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Black Belt (Trainer class) - Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia

Black Belt (Trainer class) - Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia
Black Beltからておう Karate King
VS model from Generation IX
Other names Blackbelt (Generations I and II)カラテおう Karate King (Generations III, V, and VI, Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon)Judoboy (Stadium)
Introduced in Generation I
Appears in Red, Blue, and YellowGold, Silver, and CrystalRuby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed, and LeafGreenDiamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, and SoulSilverBlack, White, Black 2, and White 2X, Y, Omega Ruby, and Alpha SapphireSun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra MoonLet's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!Sword and ShieldScarlet and VioletStadium, Stadium 2Masters EX
Gender Male only
Female Counterpart Battle Girl, Crush Girl
Notable members Koichi, Kiyo, Connally
Anime debut A Tyrogue Full of Trouble! (Series)
TCG debut Triumphant
TCG card Black Belt
Manga debut Magnificent Meditite & Really Riolu II (Adventures)

A Black Belt (Japanese: からておう Karate King or カラテおう Karate King; in Generation I, also known as からて Karate), spelled Blackbelt in Generations I and II, is a Trainer class that debuted in the Generation I games. They are generally depicted as generic martial artists, in headband and gi striking a fighting pose.

Black Belts are the male counterparts of the Battle Girl and Crush Girl classes. When paired with Crush Girls, Psychics, male Preschoolers, female Dancers, or other Black Belts in Double Battles, they are called Crush Kin, Brains & Brawn, Karate Family, Capoeira Couple, or Sparring Partners, respectively.

In all games, they generally specialize in Fighting-type Pokémon. In the Battle Subway, they specialize in Fighting-, Fire-, and Steel-type Pokémon. In the Battle Maison, they specialize in Fighting-, Fire-, and Rock-type Pokémon. In the Battle Tower in Galar, Black Belts specialize in a mix of Fighting- and Ice-type Pokémon, along with species that have a high base Attack.

In Pokémon Stadium, they are known as Judoboys and specialize in using Focus Energy to land critical hits.

👉 For more insights, check out this resource.

In Generation VII, they sport a much older appearance and keep their Pokémon in Ultra Balls.

In Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, Black Belts will award three Poké Balls along with prize money upon being defeated, except for Gym Trainers and Master Trainers.

👉 Discover more in this in-depth guide.

Table of Contents

Artwork

Sprites and models

In the core series

This section is incomplete.Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Missing overworld model from LGPE; need higher quality images from LGPE; missing different skin tones for SV
Generation I
Red and GreenTrainer sprite YellowTrainer sprite Overworld sprite
Generation II
Spaceworld '97 demoTrainer sprite Trainer sprite Overworld sprite
Generation III
Ruby, Sapphire, and EmeraldTrainer sprite Ruby, Sapphire, and Emeraldoverworld sprite FireRed and LeafGreenTrainer sprite FireRed and LeafGreenoverworld sprite
Generation IV
Diamond, Pearl, and PlatinumTrainer sprite Diamond, Pearl, and Platinumoverworld sprite HeartGold and SoulSilverTrainer sprite HeartGold and SoulSilveroverworld sprite
Generation V
Black and WhiteTrainer sprite Black 2 and White 2Trainer sprite Pokéstar Studiossprite Overworld Sprite
Generation VI
VS sprite Overworld model PSSsprite
Generation VII
Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon VS Sprite Sun and MoonVS sprite (Z-Ring) Ultra Sun and Ultra MoonVS sprite (Z-Power Ring) Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon overworld model
Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon Battle Model Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!battle model Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!battle model (Master Trainer)
Generation VIII
Sword and Shieldbattle model Sword and ShieldY-Comm Icon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearlbattle model Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearloverworld model
Generation IX
Scarlet and Violetbattle models

In other games

Trainer list

Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow

Blackbelts have two X Attacks for each Pokémon to use during the battle, using them randomly at 12.5% chance.

Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire

Pokémon Emerald

See more: List of Battle Frontier Trainers in Generation III/Black Belt

Special Trainers

  • Black Belt Tyrese may randomly be recruited as an Apprentice at the Battle Tower. Here, players may customize his team and can eventually either team up with or battle against him.

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl

Pokémon Platinum

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

Pokémon Black and White

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

Pokémon X and Y

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

Pokémon Sun and Moon

See also:
List of Battle Royal Dome Trainers/Black Belt
List of Battle Tree Trainers/Black Belt

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!

Pokémon Sword and Shield

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Pokémon Stadium

Pokémon Stadium 2

In the anime

Kiyo, a Black Belt, appeared in A Tyrogue Full of Trouble!, where he was preparing his Fighting Pokémon near Mt. Mortar for the upcoming P1 Grand Prix. He later caught a troublesome Tyrogue.

In Pasta La Vista, Master Hamm, an old Black Belt and the leader of the Saffron City Fighting Dojo, struggled to convince his son Kyle to take over the dojo, despite him insisting that he wanted to sell noodles instead. In the end, one of Master Hamm's students, Terri, took over the dojo instead, while Master Hamm and Kyle both set out to sell noodles.

In Glory Blaze!, a Black Belt participated in the Hearthome City Tag Battle Competition. He teamed up with a Psychic and his Metagross, using a Zangoose himself. They battled Ash and Paul, who were using Turtwig and Chimchar, respectively. As Chimchar was scared of Zangoose, it was unwilling to battle, but Paul was only thinking about the possibility of getting Chimchar's Ability Blaze activated. When Chimchar defended Turtwig from Zangoose's attack, Paul turned his back to it. Ash then started commanding Chimchar, and with the help of his Turtwig, Zangoose was defeated.

Connally is a Black Belt who trains in Veilstone Gym and serves as the referee for Maylene's Gym battles with challengers. He appeared from Lost Leader Strategy! to A Triple Fighting Chance!, where he refereed Maylene's battles with Dawn and Ash. Several other Black Belts were also seen accompanying Connally at the Veilstone Gym.

In Solitary and Menacing!, four Black Belts were featured at the Saffron City Fighting Dojo. Ash battled one of them with his Riolu.

Pokémon

DP051 Black Belt

JN034 Black Belt

In the manga

Pokémon Journeys: The Series

Black Belts appeared in Solitary and Menacing!.

Pokémon Adventures

Black Belt Jeffery in Pokémon Adventures

History

Emerald arc

In Sneaky Like Shedinja and Sneaky Like Shedinja II, a virtual Black Belt judges the "Mind", "Skill", and "Body" score of the multiple battle rounds between Emerald and Greta at the Battle Arena challenge.

HeartGold & SoulSilver arc

In Out-Odding Oddish, a Black Belt was seen entering the Pokéathlon Dome.

Diamond & Pearl arc

In Magnificent Meditite & Really Riolu II, Black Belt Jeffery (Japanese: シロウ Shirō) appears as the last challenger before Platinum challenged Maylene. He sent out his Machoke for the battle against Chatler. Chatler was able to defeat Machoke, advancing them to Maylene. Jeffery was later seen chasing down Maylene's father with Darren (Japanese: ジロウ Jirō), Rafael (Japanese: サブロウ Saburō), and Colby (Japanese: イチロウ Ichirō).

The 4 Black Belts were seen again in Stunning Staravia & Stinky Skuntank II.

In Luring in a Lickilicky, a Black Belt appears during the Pokétch presentation taking place in Jubilife City.

Platinum arc

A Black Belt appeared as a background character in Deprogramming Porygon-Z, where he was part of a group of people who entered the Battle Frontier after Palmer had his assistants open the gates.

Black & White arc

In Dream a Little Dream, a Black Belt is briefly seen amongst the Trainers about to enter Victory Road.

Pokémon

Pokémon Battle Frontier

A Black Belt appeared in Enta Arrives at the Battle Frontier!.

In the TCG

This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring Black Belt in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Trivia

In other languages