History Main / TheGreatestStyle

** Not played for laughs is Ansatsuken, which is used by [[{{Shotoclone}} Ryu, Ken, Akuma, Gouken, and a few others]]. It is generally shown to be the deadliest martial art in the entire universe and the reason why [[BigBad Bison]] keeps coming after Ryu. It's also why [[BloodKnight Akuma]] wants him. The martial art, notably, also produces the [[KillingIntent Dark Hadou]]. Sakura and Dan both have a small amount of training in it as well, which is what makes them dangerous to World Warrior levels. Even if Dan (who was IncompletelyTrained by Gouken after his motive of revenge against Sagat was discovered) shows a little bit of a good thing is a major bad one.

* In ''Manga/KenganAsura'' the protagonist Tokita Ohma uses the "Niko Style", a relatively unique martial art that utilizes his body control to it's maximum while having a variety of useful techniques to use in dire situations. There are four Katas of techniques at his disposal: Water, Flame, Redirection and Adamantine. Water Katas consist of grappling and soft locks, Flame Katas relies on dexterity and speed, Redirection Katas is for diverting and controlling the flow of power and Adamantine Katas enhances his attacks as well as his defensive capabilities.

* In Manga/{{Kengan Asura}} the protagonist Tokita Ohma uses the "Niko Style", a relatively unique martial art that utilizes his body control to it's maximum while having a variety of useful techniques to use in dire situations. There are four Katas of techniques at his disposal: Water, Flame, Redirection and Adamantine. Water Katas consist of grappling and soft locks, Flame Katas relies on dexterity and speed, Redirection Katas is for diverting and controlling the flow of power and Adamantine Katas enhances his attacks as well as his defensive capabilities.

* In ''Webcomic/KillSixBillionDemons'', the martial arts style of Ki Rata is repeatedly called the most powerful style on [[TheMultiverse the Wheel]]. It is so powerful, in fact, that before the [[GreatOffscreenWar Universal War]] only a single sect of pacifistic monks practiced it, for the sole purpose of annihilating anyone outside of the sect who discovered its secrets by accident, for the protection of the multiverse. Beginner adepts of the style could easily cripple seasoned masters of other styles within a few moves, and practitioners must control their movements at all times, lest they accidentally blow a hole into their own body with an errant flick of the wrist. After the War, only two surviving users of Ki Rata remained in the entire multiverse, a HermitGuru in [[PortalCrossroadWorld Throne]] and the SoleSurvivor of the sect, and the [[DeityOfHumanOrigin demiurge]] [[GodEmperor Solomon David]], who [[DeceptiveDisciple murdered the other monks as soon as they finished training him]], and became a demiurge by [[YouKillItYouBoughtIt killing one]] — ''masters'' of the style evidently find sorcerer-warlords empowered by the limitless fires of creation easy marks.

* In ''Webcomic/KillSixBillionDemons'', the martial arts style of Ki Rata is repeatedly called the most powerful style on [[TheMultiverse the Wheel]]. It is so powerful, in fact, that before the [[GreatOffscreenWar Universal War]] only a single sect of pacifistic monks practiced it, for the sole purpose of annihilating any practitioner outside of the sect for the protection of the multiverse. Beginner adepts of the style could easily cripple seasoned masters of other styles within a few moves, and practitioners must control their movements at all times, lest they accidentally blow a hole into their own body with an errant flick of the wrist. After the War, only two surviving users of Ki Rata remained in the entire multiverse, a HermitGuru in [[PortalCrossroadWorld Throne]] and the SoleSurvivor of the sect, and the [[DeityOfHumanOrigin demiurge]] [[GodEmperor Solomon David]], who [[DeceptiveDisciple murdered the other monks as soon as they finished training him]], and became a demiurge by [[YouKillItYouBoughtIt killing one]] — ''masters'' of the style evidently find sorcerer-warlords empowered by the limitless fires of creation easy marks.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'' has multiple circles of martial arts for mortals, Exalted, Celestial Exalted, and Sidereal Exalted. Mortal - non-magical - martial artists can break a brick and jump over a hedge. A Terrestrial (weakest Exalted) martial artist can break a boulder and jump over a building. A Celestial martial artist can break a city wall and jump across a mountain. A ''Sidereal'' martial artist can split a soul and jump to Heaven. Specific flavors include:
** Bondage Fighting? Laughing Wounds.
** Turning yourself into a living golem with extendable magic claws? Prismatic Arrangement of Creation.
** Charcoal March of Spiders: when you absolutely, positively have to punch out everyone on the continent twice in the same instant, accept no substitutes.
** One Celestial Monkey style charm permits you to make a called shot to the area that represents someone's primary virtue. Temperance is the head, Conviction the guts, Compassion the heart, and Valour the groin

* In ''Webcomic/KillSixBillionDemons'', the martial arts style of Ki Rata is repeatedly called the most powerful style on [[TheMultiverse the Wheel]]. It is so powerful, in fact, that before the [[GreatOffscreenWar Universal War]] only a single sect of pacifistic monks practiced it, for the sole purpose of annihilating any practitioner outside of the sect for the protection of the multiverse. Beginner adepts of the style could easily cripple seasoned masters of other styles within a few moves, and practitioners must control their movements at all times, lest they accidentally blow a hole into their own body with an errant flick of the wrist. After the War, only two surviving users of Ki Rata remained in the entire multiverse, a HermitGuru in [[PortalCrossroadWorld Throne]], and the [[DeityOfHumanOrigin demiurge]] [[GodEmperor Solomon David]], who [[DeceptiveDisciple murdered the other monks as soon as they finished training him]], and became a demiurge by [[YouKillItYouBoughtIt killing one]] — ''masters'' of the style evidently find sorcerer-warlords empowered by the limitless fires of creation easy marks.

* In ''Webcomic/KillSixBillionDemons'', the martial arts style of Ki Rata is repeatedly called the most powerful style on [[TheMultiverse the Wheel]]. It is so powerful, in fact, that before the [[GreatOffscreenWar Universal War]] only a single sect of pacifistic monks practiced it, for the sole purpose of annihilating any practitioner outside of the sect for the protection of the multiverse. Beginner adepts of the style could easily cripple seasoned masters of other styles within a few moves, and practitioners must control their movements at all times, lest they accidentally blow a hole into their own body with an errant flick of the wrist. After the War, only two surviving users of Ki Rata remained in the entire multiverse, a recluse hermit in [[PortalCrossroadWorld Throne]], and the [[DeityOfHumanOrigin demiurge]] [[GodEmperor Solomon David]], who [[DeceptiveDisciple murdered the other monks as soon as they finished training him]], and became a demiurge by [[YouKillItYouBoughtIt killing one]] — ''masters'' of the style evidently find sorcerer-warlords empowered by the limitless fires of creation easy marks.

* Another DCU example was the ancient style that died out with the Raul Lama, who was the last master of the discipline and whose students included [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Tim Drake]] and [[ComicBook/{{Batman}} Bruce Wayne]]. It was a style balanced between weaponry, hand-to-hand, detailed anatomy studies, meditation and healing arts that gave those who mastered it unnaturally long lifespans and allowed for [[MasterofYourDomain mastery of bio-feedback]].

* In ''Manga/{{Gamaran}}'', several warriors from all around Unabara try to claim about the invincibility of their style, though the actual experience of the user influence the effectivness. Amongst the many, we have Nikaido's [[DualWielding Souen Ryuu]], which epytomizes the BoringButPractical fighting style with katana and wakizashi, Toujou's [[BladeOnAStick Tengen Ryu]], which praises the naginata as the most versatile and effective of all the melee weapons. Kashitarou's purpose is to turn the whole Ogame Ryu into the ultimate fighting style.

* ''Literature/TheDestroyer'' series. Sinanju is a CharlesAtlasSuperpower SecretArt, a {{Supernatural Martial Art|s}} and a FantasticFightingStyle. It even grants NewPowersAsThePlotDemands. It's the "sun source" of all other martial arts -- in other words, all other martial arts are based on it, and it is better than any of them.

* ''LightNovel/{{Katanagatari}}'': Male protagonist Shichika gets scouted for the big artifact-sword-retrieval mission of the story after previous-attempt helpers had helped themselves to the swords they were supposed to recover. Shichika is a safe choice because his sword(s)manship-style has no need for swords, and he does prove himself capable to hold his own against the sword-wielders and more. [[spoiler:The latter fact would later prove to have been {{Foreshadowing}}.]]

** Karin's Kanzuki-style martial arts is apparently one of the most elite styles in the ''Street Fighter'' world. Karin's Story Mode in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterV'' states that the best techniques of the style are those which are rare even for the heads of the family ([[AuthorityEqualsAssKicking by design, its strongest member]]) to fully master. Amongst its abilities is the skill to defeat enemies with nothing but a BattleAura and ([[UnreliableExpositor according to Karin herself]]) the ability to levitate like Dhalsim. It's telling that, on ''Street Fighter V'''s stat chart, Karin is amongst Zeku and Akuma in technical skill ranking.

* ''Webcomic/{{Gosu}}'' has the (Twelve) Divine Heavenly Destruction Techniques. Created by the [[RedBaron Heavenly Destroyer]], this style of martial arts was used to bring the murim to its knees and [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority bow to the might of the Heavenly Destruction Sect]]. As noted by the Heavenly Destroyer's disciple:

[[folder:Light Novels]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/TheDestroyer'' series. Sinanju is a CharlesAtlasSuperpower SecretArt, a {{Supernatural Martial Art|s}} and a FantasticFightingStyle. It even grants NewPowersAsThePlotDemands. It's the "sun source" of all other martial arts -- in other words, all other martial arts are based on it, and it is better than any of them.
* Deja-fu in ''Literature/ThiefOfTime'' is a martial art based on time-bending, and supposedly the greatest secret of the History Monks, who at lower levels learn a lot of martial arts ''in addition'' to bending time, but not the combination. Lu-Tze the Sweeper dismisses these legends, saying none of the monks know deja-fu, and he'd know if they did. [[spoiler:Because he's the one person who ''does''.]]
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* This was turned against Inoki by Wrestling/SatoruSayama, Wrestling/AkiraMaeda and Wrestling/NobuhikoTakada's Wrestling/UniversalWrestlingFederation, which boasted shooting style as the strongest form of pro wrestling and the best martial art developed in Japan since judo. Its innovators claimed fatigue from "helping" inferior opponents in NJPW who couldn't keep up with them. UWF became extremely popular until Sayama left and started what came to be known as UsefulNotes/MixedMartialArts. It turned out the best shoot wrestlers in MMA were low card guys not being pushed while the supposedly superior stars failed to impress. While Wrestling/KazushiSakuraba did prove pro wrestlers could win fights, he also affirmed shoot wrestlers were still helping inferior opponents. Meanwhile NJPW was pushing anyone who won an MMA fight and burying anyone who lost, [[DorkAge yes at the expense of it's own business]] but [[WeWinBecauseYouDidnt also at shooting style's]]. Then UWF made the mistake of cross promoting with NJPW and letting Inoki handle all the booking. All the shoot style wrestlers were then destroyed in worked matches as well.[[/folder]]

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]'': The greatest style is the one used and taught by Greil, the leader of the Greil Mercenaries. Even past his prime and, [[spoiler:having cut the tendons in his sword hand as penance for accidentally murdering his wife]], favoring the axe as his WeaponOfChoice over the sword the style was originally developed for, Greil was seen as having superhuman strength, and his son Ike was able to become one of the strongest fighters on the continent within about one year despite being a rookie practitioner. [[spoiler:The Black Knight, a former student of Greil's (and his killer), also adheres to this principle, though he's aided by above-human strength on account of his status as a [[HalfHumanHybrid Branded]], a legendary sword blessed by the goddess Ashera herself, and the possession of goddess-blessed armor that is impervious to anything other than another goddess-blessed weapon.]]

* The early UsefulNotes/UltimateFightingChampionship events were marketed as the proving ground to establish the best fighting style. Could wrestling beat karate? Could boxing beat kung fu? The events were co-created by a family of martial artists, the Gracies, who wanted to prove that ''their'' style, UsefulNotes/BrazilianJiuJitsu, is the best. In fact, their champion did dominate the early UFC events. Fighters quickly started cross-training a variety of styles, including BJJ, taking the best parts of each to create a hybrid fighting style that became known as UsefulNotes/MixedMartialArts.

** [[OldMaster Oro]], a Japanese hermit introduced in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIII'', is noted to be a Senjutsu master who knows the secrets of immortality--and [[OlderIsBetter it]] ''[[SlidingScaleOfGameplayAndStoryIntegration shows]]''. Though he normally fights with [[WillfullyWeak his dominant arm bound]], Oro's [[LimitBreak max level Super Arts]] indicate he's unable to undo the bindings at any time, amplifying his already superhuman strength, KiManipulation, and wide array of esoteric abilities (such as [[MindOverMatter telekinesis]]) to heights matched only by the heaviest hitters in the 'verse. (For example, the Yagyou Dama is a moderately sized ball of ki. The Yagyou-Odama? A nigh-instanteous SphereOfDestruction comparable to the [[Anime/DragonBallZ Spirit Bomb]].) If that wasn't enough, a ''SFV'' sidestory (''Musings on a Still Night'') shows Oro is capable of imitating the Satsui no Hado despite not being an Ansatsuken practitioner. It should be noted that a meeting between Oro and Akuma ends with neither party seriously engaging the other due to a guaranteed MutualKill if they did, whereas Oro muses in his ''3rd Strike'' ending that Ryu could potentially become a worthy successor of his... in about another 15 years.

* The Hyuuga clan's [[FingerPokeOfDoom Gentle Fist style]] in ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' is, combined with [[SuperpowerfulGenetics the clan's]] [[MagicEye Byakugan]], which grants them 359-degree telescopic XRayVision, the best close quarter combat style in the setting. In a world where everyone's a KungFuWizard, the Hyuuga clan can shut down their opponents' [[KiManipulation chakras]], and internal organs, rendering them powerless and dying with nothing more than [[TouchOfDeath a light touch.]] It's noted that while there are many ways a fighter can train to make themselves more able to withstand a beating, there's no training that exists to make internal organs more durable: no matter how tough you are, you still die if your heart can't beat. The clan's {{Secret Art}}s also include a [[EverythingsBetterWithSpinning spinning maneuver]] that generates a nigh-impenetrable ForceField, giving them not only the best offense, but the best defense as well.

[[/folder]]

* In ''Webcomic/KillSixBillionDemons'', the martial arts style of Ki Rata is repeatedly called the most powerful style on [[TheMultiverse the Wheel]]. It is so powerful, in fact, that before the [[GreatOffscreenWar Universal War]] only a single sect of pacifistic monks practiced it, for the sole purpose of annihilating any practitioner outside of the sect for the protection of the multiverse. Beginner adepts of the style could easily cripple seasoned masters of other styles within a few moves, and practitioners must control their movements at all times, lest they accidentally blow a hole into their own body with an errant flick of the wrist. After the War, only two surviving users of Ki Rata remained in the entire multiverse, a recluse hermit in [[PortalCrossroadWorld Throne]], and the [[DeityOfHumanOrigin demiurge]] [[GodEmperor Solomon David]], who [[DeceptiveDisciple murdered the other monks as soon as they finished training him]] and became a demiurge by killing one — ''masters'' of the style evidently find sorcerer-warlords empowered by the limitless fires of creation easy marks.

* In ''Webcomic/KillSixBillionDemons'', the martial arts style of Ki Rata is repeatedly called the most powerful style on [[TheMultiverse the Wheel]]. It is so powerful, in fact, that before the [[GreatOffscreenWar Universal War]] only a single sect of pacifistic monks practiced it, for the sole purpose of annihilating any practitioner outside of the sect for the protection of the multiverse. Beginner adepts of the style could easily cripple seasoned masters of other styles within a few moves, and practitioners must control their movements at all times, lest they accidentally blow a hole into their own body with an errant flick of the wrist. After the War, only two surviving users of Ki Rata remained in the entire multiverse, a recluse hermit in [[PortalCrossroadWorld Throne]], and the [[DeityOfHumanOrigin demiurge]] [[GodEmperor Solomon David]], who [[DecepticeDisciple murdered the other monks as soon as they finished training him]] and became a demiurge by killing one — ''masters'' of the style evidently find sorcerer-warlords empowered by the limitless fires of creation easy marks.