“Grappler Baki: The Ultimate Fighter” is a 45-minute OVA from 1994, directed by Yuji Asada (“Tenku Senki Shurato, ep.1”, “Queen Emeraldas”) and based on a comic/manga. That same manga was later re-adapted into a 24-episode TV series in 2001.

“The weak yield to the strong here.”

Baki Hanma is training to be the greatest fighter the world has ever seen, by taking out all of Japan’s top brawlers… one fight at a time. After defeating the Shinshinkai’s greatest Karate Champion, Atsushi Suedo, he’s ready to test out his skills in the underworld on Kosho Shinogi, a fighter who can use his blade-like fingers to pull out and cut through his opponent’s nerves. Blinded in one eye, and with his right arm ripped apart and uselessly dangling at his side, will Baki still be able to beat Shinogi into submission?

“Let’s see you rip out his nerves!”

Physiology, logistics, and human limitations have no place here. “Grappler Baki” is about meaty men grinding their teeth and hitting each other. Only a wuss would tap-out if he had some pathetic flesh wound … like getting your optic nerve ripped out through your neck!

Grappler Baki 01	Grappler Baki 02