If you were looking for the Warrior in Pokémon Conquest, see Kiyo (Conquest). For the character in the anime whose Japanese name is Kiyo, see Nicholai.
Kiyo
ノブヒコ Nobuhiko
Kiyo anime.png
Kiyo in the anime
Gender Male
Hometown Unknown, possibly Saffron City
Region Johto
Trainer class Black Belt
Generation II, IV
Games Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, SoulSilver, Masters EX
Leader of Fighting Dojo
Badge Unknown
Specializes in Fighting types
Anime debut A Tyrogue Full of Trouble!
English voice actor Dan Green
Japanese voice actor Takeharu Onishi

Kiyo (Japanese: ノブヒコ Nobuhiko) is a Black Belt and the leader of the Fighting Dojo in Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, and SoulSilver.

He is known as the Karate King (Japanese: カラテだいおう Great Karate King).

In the core series games

Kiyo is found training at Mt. Mortar. To reach him, the player must travel through a lengthy maze section within the mountain. Upon defeating him, Kiyo will give the player a Tyrogue if there is an empty slot in the party. His Karate Gym in Saffron has been disbanded, but one of Kiyo's students can still be found there.

In Pokémon X and Y, the Dojo sensei (either Kiyo or Koichi) 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 is running a dance studio.

Pokémon

Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal



Given away

After being defeated, Kiyo gives the player this Pokémon:

 
Type:
Fighting Unknown
Held item:
None
Tyrogue Lv.10
Tackle
Normal
  --  
   
  --  
   
  --  
   

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver



Given away

After being defeated, Kiyo gives the player this Pokémon:

 
Type:
Fighting Unknown
Ability:
Guts or Steadfast
Held item:
None
Tyrogue Lv.10
Tackle
Normal Physical
Helping Hand
Normal Status
Fake Out
Normal Physical
Foresight
Normal Status

In other games

Pokémon Masters EX

Kiyo is featured in the Raise Tyrogue! event. The player encounters him training in a cave with two disciples, and he starts to challenge the player to battle, only to stop when Sabrina appears. Depending on the player's dialogue option, she either identifies him as the leader of the Fighting Dojo or says they're like rivals, not friends. Kiyo challenges Sabrina to a battle, but she crushes him. Sabrina suggests that the player train with Kiyo, and he offers to give the player a Tyrogue Egg if they do. He introduces the player to Tyrogue's evolutions, then the training begins. The player can then battle Kiyo and his disciples, with a chance of receiving a Tyrogue Egg after every battle.

He is never explicitly called Kiyo during the event, with all his dialogue simply labeled Black Belt. However, several of his lines of dialogue are identical to lines he says in Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, and SoulSilver, including identifying himself as the Karate King. Sabrina also calls him the Karate King. The player's opponent in the event battles is named Black Belt Kyle (Japanese: からておうの ゴウタ Karate King Gouta), but it is unclear if Kyle is meant to be the name of the Karate King himself or one of his disciples.

Gallery

Sprites and models

   
Sprite from
Generation II
Sprite from
HeartGold and SoulSilver
     
Overworld sprite from
Generation II
Overworld sprite from
HeartGold and SoulSilver
Overworld model from
Generation VI

Quotes

Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal

  • Before battle
"Hey! I am the Karate King! I train alone here in the dark! You! Battle with me! Hwaaarggh!
  • Being defeated
"Waaaarggh! I'm beaten!"
  • After being defeated
"I... I'm crushed... My training is still not enough... But a loss is a loss. I admit it. As proof that you defeated me, I'll give you a rare fighting Pokémon."
"Tyrogue is a fighting-type. It evolves into a tougher Pokémon. Keep up the hard work. I'll keep training too. Farewell!"
  • If the player's party is full
"You have no room in your party!"

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

  • Before battle
"Hey! I am the Karate King! I train alone here in the cave! You! Battle with me! Hwaaarggh!
  • Being defeated
"Waaaarggh! I'm beaten!"
  • After being defeated
"I... I'm crushed... My training is still not enough... But a loss is a loss. I admit it. As proof that you defeated me, I'll give you a rare Fighting-type Pokémon."
  • If the player's party is full
"You have no room in your party!"
  • If the player's party is not full
"TYROGUE is a Fighting type. It evolves into a tougher Pokémon. Keep up the hard work. I'll keep training too. Farewell!"

Pokémon X and Y

"Oh, no one is a no go! This is the Fighting Dojo! How good of you to come! Please, have a look around!"

Pokémon Masters EX

Raise Tyrogue!
  • The Karate King
  • As Black Belt
"Hey! I am the Karate King! And these are my disciples!"
"You! Battle with m—"
"You! The Master of Psychic Pokémon! I've waited forever for this. Battle me!"
"We'll show you the results of our training! Hwaaarggh!"
  • Off-screen
"Waaaarggh!"
"I'm beaten!"
  • On-screen
"I... I'm crushed... My training is still not enough..."
"But a loss is a loss. I admit it."
"That's a great idea! Please, train with me!"
"If you do, I'll give you a Tyrogue Egg!"
"If you raise Tyrogue, it can evolve into one of three different Fighting-type Pokémon."
  • Off-screen
"Will it be the hard-kicking Hitmonlee?"
"Or the piston-punching Hitmonchan?"
"Or maybe the perfectly balanced Hitmontop?"
  • On-screen
"No matter which one you get, it'll be a super-strong partner!"
"All right, enough talking! It's training time!"

In the anime

Kiyo's only anime appearance was in A Tyrogue Full of Trouble!. He is a former student of Chuck's and was in training to compete in the P1 Grand Prix. Despite many protests from the nearby townspeople and concerns Ash and his friends had about it, he desired to earn the trust of an abandoned Tyrogue. Kiyo saved Tyrogue from a rockslide and later defeated him in hand-to-hand battle, earning his respect. Tyrogue and his wild Pokémon friends then joined Kiyo's team.

Despite the appearance of the Saffron City Fighting Dojo in Pasta La Vista and Solitary and Menacing!, Kiyo did not appear in these episodes, and the leader was different characters in each episode (Master Hamm and Koichi, respectively).

Pokémon


This article is missing information on this character's Japanese voice actor.
You can help by adding this information.


 
Hitmonlee
Hitmonlee was called out to defend Ash and his friends from a boulder attack. After that, he battled against a Tyrogue that was causing mischief and was easily defeated by the Scuffle Pokémon.

Hitmonlee's only known move is Rolling Kick.

Debut A Tyrogue Full of Trouble
Voice actors
Japanese
English Michael Haigney
 
Hitmonchan
Hitmonchan was also called out to defend Ash and his friends from a boulder attack. He then battled Tyrogue and ended up losing.

Hitmonchan's known moves are Comet Punch and Mega Punch.

Debut A Tyrogue Full of Trouble
Voice actors
Japanese
English Michael Haigney
 
Tyrogue
Tyrogue was abandoned by his original Trainer in the mountains. This caused him to become bitter and begin lashing out at any human who approached him. He wore a blue neckerchief as a reminder of his abandonment. At some point, he befriended a wild Mankey and Primeape, and together, the trio committed a number of mischievous acts in nearby villages.

One day, Tyrogue leaped in to save Misty's Togepi from some rampaging Tauros. Later, he gave a trio of wild Pokémon some fruit to eat after noticing they were hungry. After Jessie stole fruit from a Sandshrew, Tyrogue attacked Team Rocket and sent them blasting off.

Later, Kiyo battled Tyrogue with his Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan, but both of his Pokémon were defeated. Kiyo then battled Tyrogue himself and won, earning Tyrogue's respect in the process. He gave Tyrogue a new red neckerchief, made from his own armband, to commemorate the new friendship.

Tyrogue's known moves are Swift, Tackle, Headbutt, Double Team, and Jump Kick*.

Debut A Tyrogue Full of Trouble
Voice actors
Japanese Akira Ishida
English Dan Green
 
Mankey and Primeape
Mankey and Primeape were originally wild Pokémon that were Tyrogue's friends, and they would often cause mischief together. After Tyrogue fought Kiyo and decided to go with him, they became sad that they had lost their friend, but Kiyo offered to take them along as well.

None of Mankey and Primeape's moves are known.

Debut A Tyrogue Full of Trouble
Voice actors
Japanese
English Michael Haigney

Voice actors

Language Voice actor
Japanese 大西健晴 Takeharu Onishi
English Dan Green
European French Arnaud Léonard
Polish Ireneusz Machnicki
Brazilian Portuguese Guilherme Lopes
Spanish Latin America Andrés Gutiérrez Coto
Spain Lorenzo Beteta


In the manga

 
Kiyo in Ash & Pikachu

Ash & Pikachu

Kiyo appears in The Tyrogue's Thoughts.

Pokémon Pocket Monsters

 
Kiyo in Pokémon Pocket Monsters

Kiyo appeared in The Mysterious Underground Amusement Park. When the roller-coaster Red and the gang rode on was separated, Red ended up in an underground area containing an abandoned amusement park. As Red was about to leave, Kiyo revealed himself along with his Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan. He told them to stay and to try out his underground amusement park instead of the one above ground. Kiyo controlled the rides, but they all malfunctioned. Later, he appeared as a hallucination of a mermaid. Kiyo's amusement park motivated Clefairy into making one of his own by stealing the one that was above ground.

Pokémon

 
Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan
When Red was about to leave the underground area, Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan reveal themselves along with Kiyo. Later, they appear as hallucinations of mermaids.

None of Hitmonlee's or Hitmonchan's moves are known.

Debut The Mysterious Underground Amusement Park

Trivia

Names

Language Name Origin
Japanese ノブヒコ Nobuhiko From Nobuhiko Takada, a Japanese mixed martial artist
English, Spanish,
Italian
Kiyo Possibly from the Japanese name Kiyoshi
German Leif  
French Fei* Possibly from Wong Fei-hung, a Chinese martial artist
Kiyo* From his English name
Korean 노현 Nohyeon Similar to his Japanese name
Chinese (Mandarin) 信彥 Xìnyàn From the Japanese name 信彦 Nobuhiko
Chinese (Cantonese) 信彥 Seunyihn

Karate King

Language Title
  French Roi du Karaté
  German Karate-MeisterCHGSS
Karate ChampGS
  Italian Maestro di karate
  Korean 태권도 대왕 Taegwondo DaewangHGSS
태권대왕 Taegwon DaewangGS
  Spanish Rey del Karate

See also


Non-player characters in the core series games
Johto Professor ElmProfessor OakMomEthanLyraSilverMr. PokémonEusineLanceRedKiyoBaobaMagnusEarlKurtCarrieDude
MaryBuenaRadio DirectorHaircut brothersWebsterMasterLiWilmaPrimoMaximoJetCaitlinCynthiaCameronMr. GameFelicityTeala
Team RocketGym guideGym LeadersFrontier BrainsKimono GirlsWeek SiblingsName RaterPoké SeerDay-Care CoupleProfessors' aides


Ash & Pikachu characters
Main characters
Ash KetchumPikachuMistyTogepiBrockMayMaxJessieJamesMeowth
Rivals
Gary OakDrewMorrison
Gym Leaders and Frontier Brains
WhitneyClairRoxanneNormanNolandGretaLucy
Other
AnnaAzusaProfessor BirchCalistaCarolineProfessor CozmoDrakeEriko
Eriko's grandmotherMrs. GrimmHirotoJack PollocksonKaburagiKiyoLilyProfessor Oak
OliverRobertShellySolanaSusieTabithaTeam Rocket ScientistTimmy
Whitney's grandmotherWinstrate family


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