History Main / SurpassedTheTeacher

* In ''TheElderScrolls'', you can find trainers who can automatically increase your skills for money (rather than grinding). However, each skill has a trainer for each rank of experience in that skill and can only train you five times. If you ask for training when you're too high level, then they'll say something to the effect of this trope.

* Many of {{Batman}}'s protegés have surpassed him in some way. {{Nightwing}} surpasses him as an acrobat, a leader, and at maintaining relations with other superheroes, {{Batgirl}}[=/=]Oracle (Barbara Gordon) surpasses him in intel gathering, Black Bat (Cassandra Cain) surpasses him as a fighter, and Red Robin Tim Drake will ''eventually'' become a better detective than him.

* ''FatalFury'': [[BadassGrandpa Tung Fu Ru]] reunites with [[{{Eagleland}} Terry]] and Andy on the ten year anniversary of their father's death, during which, he tells them their skills have already surpassed Jeff's. However, only one could become his successor. Adding that the one he chooses would have to surpass his own ability. [[AskAStupidQuestion Guess which one pulls it off?]]
* Played with at the beginning of ''DragonBall''. Goku's mentor, Master Roshi, disguises himself to participate without getting known at a tournament. The viewer expects this trope to appear, as Goku manages to evade all of Roshi's tactics to defeat him. However, despite Goku having managed to succeed to all of Roshi's attempts, Goku lost to him after he was goaded into a final jump-kick, receiving the brunt of the injury. There's also the fact, because Goku didn't know he was fighting Roshi, he never knew how strong his master actually is. There were some hints that Roshi was much more skilled than lets on in the series, though it became clear that Goku surpassed him by the 22nd World Tournament. He later repeats this trope with Karin, Kami and King Kai. PlayedForLaughs with the Grand Kai since by the time he reaches him, he's already much stronger!

* Many of {{Batman}}'s protegés have surpassed him in some way. {{Nightwing}} surpasses him as an acrobat, a leader, and at maintaining relations with other superheroes, {{Batgirl}}[=/=]Oracle (Barbara Gordon) surpasses him in intel gathering, Black Bat (Cassandra Cain) surpasses him as a fighter, and Red Robin {{Tim Drake}} will ''eventually'' become a better detective than him.

* Many of {{Batman}}'s protegés have surpassed him in some way. {{Nightwing}} surpasses him as an acrobat, a leader, and at maintaining relations with other superheroes, {{Batgirl}} (Barbara Gordon) surpasses him in intel gathering, Black Bat (Cassandra Cain) surpasses him as a fighter, and Red Robin {{Tim Drake}} will ''eventually'' become a better detective than him.

* Many of {{Batman}}'s protegés have surpassed him in some way. {{Nightwing}} surpasses him as an acrobat, a leader, and at maintaining relations with other superheroes, {{Batgirl}} (Barbara Gordon) surpasses him in intel gathering, Black Bat (Cassandra Cain) surpasses him as a fighter, and Tim Drake will ''eventually'' become a better detective than him.

* {{Naruto}} perfected [[SuperMode Sage Mode]], which Jiraiya wasn't able to do. And in a way he surpassed Kakashi, because Kakashi, like the Fourth Hokage, wasn't able to add element manipulation to the Rasengan (which is why Kakashi made Chidori).

* ''Series/TheXFiles'': Implied in the episode [[Recap/TheXFilesS03E14Grotesque "Grotesque"]]. Agent Bill Patterson is one of the top criminal [[[TheProfiler profilers]] and forensic psychologists at the FBI. He has a strange but understandable attitude towards Mulder who was once a part of his team, but unlike other young agents he didn't worship him and didn't want to be like him. Patterson on the other hand feels that Mulder threw away his amazing talent and instead of profiling criminals he chose to chase aliens and the paranormal. Mulder thinks that Patterson never thought highly of him. However, Patterson is probably a bit envious of Mulder's abilities and according to his team, he starts telling "Mulder stories" about him being "some kind of crack genius" when he's drunk. Sadly, Patterson also ends up being a BrokenPedestal for all involved.

* ''Series/TheXFiles'': Implied in the episode [[Reacap/TheXFilesS03E14Grotesque "Grotesque"]]. Agent Bill Patterson is one of the top criminal [[[TheProfiler profilers]] and forensic psychologists at the FBI. He has a strange but understandable attitude towards Mulder who was once a part of his team, but unlike other young agents he didn't worship him and didn't want to be like him. Patterson on the other hand feels that Mulder threw away his amazing talent and instead of profiling criminals he chose to chase aliens and the paranormal. Mulder thinks that Patterson never thought highly of him. However, Patterson is probably a bit envious of Mulder's abilities and according to his team, he starts telling "Mulder stories" about him being "some kind of crack genius" when he's drunk. [[Paterson also ends up being BrokenPedestal for all involved.]]

* ''Series/TheXFiles'': Implied in the episode [[TheXFilesS03E14Grotesque "Grotesque"]]. Agent Bill Patterson is one of the top criminal [[[TheProfiler profilers]] and forensic psychologists at the FBI. He has a strange but understandable attitude towards Mulder who was once a part of his team, but unlike other young agents he didn't worship him and didn't want to be like him. Patterson on the other hand feels that Mulder threw away his amazing talent and instead of profiling criminals he chose to chase aliens and the paranormal. Mulder thinks that Patterson never thought highly of him. However, Patterson is probably a bit envious of Mulder's abilities and according to his team, he starts telling "Mulder stories" about him being "some kind of crack genius" when he's drunk. [[Paterson also ends up being BrokenPedestal for all involved.]]

If the mentor is the nice type, he will often be highly proud of his student. If the student has surpassed his mentor but hasn't reached his full potential, his old master may tell him to find a new master who will teach the student more. having passed himself and reaching full potential.

If the mentor is the jealous type, he may be quite jealous and resentful of the student's ability, and in extreme cases, the mentor may become the student's enemy. For when both the teacher and the student are evil, with the student learning the ways of evil from the teacher, the student often proves his superiority by [[KlingonPromotion killing the teacher]].

* As part of Jin's backstory in ''Anime/SamuraiChamploo'', [[spoiler:Jin became a ronin after killing his teacher. After his theacher had attempted a surprise attack on Jin.]]

[[AC:Real Life]]
* Can be TruthInTelevision: Due to poor teaching standards in some countries, it's common for the children to be better than the teachers. There was an incident in West Wales in 2005 where a child was told that he had got the answer to a question wrong, and he then managed to prove using ''basic mathematics'' that the [[KnowNothingKnowItAll teacher]] was wrong and his answer was actually correct.

* Mentor in ''{{Lensmen}}'' flat-out says the Children of the Lens (the five Kinnison children) have gone beyond the Arisians.

If the mentor is the nice type, he will often be highly proud of his student. If the student has surpassed his mentor but hasn't reached his full potential, his old master may tell him to find a new master who will teach the student more. having passed himself and reaching full potential.

If the mentor is the jealous type, he may be quite jealous and resentful of the student's ability, and in extreme cases, the mentor may become the student's enemy. For when both the teacher and the student are evil, with the student learning the ways of evil from the teacher, the student often proves his superiority by [[KlingonPromotion killing the teacher]].

[[AC:Comics]]

[[AC:Literature]]
* In ''Tarnsman of {{Gor}}'', Tarl learns the sword from a man also named Tarl, whom he refers to as "the Older Tarl." At every sparring encounter the Older Tarl beats Tarl and says "You are dead." At one point Tarl finally gets through the Older Tarl's defense; the Older Tarl cries out with delight "I am dead!" and clutches Tarl to his bosom, "proud as a father who has taught his son chess and has been defeated for the first time." Speaking of which...

[[AC:Live Action TV]]

[[AC:Tabletop Games]]
* A rare but possible result in ''DungeonsAndDragons'' basic set's weapon proficiency. By default, there's a 1% chance of doing so if you train with a teacher as skilled as you are. It's possible to boost it to 11% by training with another teacher, but it's more efficient to find someone sufficiently skilled.

[[AC:Video Games]]
* In the ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' canon, Akuma killed his master, Goutetsu, in a fair fight to show that he [Akuma] had truly mastered the power of the Satsui no Hadou. Goutetsu was actually proud of his student for having defeated him in battle.

* In ''MetalGearSolid3'', Naked Snake finally surpasses his former mentor The Boss in a final confrontation where he had ten minutes to defeat her or else the area would be napalmed. Amazingly Snake is able to actually defeat her despite earlier not even being able to harm her in hand to hand combat, for the first time in the game Snake can actually counter his mentor's CQC attacks and respond in kind showing a vast degree of improvement in his skills from earlier in the game when she handed his ass to him. For his efforts Snake is awarded the title of Big Boss, showing that in the U.S. military's eyes he had surpassed his mentor.

[[AC:Webcomics]]

* Can be TruthInTelevision: Due to poor teaching standards in some countries, it's common for the children to be better at the teachers. There was an incident in Wales a few years back where a child was told that he had got the answer to a question wrong, and he then managed to prove using ''basic mathematics'' that the [[KnowNothingKnowItAll teacher]] was wrong and his answer was actually correct.

* Domon Kasshu in MobileFighterGGundam surpasses his teacher, Master Asia, in the final climactic battle of the 13th Gundam Fight.

* Played with at the beginning of ''DragonBall''. Goku's mentor, Master Roshi, disguises himself to participate without getting known at a tournament. The viewer expects this trope to appear, as Goku manages to evade all of Roshi's tactics to defeat him. However, despite Goku having managed to succeed to all of Roshi's attempts, the author introduces an AssPull and makes Roshi win a leg clash, HandWaving it by saying "his legs are shorter are mine, therefore they're weaker". Even though a common aesop that appears all throughout ''DragonBall'' is that having a bigger size that doesn't mean being stronger. Nevertheless, by the time of the next tournament Goku has completely surpassed Roshi, and by ''Dragon Ball Z'' Roshi's an ObsoleteMentor.

* ''{{Highlander}}'' did this, the end of the training montage with Connor and Ramirez has Connor finally besting Ramirez and disarming him.

* {{Naruto}} perfected [[SuperMode Sage Mode]], which Jiraiya wasn't able to do. And in a way he surpassed Kakashi, because Kakashi, like the Fourth Hokage, wasn't able to add element manipulation to the Rasengan (which is why Kakashi made Chidori).

* {{Naruto}} perfected sage mode, which Jiryia wasn't able to do. And in a way he surpassed Kakashi, because Kakashi, like the fourth hokage, wasn't able to add element manipulation to the rasengan (which is why Kakashi made chidori).

* In [[http://xkcd.com/342/ this]] ''{{XKCD}}'' comic, Elaine the hacker progidy trumps Donald Knuth, her mentor.

* Yuuno from the ''LyricalNanoha'' franchise is technically the eponymous' character teacher in magic. In practice, however, she learns everything he can teach her within three or four episodes.

* Darth Vader provides the quote in ''StarWars Episode IV: ANewHope'' when he meets and kills his old master Obi-Wan. It's subverted, however, in that Obi-Wan intentionally lost in order to merge with the Force, and Vader is disappointed that he didn't put up a fight.

* In ''Tarnsman of {{Gor}}'' Tarl learns the sword from a man also named Tarl, whom he refers to as "the Older Tarl." At every sparring encounter the Older Tarl beats Tarl and says "You are dead." At one point Tarl finally gets through the Older Tarl's defense; the Older Tarl cries out with delight "I am dead!" and clutches Tarl to his bosom, "proud as a father who has taught his son chess and has been defeated for the first time." Speaking of which...
** In ''Assassin of Gor'' Tarl teaches a slave girl to play the Gorean equivalent of chess - which slaves are forbidden to learn. He finds that she's a natural, and stops giving her advice on her game in order to concentrate on not losing too badly.

* In Literature/{{Matilda}}, it is clear from very early on in the book that Matilda has intellectual capabilities that are certainly beyond that of her teacher, Ms. Honey.

* Played with in late season 7 of Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer: Spike confronts Giles with words along these lines, saying that one of the reasons that Giles turned on Buffy was that Giles was jealous that Buffy had surpassed him in her abilities.

* A rare but possible result in ''DungeonsAndDragons'' basic set's weapon proficiency. By default, there's a 1% chance of doing so if you train with a teacher equally skilled as you are. It's possible to boost it to 11% by training with another teacher, but it's more efficient to find someone sufficiently skilled.

* In the ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' canon, Akuma killed his master Goutetsu in a fair fight to show that he had truly mastered the power of the Satsui no Hadou. Goutetsu was actually proud of his student for having defeated him in battle.
* In ''TheElderScrolls'', you can find trainers who can automatically increase your skills for money (rather than grinding). However, each skill has a trainer for each rank of experience in that skill and can only train you 5 times. If you ask for training when you're too high level then they'll say something to the effect of this trope.
* In ''MetalGearSolid3'', Naked Snake finally surpasses his former mentor The Boss in a final confrontation where he had ten minutes to defeat her or else the area would be napalmed. Amazingly Snake is able to actually defeat her despite earlier not even being able to harm her in hand to hand combat, for the first time in the game Snake can actually counter his mentor's CQC attacks and respond in kind showing a vast degree of improvement in his skills from earlier in the game when she handed his ass to him. For his efforts Snake is awarded the title of Big Boss showing that in the U.S Military's eyes he had surpassed his mentor.

[[AC:Web Comics]]
* In [[http://xkcd.com/342/ this]] XKCD comic Elaine the hacker progidy trumps Donald Knuth, her mentor.

* Played with in late season 7 of BuffyTheVampireSlayer: Spike confronts Giles with words along these lines, saying that one of the reasons that Giles turned on Buffy was that Giles was jealous that Buffy had surpassed him in her abilities.