Koichi
タケノリ Takenori
Karate Master JN.png
Karate Master in Pokémon Journeys: The Series
Gender Male
Hometown Unknown, possibly Saffron City
Region Kanto
Trainer class Karate MasterPE
Black BeltRBYFRLG
Generation I, III, VII
Games Red, Blue, Yellow, FireRed, LeafGreen, Let's Go, Pikachu!, Let's Go, Eevee!
Leader of Fighting Dojo
Badge Unknown
Specializes in Fighting types

Koichi (Japanese: タケノリ Takenori) is a Black Belt and the leader of the Fighting Dojo in Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, Let's Go, Pikachu!, and Let's Go, Eevee!. He is the only character in the games to have the Trainer class Karate Master (Japanese: からてだいおう Great Karate King).

In the core series games

Koichi is a leader of Fighting Dojo in Saffron City. At one point, Koichi was the Gym Leader of Saffron City until his Gym lost official privileges as a result of a duel between himself and Sabrina. It has since become a place where he and his students train Karate. The player obtains a Hitmonlee or a Hitmonchan as a reward for beating Koichi.

Koichi's name was not revealed until Generation III. He is also known as the Karate Master (Japanese: カラテだいおうRBYFRLG / からてだいおうPE Great Karate King).

In Pokémon X and Y, the Dojo sensei (either Koichi or Kiyo) can be found in Lumiose City, trying to start a new Fighting Dojo at a small apartment he has rented in Centrico Plaza. His business doesn't seem to be running smoothly, however, as a Battle Girl at the apartment tells that he's only getting new students signing up by telling them he's running a dance studio.

Pokémon

Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow



Given away

After being defeated, Koichi lets the player take one of these Pokémon:

Spr 1y 106.png
Type:
Fighting Unknown
Hitmonlee Lv.30
Double Kick
Fighting
Meditate
Psychic
  --  
   
  --  
   
Spr 1y 107.png
Type:
Fighting Unknown
Hitmonchan Lv.30
Comet Punch
Normal
Agility
Psychic
  --  
   
  --  
   

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen



Given away

After being defeated, Koichi lets the player take one of these Pokémon:

Spr 3f 106.png
Type:
Fighting Unknown
Ability:
Limber
Held item:
None
Hitmonlee Lv.25
Jump Kick
Fighting
Rolling Kick
Fighting
Brick Break
Fighting
Focus Energy
Normal
Spr 3f 107.png
Type:
Fighting Unknown
Ability:
Keen Eye
Held item:
None
Hitmonchan Lv.25
Mach Punch
Fighting
Comet Punch
Normal
Pursuit
Dark
Agility
Psychic

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!



Given away

After being defeated, Koichi lets the player take one of these Pokémon:

106Hitmonlee.png
Type:
Fighting Unknown
Hitmonlee Lv.30
Feint
Normal Physical
Brick Break
Fighting Physical
Facade
Normal Physical
Jump Kick
Fighting Physical
107Hitmonchan.png
Type:
Fighting Unknown
Hitmonchan Lv.30
Dizzy Punch
Normal Physical
Thunder Punch
Electric Physical
Ice Punch
Ice Physical
Fire Punch
Fire Physical

Gallery

Sprites and models

Spr RG Blackbelt.png Spr FRLG Black Belt.png VSBlack Belt PE.png
Sprite from
Generation I
Sprite from
FireRed and LeafGreen
VS model from
Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
Blackbelt I OD.png Black Belt FRLG OD.png
Overworld sprite from
Generation I
Overworld sprite from
FireRed and LeafGreen

Quotes

Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow

  • Before battle
"Grunt! I am the Karate Master! I am the Leader here! You wish to challenge us? Expect no mercy! Fwaaa!"
  • Being defeated
"Hwa! Arrgh! Beaten!"
  • After being defeated
"Indeed, I have lost! But, I beseech you, do not take our emblem as your trophy! In return, I will give you a prized fighting Pokémon! Choose whichever one you like!"
  • If Hitmonlee is chosen
"You want the hard-kicking Hitmonlee?"
  • If Hitmonchan is chosen
"You want the piston-punching Hitmonchan?"
  • If talked to again
"Ho! Stay and train at Karate with us!"

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen

  • Before battle
"Grunt! I am the Karate Master. I am the leader here! You wish to challenge us? Expect no mercy! Fwaaa!"
  • Being defeated
"Hwa! Arrgh! Beaten!"
  • After being defeated
"Indeed, I have lost! But I beseech you, do not take our emblem as your trophy! In return, I will give you a prized Fighting Pokémon! Choose whichever one you like!"
  • If Hitmonlee is chosen
"You want the hard-kicking Hitmonlee?"
  • If Hitmonchan is chosen
"You want the piston-punching Hitmonchan?"
  • If talked to again
"Grunt! Stay and train at karate with us!"

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!

  • Before battle
"*grunt* I am the Karate Master! I am the leader here! You wish to challenge us? Expect no mercy! Fwaaa!"
  • Being defeated
"Hwa! Argh! Beaten!"
  • After being defeated
"Indeed, I have lost! But I beseech you—do not take our emblem as your trophy! In return, I will give you a prized Fighting-type Pokémon! Choose whichever one you like!
  • If Hitmonlee is chosen
"You want the hard-kicking Hitmonlee?"
  • If Hitmonchan is chosen
"You want the piston-punching Hitmonchan?"
  • If talked to again
"Hyah! Stay and train at karate with us!"

In animation

Pokémon the Series

A Karate Master appeared in the Pokémon Journeys: The Series episode Solitary and Menacing!. He is the current leader of the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City.

Sometime before Ash and Goh arrive at the Dojo, Karate Master is challenged by Bea who has been challenging several Fighting-type Pokémon Trainers around the world. When Ash goes to open the tip to see his battle with Bea, Ash is surprised by the defeat of his Hitmonchan.

When Ash decides to face Bea, he gives up the Dojo for them to battle, Karate Master reveals to them about the fame Bea achieved in the World Coronation Series and as a Gym Leader in the Galar region. During the battle, he explains Bea's strategies to Goh and assesses the battle as a whole, and notes that the same strategy that Bea used against him, she used against Ash in their battle. When Bea finishes the battle, she thanks the Master for using the arena.

Soon after, he tells Goh that it was time for them to battle. Presumably, Goh wins the battle as it is later revealed that Goh received a Hitmonchan from the Dojo.

He remained unnamed in Pokémon the Series, and was only referred to as Karate Master (Japanese: 空手大王) in the credits.

Pokémon

On hand
Hitmonlee
Kiyo's Hitmonlee

Hitmonlee is one of the Pokémon that the Karate Master used in the battle against Bea. He is revealed to have lost to her Grapploct.

None of Hitmonlee's moves are known.

Hitmonchan
Kiyo's Hitmonchan

Hitmonchan is one of the Pokémon that the Karate Master used in the battle against Bea. He is revealed to have lost to her Grapploct.

None of Hitmonchan's moves are known.

At Dojo
Hitmonchan (multiple)
Karate Master's Hitmonchan (multiple)

Several Hitmonchan are seen training in the Dojo. They are given to Trainers who win a battle against the Karate Master.

None of Hitmonchan's moves are known.

Hitmonlee (multiple)
Karate Master's Hitmonlee (multiple)

Several Hitmonlee are seen training in the Dojo. They are given to Trainers who win a battle against the Karate Master.

None of Hitmonlee's moves are known.

Given away
Hitmonchan
Goh's Hitmonchan

Hitmonchan is a Pokémon that Goh received as a prize after defeating the Karate Master in Saffron City's Fighting Dojo.

None of Hitmonchan's moves are known.

Voice actors

Language Voice actor
Japanese 間宮康弘 Yasuhiro Mamiya
English Kyle Hebert
European French Jean-Michel Vovk
Hebrew גל בר-און Gal Bar-On
Indonesian Hari Suseno
Polish Robert Jarociński
European Spanish Miguel Ángel Muro


Pokémon Origins

Koichi appears briefly in File 3: Giovanni. Red defeated him in a battle off-screen, and as a reward, Koichi let Red take either his Hitmonlee or Hitmonchan.

Pokémon

Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan
Koichi's Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan

Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan are Koichi's only known Pokémon. After being defeated by Red, he allowed Red to pick and take one of them.

None of Hitmonlee or Hitmonchan's moves are known.

In the manga

Pokémon Zensho

Koichi appeared in PZ07, where he was instead referred to as the "Dojo Master". He told Satoshi how Shigeru had recently beaten Sabrina, who was now trying to rescue the Silph Co. from Team Rocket.

Pokémon

Fighting Dojo interior Zensho.png
Hitmonchan
Fighting Dojo interior Zensho.png
Hitmonlee
Fighting Dojo interior Zensho.png
Machoke
Fighting Dojo interior Zensho.png
Primeape


Karate Master in Pokémon Journeys

Pokémon Journeys

Karate Master appeared in Solitary and Menacing!. As in the animated series, he observed the battle between Ash and Bea, but unlike in the animated series, he was never challenged by Goh.

Pokémon

Karate Master Hitmonchan JNM.png
Hitmonchan


Names

Language Name Origin
Japanese タケノリ Takenori Alternative reading of 武徳 butoku (martial virtues)
English, Spanish,
French, Italian
Koichi From Kōichi, a masculine Japanese name
German Junichi From Jun'ichi, a masculine Japanese name
Korean 무덕 Mudeok From 무덕 (武德) mudeok (martial virtues)
Chinese (Mandarin) 武德 Wǔdé From 武德 wǔdé / móuhdāk (martial virtues)
Chinese (Cantonese) 武德 Móuhdāk

Karate Master

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 空手道大王 Hūngsáudouh Daaihwòhng
Mandarin 空手道大王 Kōngshǒudào Dàwáng
Finland Flag.png Finnish Karatemestari
France Flag.png French Grand Karatéka
Germany Flag.png German Karate-Meister
Italy Flag.png Italian Maestro di karate
South Korea Flag.png Korean 태권도 대왕 Taegwondo Daewang
Poland Flag.png Polish Mistrz Karate
Brazil Flag.png Brazilian Portuguese Mestre de Caratê
Spain Flag.png Spanish Maestro Karateka

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Project COD logo.png This article is part of Project COD, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each one-time character of the Pokémon animated series.