7 Best Martial Arts TV Shows of All Time, Ranked

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We usually associate intense fight scenes with movies, and for good reason – that’s where most of the best martial arts action happens. However, TV has some great fight choreography too. For a long time, though, it was difficult to find a TV series that really delivered, with many feeling incomplete or unoriginal. Shows often lacked the detailed planning and careful execution you see in films like The Raid, Kill Bill, or even older classics like Kickboxer. Simply adding fight scenes isn’t enough; they need to be clear, well-paced, make sense, and serve a purpose within the story.

This isn’t a list of the most well-known martial arts shows, but rather a selection of shows that truly get the genre and use it to create captivating stories that keep viewers hooked. Here’s our ranking of some of the best, starting with the least impressive and moving towards the very best.

7) Into the Badlands

It’s rare for a TV show to capture the excitement of a big-budget action movie, but Into the Badlands often succeeds. Set in a dark, futuristic world, the series follows Sunny (Daniel Wu), a highly skilled warrior, as he navigates a land controlled by powerful feudal lords 500 years from now. He’s on a quest for personal freedom while also protecting a young boy with extraordinary abilities. The show blends political intrigue, a thirst for revenge, and compelling drama, all brought to life with elaborate, well-choreographed fight scenes and surprising use of firearms.

While Into the Badlands seems promising, it doesn’t quite strike the right balance between exciting action and a compelling story. The fight scenes are fantastic and stand out, but the plot feels inconsistent at times, and the characters aren’t always memorable. If you’re looking for impressive martial arts, it’s worth watching, but you’ll likely remember the action more than the story.

6) Wu Assassins

Right from the start, Wu Assassins grabs your attention with its incredible fight choreography. The series centers around Kai Jin, a chef who learns he’s the last of a powerful lineage – the Wu Assassins – and must fight against a dangerous criminal underworld with ties to the supernatural. While the plot can be a little complex at times, the show doesn’t hesitate to deliver what viewers want: fast-paced, clear, and thrilling action sequences.

The martial arts action in Wu Assassins is excellent and consistently well-executed. However, the story, characters, and overall plot feel a bit weak and predictable. It often feels like the narrative simply serves to lead into the next action sequence. While the show is enjoyable and features a more compelling cast than Into the Badlands, and is more memorable, it prioritizes fight scenes over a fully developed story, which holds it back when compared to other action-focused shows that also value quality storytelling.

5) Bloodhounds

Okay, so if you’re like me and just want a solid action show without a lot of fluff, Bloodhounds delivers. It’s about these two young fighters who end up way over their heads in the criminal world because of some family debts. They basically have to fight their way out! The story is pretty straightforward – it doesn’t try to be clever or anything, it’s just raw and impactful. What I really appreciated was how realistic it felt. They didn’t go crazy with special effects or overly fancy fight scenes; it felt gritty and grounded, which is exactly what I like.

While Bloodhounds truly shines with its martial arts action, it’s surprisingly straightforward. The fight scenes are excellent and stand out compared to many similar shows, but they lack variety in techniques and don’t try anything particularly new. It’s all about fast-paced, impactful action – and if that’s what you want, it delivers. However, when judging shows based on overall quality and complexity, it falls a bit short.

4) My Name

I’m totally hooked on My Name! There’s just something so gripping about a revenge story combined with intense martial arts, and this show nails it. You follow Yoon Ji-woo, played by Han So-hee, who goes undercover in the narcotics unit after a really tragic loss, working with a crime boss to get answers. It’s seriously suspenseful, but what really grabbed me was the action – it’s brutal, realistic, and you can feel the impact of every punch and kick. But it’s not just fighting for the sake of it; the story always stays front and center, which is something I really appreciate. It doesn’t get lost in the violence like some other shows do.

My Name excels at combining thrilling action with a strong, understandable story. While it doesn’t boast a huge range of fighting techniques or incredibly polished choreography, it convincingly portrays the main character as capable of handling herself in tough situations. Her growth feels meaningful, and the fight scenes, like those in Kingdom, naturally stem from her journey. The result is a focused and well-put-together experience that prioritizes storytelling while delivering exciting action, all firmly rooted in the character’s development.

3) Cobra Kai

Everyone’s been talking about the martial arts show Cobra Kai, and it’s already a hit thanks to its connection to the classic Karate Kid movies. But even without needing to impress anyone, the show is just really well done. It revisits Johnny and Daniel decades later, as they each teach a new group of students karate – and naturally, old rivalries reappear. What’s great is that the series builds on the original movies in interesting and unexpected ways.

What makes Cobra Kai stand out is how much you care about the characters. The fight scenes aren’t just exciting—they feel meaningful, leaving you wanting to see what happens next. The show has a clear vision and consistently delivers on it. While the fight choreography and physical performances aren’t quite top-tier compared to the best martial arts shows, it more than makes up for it with compelling storytelling. Ultimately, Cobra Kai focuses more on delivering an enjoyable and emotionally satisfying experience than on being a purely realistic martial arts showcase.

2) Daredevil

Both Cobra Kai and Daredevil have gained significant praise, and Daredevil stands out not just for being a Marvel series, but for revolutionizing fight choreography on television. The show centers around Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), a blind lawyer who develops extraordinary senses. By day, he fights for justice in court, and by night, he battles crime in Hell’s Kitchen. Its fight sequences, particularly those in hallways and stairwells, are legendary – long, intricately detailed, and incredibly intense to watch. It’s these small details that make Daredevil so exceptional and difficult to compare to other shows.

Daredevil truly stands out because of its incredible action sequences – they’re realistic, intense, and focus on hand-to-hand fighting. What makes it special is how the fights unfold naturally, without quick cuts or rushing, creating genuine suspense. It’s one of the best shows at building tension. However, when considering its place in television history, another series manages to achieve all of this, and more.

1) Warrior

If you love martial arts, you really need to check out Warrior. This show, set in 1800s San Francisco, centers on Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji), a highly skilled Chinese immigrant who becomes a major player in one of the city’s most dangerous gangs. He quickly finds himself caught in the violent Tong Wars, conflicts between competing groups. What makes Warrior special is its realistic and well-choreographed fight scenes – each character fights in a unique way, and every fight feels believable and meaningful. It’s not just action for the sake of it.

Warrior excels by weaving a compelling historical backdrop filled with political intrigue and escalating gang violence, creating a truly immersive experience. The show maintains a perfect balance between fast-paced action and thoughtful storytelling. Ultimately, it delivers on the promise of many shows – stunning fight choreography, consistently strong writing, and characters who grow and change in believable ways. Each moment feels meaningful because the story is built on a solid foundation, avoiding any superficiality.

Enjoy martial arts shows? Let us know what other series we should include! Share your thoughts and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum.

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2026-03-26 18:16