I was just wondering about this. Superman often met up with beings of approximately equal abilities and struggled to beat them, often getting lucky. Whether it was the Martian Manhunter or other Kryptonians (Zod from the movies perhaps), surely some basic martial arts would have given him the edge he needed?

Ha Ha...... I never thought about that.

I would have thought being able to leap over tall buildings in a single bound would trump a simple Karate chop.

Perhaps he could use small cars as 'Ninja Stars'

Well yeah that's the theory except that martial arts would have been his only real edge against Kryptonians - you'd assume any normal matter he threw at a Kryptonian wouldn't be that effective - he'd have to use his fists/grappling to properly disable his opponent.

Well, who would he learn from without revealing his true identity - if he learned as Clark of course. A good teacher would know he was holding back (saying he could), wouldn't they?

If he couldn't hold back, who would he spar with to practice technique?

I think it was a simple lack of opportunity, poor guy.

oh please... don't be so silly....

everyone KNOWS that the real Superman ( a.k.a. George Reeves --- all the others have been mere fakes ) came from 1950's America and we would have none of that communist pinko Kung Fooey stuff back then !

I mean really.

you mean Christopher?

no... I mean George.





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Reeves

yeah hehe...he could have learned boxing or greco-roman wrestling....cocky bastard just walked into fights with the Martian Manhunter....and you never underestimate the Martian Manhunter....(lucky he turned out to be friendly).

The Manhunter can phase, how would kung-fu help ?
He would need something a bit more potent...

...mind control or something.

Speed jabs rather than slower swings. Knock him out before he can phase.

This is the martial art that I do (but...not like this )

Chuck Norris could've trained Superman - no sweat!

You got me with the George grynch

Hmm. Martial arts wouldn't be that effective in the air.

Also, it wasn't widely taught when he was growing up and certainly not in Smallville.

He didn't really have the time when he moved to Metropolis, what with Lois and the newspaper gig.

And due to to his dense molecular structure, no one would be able throw him, lift him etc.

And he told me he thought it was all shite

Oh oh...I got one...maybe a bit cheesy...

"Superman" is Chuck Norris, when he tries to blend in with humans.

He makes funny noises...schoom schoom...

it's called the FOOM FOOM and it's what everybody laughs at when regarding chunners....