The anime and manga series Baki, with an original and Netflix adaptation, is iconic within the martial arts genre. Baki features a variety of extremely strong characters that frequently engage in duels to test their strength and skill.
Amongst all the characters, the Hanma family stands out as a breeding ground for hosting a number of exceptional martial artists. Ranging from Yuujiro Hanma to Jack Hanma, the reason for the Hanma family’s strength is shrouded in mystery, with a few hints as to the possible truth.
Who is Yuujiro Hanma?
Baki’s father, Yuujiro Hanma, nicknamed "the strongest creature in history," is one of the strongest characters in the anime. In the world of martial arts, he is revered as a god due to the countless unbelievable feats he performed. Even America, at some point, considered Yuujiro a menace because all their efforts to get rid of Yuujiro proved fruitless. Due to the countless unfavorable outcomes, America then decided to send in Biscuit Oliva, a powerful man that works for them as an elite prison guard.
However, when Biscuit Oliva meets Yuujiro Hanma, he runs away, stating that he wishes to fight Oliva later in the future. Some fans may have misinterpreted Yuujiro’s actions for fear or cowardice, but the anime soon proves them wrong. Later on in the series, Yuujiro clashes with Oliva and overpowers him, showing that Yuujiro’s previous statement in the past merely suggested that Oliva was an opponent he wanted to enjoy fighting with in the future. After America clashed with Yuujiro, they decided to call a truce, ending the war. In other words, America was defeated by Yuujiro, a one-man army.
In Baki, Yuujiro Hanma's strength was revealed again when he defeated a pre-historic elephant that laid waste to countless soldier troops. After a few hits, the animal surrenders to its inescapable fate. The creature’s defeat added to Yuujiro Hanma’s reputation as the strongest creature in history. However, this achievement pales in comparison to the defeat of the Grandmaster of Chinese martial arts by Yuujiro. The Grandmaster was a martial arts expert with over a century worth of experience. Despite this, Yuujiro tossed him around like a rag doll, proving his immense strength as a martial arts practitioner.
Why Does Jack Want To Defeat his Father?
Yuujiro Hanma is the father of two sons: Baki Hanma and Jack Hanma. Jack Hanma is a pit fighter from Canada and a product of Yuujiro's affair with Diane Neil, a United Nations operative whom Yuujiro met in the Vietnam war during his younger days. Jack Hanma shares his junior brother's zeal to defeat their father. However, Jack's reason for wanting to defeat his father is to avenge his mother, whom Yuujiro assaulted. Jack is portrayed as an unrefined fighter who duels using underhanded tricks and unconventional methods. This was clearly portrayed in his fight with Pickle, a new character in the manga.
His training schedule was suicidal if not for his constant doping. This doping increased his skeletal and muscle structure, making him incredibly strong. Still, he is defeated in the series. After the maximum tournament, Jack consults Kureha, asking him to lengthen and strengthen his bones. The surgery effects were favorable and Jack became incredibly strong. His newfound strength enables him to easily knock out Sikorsky and defeat Mohammed Alai Jr. Jack’s body was strong enough to resist the effects of doping, proving that there’s something more to the Hanma’s bloodline.
When Yuujiro is questioned on Jack's reason for not being as strong as the rest of his family, he arrogantly states that Jack is not pure. This revelation leads to the theory that there is more to the Hanma’s family bloodline. This theory is supported by the fact that the Hanma family has no secret training technique or schedule; every member trained themselves in their own way. This means that their exceptional abilities may be genetically related.
Baki Hanma is another exceptional member of the Hanma family. Even though he doesn’t possess extraordinary strength like his father, his fighting prowess is second to none in the anime. Many fans deduce that Baki is stronger than Yuujiro when he was at Baki's current age, which may be true. Baki is a carefree kid who constantly trains to surpass his father. On several occasions, he revealed this goal to his friends and foes. Baki’s intelligence during fights is exceptional; even his training schedule is unique. He trains by using shadow boxing techniques to conjure an image of a powerful opponent in front of him. This uncanny ability to assess his opponent's strength while replaying their abilities in his mind perfectly is enough proof that Baki is a martial arts genius. However, the anime revealed the true strength of Baki when he defeated Biscuit Oliva, a man who even his father reveres as a fighter.
What's the Possible Secret Behind the Hanma Family's Strength?
The theory that the Hanma family's strength is genetically related is reinforced when Yuujiro's father and Baki's grandfather, Yuuchiro Hanma, is revealed in the manga. Despite being over 70, the old man's physique surpasses the body structure of most young fighters. Even though there is little information about Yuuchiro, he is revered for having single-handedly defeated about 2000 soldiers during World War II using the technique "Guise." With this skill, the number of opponents Yuuchiro faces doesn’t matter.
Yuuchiro’s presence proves that the Hanma family may be gifted with extraordinary abilities passed down through generations. Who knows? It’s also possible that Baki’s ancestors were also ridiculously powerful, or the Hanma’s family strength first manifested in Yuuchiro. Either way, the Hanma family’s strength is undeniable. Hopefully, the next season will reveal new aspects of this family's exceptional abilities.