A staple in probably almost all shonen anime shows (and even some other types!), a training montage or arc is needed to highlight a character’s growth in order to achieve a certain something!
It may be funny or spectacular, but the very best training routines can also serve as inspiration in life to basically do things better! Let’s check out some of the very best training scenes in anime below!
Yu Yu Hakusho
This classic anime showcases all sorts of training routines – and all the hard work put by the characters definitely pays! Genkai, particularly, uses unconventional means to strengthen Yusuke’s powers! And this spreads out to even more characters, when other demons actually seek training help from the master!
With training arcs actually aplenty in this series (such as Hiei and Kurama actually helping Kuwabara to make the most out of his Spirit Sword), you’ll sure get your fill of getting to full strength in this show!
Dragonball
From intense fight scenes that span several episodes, expect even more amazing training scenes from this other classic anime! Goku, who died when he first fought a Saiyan (Raditz), found himself in the snake road. Making the most out of the opportunity, he took the time to train on a small planet, to harness fighting in weird gravitational situations!
And speaking more about gravity, Goku’s rival, Vegeta, also took the chance to train in similar scenarios – he trained in a location where gravity is at an intense level (over 450 times more than normal!) to boost his workout sessions. No matter the training, almost all main characters from this popular show dedicate so much passion to become strong!
One Piece
This long-running series definitely knows a thing or two on how characters should be developed! One of the greatest assets this show has is that even the smallest details matter (a character shows up, and after x plus episodes, what that character did before will matter!).
And in terms of details, training matters as well! In fact, the time skip that happened right after Ace’s death all revolved on how the individual Straw Hats developed their own powers.
Separated, with only a single message from Luffy to meet up on a certain death, the pirates grabbed the opportunity to develop their skills. From Roronoa Zoro sharpening his sword fighting skills with none other than the world’s best swordsman, Dracule Mihawk, to Luffy developing a good grasp of Haki from Rayleigh, every single pirate of the Straw Hats powered up tremendously in just two years!
Assassination Classroom
The premise of this amazing show is essentially training – to beat your teacher! In so much that it’s a weird premise (the teacher is an indestructible monster that actually set some conditions – he will be training a select group of students who will eventually kill him off!), but this anime does present some amazing developments for the characters. From learning fighting techniques to essentially how to grow up well in society, this show has it all!
Another favorite when it comes to shonen anime, Naruto’s various characters and techniques are all a wonder to behold! But one amazing training arc is none other than the moment when Naruto was training to master his Sage mode.
More than developing physical prowess, Naruto had to master and realize that meditation is a key component when crafting successful jutsus. Talk about dedication!
Saitama is definitely an enigma. With so much power to harness, and with no intention to actually reach out to fame and riches, this excellent example of a superhero is one we all aspire to be! Actually, we all can’t help but root for him when someone actually takes credit for all his victories (ahem, King!). Nevertheless, Saitama did disclose how he got to be so powerful.
According to the man himself, all he did was a workout routine that he dedicated to every single day: a hundred sit-ups, a hundred push-ups, a hundred squats, and a ten kilometer run! No special training and a focus on just the benefits, this workout routine actually helped some Japanese fans to actually get off their back to exercise!
Although not exactly a routine that will make one strong, the dedication to drill a certain routine to allow children out of demented orphanage still holds the same gravity of an intense workout session!
Finding themselves cornered on how to properly let a whole group of children escape, the three main protagonists of this gripping show created an intricate plan to get out by practicing routines through a game of hide-and-seek. Hard work does pay off with the amount of thought these characters have!
You can’t go wrong with this series if you really want to get fit! Although comedic in presenting some ideas, this show does bring a good view on what to look for when developing one’s body. From considering different body types to learning different workout techniques, this is one really interesting and funny show to watch! Besides, the trainer itself is an amazing dude (check out the muscles!)!
Another legendary anime, this show doesn’t only feature some amazing basketball moves (and even culture). Considering that the team focuses on Shohoku High’s journey in making it big in the basketball tournament, it really doesn’t come as any surprise that the entire team will be training for all sorts of games.
Slam Dunk does also merge the importance of individual training (Sakuragi’s training to be a good rebounder and jump shooter), but also the essential element of merging player elements to create a cohesive team. You need to train to win!
From accomplishing physical burdens to improving one’s state of mind, anime can not only entertain fans – it can motivate them to challenge and improve themselves. We hope you grab the chance to watch these shows above. Do you have anything else to recommend? Train and make yourself better today with anime!
Related: Other Shonen (Manga & Anime) Topic Random Anime Stuff: Why Satoru Gojo is the Strongest
