Training arcs are staples in the shonen genre, but they can yield some ridiculous results. From the summer camps on the beach to being stranded on mountainous terrain, characters are subject to some of the harshest exercises their bodies can endure.
Many of these workouts are grounded in normal training regimens, but they can turn intense quickly, and characters come out of them ridiculously strong. Here are ten examples of realistic workouts but with unrealistic results.
10 Sanji's "Hellish" Training on Momoiro Island (One Piece)
One Piece fans are familiar with Sanji's fighting abilities. Throughout the anime, he's shown to have incredible strength in his legs. Alongside Zoro, Franky, Usopp, and Nami, he's not a Devil Fruit user; his abilities can seem a bit odd compared to the other Straw Hat Pirates who utilize their Devil Fruit powers or some form of weaponry. Sanji found himself at Momoiro Island, where he spent most of his time running for his life from the inhabitants for two years.
What's both hilarious and ridiculous about it is that it's all Sanji does: running across the beach, the forests, everywhere. No matter the terrain or the harshest weather, that's how he spends most of his "hellish" training. The result is legs so strong they can break the neck of a Pacifista in one kick.
9 Zoro's Training In General (One Piece)
There have been several scenes of Zoro weightlifting in his spare time if he's not knocked out somewhere on the ship. He'll spend some time in a quiet corner, lifting his regular dumbbells (which are admittedly gigantic) and practicing his sword swings.
Despite not being a Devil Fruit user, Zoro shows an insane amount of strength on the battlefield. From slicing a ship clean in half to super speed, he rivals the likes of the CP9, Zoan-type Devil Fruit users, and even Fishmen, creatures who are naturally ten times stronger than the average human. Complemented with the sword skills he learned from childhood, he's a fighter worth fearing.
8 Haiji's and Kakeru's Training (Run With The Wind)
Run with the Wind is an entire training session for the Hakone Ekiden, one of Japan's most famous college relay marathons. It follows a group of out-of-shape college students who take to the track and the streets, led by experienced runners Haiji Kiyose and Kakeru Kurahara, to get themselves up to snuff. Though the training is simple enough - just run - it's still shocking when their team somehow manages to qualify for the Hakone Ekiden, beating out other teams who have years more experience and training.
7 Kenichi's Training Is One Big Workout (Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple)
Those who have watched Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple will know that most of this anime is one big workout. After learning just the basics from Miu, a fellow martial arts student, Kenichi overpowers a high-ranking member of the school's karate club. Then it seems as if he's thrown to the wolves; the school delinquents put a target on his back.
The anime focuses heavily on Kenichi's further training. With the guidance of several martial arts masters, he deals with complex, almost life-threatening challenges and hostile opponents in his quest to get stronger. It's very much like The Karate Kid but with the occasional delinquent swinging their fists around.
6 Rei's Training As A New Member Of The Iwatobi Swim Club (Free!)
Rei was sure his transition to the Iwatobi Swim Club in Free! would go smoothly as a former member of the track and field club. With a few tweaks in his usual regimen, he expected to catch up with the other members using his book smarts and experience in sports. He starts with the same breathing exercises and stretches, followed by practice strokes outside the pool. It sounds simple enough, but it's not enough when the club decides to participate in the upcoming swimming relay.
Rei manages to hold his own with his experienced teammates, despite the fact that just a few weeks ago he couldn't even hold himself above the water. He's much more confident in his butterfly stroke, his stamina and water repellency growing exponentially in such a short amount of time.
5 Gintoki's Childhood Training (Gintama)
Gintoki Sakata is much stronger than people may believe. Putting aside his immaturity and frequent antics, he's no lightweight. As a student of Shoyo Yoshida's dojo in Gintama, he learned everything there was to know about the sword and basic academics. Shoyo taught Gintoki and his friends all he knew until his unfortunate murder.
Despite his very basic sword skills, Gintoki still earns him the nickname "White Demon." He easily overpowers even the strongest opponent with superhuman strength and stamina when only carrying a wooden training sword. With every fight, Gintoki loses an ungodly amount of blood but has no problem staying on his feet.
4 Class 3-E's Training To Kill Koro-Sensei (Assassination Classroom)
Assassination Classroom is exactly as it sounds: it pits the students up against their overpowered and dangerous teacher, Koro-Sensei. Class 3-E must band together to kill Koro-Sensei to prevent humanity from being destroyed. However, 3-E isn't exactly the best class; in fact, they're the worst in their year in both grades and physical activity.
Koro-Sensei is more than happy to lend a helping hand - or, a tentacle. The entire anime encompasses this massive training session, teaching the underperforming 3-E students the art of assassination. To make matters worse, they're on a time crunch.
3 Yusuke's Training With Genkai (YuYu Hakusho)
Smartmouthed delinquent Yusuke Urameshi has grown up throwing punches with any stranger that comes his way, and he easily wins all of his street brawls without a hitch. But he meets his match with Spirit Master Genkai, a small old lady who's immensely powerful. Yusuke spends half a year in Yu Yu Hakusho with Genkai, locked away in her mountain-hidden compound, learning the basics of his spiritual and physical capabilities.
Whenever Yusuke messes up or talks back, Genkai is more than generous in her instruction, doling out harsh words and even harsher punches. Assuming that Genkai never had students, her teaching methods are unorthodox and awkward but well-intentioned. And Yusuke is the product of her excellent teaching, with the bruises and scratches to prove it, and has become a phenomenally strong fighter with superhuman capabilities.
2 Naruto's Training On Mount Myoboku (Naruto)
Naruto travels to Mount Myoboku to partake in the same techniques Jiraiya learned as a youth. Sitting atop a high mountain peak, he must balance himself on a slab of stone and meditate for hours. One break in concentration jumpstarted a permanent frog transformation. Of course, Naruto has Fukasaku to keep him company and occasionally whack the transformation out of him.
Though the training seems simple enough, due to his high chakra reserves, Naruto masters this meditation exercise quickly and gains Sage Mode in less time than Jiraiya.
1 Saitama's Hero Training (One Punch Man)
Saitama's mediocre hero training from One Punch Man is famous in anime. When asked about the secret to his success, he merely says that he did one hundred pushups, sit-ups, and squats, plus a 10- kilometer run every day. It makes no sense that this training has led to him being able to take out any opponent in one punch no matter how huge or powerful they are, but that's part of the comedic the charm of the series.