Even if an actor has the ability to fully transform themselves for a role, they still happen to leave a part of themselves behind. They are asked to disappear into their character and capture their mannerisms as a whole. Superhero and comic book-inspired media have required that, in order for performances to be more realistic and remain faithful to their source material, the talent involved must take on the physical demand of combat training. The Batman is no exception and sets itself to higher standards considering that Batman’s power is rooted in physical and intellectual strength. Actors cast as Batman, in most instances, are expected to adopt a fighting style for their respected film.

Robert Pattinson was cast as Bruce “the Batman” Wayne in 2019 after Warner Brothers and DC announced The Batman. Reports initially indicated that an isolated Batverse, helmed by writer-director Matt Reeves, would explore Batman's detective work as Gotham City became more corrupted by crime as time went on. The Batman launched itself head-first into the Batverse as a “Year Two” story, pitting the Caped Crusader against familiar faces with an grittier spin on iconic characters. The film is sure to note that Batman is a well-known — and greatly feared — vigilante ready to seek vengeance. His fists may be fearsome, but what fighting style did Robert Pattinson use for The Batman?

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What Fighting Style Does Batman Use?

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Warner Bros. Pictures

According to DC Comics, Batman is skilled with the knowledge of every form of martial arts that is practiced. He may have the proper training needed to master a multitude of fighting styles, though he is most reliant on his own personal combat form of Keysi. The self-identified form of Keysi is used by Batman when in hand-to-hand combat and is considered to be a synthesis of different martial arts forms brought together. When in practice, it is viewed to be as ruthless as Krav Maga or Mixed Martial Arts. Moreover, Batman uses his environment to his advantage when hunting down his adversaries and weaponizes his surroundings when seeking justice.

The urban style of Keysi has been understood by martial artists as a form that combines personal growth and reliance on raw instinct. Those who practice Keysi, much like Batman, are not to limit their ability through the concepts of "system" or "style." Mind and body are considered to be at the center of Keysi as it attempts to serve personal development. It has been previously cited as the designated fighting style in The Dark Knight and Batman Begins, where it honors the principles of memory and intelligence when dramatized through a cinematic point of view.

How Did Batman Master Martial Arts?

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Warner Bros. Pictures

Aside from earning the title of the World's Greatest Detective, Batman is deemed to be a master of martial arts. DC Comics claims that the Caped Crusader has perfected most, if not every, form of physical combat. It must be remembered that even though Batman may lack superhuman powers or enhanced abilities, his extreme intellect supplements the doubt that he has the ability to memorize the intricacies of every fighting style while being able to perfect them in real-time against Gotham's strongest foes. As much as the comics pride Batman on his godlike championship over his foes, there never is truly an explicit explanation given to support his exceptional success in a myriad of martial arts.

Because of the drastic overlap across the infinite volume of fighting styles, there's nothing that openly disproves that Batman hasn't exactly trained himself in every single fighting style. There is no definite answer as to how he became so prolific in a high volume of designated means of combat, meaning that it could be possible that he was at least trained in most techniques. Often, there are similar approaches found to defeating opponents when combining tactics hand-picked from select disciplines, meaning that The Dark Knight could plausibly designate himself as a martial arts expert. It has been determined that Batman is equipped in at least 127 fighting styles, including many styles that he has pioneered himself. This easily overlooks the lack of detail in how he trained, and actively accepts his standards of elevated ability.

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How Did Robert Pattinson Train for The Batman?

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Warner Bros.

In order to achieve peak physical performance, Pattinson underwent military-style training to prepare for The Batman. The workout routine spanned across a six-week regimen that included boxing, sandbag drills, extended runs, and weight training. The mass of muscle that Pattinson packed on was the result of extreme training and a protein-based diet. He previously cited that it was Marvel Studio stars Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr., and Chris Evans who inspired him to keep up with the grueling training process that he endured for The Batman. “It’s all about pushing boundaries and building up to a point where you know you can do justice to the physicality required,” he said. “Taking on a full physical transformation as well feels even more exciting.”

Pattinson's gym-based workout was focused primarily on cardio, weightlifting, and body weight. Each workout began with five minutes of cardio before transitioning into bicycle crunches and dumbbell side bends. This then turns into double crunches before Pattinson follows through with a set of Superman Holds. Outside his traditional gym workout routine, the actor spent time boxing to build upper body strength. He also found himself going on 10-kilometer runs up to four times per week to develop personal endurance. When not physically exerting himself, Pattinson cut back on his alcohol consumption. Additionally, he refrained from eating processed meat and fried foods to ensure that he could maintain his physique.