Introduced as a crybaby who cannot raise his voice against the wrong, Koby is the current protege of Grap and the future of Marine. He is one of the most talked about characters in the series, and his development in the show surpassed many, like Zoro and Sanji. In the recent Episode of One Piece anime, Koby used his attack, “Honesty Impact,” to destroy Pizarro’s mountain-sized hand, creating an opening to escape from the island.
After his recent involvement in the series development, fans started asking questions about how strong Koby is. Unlike Luffy, Koby hardly gets screen time to show his skills as a Marine. However, when he gets it, Koby surprises everyone. Be it training 100 or 200 times more than others or risking his own life to save the lives of others. Fans have witnessed many moments where he outshined everyone’s expectations. Like Kuzan, he trained under Grap, the Marine Hero. He put him in the intense training routine where one should have punched the Battleship Bag with their bare hands, no Devil or Haki. The training was so intense that only a few selected ones hardly survived. Those who survived became famous names in the Marines, like Kuzan.
After the release of the latest episode of One Piece, the fans are super hyped up about the possibilities that had been dormant for some time, such as the possibility of a confrontation between the two friends, Koby and Luffy. One wants to become a Marine Hero like Grap and the other, the one with the dream of becoming Pirate King. While Koby was following his ideal footsteps, Grap, and Luffy who was following his own will. The two first meet in Episode 1 or Chapter 1, when Luffy helps Koby escape from Lady Alvida.
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Training Under Garp
Being trained by Grapp was the dream of anyone who wanted to become a Marine. After escaping from Lady Alvida, Koby found himself encountering a Marine. Because he dreamed of becoming a Marine and saving lives, he asked the Marine to let him join the Navy. After hearing him out, the guy takes him and lets him join the Navy. After serving a while in the Navy, Koby met a guy who was wearing a dog mask. Impressed by Koby’s determination and seeing his skills, the guy with a dog mask promised to train him. The guy under the mask was no other than Grap, the Marine Hero. He put Koby in his training routine, which involved punching the Battleship Bag, no Haki, and Devil Fruit. The training was so brutal that it caused him bloodshed all the time.
After learning from Helmeppo that Koby trained more than others. Koby believes he is weaker than an average person, so he must train not 10, 20, but 100 or 200 times more than others. Thankfully, this decision was proven when he landed a solid blow on Pizarro and destroyed his mountain-sized hand. The attack used by him called Honesty Impact, follows the same pattern as Grap’s Galaxy Impact. He first rushed with incredible speed, followed by covering his fist with Armament Haki, and then launched an attack on the opponent that created shockwaves.
He didn’t use any weapons, nor did he eat any Devil Fruit, which would give him any special powers or abilities like other characters in One Piece. Koby has one thing that almost nobody in the series, which is the acceptance that he is weaker than the average person and must train harder than others to become stronger.
Physical Strength Of Koby
Koby is none of the best Marines in the series, well-known for his sheer determination to save others, even if it means putting his life on the line or training like a madman. Highlighted in the latest episode of One Piece, Koby showcased his strength by keeping the entire on his shoulder when he attacked with Honesty Impact to Pizarro. He destroyed his mountain-sized hand and provided an opening for Marines to leave the island safely.
It would not be possible if Koby doubted his abilities. But hearing Grap’s words, Koby understood and let the Haki follow in his fist and landed Honesty Impact with full force. However, even after providing an opening to let them escape, fans still called him the weakling. They believe Koby is not strong enough to challenge Luffy. It is true in some sense, but Koby could catch up with Luffy since he is a fast learner. Not to mention, he trained 100 or 200 times more than others.
After he landed Honesty Impact on Pizarro, all the training he did under Grap paid. It’s not like Koby matched the vibe of Grap’s Galaxy Impact or caused serious damage to the opponent. His taking action against Blackbeard’s Pirates commander is enough. Unlike other Marines presented on the island, Koby was the only one who did something major for them. He provided an opening for them to escape.
However, he was not satisfied with himself because he got his teacher caught. Before they leave the island, Grap contacts them with the snail, telling them not to worry about him. Since he wanted to protect the future of the Marines.
Mental Strength
Koby’s Dreams of becoming a Marine and saving others come true after he gets a chance to train with Grap, the Marine Hero. It is a lifetime chance, and Koby took it. Under Grap training, Koby had to go through an intense routine, including punching the Battleship Bag with bare hands, no Haki and Devil Fruit. Just as it sounds like a brutal way of killing, Grap’s training in reality is like that.
However, after going through Grap’s training routine, Koby not only improved his physical strength but also his mental strength. He had become one of the few characters who kept up with the training without giving up in the middle. Moreover, during the flashback in Episode 1122, Grap asks Helmeppo why Koby is often bloodied and injured after being a fast learner. To his surprise, Grap learned that Koby trained more after he left. Koby believes he is weaker than the average person he must train more than others. Koby’s attitude impressed Grap, making him to be his protege.
As the episode progresses, we learn under Garp’s intense training routine, Koby has witnessed numerous changes in his overall personality. He becomes the complete opposite of what he uses too. He developed self-confidence, improving his personality, which he seemed to lack earlier. It is one of the reasons why became so confident that he directly talked with Blackbeard. He asked Blackbeard to leave others’ lives and take him instant.
Since he is a Navy Hero, Blackbeard wouldn’t want to lose this opportunity. Unfortunately for Blackbeard, Koby is a part of SWORD, which means he cannot use him as a bet against the World Government. This incident proves Koby’s smartness and quick thinking. He wanted to save others and also helped to make this decision.
Although physically, Koby still has a long way ahead of him to match the likes of Luffy in terms of strength. The two first meet in episode 1 and chapter 1 of One Piece, when Luffy helps Koby to escape from Lady Alvida. After learning about his dream to become Pirate King, Koby decided to follow his own and asked a Marine to join the Navy. Mentally Koby is strong and sound enough to become a great warrior like his teacher. Currently, there’s a power gap between him and Luffy, which takes a lot of time to fill. Looking at Koby’s achievement, he can match Luffy in the coming chapters.
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Animeking: Summary
Koby is one of the most popular characters in the series. He is known for his mastery over Haki. Like Grap, Koby neither used a weapon nor ate a Devil Fruit that gave him special powers. He depended on Haki, like Grap, and used a similar attack. In Episode 1122, Koby used Honesty Impact on Pizarro, destroyed his mountain-sized hand, and provided an opening for others to escape safely from the island. He was the only one after Grap who carried the entire episode on his shoulder. Like Grap, he used a similar attack, which involved him first covering his fist with Haki and then launching on the opponent.
Under Grap’s intense training routine, Koby not only improved his physical strength but also his mental. However, he has a long way ahead of him before going toe-to-toe against the likes of Monkey D. Luffy. The two become friends in episode 1 when Luffy helps Koby escape from Lady Alvida. This incident changed him completely as he later joined the Navy and trained under Grap. Under Grap’s, Koby had to punch Battleship Bag with his bare hand, no Haki and Devil Fruit. However, this training proved beneficial as he mastered Haki and improved his self-confidence.
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