History Main / KingpinInHisGym

Some [[BigBad Almighty Overlords]] like to do more than [[OrcusOnHisThrone lounge around on]] [[CoolChair nice chairs]] in their [[EvilTowerOfOminousness fortresses]]. They'll go for a bit of [[TimeToUnlockMoreTruePotential self-improvement]] instead. Some may get a TrainingMontage or two, while others may pursue a DangerousForbiddenTechnique or ForgottenSuperweapon in parallel with TheHero. Regardless of how they choose to better themselves, showing a villain building his prowess can be a menacing taste of what's to come when the heroes finally reaches his doorstep. Like [[OrcusOnHisThrone our good old friend]], however, they don't pose any direct physical threat to the good guys at the moment.

* Hanayama in ''Manga/BakiTheGrappler'' is essentially this. He is the head of the most powerful yakuza gang, yet he doesn't believe in using weapons, and relies more on his brute strength and martial arts training to eliminate any threat that stands in his way

* ''Series/{{Daredevil|2015}}'':

* ''Series/IronFist2017'': Harold Meachum is frequently shown going to town on his punching bag or sparring with a physical trainer, to help establish that he's [[GeniusBruiser a physical threat in addition to a white collar criminal.]]

* In ''Series/Smallville'', BadassNormal DarkActionGirl Tess Mercer is often seen in her mansion practicing her fighting skills, such as Aikido or Kickboxing.

* PlayedForLaughs in ''Film/TheMuppets'', where the CorruptCorporateExecutive BigBad is shown practicing fencing with one of his henchmen in his office, but his opponent is visibly letting him win and barely even moving his foil.

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* PlayedForLaughs in ''Film/TheMuppets'', where the CorruptCorporateExecutive BigBad is shown practicing fending with one of his henchmen in his office, but his opponent is visibly letting him win and barely even moving his foil.

* A variation in ''Fanfic/TheKeysStandAlone: The Soft World''. Andro takes Paul and John to his private gym, where he urges them to use the equipment. Paul refuses because [[DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength he's afraid of breaking the stuff]], which is when he finds out that Andro is also [[SuperStrength super-strong]]. Agreeing to a strength test, Paul finds himself helplessly flattened out under a weight he can't budge, which Andro casually lifts off him—one-handed, which sends Paul into paroxysms of jealousy. Among other things, he realizes that Andro put him in this position to show him just how much stronger than Paul he is.

* In the''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode "[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E11SolarPower Solar Power]]", while it's not really "in a gym", Lex Luthor is seen practicing archery -- for bonus points, he does this while on the phone with Lois Lane and asking her "Do you really think I would jeopardize the safety of this planet just to settle my personal grudge against Superman?". And then hitting a bullseye with a shit-eating smirk.

* ''Manga/DeathNote'': Teru Mikami, Light's [[TheDragon right-hand man]], visits the gym religiously. Given that his method of killing just involves writing down names, this is purely for his own benefit, and has nothing to do with fighting. Then again, considering how ''animated'' he is about writing down names, he possibly does it to avoid pulling something.

** Eddie Brock's first appearance established him as a gym bunny, who channeled his rage against Spider-Man (prior to actually becoming ComicBook/{{Venom}}) via working out.

One of the ways to show that a villain's AuthorityEqualsAsskicking. However, if the training sessions are shown to be [[CurbStompBattle a walk in the park]], [[FridgeLogic one wonders how they will make the villain any stronger]]. If the villain is a [[MsFanservice Miss]] or MrFanservice this may also be WorkoutFanservice. [[VillainsOutShopping Shopping]] is another popular hobby of villains.

* Hanayama in Baki the Grappler is essentially this. He is the head of the most powerful yakuza gang, yet he doesn't believe in using weapons, and relies more on his brute strength and martial arts training to eliminate any threat that stands in his way

* Both Prince Zuko and [[TheDragon Princess Azula]] each spend one of their respective first appearances in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' practicing their firebending. Zuko demands to learn the advanced techniques even though Iroh insists he hasn't mastered the basics yet. Azula, on the other hand, does the advanced bits flawlessly -- but ''completely'' freaks out (foreshadowing her ultimate VillainousBreakdown) when ''one hair'' falls out of place.

* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'', while it's not really "in a gym", Lex Luthor is seen practicing archery -- for bonus points, he does this while on the phone with Lois Lane and asking her "Do you really think I would jeopardize the safety of this planet just to settle my personal grudge against Superman?". And then hitting a bullseye with a shit-eating smirk.

* One WWF television segment followed the immortal wrestling announcer "Mean Gene" Okerlund going to a gym to interview "Rowdy" Wrestling/RoddyPiper and "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff to get their thoughts on their upcoming tag team main event match against WWF Champion Wrestling/HulkHogan and Creator/MrT at the inaugural Wrestling/WrestleMania pay per view. Orndorff was in the midst of curling impressive amounts of weight, and Piper, who was merely observing at the time (along with bodyguard "Cowboy" Bob Orton) saw fit to insult and berate Okerlund for disturbing their preparation. At the end of it, the heels advance menacingly towards Gene and ultimately throw him out of the gym and into the streets. A passerby comes to Gene's aid only to be viciously beaten by Piper's cohorts.

* In ''Discworld/TheFifthElephant'', the AxCrazy werewolf Wolfgang is introduced doing one-handed push-ups, followed by one-handed ''handstands''. Oh, and he does this stark naked. While both his parents are in the room. Well, they're already naked around each other in wolf shape...

* Done with the {{Trope Namer|s}} himself in ''Series/{{Daredevil|2015}}'': when Frank Castle is first brought before Wilson Fisk in the prison, Fisk is bench-pressing weights.

* In the ''ComicBook/XWingSeries'' comics, [[ManipulativeBastard Ysanne Isard]] is once shown [[http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/4769/blz03q.jpg training against]] [[http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/9642/blz04e.jpg Mrlssti laser phantoms]] while she works on her plots to control the Empire. In one novel she talks to an EnemyMine while using a weight machine with no sign of strain. Notably, Isard never actually fights people herself, preferring schemes and {{Manchurian Agent}}s. Apparently she believes the old adage about healthy body, healthy mind.

* Subverted by ComicBook/LexLuthor. Shortly after coming back as his own [[CloningGambit Evil Clone]] (don't ask), he is shown training in martial arts in his gym. After his trainer hands him his ass in front of witnesses, he later tracks her down and murders her in cold blood. Inverted in his last days as President, when he is using Venom (a kind of super-steroid most notoriously utilized by Bane) to muscle up.

* In ''Series/SpartacusBloodAndSand'': Crassus has a scene in which he spars against a retired gladiator, his fighting coach. This scene establishes him as a threat to the swordsmanship of Spartacus and reveals his FinishingMove: a BareHandedBladeBlock.

* One WWF television segment followed the immortal wrestling announcer "Mean Gene" Okerlund going to a gym to interview "Rowdy" Wrestling/RoddyPiper and "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff to get their thought on their upcoming tag team main event match against WWF Champion Wrestling/HulkHogan and Creator/MrT at the inaugural Wrestling/WrestleMania pay per view. Orndorff was in the midst of curling impressive amounts of weight, and Piper, who was merely observing at the time (along with bodyguard "Cowboy" Bob Orton) saw fit to insult and berate Okerlund for disturbing their preparation. At the end of it, the heels advance menacingly towards Gene and ultimately throw him out of the gym and into the streets. A passerby comes to Gene's aid only to be viciously beaten by Piper's cohorts.

One of the ways to show that a villain's AuthorityEqualsAsskicking. However, if the training sessions are shown to be [[CurbStompBattle a walk in the park]], [[FridgeLogic one wonders how they will make the villain any stronger]]. If the villain is a [[MsFanservice Miss]] or MrFanservice this may also be WorkoutFanservice.[[VillainsOutShopping Shopping]] is another popular hobby of villains.