Rhythm Heaven Groove

Karate Joe

Character in the Rhythm Heaven series; appears in Rhythm Heaven Megamix.

Megamix1 appearances
Karate Joe

Overview

Karate Joe is the punching, kicking star of Karate Man — the minigame that has appeared in every Rhythm Heaven game since the GBA original and become the de facto mascot of the series. He trains by knocking flying objects out of the air in time with the beat, and he is widely cited as one of the most popular characters in the franchise.

Role

Recurring playable lead of the Karate Man rhythm game. You time his punches and kicks to the music, sending barrels, pots, and bombs flying. He fronted the key art for Rhythm Heaven Megamix.

Across the series

Karate Joe is the series’ most prolific face: he has appeared as a playable character in 23 games across the series (excluding cameos), more than any other character, thanks to Karate Man returning in every mainline entry.

Appears In

[ NO IMAGE ]
Game

Rhythm Heaven Megamix

Appearance History

  1. Rhythm Heaven Megamix

    Appears in Rhythm Heaven Megamix

Trivia

4 facts about Karate Joe
  • Karateka (English: Karate Man) debuted in Rhythm Tengoku and "has become a staple of the series, with each game afterwards including a minigame based on it."
  • He appears in 23 games across the series excluding cameos — the highest count of any Rhythm Heaven character.
  • Karate Joe headlined the key art for Rhythm Heaven Megamix.
  • A Soccer Ball "souvenir from Karate Man" is one of the collectible Rhythm Items in Megamix.

Karate Joe FAQ

Is Karate Joe in every Rhythm Heaven game?
Yes — the Karate Man minigame he stars in has shipped in every game since Rhythm Tengoku, making him a recurring fixture of the series.
Why is Karate Joe so popular?
He is the longest-running character, appearing in 23 games, and fronted the Megamix key art. Fans often name him as the series’ best pick for a Super Smash Bros. representative.