Brawly is the Gym Leader of the Dewford Town Gym. Trainers who defeat him receive the Knucklebadge. He is a young man who specializes in Fighting-type Pokémon.

Name references

In the anime

Brawly once trained with Chuck, a Gym Leader from Johto. Brawly teaches many of the locals how to surf as well as how to train Pokémon. Many of his pupils at the Gym are surfers like himself.

Ash was annoyed that Brawly would put off a Gym battle in favor of going surfing. Brawly trains his Pokémon by taking them surfing, and through this they learn how to dodge and concentrate on keeping their balance. A combination of this special form of dodging and Ash's own arrogance allowed Brawly to best the younger trainer despite a type disadvantage. After this, Ash trained for several weeks in anticipation of a rematch. Ash even went so far as to copy Brawly's wave-training to teach his Pokémon how to dodge and resist attacks.

Ash later battled one of Brawly's students in a storm. Brawly showed up and told them to call off the match until the storm passed.

Brawly led everyone, even Team Rocket, to a cave on the shore to wait for the storm to pass. After seeing Ash's battle against his star pupil, Brawly agreed to a rematch in a private arena- a wave-swept islet off the coast of Dewford.

Using his Pokémon's new techniques and his newly-caught Corphish, Ash was finally able to claim the Knucklebadge.

His Japanese voice actor is 喜安浩平 Kōhei Kiyasu and his English voice actor is Jason Griffith.

Pokémon

This listing is of Brawly's Pokémon in the Pokémon anime.

• Makuhita → Hariyama
• Machop

In the games

Brawly's title is "A big wave in fighting." His strategy is direct physical attacks. He thinks "Fighting Pokémon rule."

Brawly's Gym is kept in pitch-black darkness to increase the bravery of the trainers. Brawly also trains in the rough waves around Dewford and the pitch-black Granite Cave.

He believes the world awaits him as the next big wave. He often talks in surfing jargon, and constantly talks about "big waves"- both literal and metaphorical.

Brawly once trained with Bruno of the Kanto Elite Four.

In addition to the Knucklebadge, Brawly gives out TM 08, Bulk Up, in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Pokémon Emerald.

Pokémon

This listing is for Brawly's Pokémon in the video games in which he has appeared.

Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire

• Level 17 Machop - Bulk Up, Seismic Toss, Karate Chop, Leer
• Level 18 Makuhita - Bulk Up, Sand Attack, Arm Thrust, Tackle

Pokémon Emerald

In the Pokémon Special manga

Brawly also trains his Pokémon by surfing with them in Pokémon Special. His strategy is to use "subtle forces" over speed and power to use his opponents' strength against them. He also likes to save his Pokémon's evolutions for battles.

During his match with Sapphire, his Makuhita evolved into Hariyama. Sapphire figured out that his use of Counter could be overcome by moves which attacked with multiple hits, such as Double Kick. Due to a misunderstanding, she was also expecting Brawly's Pokémon to evolve.

Brawly sided with Team Aqua in the Hoenn conflict because he wanted more places to surf. He changed his mind after Kyogre and Groudon started their rampage. His opponent during the Kyogre/ Groudon ficaso was Hokage. Using direct, brutal strength instead of his usual strategy, he defeated him at the cost of his own Pokémon. He was last seen on the Pokémon Association's airship "Ba.Goon", resting from his injuries.

Pokémon

This listing is for Brawly's Pokémon in the Pokémon Special manga.

• Makuhita → Hariyama
• Machop
• Machoke

Gym Leaders of the Hoenn region
Rustboro Gym Roxanne	Dewford Gym Brawly	Mauville Gym Wattson	Lavaridge Gym Flannery
Petalburg Gym Norman	Fortree Gym Winona	Mossdeep Gym Tate and Liza	Sootopolis Gym Wallace Juan