When I started reading this manga I was quite attracted by the story and development of the plot, but I reached the first obstacle, just when I thought the relationship between Kenichi (also as a Disciple) and Miu could develop, it remained somehow stagnant, I ignored the fact since it is a shounen manga and all shounen have a kinda slow paced development (in romance) BUT, when I've reached chapter 412 I started wondering... when the hell is this story going to advance? Why is the drama so poorly developed? Why are these people not getting anywhere after so much? Why is every fight being repeated but with slightly different conditions?

The

As a previous commenter (Jandalman) stated, it also angered me what is written in the spolers of his message.

Looking back few years ago, Kenichi had good displays on various martial arts. And it explain some of their techniques too! That time, Kenichi was well balanced martial art manga, entertaining and informative. But lately, it has ridiculous amount of erotic tease and muscular dudes in tights. To be frank, they are more a hurt to the eye rather than pleasing.

And talking about alternative, some say Aiki or Breaker is the better ones. I'd say, "Yeah right!" Aiki took sexual content too far, making the whole build seems shallow. Breaker, on the other hand, was filled by too many monster characters, they all seem to have superhuman strength (and super pretty faces) which make the plot isn't more than arrogant display of art expertise.

I'd say, good manga of this genre comes from non-traditional kind of martial art. There are two manga on MMA, Teppu and Meguru, both are very good, providing insight to martial artist's mind; stuff that I think is most important. There are also UDDUP, although quite bombastic sometimes, has ability to display grace and depth; the very definition of art in "martial art". And there are other unmentioned manga that, at least, doesn't induce as much rage.

As for a closing words,
Kenichi seems to move toward dumbed down battle manga, indicated by stark increase on vulgar sexual display but none on complexity or on style. I cannot see Kenichi, as a manga, will grow a unique or pleasing characteristic in the future. I can only see Kenichi as a "Was a good manga."

edit for latest (my last) chapter rage,
Seriously, if there's only a patch covering the nipples and the twats, how come it never unshed during the whole fight?

... Last updated on April 22nd, 2013, 6:12am

The worst martial art manga ever made, it keeps repeating the same damn thing for over 500 chapter's. If you want a good martial manga go read The breaker series or Aiki don't waste your time reading this poopy thing. Compare to those two manga/manhwa I recommended this manga is like dog turd on the side of the road and like all turds it attract "flies". The author keep dragging and squeezing as much money as he can out of it. This is an embarrassment to Japanese martial art manga.

500 chapters, and after all that he still ain't no where near the strongest, he is still a disciple, he is weaker than his girlfriend and every evil guy out there. And instead of making some interesting character development we are stuck watching every bad guy turned good who no one cares about. And to top it all of we have an annoying pointless alien character. Seriously this series needs to kill 90% of its cast NOW. There are so many characters that we are lucky if we see the main at all in a chapter. They are just extending a series as much as they can, and I now seriously fear that it will get axed and get the worst ending ever or it will be the worst reading to a good end ever... and both suck. Fun thing if he never becomes more than disciple, ala naruto, done strongest disciple because he sucked to much to graduate.

... Last updated on January 18th, 2013, 4:57am

it cycle the same concept over and over again. meet strong people - lose - train - win. and seriously it get more and more ridiculous, next thing you know there will be an alien from a vegetable planet. a shame, because I like this manga from the first 150 chapters, but then....

This series is really good! Lots of comments about how the series is dropping.. i agree that there are a lot of fighting, but is the fighting that is good.. its really hard to find another series with this many style of fighting. And the art is very drawn well in fights..

Ok, up to where I stopped reading, the typical plot line goes like this:

Kenchi first meets someone -> he/she turns out to be stronger than him -> they have a mock battle -> which is always interrupted when he is about to lose or in a difficult situation -> a rematch is promised -> he then trains In like 1 style JUST to beat the guy -> at the rematch he wins

I really hate the oh I'm going to lose so I'll train to beat him scenario, this is even worse than the cliche of on the verge of death and then finding the power within type. So this is why I feel the main is always cheating, it's like writing a test, stop 1/2 way and then CONTINUING It a few days later after seeing most of the question so u know what type/style is on it, makes me mad, A LOT

Otherwise it's a good read for those wanting a super long action manga, but nothing stuck to me, though I think reading it will not hurt

... Last updated on June 24th, 2012, 11:46am

But now I don't think its about what I love about this series anymore, its become tedious and is hitting all the cliches' of this type of manga, this latest arc (as of 476) is terrible, its so far off what it normally shows that it feels like a completely different series to what we saw before.

Began as a great Martial arts manga, but is now just an awkwardly ecchi 30-chapter-fight-scene manga that is starting to ignore the story almost completely. Nothing seems to make sense anymore. I guess if you are under age ten that wouldn't bother you to much, but otherwise it can be a bit maddening.

I cant believe that people are praising it. Starting few arcs are pretty good in terms of story but then you just see useless actions and techniques without any interesting plot. You might enjoy it if you like fights without plot and meaningless/sensless techniques.