Hitmonlee is ahumanoidPokémon with an ovoid body. Lacking a distinct neck and head, its upper torso has almond-shaped eyes with black space around them and appears to lack a nose and mouth. Primarily brown, it has cream-colored, segmented arms and legs. Each hand has three fingers and each foot has three clawed toes. The soles of its feet and its ankles have circular, yellow pads. Hitmonlee is an exclusively male species with no female counterpart.
Hitmonlee's legs freely contract and stretch similar to a coiled spring (andone particular Hitmonlee can do this with its arms as well). The source of its power comes from the ligaments in its legs that Hitmonlee can fully control. This flexibility allows Hitmonlee to run with lengthy strides, giving it greater reach for its kicks. Its excellent sense of balance enables it to kick in succession from any position. Hitmonlee's kicking strength is incredibly powerful owing to its diamond-like soles. Right before kicking an opponent, Hitmonlee will harden the muscles on the sole of its foot, allowing it to maximize the full power of its kick. It has sometimes been nicknamed the "Kick Master". After battling, it rubs down its legs to relax the tight muscles. Rarely found in the wild, it is primarily found inurban areas. It has been seen competing with eitherHitmonchan, orHitmontop.
This amazingPokémon has an awesome sense of balance. It can kick in succession from any position.(Pokémon Red, Silver, or Crystal inserted) If it starts kicking repeatedly, both legs will stretch even longer to strike a fleeing foe.(Pokémon Blue, Gold, or Yellow inserted)
Hitmonlee's legs freely contract and stretch. Using these springlike legs, it bowls over foes with devastating kicks. After battle, it rubs down its legs and loosens the muscles to overcome fatigue.
Its legs freely stretch and contract. Using these springlike limbs, it bowls over foes with devastating kicks. After battle, it rubs down its tired legs.
Hitmonlee's legs freely contract and stretch. Using these springlike legs, it bowls over foes with devastating kicks. After battle, it rubs down its legs and loosens the muscles to overcome fatigue.
InPasta La Vista,Master Hamm used a Hitmonlee in a battle to decide the fate of his fighting dojo. After Master Hamm broke his back, Ash stepped in for him and borrowed Hitmonlee for the match.
Hitmonlee, the Kicking Pokémon, and the evolved form ofTyrogue. Its legs double in length, and opponents are surprised by Hitmonlee's attack range when facing it for the first time.
A Hitmonlee later appears as one ofBruno's Pokémon inPonyta Tale. Later, he destroyedBill's house inHitmonlee, Baby! (One More Time). Bruno explains that Hitmonlee's legs are so flexible, it is impossible to locate the position of his knees and attack them.
When released from aPoké Ball, Hitmonlee will perform aJump Kick targeting the nearest opponent. The jump moves in an arc heavily affected by gravity, but deals a great amount of damage and upward knockback to any foe it hits. Hitmonlee was replaced byScizor inSuper Smash Bros. Melee, who attacks in a similar way.
Hitmonlee appears as a trophy in the 3DS version only (not the Wii U version).
Trophy information
Sometimes referred to as the Kick Master, this flexible Fighting-type Pokémon can extend each leg to nearly twice its natural length. It can often be seen rubbing its legs down after a battle. In the original Super Smash Bros., it would shout to get itself pumped up and then launch fighters directly upward with a powerful kick.
Hitmonlee andHitmonchan are the onlyPokémon that were introduced as not being related to each other in an evolutionary line but later became part of the same evolutionary line as each other.
Based on its Japanese name and kicking attribute, Hitmonlee may represent Japanese kickboxerTadashi Sawamura. Hitmonlee may be a personification of martial arts that focus on kicking, such askickboxing,savate,Muay Thai, andTaekwondo. Due to its lack of a head, Hitmonlee's design bears a resemblance to mythicalheadless men such as theXingtian and the Hindu demonKabandha.
Hitmonlee's coiled limbs resembleiron rings used in certain Kung fu styles, as well as foot and hand bandage wraps utilized in kickboxing and other martial arts. When stretched they act like aspring which resembles the cartoonish concept of punching glove on a spring.
This Pokémon article is part ofProject Pokédex, aBulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.