Among all the karate teams across Japan,
the Shinshinkai karate organization is the most exclusive.
Under the sponsorship of the Shinshinkai,
the 18th All-Japan Amateur Karate Tournament was being held here.
Suddenly, a mysterious young contender...
...appears at the tournament.
Bastard! l'll show you!
One point!
Appearing like a comet, this mysterious white belt was...
...winning match after match at the tournament...
...and advancing to the finals.
The kid's good.
You can whine all you like,
but they saw what happened out there!
That white belt kicked your sorry butt.
What about the Shinshinkai reputation!
Every win was on the first point!
What do you have to say for yourself?!
But...coach...l...
To hell with your excuses!
Our undefeated record is built on my sweat and blood.
l've heard enough crap.
Built on your sweat and blood?
You've never even fought against other styles.
S-Suedo!
So who have you beaten?
You think you could beat that kid?
So you've figured out how the hell to beat that kid?
He beat 'em all with just one point!
And with just one move!
And so have l.
Unlike the empty-headed idiots you trained.
The only ones who can beat that kid are me...
...and maybe Director Orochi.
Then again he's an old man now.
How dare you insult the Director!
You guys might as well be white belts...
...as far as l'm concerned.
Baki Hanma, huh?
l think l'll have him for dinner.
Look at that guy eat!
He's been going at it since the semi-finals.
He'll puke during the fight.
Baki, you're up!
Look at those scars.
There's only ten minutes until the final match.
Oh.
The Director's giving his demonstration out there.
The final's right after that.
Huh?
Coke without the fizz?
l see.
lt probably gives him more energy that way.
Ladies and gentlemen, the legendary Director -
- of the Shinshinkai, here is Doppo Orochi.
lt has been said that he has killed a tiger with bare hands.
The living legend - Doppo Orochi!
He's standing in front of the thick cement pipe.
What? He's going into the pipe.
lt's... gone!
The concrete pipe vanished before our very eyes.
What a display of destruction.
The God of War-Doppo Orochi Still as strong as ever!
A giant of a man-Doppo Orochi Still in excellent shape!
Not bad... for an old man, that is.
Baki Hanma
Uh...yes?
Saw your fight kid. Pretty good stuff out there.
Suedo's tough, you know.
Oh, yes, he is.
Baki, my boy...
Yes?
Smack
Great punch... Mr. Orochi!
This'll be good!
The final match is about to begin!
Well, well... Here to lend your support?
Hello, Suedo.
Don't expect to be a shoe-in...
...just because you're part of the Shinshinkai.
l'm not sure l catch your drift.
He's not the kind you can beat with mere rage.
Get caught up in your fantasies and you'll be eaten alive.
l'll be eaten alive?!
On the west side, Atsushi Suedo.
You must be kidding.
On the east side, Baki Hanma!
Suedo has entered the mat in a dramatic fashion.
Hanma calmly steps up Suedo looks down Hanma!
Face house - bow. Face opponent - bow.
Positions.
Begin!
He's out of bounds.
Damn!
Suedo.
Did he...?
Did the last kick dislocate your shoulder?
Call a doctor, quickly!
A what?!
We haven't had a reason to be this proud in a long time.
A doctor? Don't make me laugh.
Huh?
You can't....
Here goes.
Huh?
Well done, Suedo! That can be painful, eh?
A little error in judgment. Let's get back to it.
You're unbelievable, Suedo.
Positions.
Begin!
Hm? What's this?
That boy's in trouble. Suedo has calmed down.
Suedo isn't his best when he's fuming with anger.
But when he's calm...
Just where l wanted you.
l knew you were an amateur.
What?!
What the? Those scars...
l was hoping it wouldn't come to this, Suedo.
We won't be needing you, ref.
You mean you're going to...
This is no longer a normal match.
Tell the Director his winning streak is over!
Oh, crying over a broken hand?
lppon - one point.
lt's all over for Suedo! The white belt has done it again.
Ha. Ha. You're a pretty sight, kid.
l know our matches are open to everyone,
but it doesn't look good if we have to bring back retirees.
What?
Don't play dumb - those scars tell me you've been around.
Nice technique, the way you beat old Suedo.
Those aren't the kind of moves you learn -
- no matter how many of these matches you're in.
Does my heart good -
A 17 year old boy fighting his way up in this business.
You've been keeping close tabs on me.
Of course, l have. l'm an Old Boy.
You are?!
That's right. But get this: l'm not finished with you yet.
Say your prayers.
l'm Kato.
l trained with Suedo in the Shinshinkai.
Aren't you going to compete?
Let me tell you something kid.
You have to aim for the throat and below the belt,
if you want to make it in karate.
That child's play of yours won all the matches,
but it doesn't prove you're strong.
Oh, really?
What a shame... lt might have been fun.
lf it's fun you're looking for it's not too late -
- to have a go!
l guess better keep an eye on that guy.
That slacker Baki didn't come to school today again.
Really?
Yum!
Even though l tell him he should.
He's a busy boy, that Baki.
What's he trying to prove, training so hard every single day?
Did you ask him?
Uh-huh.
When l do he just smiles!
He never answers.
l see.
You know something l don't?
Not at all. Worried?
Who me? l don't care.
Suedo.
l had to compete with you...
...to learn karate as quickly as possible.
Director Doppo.
Where the heck are you taking me?
To an underworld.
To Suidobashi.
Yes, sir.
ln May, 1980, in Koraku of the Bunkyo area,
construction of the Tokyo Dome was started.
lt stood six levels above ground and had two levels below.
ln exchange for financing part of the construction costs,
a certain financier made a deal...
...to have his own private arena under the Dome.
lt was one of the biggest backroom deals ever made.
Tokyo Dome?
Did you drag me all the way out here to buy a souvenir!?
Doppo!
lt's been a long time, Master.
Huh? Master?!
Have l been waiting for you!
Take it easy, Master!
Quiet, fools!
Just hurry up and let's get going.
Y-yes!
What's with this crazy old man?
How does it feel to have your school so badly humiliated?
Since l first saw him, l couldn't wait to see how he'd pull it off.
He must mean Baki.
Just like him to fight in a karate match the day before the big one.
Here's the elevator.
Fancy place!
This is nothing! Wait'll you get inside.
Straight to the sixth level underground.
Sixth level?!
But the Tokyo Dome only has two underground levels!
One of the last scandals of the good ole days.
Right, Doppo?
Oh my God...?!
lt's like a palace!
The newest, sacred fighting arena,
built in the 300 year old tradition of the Tokugawa era.
Here it is.
An arena in the basement of the Tokyo Dome?!
Well what do you think?
Well, well.
l wish l could have seen you fight here.
Compared to the old Korakuen stadium upstairs,
this is pretty hardcore.
Unlike a public fighting arena,
we only invite selected spectators who know how to keep a secret.
The semi-finals are about to begin.
ln the Blue Dragon corner Sumo wrestler, Kongo Ryu.
ln the White Tiger corner Pro wrestler, Kohei Kuzumi.
What the heck?
A Sumo champion against a top wrestler?!
Just an appetizer for Baki's match.
ls this what they meant by ''the underworld''?
What is this, old man?!
You mean you haven't told him about me?
The first to build a fighting arena here at Korakuen 300 years ago...
...was my great, great, great, great, great...huh?
My great, great, great..huh? Great, great, great, great...
That's it! 11 generations.
All the way back to my ancestor Komon Mito.
ln 1615, the Warring States Era came to an end.
Samurais had lost their function in society,
and their frustrations only led to more bloodshed and violence...
...throughout the land.
Concerned, Komon Mito ordered that an arena be built,
and sent scouts to locate swordsmen to fight out their frustrations there.
Komon Mito's expeditions to ''protect'' the innocent from evil...
...indeed served to scout for swordsmen for the matches.
Our ancestors loved fighting,
and the idea of providing the venue has flourished for centuries.
This must be a dream.
Ha Ha! He did it!
ls that it? lt's over?
Kuzumi's been put out of commission, so to speak.
Anything goes in these matches except weapons.
You mean no rules?!
Yeah.
Strangling's allowed,
and below the belt,
and there's even biting.
No need for referees.
lt makes for a good, fair fight!
What do you think, Kato?
Baki fights in these matches, you know.
You seem in good spirits, champ.
lt's funny.
Once l get these tight bandages on, l feel so powerful.
l just can't wait to fight.
What a coincidence.
l just spoke to your opponent, Shinogi.
He said exactly the same thing.
Mind getting out of my way?
What?!
Didn't you know?
The weak yield to the strong here.
And now for the main event.
Baki, Baki, Baki!
Wow, this guy sure is popular.
He's the champion.
l expect a good fight.
ln the 300 years of Korakuen,
he's the youngest and the most exciting fighter to ever compete.
He's practically a hero.
The kid will put on a good show, eh?
Baki's looking good.
Who's Baki going to fight against today?
Oh, he's another hot shot.
Hmm...Shinogi's a little late.
Did you just say Shinogi?
l thought you might know him.
That's right, Kosho Shinogi.
Wha...what's going on? l...l can't see ...
lt's so dark l can't see anything!
Didn't you know that the weak yield to the strong here?
What did you say!?
How's that? Can you feel it?
l just pulled out your optical nerves.
You're an irrational man, so l'll to have to rip them out...
...like this!
l'm blacking out
Koshi Shinogi, aka, the cord-cutter.
Cord-cutting!?
ln your body, there is a complex of cord-like nerves, veins and tendons.
Shinogi's style aims to sever them.
l could, too - with a powerful chop like mine.
Shinogi rips them out with his fingers.
His fingers!?
l can't wait to see this bizarre technique!
Here he comes.
ln the White Tiger corner, Kosho Shinogi.
Baki Hanma, you can't imagine how l'm looking forward to this.
You should be able to satisfy this maddening hunger of mine.
Mr. Shinogi!
Hm?
l've read over 10 textbooks on karate...
and l've battled many fighters.
So, what about it?
Well, there's no way l'll lose.
So you read textbooks, huh!
You think they'll help you!
Don't insult our intelligence.
Shinogi, show him what tradition is all about!
Let's see you rip out his nerves!
Hanma.
l intend to use absolutely any technique here today.
You'll have to, or else.
Whatever techniques you plan to use,
l hope you don't expect to win merely with a couple of moves.
This is where they decide who's the strongest in the world.
That's quite a mouth you have.
All the more reason to rip your cords out.
How come nobody's making a move?
They can't move.
This is a no-holds barred contest,
so whoever makes the first move will put everything into it.
They're both fighting with demons in their souls.
Soon they'll give in to the demons and start fighting.
Right, Master. And who do you think will strike first?
Hmm....l suppose it'll be -
l thought so!
Ahh!
How foolish.
He's bleeding from those kicks.
What the heck was that?
How ghastly!
Surprised?
ln the Shinogi style, moves like yours are child's play.
You haven't seen anything yet.
Just relax, it's alright.
l'll give you credit for being able to dodge my kicks but how foolish...
...to come here with only one month's training in karate?!
How can Baki possibly win?
We'll see.
Aren't you ever going to strike?
Get control of yourself!
l think this time l'll...
That's it.
...do the honors!
l got it.
Come right on in.
That's it, Baki my boy!
What was that?
That's what you call cord-cutting.
No other technique in karate can inflict as much pain.
Fight Baki.
lt hurts, it hurts, it hurts...
How can l fight back with this incredible pain?!
How do you like your first cord-cutting experience?
lt wasn't in the textbook.
l guess not.
l can't move my right arm!
What a barrage of kicks!
Hey, finish him off!
lt'll be hell from here on out.
Way to go! Shinogi!
So, this is the underground arena!
One more fist.
l drive this into your temple.
Then the glory -
is all mine!
He came back!? l don't believe it
Mr. Shinogi.
You can't take my place just because you took out my right arm.
l don't want you to forget...
...just who's the strongest in the world.
Take it easy. He's a tough bastard.
But he doesn't have his right arm.
My victory has been perfectly executed.
My heartfelt admiration for your unrelenting attacks.
You've done quite well with that one left arm.
Now a taste of the real thing.
My deadly strength.
He's going to cut him!
He'll kill him!
The true power of the Shinogi style is feared like no other.
The force of my steel-like claws is stronger than any beast's.
l missed...? Or there wouldn't be a bone left.
He's...still coming after me?
That was a brutal onslaught,
but l could see through that.
l thought so.
His style is predictable.
His speed is incredible but his moves are simple - no variety.
As long as l don't lose sight of his moves, he won't be able to hit me.
l think he's figured him out.
Baki Hanma!
l won't regret it...
...if we both fight to the death!
Baki Hanma watch this!
The ultimate weapon of the Shinogi.
He's got him by the shoulder!
l knew you would -
come at me that way.
He did it again!
l can't see out of my right eye.
Baki Hanma.
Now, there's no way you'll win.
He's gone? Can't see!
His right side is completely useless.
You missed, Baki.
Take a good long look at this face.
lt's the last one that you're ever going to see!
He's going for the other eye.
He won't see it.
Don't ever...
...forget this face!
This is as far as you'll get this time Shinogi.
Whoa, how about that!
Unbelievable! Reacting at such close range!
Mr. Shinogi, there's no way out of this.
How humiliating!
Tap out now!
Just go ahead and break it.
You'll never use karate again.
What karate, after this defeat?
We're not talking about some minor fracture!
Break it!
Do it or l'll bite my tongue!
Stubborn idiot!
A winner!
Quite a kid!
Amazing! You did it, Baki!
ls the guy going to be alright?
Huh?
The nerves in his right arm and eye were ripped right apart.
He'll be alright.
We have the best doctors in the world, too.
Baki, Baki, Baki!
Mr. Shinogi!
You beat me good.
Baki Hanma.
Yes?
Why didn't you break it?
All you had to do was shift your weight slightly...
...and my arm would have been shattered.
Mr. Shinogi.
Hm?
lt wouldn't have mattered.
Even if l broke both your arms you would have retaliated.
l didn't have the strength to deal with your kicks then.
l figured it was best to knock you unconscious at that time.
Hanma.
Yes?
Keep on winning.
Thanks!