th of that energy and by same token the plasma arc needs to be started near its power source, but once there it can be drawn out to ten times the distance like a KamehameHadoken. Plasma beams like ki beams are also more powerful [[CombinedEnergyAttack combined together]] and have a point to focus on and the more heated up plasma gets the ticker and more vicious it becomes, to the point where it can be physically pushed, like the ki [[BeamOWar beam battles]] in anime. Plasma balls in real life can even have beam struggles before breaking apart and suns (which are mostly ionised plasma) can collide and fuse together like ki energy before splashing outwards (albeit at the cost of making a black hole).

* ''Manga/YuYuHakusho'' is an example of characters not having just "ki" attacks, but specifically reiki (spirit energy, used by humans) or youki (which is the energy of the youkai).
** Sensui also used some sort of holy energy.
** Yusuke is still the king of this. The fact that he's part-demon results in the unique condition that he can use ''both'' types of ki. During the fight for controlling the demon realm, when his enemy protected himself with a shield impenetrable to Yusuke's stronger youki, he responded by using both youki and reiki '''AT THE SAME TIME'''. Cue to reiki leaking through the shield and injuring his gloating opponent. He wasn't able to keep it up for long, though; apparently, reiki subverts youki when both are present, resulting in Yusuke transforming back from his Mazoku form into human form. Though mixing youki and reiki temporarily creates an effect similar to Sensui's holy energy.
** Bui from the Dark Tournament, despite being a demon, has a unique type of energy referred to simply as "BattleAura" that's apparently distinct from regular youki.

* The ''VideoGame/ShadowWarrior2013'' remake series has Lo Wang learning how to wield various Chi Powers alongside his swords and guns.

* ''TabletopGame/FengShui'''s Fu Powers tend toward this, though this being a Hong Kong action movie game, many of them are fairly low-key, with only paths like Shadow's Companion, Brilliant Flame, high-end Healthy Tiger, Leaping Storm and Storm Turtle approaching the kind of supernatural powers often associated with martial artists in the setting.

* ''ComicBook/Warheads'': Che is able to channel his chi into superhuman blows thanks to training from "a Shaolin priest."

** Ki attacks in the series seem divided in two tiers. Basic ones, like Raoh's ki punch and the more widespread KamehameHadoken-style attacks, consist of hitting someone with ki, as the only advantage they have is a superior range that a skilled opponent can just power through them (as Rei tried to do in his failed HeroicSacrifice and Kenshiro did immediately after). Then there are the high school ones, that either do more damage than just punching someone (most of Gento's attacks) or do something special to [[CrazyPrepared deal with some improbable situation]] (like Toki's infamous [[FanNickname Jesus Beam]] that will kill the target while giving him pleasure, and deal with you have problems moving, Souther's ability to become intangible, Kenshiro's above-mentioned attack that sealed Souther's intangibility power, Hokuto Ryuuken's attacks, and a Gento attack to freeze ground).

** Unfortunately for those of you wanting to shoot energy from your hands, plasma works differently inside our own bodies mainly functioning inside the blood stream delivering nutrients, hormones, and proteins to the parts of the body that need it. Although plasma does help destroy the waste inside our bodies all - all of which is similar to how Ki gives life force and positive energy to the user.
*** It should be noted that blood plasma is not related to the high energy state of matter, instead it's a yellow liquid that comprises the majority of your blood. You definitely don't want them swapped.

* ''Anime/SenkiZesshouSymphogear'': Both regular Ki (Used by non relic users) and Phonic Gain (The soundwaves used to activate Relics that act as sound based Ki energy) are present in the series.

The original Chinese concept holds that a person has two sets of Ki, a finite set that you're born with and a freely replenishable set that you accumulate over the course of your life. The latter can be increased by meditation, proper diet, martial arts training, etc. When the Ki you were born with runs out, you die. But training yourself to use the replenishable Ki to sustain your body instead and thus conserve the original Ki, you increase your lifespan. If this version of Ki Manipulation is included in a story, it can be used to give an "Asian" flavor to trope like WizardsLiveLonger (specifically, {{Kung Fu Wizard}}s Live Longer) and CastFromLifespan.

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}''. All living things generate Aura. Huntsmen are trained to manipulate and amplify their Aura, giving them a HealingFactor and an invisible, defensive forcefield that prevents injury. With mastery, a Semblance can be unlocked, which gives each individual a [[OnePersonOnePower single superpower]] such as SuperSenses, SuperStrength, [[BarrierWarrior area-effect barriers]], [[MindOverMatter telekinesis]], and so on. Aura is finite and depletes with active use until it breaks, leaving a person vulnerable and unable to use Semblance. Certain Semblances are centred on Aura manipulation, such as the ability to [[PowerParasite steal other Semblances]] or [[SuperEmpowering amplify other Auras]]. [[spoiler:In Volume 5, Jaune unlocks his Semblance, allowing him to amplify the critically-injured Weiss's HealingFactor to save her, and the further amplifying her Aura to super-charge her Semblance; this produces a visible wind of power around Weiss for a short period of time. The creators have confirmed he subconsciously used his Semblance in Volume 2 to amplify his own Aura when blocking Cardin's punch.]]

* Basically what Aura is in ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}''. All living things generate an Aura, and for those who train to use it like the Huntsmen and Huntresses, it grants SuperSenses, SuperStrength, HealingFactor, and an invisible force field which protects the person's body from injury. A person only has so much Aura however and it is depleted through use of these powers; once depleted, the person is vulnerable.
** [[spoiler: Late in Volume 5, we learn that Jaune's Semblance allows him to manipulate his own Aura. He manages to heal Weiss of a critical injury by using his own Aura to recharge hers, kickstarting her HealingFactor. WordOfGod is that his blocking of Cardin's punch in "Forever Fall Part 2" was him unconsciously using his Semblance to boost his Aura's defensive shielding.]]

* In the ''Manga/FullMetalAlchemist'' manga, Ranfan and Ling occasionally reference 'Ki' as the flow of life. While they don't exactly use it for attacks, their ability to sense it has come in handy on several occasions.

* In ''Webcomic/KoanOfTheDay'', the guru uses his qi to [[http://www.koanoftheday.com/225/ fight the tyger]].
* ''Webcomic/MagIsa'' -- Used by [[http://mag-isa.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/119585 Claudita]] in this comic.

* In ''Franchise/MortalKombat'', Ki is a surprising rarity compared to the various stripes of magic powers that exist in Outworld. The Shaolin Monks are the only known practitioners with Liu Kang to a lesser extent Kung Lao using ki attacks, Liu Kang is able to generate spiritual flames to [[ElementalPunch enhance his attacks]] and Kung Lao gains blue aura when using his whirlwind attack and his WeaponizedHeadgear has a streak of blue energy when he uses it, suggesting he’s enhancing it with ki. Kenshi has [[AuraVision aura]] [[TheForceIsStrongWithThisOne sensing abilities]] which is similar to ki and Johnny Cage and his daughter Cassie have the [[BattleAura Green Halo]] which functions the same as Ki.

** AuraVision: The ability to "see" and sense the Ki/life energy of others, as well as the ability to assess how strong, or threatening they may be. At higher levels, it even allows one to read the target's emotions, or [[DetectEvil sense when they're in the presence of evil]].

* Franchise/{{Wolverine}} villain Soulstriker had the ability to [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin physically hit his opponent's life force]], thus weakening and torturing them. [[spoiler: Until Wolverine cut his hands off.]]

* In ''Franchise/MortalKombat'', Ki is a surprising rarity compared to the various stripes of magic powers that exist in Outworld. The Shaolin Monks are the only known practitioners with Liu Kang to a lesser extent Kung Lao use ki attacks, Liu Kang is able to generate spiritual flames to [[ElementalPunch enhance his attacks]] and Kung Lao gains blue aura when using his whirlwind attack and his WeaponizedHeadgear has a blue energy when he uses it, suggesting he’s enhancing it with ki. Kenshi has [[AuraVision aura]] [[TheForceIsStrongWithThisOne sensing abilities]] which are similar to ki and Johnny Cage and his daughter Cassie have the [[BattleAura Green Halo]] which functions the same as Ki.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' surprisingly only a handful of fighters who can use Ki InUniverse. All characters including robots have supercharge called “Ki Charge” but it’s more of a game mechanic the main power in TheVerse is the Devil Gene which is demonic energy. Heihatchi, Jun, Xiaoyu, Asuka, Lei and Hwoarang use ki with their attacks, Heihatchi’s Ki in particular is strong enough to match his son and grandson’s demonic powers. In the finale of ''VideoGame/Tekken7'' Heihatchi forms a blue BattleAura of ki around himself while fighting Kazuya.

* As [[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq1aPOunsFA detailed]] by [[WebVideo/GameTheory MatPat]], KiManipulation has a RealLife equivalent in [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_(physics) plasma]] the fourth state of matter after gas. Like ki, plasma has strong electric potential and similar to a super heated gas can charged up and become electricity and in shows like ''[[Anime/DragonBallZ DBZ]]'' or ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' [[ShockAndAwe electricity]] forms [[BattleAura around]] the user much like how electricity radiates around plasmas balls. Also to covert any gas to plasma much like ki requires a lot of energy but once the plasma arc has been created, it stays that way with only a 10th of that energy and by same token the plasma arc needs to be started near its power source, but once there it can drawn out to ten times the distance like a KamehameHadoken. Plasma beams like ki beams are also more powerful [[CombinedEnergyAttack combined together]] and have a point to focus on and the more heated up plasma gets the ticker and more vicious it becomes, to the point where it can be physically pushed, like the ki [[BeamOWar beam battles]] in anime. Plasma balls in real life can even have beam struggles before breaking apart and suns (which are mostly ionised plasma) can collide and fuse together like ki energy before splashing outwards (albeit at the cost of making a black hole).

* In ''VideoGame/MortalKombat'', Ki is a surprising rarity compared to the various stripes of magic powers that exist in Outworld. The Shaolin Monks are the only known practitioners with Liu Kang to a lesser extent Kung Lao use ki attacks, Liu Kang is able to generate spiritual flames to [[ElementalPunch enhance his attacks]] and Kung Lao gains blue aura when using his whirlwind attack and his WeaponizedHeadgear has a blue energy when he uses it, suggesting he’s enhancing it with ki. Kenshi has [[AuraVision aura]] [[TheForceIsStrongWithThisOne sensing abilities]] which are similar to ki and Johnny Cage and his daughter Cassie have the [[BattleAura Green Halo]] which functions the same as Ki.

** ''Franchise/StreetFighter''’s cast can harness ki in their attacks, Ryu and Ken have the [[KamehameHadoken Hadoken]] and Chun-Li has the [[SphereOfDestruction Kikosho]]. Above them would be Akuma, Gen and Oro who have supreme mastery of ki. Played with in regards of the rest of the characters: Guile and Charlie’s Sonic Booms aren’t pure ki rather pressurized RazorWind manipulated by ki. M.Bison and Juri have Psycho Power which can be seen as a negative form ki since it harnesses the negative aspects of the soul whilst Rose uses positive energy, although in Bison and Rose’s case it does veer into [[PsychicPowers psychic powers]] territory which is different to ki. ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIII'' adds that Ki manifests in characters through a variety of different elements, such as FireIceLightning, [[MakingASplash water]], [[BlowYouAway wind]], [[LightEmUp light]], [[CastingAShadow darkness]] and [[PoisonousPerson poison]].

* In ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' surprisingly only a handful of fighters who can use Ki InUniverse. All characters including robots have supercharge called “Ki Charge” but it’s more of a game mechanic the main power in TheVerse is the Devil Gene which is demonic energy. Heihatchi, Jun, Xiaoyu, Asuka, Lei and Hwoarang use ki with their attacks, Heihatchi’s Ki in particular is strong enough to match his son and grandson’s demonic powers. In the finale of ''VideoGame/Tekken7'' Heihatchi forms a blue BattleAura of ki around himself while fighting Kazuya.

** ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'' reveals that gods have ki that is fundamentally different from that of mortals', and as such they cannot be sensed by the heroes. Goku and Vegeta begin to sense it when in their Super Saiyan God forms, and there are some hints that they're learning to sense it outside of those forms as time goes on.

* ''Manga/OnePiece'' has slowly but surely inched its way towards this with "Haki" (also known as "Ambition"). While hints of its use abounded from the Skypeia arc onward, the Amazon Lily arc gave the clearest and most specific examples of it before it was fully explained. When we finally got in-depth information on Haki, it was revealed that it came in three general forms. The most common two are: [[SuperToughness Busoshoku/Armament Haki]] the ability to be able to not only cause considerably more damage using an attack but also to ignore special Devil Fruit-borne defenses, such as a rubber or intangible body; and [[CombatClairvoyance Kenbunshoku/Observation Haki]] the ability to predict the conscious actions of the combatant's opponent. These two forms can be further [[UpToEleven enhanced]] through training, allowing the Haki-wielder to [[KamehameHadoken emit a blast]] from their body and destroy things internally with Armament and look into the foreseeable future with Observation. The final form, the [[KillingIntent Haoshoku/Conqueror's Haki]], is only rarely possessed by a given Haki-wielder (as in "one in a million" rare — you literally have to be born with it to use it). Its use will knock out [[WeakWilled weaker people]], and will fatigue stronger people. The series also makes it a point that a person's Haki in general blossoms greatly in real fights rather than in training. Rayleigh trained Luffy for two years to teach him the basics, but the advanced techniques cannot be taught that easily and Luffy has to mimic them from very strong opponents.

* The same can be said of Creator/{{Capcom}}'s ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' franchise, while ''VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}}'' and ''VideoGame/RivalSchools'' have all but faded into obscurity.
** As an easter egg, ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' has been known to perform ki attacks from ''Street Fighter''. This seems to imply that X has ki, and therefore a soul. In the remake, Doctor Light even says he's able to use this attack since his DNA soul is nearly identical to a human's.
*** Not so non-canon, now; ''VideoGame/MegaManXCommandMission'' has a series of Reploids called the Ninetails clan, who have mastered a form of robotic chi manipulation, allowing them to power their attacks without the use of an external power source (like every other Reploid's weapons do). Because of this, they're considered extremely dangerous and are locked up in a high-security facility.

* ''Manga/MagiLabyrinthOfMagic'': Magoi manipulation works this way. Magoi manipulators can counteract magoi in another person's body, enhance their weapons to make them stronger and look inside someone's body to make a medical diagnosis.

* ''Manga/OnePiece'' has slowly but surely inched its way towards this with "Haki" (also known as "Ambition"). While hints of its use abounded from the Skypeia arc onward, the Amazon Lily arc gave the clearest and most specific examples of it before it was fully explained. When we finally got in-depth information on Haki, it was revealed that it came in three general forms. The most common two are: [[SuperToughness Busoshoku/Armament Haki]] the ability to be able to not only cause considerably more damage using an attack but also to ignore special Devil Fruit-borne defenses, such as a rubber or intangible body; and [[CombatClairvoyance Kenbunshoku/Observation Haki]] the ability to predict the conscious actions of the combatant's opponent. These two forms can be further [[UpToEleven enhanced]] through training, allowing the Haki-wielder to [[KamehameHadoken emit a blast]] from their body and destroy things internally with Armament and look into the foreseeable future with Observation. The final form, the [[KillingIntent Haoshoku/Conqueror's Haki]], is only rarely possessed by a given Haki-wielder (as in "one in a million" rare — you literally have to be born with it to use it). Its use will knock out [[WeakWilled weaker people]], and will fatigue stronger people.

* ''ComicBook/NewSuperMan'': Kenan Kong's powers come explicitly from the Qi of Franchise/{{Superman}} he absorbed. Currently, he only has access to a subset of Superman's powers, and is still in training to "unlock" all of them.

* ComicBook/ShangChi, long time friend and fellow MA adjacent to Iron Fist, has shown a slew of enhanced chi manipulation and projection abilities time and time again. Capable of fighting and besting opponents several leagues above his weight class [[http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11/113509/2762398-shang.png and winning.]] He's also demonstrated the ability to sense people by their chi, such as the time he found out Comicbook/JeanGrey was watching him despite her having telepathically masked her presence.
* Franchise/{{Wolverine}} villain Soulstriker had the ability to [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin physically hit his opponent's life force]], thus weakening and torturing them. [[spoiler: Until Wolverine cut his hands off.]]

* ''ComicBook/TheUltraverse'': Dropkick was trained from childhood by "the Monks of the Trine" in mystical martial arts that enable him to fire chi blasts.[[/folder]]

* ''Literature/TheDireSaga'': Punching Judy of the British superteam Queensguard is a powerful ki-using martial artist, able to enhance her speed, agility, hitting power and even protect herself from toxic fumes by filtering the air.
* ''Literature/SteelCrowSaga'': While other cultures practice [[ExtraOreDinary metal manipulation]] and {{Familiar}} binding, the Dahali "focus their magic inwards" in the manner of this trope. Their {{Supernatural Martial Art|s}}ists [[MagicEnhancement enhance their bodies]] to be stronger, faster, and tougher, and an elite few are taught to throw "hexbolts" of [[KamehameHadoken destructive]] or {{healing|Hands}} energy.

* ''Characters/TheDefenders2017''[=/=]''Series/IronFist2017'': several characters such as Danny Rand, Madam Gao and Davos demonstrate the use of ki to do damage.

* These types of attacks became one of the main staples of modern stick-figure fight animations when extreme martial art violence and extreme acrobatics would no longer cut it. Although never explain as such, these are most likely Ki Attacks due to the heavy Oriental influence that pervades the genre as a result of WebAnimation/XiaoXiao 's influence.
* Allen Covenant of the ''Omega Universe'' runs across a clan of ninja with what they described as chi-powers in ''Covenant Annual #1''. Given that [[MetaOrigin all powers in the Omega setting]] are PsychicPowers, the ninja clan was just interpreting their learned powers through cultural blinders.

* Basically what Aura is in ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}''. All living things generate an Aura, and for those who train to use it like the Huntsmen and Huntresses, it grants SuperSenses, SuperStrength, HealingFactor, and an invisible force field which protects the person's body from injury. A person only has so much Aura however and it is depleted through use of these powers; once depleted, the person is vulnerable.
** [[spoiler: Late in Volume 5, we learn that Jaune's Semblance allows him to manipulate his own Aura. He manages to heal Weiss of a critical injury by using his own Aura to recharge hers, kickstarting her HealingFactor. WordOfGod is that his blocking of Cardin's punch in "Forever Fall Part 2" was him unconsciously using his Semblance to boost his Aura's defensive shielding.]]
* ''WebAnimation/{{Dreamscape}}'': Kai has control over natural energy. The more plants and other living things he is around, the stronger his attacks are.
* ''WebAnimation/DSBTInsaniT'': Killer can fire green energy blasts, energy bursts, energy explosions, energy lightning, energy remote bombs, etc...
* ''Artifice Comics'': Silver Shadow, formerly just a badass near-normal with [[MasterOfYourDomain body mastery]] learned to channel his chi from a monk named Zhing Ra Ming in #13.