The Martial Arts Tournament arc in One Punch Man oriented fans to several tough fighters, but none sparked as much fuss about power rising as Suiryu. This proud martial artist overpowered the Super Fight tournament with his incredible speed and devastating techniques. His cocky attitude and impressive combat skills made him an instant fan favorite among One Punch Man fanatics.
Suiryu's power deck positions him firmly in the low to mid S-Class hero tier within the One Punch Man universe. As noted by illustrator Yusuke Murata, Suiryu was originally on par with Garou and Genos during the tournament arc. However, his strength progression differs immensely from these other characters, who continue to evolve rapidly.
During the Super Fight tournament, Suiryu showcased exceptional martial arts mastery. He effortlessly defeated multiple opponents without sustaining serious injuries. His fight against Choze, a demon-level monster, demonstrated his ability to handle threats that would challenge many professional heroes.

The martial artist's signature moves include devastating kicks that can shatter concrete, and lightning-fast strikes. His combat style focuses on overwhelming opponents with superior speed and precision. His skills easily outclass the majority of A-class heroes within the One Punch Man ranks.
Fan discussions consistently place Suiryu above several S-class heroes in terms of raw combat ability. He would likely defeat Puri-Puri Prisoner and Tank-Top Master in direct confrontations. His martial arts expertise gives him significant advantages over heroes who rely primarily on brute strength.
However, Suiryu faces challenges from more versatile S-class members. Genos’ long-range firepower and high-tech enhancements pose a serious challenge for Suiryu in battle. Zombieman's regeneration abilities would eventually wear down Suiryu despite his superior combat skills.
Suiryu’s potential in One Punch Man

Suiryu's encounter with Gouketsu revealed the limits of his current power level. The monster association executive completely overwhelmed him despite his tournament dominance. This brutal defeat highlighted the gap between high-level martial artists and true monster threats in the series.
The fight demonstrated that raw martial arts skill has boundaries when facing overwhelming physical superiority. Gouketsu's monstrous strength and durability neutralized all of Suiryu's techniques. This reality check humbled the previously arrogant fighter significantly.
Unlike Garou, who constantly evolves through combat, Suiryu's development appears more limited. His traditional martial arts training provides a solid foundation, but lacks the adaptive growth seen in other One Punch Man characters. This difference explains why contemporaries like Garou have likely surpassed him.

Within the One Punch Man power structure, Suiryu occupies a unique position. He possesses strength exceeding most A-class heroes while falling short of top-tier S-class members. His abilities would earn him a respectable S-class ranking if he joined the Hero Association.
The martial artist's encounter with Saitama sparked new motivation for improvement. However, his rejection as a disciple means he must find alternative paths for advancement. Future storylines may explore his continued development as a Neo-Hero organization member.
As such, Suiryu represents high-level martial arts mastery within the One Punch Man universe. His tournament performance and combat feats place him among the stronger characters in the series. However, his static development and traditional fighting style limit his ceiling, compared to rapidly evolving characters.