Santōryū

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Santōryū is a fictional sword fighting style from the manga/anime series One Piece. It deals with the wielding of 3 daito katana; One in each hand and one in the mouth. There are many different techniques for this sword style, including "Tatsumaki", "Onigiri" and "Hyaku Hachi Pound Hou". Roronoa Zoro, the Swordsman and first mate of the Straw Hat Pirate Crew is the world famous Swordsman who uses that style.

Contents 1 History 2 Santōryū Techniques 3 Nitōryū Techniques 4 Ittōryū Techniques

[edit] History

Zoro first started to develop his own "Nitōryū" (Two-Sword-Style), as he first started to learn the ways of the sword. Defeating countless kenjutsu dojos, he came across one that would change him forever. It was here he met his rival, Kuina, the daughter of the dojo owner and sensei. After defeating several students, she came to challenge him and gave him his first loss. Because of this, he decided to stay and study in that dojo, so he could one day defeat Kuina. Yet, after two thousand matches, she continued to remain victorious over him, and never lost once. This only drove Zoro to train harder, to become better and stronger than her. Then, one day, he challenged Kuina to the two thousand first match, once again confident as usual. Only this time, he wanted to fight with real swords, at night, and away from any sort of supervision; she agreed. Zoro fought with his usual Nitōryū, as Kuina fought with her Ittōryū (One-Sword-Style). At the end of the fight, Kuina once again came out on top, but served to strengthen Zoro in his quest to beat her. However, that would be the last time that the two rivals would ever fight each other. The next day Kuina would suffer a fatal accident, losing her footing while going down some stairs, she fell and eventually died from her injuries (in the edited dubbed anime version, she lost against an opponent and was critically wounded, and would never be able to fight again). When Zoro was told this he was devastated, and asked his sensei, Kuina's father, to give him her "Wadō Ichimonji" (Kuina's sword) to him, so that he could carry on for both of them, making their dreams together a reality to one day become the greatest swordsman in the world. It was because of this, that Zoro started to create his Santōryū (Three-Sword-Style), which through him would become an extremely powerful style, and make him an extremely powerful swordsman.

[edit] Santōryū Techniques

• Oni Giri (Demon Slash/Devil's Cut) - The first technique Zoro developed under the Santōryū, strong enough to cut large rocks in half. Pun- Onigiri as a whole means Rice Ball.

• Tora Gari (Tiger Hunting) - Called Tiger Trap in the English dub. A downward slash, that, in the anime, appears to utilize ki.

• Tou Rou Nagashi (Bleeding the Wolf) - Called Streaming Wolf Swords in the English dub. A technique used once against Hachan, he dodges his opponent's attacks while subsequently slashing his opponent in the abdomen.

• Tatsu Maki (Dragon Coil) - Called Dragon Twister in the English dub. A technique, Zoro's first, that cuts the wind to create a tornado, causing a blender effect that severely cuts the opponent, then sends them flying into the air. It is one of Zoro's most devastating techniques, able to partly break through Kaku's Tekkai.

• Taka Nami (Hawk Wave) - A Nitouryu techique. Zoro swings the swords in his hands, sending a cutting wave toward the opponent. Quick and cool attack with various finishining positions. Doesn't seem to be a very powerful technique.

• Yaki Oni Giri (Flaming Demon Cleave) - Called Flaming Oni Giri in the English dub(Only appears in the english video game, and not the english cartoon). Same principle as "Oni Giri," except this time the user is on fire. Pun - Yaki Onigiri can mean Cooked rice ball.

• Ushi Bari (Bull Horns) - Called Bull Charge in the English dub. A technique where the user holds the swords in their hands in the air near their head to resemble bull horns, and then charges forward and attacks the opponent in several places on their body.

• Gazami Dori (Crab Clutch) - Called Crab Grab in the English Dub. A technique where the user holds their right sword near their head, and the sword in their left hand near their knee; all three swords pointing toward the right. The user attacks by quickly moving the right and left swords in their opposite directions, clamping the opponent like a crab claw.

• Hyaku-Hachi Pondou Hou (One-hundred-Eight Pound Cannon| 108 Earthly Desires) - Called Triple Sword -- Soaring Phoenix in the English dub. A devastating technique that send three air cutting waves toward the opponent. A lot stronger than SanjuuRoku or NanajuPondou Hou, devastating is probably an understatement for this attack.

• Karasu Ma-gari (Crow Demon-Hunt) - Called Raven Hunt in the English dub. A technique where the user jumps in the air and slings their arms inward, cutting objects or opponents in front of them.

• Ebima Yonezu Oni Giri (Charm-Demon Sleepless-Nights Demon Slash) - Same principle as "Oni Giri," but this time Zoro somehow makes his blades bend, and also conjures the silhouette of a demon around him. The bending effect deals more damage to the opponent, and somehow widens the attack area.

• Sanzen Sekai (Three-Thousand Realms) - Called Three Thousand Worlds in the English anime. The only "Ougi" technique that has been shown in Santouryu; Zoro first used it against Mihawk, though it is not completely known of what real damage this technique can do since it utterly failed against Mihawk. In the anime, during the Ocean's Dream Arc, (filler) it was used against Luffy, but it was (apparently) blocked, so its effects are still unknown. It is an Ougi, so it is probably one of Zoro strongest techniques, but it was only used at the beginning of the series, and Zoro has deeply improved since then. Zoro puts two of his swords in an outward-bent L-shape, spins them in a circle and thrusts them at the opponent.However in the ocean dream arc the swords were positioned differently where the 2 ends of the sword meets and then he spins them. It is supposedly a killing technique.

• Santōryū Hyou: Kintama (Three-Swords-Style Panther: Koto-Ball) Again a pun because Hyoukindama, if read as one, means humorous person. In this technique Zoro takes the stance of a panther, then he launches himself into the enemy and spins. In the rotating movement he hits the enemy with the full speed of the launch. Even Kaku had problems anticipating the movements of Zoro. (Koto is a musical instrument)

• Asura: Ichibugin (Three-Headed-Six-Armed-Demon-God: One-Mist-Silver) Technique used to finish off Kaku. First, he uses his "Breath" to transforms into, presumably, an Asura, gaining four additional arms and two additional heads. In this form, Zoro ran directly into Kaku's final attack and turned it into mist. Then, Zoro cut Kaku's neck with a frontal strike of all nine swords. It is not known if this technique of Zoro is an Ougi, but it is definitely on a greater scale of power than that of his Santouryuu techniques. The name of the technique "Ichibugin" is also the name of old coins that were used in the Edo period which is again a pun of Oda-sensei.

• Santōryū: Nigori Zake (Three-Swords-Style: Double-Gorilla Slash) Zoro pumps up his muscle drastically by flexing them. He holds it over his head before jumping in the air and swinging it at his opponent. This attack seems rather powerful in terms of strength, able to knock back Kaku's Bigan

[edit] Nitōryū Techniques

• Taka Nami (Hawk Wave) - A Nitouryu techique. Zoro swings the swords in his hands, sending a cutting wave toward the opponent. Quick and cool attack with various finishining positions. Doesn't seem to be a very powerful technique.

• Nanajuu-Ni Pondou Hou (Seventy-two Pound Cannon| 72 Earthly Desires) - A devastating technique that sends two air cutting waves toward the opponent. Used once, so far, against Kaku.

• Sai-kuru (Cycle | Rhinoceros-Spin) - Called Rhino Rampage in the English dub. A technique that cuts everything around the user, or in Zoro's case, all the opponents around the user, and sends them flying away.

• Nitōryū Iai: Rasho-mon (Two-Sword-Style Sword-Draw: Rasho-gate) - A two sword technique where the user holds their swords in their scabbard, and when approaching the target/enemy they quickly unsheathe their swords and precisely cuts the target/enemy vertically. This attack is so devastating that it split two train carts in half, but didn't harm any of the people inside of it.

• Nitōryū Nigiri: Tourou (Two-Swords-Style Two-Slashes: Climbing-Tower) Zoro holds two swords parallel in front of his body and quickly jumps in the air and strikes with the swords above aiming for the neck or head. The name of this attack is also a pun. Nigiri, if spoken as one, can mean Sushi and Tourou is a pun with Toro which means "fat tuna".

• Nitōryū Nigiri: Outourou (Two-Swords-Style Two-Slashes: Respond-Climbing-Tower) This is combined with "Nitōryuu Nigiri: Tourou". If the strike of Tourou didn't hit, Zoro strikes with his sword this time below while he's in mid-air. The name's also a pun with "Ootoro" which means "even fatter tuna" .

• Gyuuki Yuzume (Cattle-Demon Brave-Hoof) - A technique where the user approaches their opponent and slashes them with two swords. It resembles the samurai attacking tradition of which both warriors rush each other and cut one another, at the same time, when they meet (Though, in Zoro's case, his opponent used an attack on him first. Zoro dodged the attack and then slashed his opponent when he got near).

[edit] Ittōryū Techniques

• Ittōryū Iai: Shishi Sonson (One-Sword-Style Sword-Draw: Lion Song) - Called Lion Strike in the English dub. Santouryu's most revolutionary technique, where the user focuses their "Breath" or "Ki" into one of their swords, and can cut through virtually anything. Only one sword is used in this attack. Zoro first used this technique on Mr. 1, who is made of steel due to his Devil's Fruit power. It was used at the end of the fight, where it seemed like Zoro was going to die - he even said himself that he was at death's border. He felt a calm, a breathing of sorts, which he focused with his thoughts through his sword and cut through Mr. 1 like paper. "Ki" may have been the power utilized by Zoro in this attack, since in Buddhist culture "Ki" is described as "Breath." The techniques that Zoro uses after ShiShi SonSon seem to utilize "Ki"; more evidence to the assumption that he learned to use "Ki".

• Sanjuu-Roku Pondou Hou (Thirty-six Pound Cannon| 36 Earthly Desires) - Called Single Sword -- Rising Phoenix in the English dub. A devastating technique that sends a cutting wave of either "Ki" or wind toward the opponent. Only one sword is used in this attack.