In addition to the unique characters, Rurouni Kenshin also has a set of schools and techniques that each character uses, and although it is a boys' manga, it is designed to add intensity to the battles. This time, I would like to pick out and explain the "schools" from the many settings that appear in Rurouni Kenshin. It covers not only the popular "Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu" swordsmanship used by Kenshin, but also minor swordsmanship, so please read it.
"Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu"
This is the swordsmanship used by the main character Kenshin. It is one of the most powerful swordsmanship styles in the series, and also the most well-known. It is one of the most well-known styles among the many Jump works, and is truly the signature style of Rurouni Kenshin.
Ancient swordsmanship from the Sengoku period
The origins of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu seem to date back to the Sengoku period. In the first place, most styles flourished under the protection of the Edo Shogunate and each feudal lord, and all of them are basically designed for one-on-one combat. However, Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu is a swordsmanship style from the Warring States period, when wars were fierce, and it is a style that has shifted to focus on how many enemies can be killed. Just from this description, you can see how excellent Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu is in combat.
The Ultimate Murderous Swordsmanship
Due to its high combat power, Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu is also called "the ultimate murderous swordsmanship" by Kenshin's master, Hiko Seijuro. Once you master Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, you will be able to demonstrate unparalleled power on the battlefield, so his master Hiko Seijuro strongly opposed Kenshin participating in the battlefield on the side of the new government.
Swordsmanship for one-on-many
As a swordsmanship that originated in the Warring States period, when numerous battles continued, it can be said that the secret of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu is "one-on-many." However, that does not mean that Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu cannot demonstrate its power in one-on-one situations, and there are many techniques in Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, such as sword-drawing techniques that are designed for one-on-one situations.
Hiko Seijuro
The successor of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu is to inherit the name of the founder, Hiko Seijuro, for generations. The current successor, Hiko Seijuro, has stated that he has no intention of passing on the name to Kenshin, and since Kenshin has not taught Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu to anyone, if things continue as they are, Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu will be destroyed by Kenshin and his master, Hiko Seijuro.
Acquire the secret technique in exchange for the life of the master
In the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu style, it is customary to acquire the final secret technique, "Tensho Ryusen," by unleashing it on the master. The master dies after receiving the "Tensho Ryusen" from the student, and the student takes on the name of the next Hiko Seijuro. In the story, Kenshin also inflicts a fatal wound on Hiko Seijuro when acquiring "Tensho Ryusen," but thanks to Kenshin's desperate nursing, Hiko Seijuro survives.
Extraordinary Load
At first glance, Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu seems to be just the strongest swordsmanship, but it is not completely risk-free. Unless you have a strong physique like Hiko Seijuro, the excessive load when using the technique will eat away at your body, and ultimately you will be unable to use Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu.
The ultimate sword-drawing technique "Tensho Ryusen"
Among the many Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu techniques, "Tensho Ryusen" is the most powerful secret technique. "Tensho Ryusen" is a technique that has been perfected to the limit of Kenshin's best sword-drawing technique, and even if the first blow misses, the vacuum created by the sword strike that is too fast will pull the opponent in along with the air, allowing the second slash to be delivered during that time, making it a terrifying technique. Kenshin has used this technique to defeat many strong opponents.
"Kamiya Kasshin-ryu"
This is the swordsmanship used by the heroines Kamiya Kaoru and Myojin Yahiko. Although it tends to be overshadowed by the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, Kaoru and Yahiko have used this style to defeat many strong opponents, and there is no doubt that it is a very practical style.
The founder is Kamiya Koshiro
The founder is Kamiya Kaoru's father, Kamiya Koshiro, and compared to the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu used by Kenshin, it is a school with a short history. Furthermore, the founder, Kamiya Koshiro, was thought to be dead until now, but his survival was confirmed in the Hokkaido arc, and it seems certain that he will become a key person in the future.
Only a few students
However, as it was the Meiji era, swordsmanship was in a difficult period. In an era when Western culture was being introduced as part of the new civilization and enlightenment, it seems that there were very few people who wanted to learn swordsmanship, which had been practiced by the samurai who had been the ruling class until then. Kamiya Kasshin-ryu was no exception, and it was in a difficult situation with only a few students.
Life-saving sword
Due to the Meiji period's civilization and enlightenment, swordsmanship fell into disuse and the era of learning began, so instead of committing to how many people one can kill with a practice like Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, they promote the idea of life-saving swordsmanship, which is about how to grow people by exploring the sword, and it is like the beginning of modern kendo.
The secret is to catch the blade
The secret of the Kamiya Kasshin-ryu is to cross the kote and catch the opponent's blade while gripping the sword, called "Badadome". It is said to be quite difficult to use in practice, and even Kaoru, the assistant instructor, was amazed, saying "I have never succeeded in practice". However, Yahiko has used this technique in practice to defeat many enemies, and if it works in practice, it seems to be a powerful trump card.
"Oniwaban Style Two-Sword Short Sword Style"
In the story, this is a sword technique used by Shinomori Aoshi, a former head of the Oniwabanshu. Unlike other schools, this sword technique is used by the Oniwabanshu, not by samurai, and many tricky techniques are seen, making it a sword technique that is truly worthy of a ninja.
Shinnomori Soji's previous techniques
It is explained that the Oniwaban style two-sword kodachi style was originally a technique used by Soji's previous generation. It is not known whether this Oniwaban style two-sword kodachi style was actually used before the previous generation, but it can be assumed that it is at least a style that arose in the process of the Oniwabanshu's activities under the Tokugawa Shogunate.
Fusion with Oniwaban-shiki Kenpo
Also, Aoshi has not only inherited the swordsmanship of his predecessor, but has also fused the Oniwaban-shiki Kodachi Two-sword Style with the martial art of Oniwaban-shiki Kenpo, further elevating it to a flexible swordsmanship specialized for combat.
Light attacks with kodachi
The defining feature of Oniwaban-style kodachi two-sword style is that it allows you to launch attacks without any gaps in your breathing by using the agile distance of the kodachi and the training attacks with Oniwaban-style martial arts.
"Shinko-ryu"
This is the sword technique used by the swordsman Isurugi Raijuta, who almost one-sidedly defeated Maekawa Miyauchi, the master of the dojo where Kaoru trained and the founder of the Chuetsu-ryu.
Developed from Koryu Swordsmanship
Among the swordsmanship that appears in the work, this swordsmanship originates from Koryu swordsmanship, just like Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, and since it is the same Koryu swordsmanship, there are some similarities between the stance in battle and Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu.
Secret Sword "Izuna"
Among them, the secret sword of the Shinko school, "Izuna", is an incredible technique that creates a kamaitachi and damages the opponent with a powerful blow, and even Kenshin has a hard time with this "Izuna". For this reason, it can be said that this secret sword "Izuna" is one of the most powerful techniques that appears in the work.
"Nikaido Heihō"
Nikaido Heihō is the style used by the fierce villain Udō Jin'ei, who has taken the lives of many people as an assassin for pleasure. He is also the first person in the story to make Kenshin get serious, and this shows just how excellent Nikaido Heihō is.
Actual swordsmanship
Nikaido Heihō is the only real swordsmanship style that appears in Rurouni Kenshin. I don't know why Nikaido Heihō is the only swordsmanship style that appears in the story out of the many swordsmanship styles that exist, but in any case, it is undoubtedly an important swordsmanship style.
One Side of the Heart
This technique uses energy from the eyes to suppress the opponent's movements. Whether this technique works or not depends on the sword energy of the receiver, and it doesn't seem to be very effective against Kenshin's level. It seems that One Side of the Heart was also a real technique.
"Watoujutsu"
This is a sword technique used by Kenshin's final enemy, Yukishiro Enishi. As it is used by the final and greatest enemy in the story, it displayed unrivaled strength in the story. Unlike other sword techniques, it is characterized by many tricky techniques that take advantage of the reach of the tachi.
A school that uses the long sword
Rurouni Kenshin is set in the Meiji era, so the main weapon is the sword, but this Watojutsu is a school that uses the long sword, which was widely used from the Kamakura period to the Muromachi period. Unlike the sword, the long sword is heavy, so it lacks agility, but has destructive power that is incomparable to the sword.
Developed on the continent
This Watoujutsu is a swordsmanship that was originally used by the Wako (Japanese pirates) that wreaked havoc on the continent, and was absorbed and improved by the people of the continent. Therefore, it is slightly different from the styles that developed in Japan, and sometimes uses techniques similar to Chinese martial arts.
Summary
What did you think? This time, I have put together a detailed summary of the "schools" that appear in Rurouni Kenshin. In addition to Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, there are many other fascinating schools that appear in Rurouni Kenshin, so please take a closer look.
