If you can't get enough of martial arts from films, these 5 martial arts shows are a must watch for you

Martial arts as a genre has often received more attention on the big screen than on the small one. Martial arts films have often surpassed good martial art shows and the reason behind that has often been the fact that films, with higher budgets, have, in a number of cases, surpassed the action choreography and detailing that martial arts shows could afford.

However, it would be wrong to say that the small screen has not done justice to the genre. There are a number of great martial art shows, which have often been overshadowed by big budget and tightly made martial arts films.

If you are someone who loves the genre and would like to explore what the small screen has to offer you, here are 5 martial arts shows that are bound to impress a fan of the fight.

Disclaimer: The article is based on the author’s opinions.

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5 best martial arts shows to watch

Cobra Kai (2018-2025)

Any list of martial arts shows would be incomplete without Cobra Kai. A follow-up series to The Karate Kid movies, Cobra Kai saw the return of Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence, who stood firm on their rivalry as new fights were put into the spotlight.

The best part about Cobra Kai remains the fact that it seamlessly blends traditional martial arts techniques with modern ones. The tournament arcs in the show were tense and the action choreography in every kind of fight was top-notch.

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My Name (2021)

The Netflix show My Name is another martial arts show that is bound to impress the viewers. Following Yoon Ji-woo as she infiltrates the police to seek revenge for her father’s death, My Name is full of action and brutality.

The fight sequences in the series blend together a number of martial arts forms, including knife fights and hand-to-hand combat. Han So-hee, the actor playing the role of the protagonist, went through some serious physical transformation for the role, which led to the action sequences looking real and raw.

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Kung Fu (2021-2023)

While there was a lot of nostalgic value to the Kung Fu reboot by the CW, the show was quite well made with great character arcs and wonderfully choreographed martial fighting sequences.

The best part about Kung Fu was that it was never mindless fighting. There was emotional depth to the characters and thus when the action sequences unfolded on screen, they did not only look good but also made sense story-wise.

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Daredevil (2015-2018)

Despite not being a traditional martial arts show, Daredevil has made a place on this list because of its brutal action sequences combined with a number of fighting techniques, including martial arts such as boxing, Muay Thai, kung fu, judo, and taekwondo.

As Marvel’s titular hero fought the criminals to keep the city clean, the fights were amazingly choreographed, and the influence of martial arts was clear in the way Matt Murdock moved and tackled his enemies. A visual treat, Daredevil is bound to impress any fan of the genre.

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Warrior (2019-2023)

Grounding itself in Bruce Lee’s writings, Warrior is a martial arts show that mixed reality with action. The battles on the series had historical context to them and the brilliantly choreographed sequences made them a treat to watch.

The fights in the series were both realistic and stylistic, something that is not easily doable. There were different kinds of fights, including stress fights and ally brawls, and every one of them landed because of how beautifully they were shot, combining the various fighting techniques of martial arts.

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