Koichi
タケノリ Takenori
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, 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:

 
Type:
Fighting Unknown
Hitmonlee Lv.30
Double Kick
Fighting
Meditate
Psychic
  --  
   
  --  
   
 
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:

 
Type:
Fighting Unknown
Ability:
Limber
Held item:
None
Hitmonlee Lv.25
Jump Kick
Fighting
Rolling Kick
Fighting
Brick Break
Fighting
Focus Energy
Normal
 
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:

 
Type:
Fighting Unknown
Hitmonlee Lv.30
Feint
Normal Physical
Brick Break
Fighting Physical
Facade
Normal Physical
Jump Kick
Fighting Physical
 
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

     
Sprite from
Generation I
Sprite from
FireRed and LeafGreen
VS model from
Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
   
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 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
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.

Debut Solitary and Menacing!
 
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.

Debut Solitary and Menacing!
At Dojo
 
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.

Debut Solitary and Menacing!
 
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.

Debut Solitary and Menacing!
Given away
 
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.

Debut Solitary and Menacing!

Voice actors

Language Voice actor
Japanese 間宮康弘 Yasuhiro Mamiya
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
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.

Debut File 3: Giovanni

In the manga

Pokémon Journeys: The Series

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

Pokémon

 
Hitmonchan


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 her telepathic Lapras from the Silph Co. He begged Satoshi to go help her, which he did.

Pokémon

 
Hitmonchan
 
Hitmonlee
 
Machoke
 
Primeape


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
  Finnish Karatemestari
  French Grand Karatéka
  German Karate-Meister
  Italian Maestro di karate
  Korean 태권도 대왕 Taegwondo Daewang
  Polish Mistrz Karate
  Brazilian Portuguese Mestre de Caratê
  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 SaraLostelleTealaSelphyCalSteven StoneMayleneMinaCameronMr. GameMorimoto
Team RocketGym guideGym LeadersElite FourProfessors' 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


  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.