There's already a great comment made in 2020 about this manga, but I'd still like to review this work with a more formal setting. I think it's worth the time involvement.

Plot/Story
Even though people like to say this was axed at volume eight, and it's such a shame, wanting author to return healthy and continue or just make a sequel, he already knew he wouldn't be able to draw it for very long at the very start. He mentioned that fact in a two pages interview, in chapter five of volume two.

Six volumes prior the "axe!" It shows that he had such foresight and ample time to plan out the story to give it a good ending, and not a rushed one, as everyone tend to say after reading.
And he managed to pull it off gracefully. An open ending is a qualified ending that doesn't diminish the manga's worth at all and isn't shameful in any way.

Characters
According to most people's experience, it's hard to relate to the main character. This is mostly due to her personal environment, that is also very easy to hate, triggering people's wrath.
They can't stay clear-headed enough to understand that it's precisely because of this environment that Natsuo became who she is, and that it influenced all her life choices in the manga, which honestly make her look like a freak most of the time.

And she's a freak, that's for sure, like most of the characters honestly. But they're all written well enough that they usually manage to take a step back when things are going too far, showing a very human behavior.
Except for Yuzuko, that we didn't see break character even once. She always wears a kind and excited smile on her face, even while almost tearing other fighter girls' limbs (lol.)

It's not enough to simply describe her as an idiot to make it pass imo, hence the character writing points deduction. Maybe with more chapters the loss could have been avoided, but it's barely relevant compared to all the other related characters being well developed.

Drawing Style
Characters' backstories are written well enough that they don't feel awkward and that they can be integrated into the pacing flawlessly, to give more worth and depth to the next scene, which is almost always a fighting scene.
This obviously stimulates the reader and creates an even more powerful appeal for the story and it's characters.
Any other scenes, which aren't backstories or fighting scenes, and that are necessary for the plot to go on, are also well integrated.

Such impressive momentum allows OHTA Moare to have a relaxed, simple and clean drawing style with very strong bases.
He doesn't need to make his art flashy to impress the reader. He doesn't need to change the art style radically during fights either. He just has to put a relative emphasis on the fighters movement, and since their body are so skilfully drawn, everything stays coherent and limpid.

We can also see author's art improve throughout the manga, starting from chapter 3 onwards until the end. It's cool to be able to observe that in a series.

Enjoyment
Well, like I said, this story is really exciting, so there's no way I couldn't enjoy this read. This, coupled with the fact that the characters all have a solid background behind them, brings way more depth to the psychological aspect of competitive combat sports, making this manga a real gem in it's category.

Not to mention that this is centered around girls practicing a violent activity mixed in with their daily lives, showcasing the narrative as a totally tangible reality... I mean where else can you find such stuff, really?

Overall
This is extremely good, for all the above-mentioned reasons.

I don't know much realistic women fighting manga except this one, so I'd even venture to say that it's quite an anomaly in this industry. It's not really one when only comparing to men's fighting stories though.

Feel free to input your recommendations about such a topic, if you have any.

9.911/10