About

"YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH BADGES TO TRAIN ME!" is a catchphrase used either when one person doesn't want to do what another person tells them to do or when someone sets something/someone on fire. It most common usage is as a sarcastic response to another person's request, but it also found its way in image macros. Sometimes the phrase is slightly altered so that another desirable object is used in lieu of "badges" or another relevant infinitive is used in lieu of "train". (See also: Screw the Rules, I have Money!)

Origin

The phrase was inspired by the personality of Ash Ketchum's Charmeleon/Charizard^[3] in the Pokémon animated series. On May 7th, 1998 (October 3rd, 1998 in America), the Pokèmon episode "The March of the Exeggutor Squad" aired in Japan. In this episode, the Charmander evolved into a Charmeleon. From that point until "Charizard Chills" (aired on July 22nd, 1999 in Japan; September 2nd, 2000 in America), his Charmeleon/Charizard disobeys Ash by often breathing fire on him and going to sleep.

In the video game series, a certain number of Gym Badges (obtained by defeating various Gym Leaders) is needed to control stronger Pokèmon, this to maintain a balance in the earlier parts of the game. The anime deviates from this rule, because Ash had already obtained 11 badges before the beginning of this episode (8 from the Kanto region and 3 from the Orange Islands,) but Charizard still continued to disobey Ash.

Spread

Perhaps the earliest use of the phrase was on 4chan on December 17th, 2007. In the /b/ thread, "ITT: post your favorite sexual tricks", the following response was given:

Mine is the Charizard.

You're doing a hairy girl, you light her crotch on fire, then you put part of it out with your cum. Then flap your arms wildly yelling, "You don't have enough badges to train me!"

On April 17th, 2008, the phrase was used again by KUHDSH on www.video-game-forums.com (the first, currently accessible source) who created the thread "What's your favorite fighting move?" ^[1]. He posted the following:

"Mine is the Charizard. It where you throw lighter fluid on your opponent, drink a lot of alcohol, then spit it out on a lit match. When your opponent bursts in to flames, you run around in circles, flailing your arms, screaming, "YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH BADGES TO TRAIN ME!"

On March 23rd, 2009, the phrase was then used again on Urban Dictionary as a description of the sex maneuver "Charizard"^[2]:

While having sex with a girl with pubic hair, light her pubes on fire as you ejaculate. Your semen will put out half of the burning hair, and afterwards while she is flapping her arms about wildly, scream: "YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH BADGES TO TRAIN ME!" and run out of the room.

"I would totally have given that chick a Charizard but I didn't have my lighter on me."

The absurd definition as a sex maneuver gave the phrase more publicity, spreading its popularity.

Usage

The below image of Charizard is commonly used when referencing the phrase. Around FunnyJunk, posters and commenters note the similarities between this image and F*ck Yea in spirit of defiance in the memes and the physical stance of the two characters.

Charizard also found its way as an Pokeparent style Advice Animal, where Charizard plays the role of mean abusive dad. However, the catchphrase and derivations of it are also often used in it.

External References

^[1] Video Game Forums – What's your favorite fighting move? / Posted on 4-17-2008

^[2] Urban Dictionary – Charizard / Posted on 3-23-2009

^[3] Bulbapedia – Ash's Charizard