attacks


    KODACHI NITOURYUU

    Aoshi's specialty is the Kodachi nitouryuu:
  • kodachi: short sword
  • nitou: two swords
  • ryuu: style.
    This obviously implies that he uses two kodachi to fight, and supplements this with kenpo - hand-to-hand combat. The kodachi is a short sword, midway in size between the full-length katana and the extremely short second sword, the wakizashi. As Kenshin explains, this means it has a shorter range and less attack power than a regular-sized sword, but, when wielded by a master, it can form a near-impenatrable defense. Aoshi can cut through steel with his babies. ^^ He usually carries both in one saya ( sheath ), and draws one from each end.

    So here are his various attacks:

    RYUUSUI NO UGOKI - [ stage 1 - stage 2 - stage 3 - stage 4 ]
  • ryuu: flow
  • sui: water
  • ugo: motion/confusion
    This is what's commonly known as the "waterflow technique". ^^ He somehow makes it seem like he's surrounding an opponent, so it's hard to tell where and when the strike's gonna come from.

    GOKOU JUUJI - [ stage 1 - stage 2 ]
  • go: to give
  • kou: hook, barb
  • juuji: cross-shaped
    So this could be called the "cross-hook" or something. ^^ In this attack, Aoshi forms an "X" with his two blades and them kind of swings his arms out, slashing in an x-pattern.

    ONMYOU HASSHI - [ stage 1 ]
  • on: yin
  • myou: yang
  • ha-: move/transfer
  • shi: stop
    The "yin-yang exchange" is one way I've heard this translated. ^^ Here he basically throws both kodachi, one after the other, so that the first one shields the sight of the second one. He gives the first kodachi an extra 'kick' by punching its hilt forward with the tip of the second one.

    ONMYOU KOUSA - [ stage 1 ]
  • Onmyou: yin-yang
  • kou: mixed
  • sa: divide ( like the fork in a road ) It can also mean 'crotch" but let's not go there, okay? ^^
    It's hard to tell exactly how this is different from the Gokou Juuji, but it seems that it is an x-shaped slashing motion where he slashes his arms IN across his front. ( As opposed to throwing his arms outwards to make the cross-slash? )

    ONIWABANSHIKI KODACHI NITOURYUU OUGI: KAITEN KENBU ROKUREN - [ stage 1 - stage 2 ]
  • ougi: secret, mystery
  • kai: revolving
  • ten: heaven
  • ken: sword
  • bu: dance
  • roku: six
  • ren: joined
    Um..."revolving heavens sword dance of six joined slashes", or something along those lines. In this attack, his ultimate technique, Aoshi first flips his blades in his hands so they're pointed downwards, and then attacks, slashing six times rapidly with either the left hand or the right hand. As you can see, he can take down a tree with this attack. Don't get in the way of this one ;;^^



    KENPO

    Since kodachi are best used for defense, Aoshi supplements his style with old-fashioned kenpo, or what dumb westerners like me would call "unarmed martial arts" or "karate". ^^ Hannya, the masked Oniwabanshuu, also uses Kenpo, but he's one of Aoshi's STUDENTS, so this would probably make Aoshi pretty damn good at it. ^^
    I must confess that I don't really know much about kenpo myself, so if you're really interested, here's the best link I could find:
  • The Kenpo/Kempo FAQ



    [ pin the bow ]