Koichi

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Koichi
タケノリ Takenori
File:Karate Master Journey.png
Karate Master in the anime
Gender Male
Hometown Unknown, possibly Saffron City
Region Kanto
Trainer class Karate MasterPE
Black BeltRBYFRLG
Generation I, III, and VII
Games Red, Blue, Yellow, FireRed, LeafGreen, Let's Go, Pikachu! and 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 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).

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
Ability:
No Ability
Held item:
None.png None None.png
Hitmonlee Lv.30
Feint
Normal Physical
Brick Break
Fighting Physical
Facade
Normal Physical
Jump Kick
Fighting Physical
107Hitmonchan.png
Type:
Fighting Unknown
Ability:
No Ability
Held item:
None.png None None.png
Hitmonchan Lv.30
Dizzy Punch
Normal Physical
Thunder Punch
Electric Physical
Ice Punch
Ice Physical
Fire Punch
Fire Physical

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!"

Sprites

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

In the anime

Main series

A Karate Master appeared in 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 the anime, but 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
Hebrew גל בר-און Gal Bar-On
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 was mentioned in PZ07, where he is instead referred to as the "Dojo Master".

Pokémon Journeys: The Series

Karate Master appears in JNM11, with a similar role to that of the anime.

Pokémon

107Hitmonchan.png
Hitmonchan


Trivia

When Pokémon Gold and Silver were first released, it was initially believed that Koichi was the same person as Kiyo. This was due to the fact that the two characters used the same team of Pokémon in their respective battles, and Kiyo was later revealed to be the master of the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City, which was closed due as he had left to train at Mt. Mortar. However, the subsequent release of FireRed and LeafGreen and HeartGold and SoulSilver established the two as separate characters. It can be assumed that Koichi left the Dojo and handed it over to Kiyo sometime between the events of the Generation I and Generation II games.

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
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

See also

Non-player characters in the core series games
Kanto Professor OakMom (Kanto)Mom (LGPE)RedBlueGreenTraceDaisyOld manBillCelioMr. FujiSafari Zone WardenCopycatPrimoKoichi
Pokémon Fan Club ChairmanErik and SaraTealaMinaCalSteven StoneMayleneCameronMr. GameMorimoto
Team RocketGym guideGym LeadersElite FourProfessor's aidesMagikarp salesmanName RaterDay-Care PersonMr. Hyper


Trainer classes in the Pokémon core series
Kanto Ace Trainer*BeautyBikerBird KeeperBlack Belt*Bug CatcherBurglarCamper*ChampionGSCFRLGHGSSPE
ChannelerElite FourGSCFRLGHGSSPEEngineerFishermanGamer*GentlemanGym Leader*GSCFRLGHGSSPE
HikerJugglerLassPicnicker*Poké Maniac*Pokémon Trainer*GSCPEPsychicRivalFRLGRockerRoughneck*
SailorScientistSuper NerdSwimmerTamerTeam Rocket Boss*FRLGHGSSPETeam Rocket Grunt*Youngster
BoarderHGSSDouble TeamHGSSFirebreatherGSCHGSSGuitaristGSCHGSSMediumGSCHGSS
PokéfanGSCHGSSSchool Kid*GSCHGSSSkierHGSSTeacherGSCHGSSTwinsGSCFRLGHGSS
Cool CoupleFRLGCrush KinFRLGSis and BroFRLGYoung CoupleFRLGHGSS
Coach TrainerPEKarate MasterPEPunk GuyPETeam RocketPETeam Rocket AdminPE
Master TrainersPE
Unused Trainer class:
ChiefRGBY


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.