When Pokemon looked towards martial arts with Throh and Sawk

Don’t adjust your eyes, this is a martial arts based story…and yes it also has the words Pokemon in the title. So, what does a Japanese video game for kids have in common with martial arts? Back in 2010, Pokemon Black and White was released on the Nintendo DS. Like many video games in the series, it was also incredibly popular and sold millions.

More importantly for martial arts fans, it introduced the likes of Throh and Sawk to the series who were the games first ever proper martial arts duo. As you may have guessed by their titles, ‘Throh’ was a Judoka, whilst Sawk was a Karateka. Get it? Throh sounds a lot like throw. Both came equipped with their gi’s and black belts too. As you may have also imagined, Throh is the red creature who is a like a huge Judoka, whilst Sawk is a slight, Karate practitioner.

There is a level of attention put into their designs too. In the clip below, they have a battle and sound Japanese; the place where these martial arts originated from. Interestingly, Throh also uses a Tomoe Nage throw a few times to fling Sawk over his shoulders. At one point, he even gets Sawk in a Rear Naked Choke hold. This move is actually banned in Judo but is used in other martial arts such as BJJ and MMA. As seen, Throh is referred to as ‘the master of Judo’

As it happens, the first generation also had a few nods to martial arts as well. Another duo named Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan had similar, but more subtle traits. Hitmonlee was supposedly modeled on a kick boxer, whilst Hitmonchan clearly wears boxing gloves. Similarly, Hitmontop was eventually introduced who was also meant to be tenuously based on Capoeira.