Title: Teppu (Iron Wind)
Author:
Ranking:
4.5/5
Literary
Level: beginners
Illustrated and written by Moare
Ohta in November 2008 and serialized in Kodansha’s Seinen Manga (usually, manga
for adults). It tells the short story of how Natsuo Ishido, a high school girl
with prodigal abilities in any sport she encounters, has to overcome her
superiority complex. Often bored with any sports she tries, Natsuo is drawn by
a joyful girl named Yuzuko Mawatari, that wants other students to join her MMA
(Mixed Martial Arts) club. Natsuo’s inner desires compel her to try and put
down people, showing how superior she is to them; but not with Yuzuko. Yuzuko
has trained enough to rival other pro-women MMA fighters. Natsuo takes this as
a challenge and forces herself to train enough to beat Yuzuko. Training under
the tutelage of Karin Kotani, Natsuo takes a liking to this new “hobby” and
actually tries her best for once. It culminates with the prophesized fight of
these two with a decisive ending.
A great story of wills, overcoming
one’s flaws, and how prodigies are not necessarily the peak of sports because
it requires effort and training. It also speaks mostly on how there is a lack
of attention in the pro-female MMA circle, not having broadcasted fights like
male MMA fighters get, or advertisements. It shows the inequality of how the
audience view fighting sports as a whole; little to no representation unless
there are women prodigies to rank in the views. The .5 that is missing in the
ranking stems from some unresolved issues in the story that were most likely
rushed and not the author’s fault. As in Natsuo’s brother, who has contempt for
her due to how she is better than him. All in all, I highly recommend this
manga for fighting aficionados and you’re down for some good stylistic and
aesthetic fighting stances.