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Master Yui agree’d to give me a tour of their famous fighting ring in the middle of town. They hadn’t opened the doors to the public yet so the stands were empty but some of the trainers already had their Pokemon in the centre ring. Yui explained that some of the competitors would have warm up sessions before the big fight, pitting some of their other Pokemon against each other so they can get a feel for their opponent. Under a powerful spotlight were two Pokemon I recognised. On one side was a Hitmonlee, though notably smaller than Master Yui’s, and on the other was a Hitmonchan. I’d never actually seen one in the flesh, it was fascinating!

Like Hitmonlee, they’re a very old fighting breed that was selectively bred by humans to specialise in martial arts. Their original forms are lost to history but they are still used by specific trainers that uphold strict traditions.
Though they have incredibly powerful and swift punches, Hitmonchan’s hands struggle to withstand the full impact of their attacks, so it is traditional to wrap their hands in bandages and have them wear boxing gloves. You would think giving a fighting Pokemon something that softens their blows would be a hindrance, but it allows them to fight for much longer and with their full power. The gloves themselves are fortified to stop them being totally destroyed in battle. They use specially formulated materials that slow down wear and tear which are also found in Pokeball’s. Another striking feature of Hitmonchan is their uniform. Though it fell out of fashion with modern day boxers, the kilt, belt and top are fashioned after ancient Kantonian boxing outfits, worn by the strongest fighters in the region. The kilt is designed for freedom of movement, allowing a fighter to move faster and more fluidly in the ring.

A lot of people don’t realise that Hitmon’s are in fact related to each other, though they might not look it. They have a pre-evolution named Tyrogue, which are trained from birth in a number of martial arts. In Kanto, you will only ever find males of the species, as they are all specifically bred with Ditto. It was thought that there were once both male and female counterparts of the species, but due to a strange side effect, Ditto only ever produces male young. This meant that eventually, all females were wiped out. Why the original breeders chose to do this, but it’s most likely due to misogynistic traditions of the period.

I watched as the Hitmonchan bounced from one foot to the other, flitting its feet across the mat. Both Pokemon moved incredibly quickly, darting around each other like some form of ancient dance. They both took shots at each other and each time they made contact the impact echoed around the space. Finally, the Hitmonlee moved for a high kick, but in one swift motion, the Hitmonchan darted forward and showered its opponent in a hail of punches. It was almost too fast to see but with a loud bang, the Hitmonlee was slammed to the floor with a deadening hook! The match was over...
————————————————

Humanoids are tough but I like how this turned out!

If you want to help support the project and grab some awesome merchandise, check out my Patreon and Etsy store! Its the last days of my winter sale, everything half off! So grab them while you can!

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/JoshuaDun…

www.patreon.com/JoshuaDunlop

Description

Master Yui agree’d to give me a tour of their famous fighting ring in the middle of town. They hadn’t opened the doors to the public yet so the stands were empty but some of the trainers already had their Pokemon in the centre ring. Yui explained that some of the competitors would have warm up sessions before the big fight, pitting some of their other Pokemon against each other so they can get a feel for their opponent. Under a powerful spotlight were two Pokemon I recognised. On one side was a Hitmonlee, though notably smaller than Master Yui’s, and on the other was a Hitmonchan. I’d never actually seen one in the flesh, it was fascinating!

Like Hitmonlee, they’re a very old fighting breed that was selectively bred by humans to specialise in martial arts. Their original forms are lost to history but they are still used by specific trainers that uphold strict traditions.
Though they have incredibly powerful and swift punches, Hitmonchan’s hands struggle to withstand the full impact of their attacks, so it is traditional to wrap their hands in bandages and have them wear boxing gloves. You would think giving a fighting Pokemon something that softens their blows would be a hindrance, but it allows them to fight for much longer and with their full power. The gloves themselves are fortified to stop them being totally destroyed in battle. They use specially formulated materials that slow down wear and tear which are also found in Pokeball’s. Another striking feature of Hitmonchan is their uniform. Though it fell out of fashion with modern day boxers, the kilt, belt and top are fashioned after ancient Kantonian boxing outfits, worn by the strongest fighters in the region. The kilt is designed for freedom of movement, allowing a fighter to move faster and more fluidly in the ring.

A lot of people don’t realise that Hitmon’s are in fact related to each other, though they might not look it. They have a pre-evolution named Tyrogue, which are trained from birth in a number of martial arts. In Kanto, you will only ever find males of the species, as they are all specifically bred with Ditto. It was thought that there were once both male and female counterparts of the species, but due to a strange side effect, Ditto only ever produces male young. This meant that eventually, all females were wiped out. Why the original breeders chose to do this, but it’s most likely due to misogynistic traditions of the period.

I watched as the Hitmonchan bounced from one foot to the other, flitting its feet across the mat. Both Pokemon moved incredibly quickly, darting around each other like some form of ancient dance. They both took shots at each other and each time they made contact the impact echoed around the space. Finally, the Hitmonlee moved for a high kick, but in one swift motion, the Hitmonchan darted forward and showered its opponent in a hail of punches. It was almost too fast to see but with a loud bang, the Hitmonlee was slammed to the floor with a deadening hook! The match was over...
————————————————

Humanoids are tough but I like how this turned out!

If you want to help support the project and grab some awesome merchandise, check out my Patreon and Etsy store! Its the last days of my winter sale, everything half off! So grab them while you can!

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/JoshuaDun…

www.patreon.com/JoshuaDunlop