The Gatotsu (
Description[]
The Gatotsu is Saitō Hajime's invention, created to maximize destructive power whilst minimizing the user's exposure to strikes. However, because the user runs straight ahead to perform a thrust with his arm, there is a small blind spot that exposes the side of his body opposite of where he holds his weapon. There are four variants of this move. It is also possible to utilize the Gatotsu with one's bare fists.
Variants[]
- Gatotsu Isshiki (
牙 突 壱 式 , "Fang Thrust Method One"): This is the standard, shoulder-level ground attack. The user prepares by dropping into a partial crouch, both knees bent, left arm drawn back and right arm extended forward; he grasps the end-cap part of his sword's grip (close to its pommel) with his left hand and rests the tips of the fingers of his right hand (usually the thumb) on the blade near the kisaki (blade's tip).- There is also an overhead version of Isshiki which Saitō called "the true form of the Gatotsu". It is a stronger and faster version of the Gatotsu since Saitō stated that he was no longer holding back when he used it on Kenshin.
- However, in the Shin Kyōto Hen OVA and the 2023 adaptation, Saitō's grip is instead closer to the hand guard/tsuba of his blade, though the Kyōto Disturbance season changes back this detail by making Saitō's grip rather closer to the pommel once more.
- Gatotsu Ni Shiki (
牙 突 弐 式 , "Fang Thrust Method Two"): The user adopts a position similar to the one seen in Isshiki; however, his arms are positioned slightly differently, with the blade pointing diagonally down. The attack itself is not a lunge, but a jump followed by a downward thrust as the user is landing. Also, the direction of the Ni Shiki thrust is narrower than in Isshiki. - Gatotsu San Shiki (
牙 突 参 式 , "Fang Thrust Method Three"): The user adopts a position similar to the one seen in Isshiki; however, his arms are positioned slightly differently, with the blade pointing diagonally up. The attack itself is not a lunge, but a hop in conjunction with a thrust, mainly used as an anti-air. - Gatotsu Shi Shiki (
牙 突 四 式 , "Fang Thrust Method Four"): The user holds their sword up against their chest, with the tip of the sword pointing towards their target and positions their right hand above the sword. The user then positions themselves in front of their target and perform a single quick and accurate thrust. The Shishiki is the weakest of the Gatotsu styles, that specializes in instantaneous attacks faster than required of the Zero Shiki version. - Gatotsu Zero Shiki (
牙 突 零 式 , "Fang Thrust Zero Method"): This is considered the ultimate technique among the five variations of Gatotsu. A point-blank range Gatotsu that requires no prior preparation or footwork. Instead, the user tenses and utilizes all of the power in his upper body, bringing both arms backward and then thrusting with the one holding the katana to pierce anything in the sword's path. Saitō in particular has shown to be strong enough to pierce through thick solid materials, be it Usui's tinbe shield or Yatsume's arm. Because of the lack of footwork or stance preparation involved, this variation is suited to quick-explosive surprise attacks, especially in closer-quarters.
Other variants/techniques[]
- Sai Gatotsu (
砕 牙 突 , "Smash Fang Thrust"): A variant seen only in Rurouni Kenshin: Conspiracy of the 10 Braves, where Saitō in a quick-triple combo, performs a hirazuki, an inward one-handed reaping slash, then follows into a standard Gatotsu right after. The finishing Gatotsu also leaves behind an image of purple lightning, in ode to the term "shiden issen". Classified as a multi-hit/battering attack. - Hakurōjin (
白 狼 刃 , "White Wolf Blade"): Another technique seen only in Rurouni Kenshin: Conspiracy of the 10 Braves. Saitō after dodging an enemy's incoming attack, thrusts his blade upwards to then sweep it downwards-to-back in an arc; thus this move is classified as a counter move/return attack. - Gatotsu Rokujin (
牙 突 六 刃 , "Fang Thrust Six Blades"): One of his ōgi appearing in the video game Kyōto Circle of Hell as an enhanced variant of the Gatotsu Isshiki. Saitō after landing a Gatotsu in a cinematic and braking his dash-thrust through his victim, sheathes his blade as the said victim suffers from 6 simultaneous/continuous stabbing wounds in an instant; it is likely the force of 6 Gatotsu done in a single thrust, akin to the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū's Kuzuryūsen (9 strikes at once).
Known Practitioners[]
Trivia[]
- The Gatotsu can have a delayed effect when striking dense solid objects (Usui's rochin mace sphere, or Shishio's hachigane in the OVA). The impact can take several minutes to register.
- In several other forms of fictional media, there are other various techniques sharing the same name of this technique, all performed in a similar way as a forward thrust. However, some of these other versions often involve a two-handed thrust rather than a single-handed one.
- As such in other forms of media, such as Way of the Samurai series and the fictional Shinsengumi member Washizuka Kei'ichirō (based on the Kenshin-version of Saitō and Kenshin himself) from The Last Blade, these instances also have their own variations of the Gatotsu (sometimes also named the same). Usage of such a sword-thrusting technique in itself is heavily based on the Tennen Rishin-Style of swordsmanship the Shinsengumi have used.
- There are also other media which feature other fictionalized versions of Saitō Hajime often having a technique similar to the Gatotsu. In these cases however, the technique usually has a different name.
- The 2014 video game Ryū ga Gotoku: Ishin! (part of the Yakuza series) and its 2023 re-release Ryū ga Gotoku Ishin! Kiwami (known as Like a Dragon: Ishin! in the West), features a Kazuma Kiryū-styled take on Sakamoto Ryōma as the protagonist, who joins the Shinsengumi under the fake identity of Saitō Hajime, effectively combining the two historical figures into a single character. He has a technique similar to Gatotsu, though he performs it right-handed.
- The 2024 video game Rise of the Rōnin is set during the Bakumatsu and features Saitō Hajime as a potential ally and potential enemy. He has a technique named Piercing Fang, which is identical to Gatotsu, allocated to Saitō's actual Mugai-ryū (a style portrayed uniquely with a reverse grip solely in that game). The player can learn both the Mugai-ryū and its techniques associated with it, and fully leveling up the style allows access to a charged up version of Piercing Fang that can lead into a 3rd finisher; said 3rd finisher is an airborne diving stab that is akin to the Gatotsu Ni Shiki. Also like the Kenshin portrayal of Saitō, Piercing Fang akin to the Gatotsu is always done with the user's left hand.
Gallery[]
Saitō in the Isshiki stance for the Gatotsu.
Isshiki stance, overhead version.
Saitō using Gatotsu Zero Shiki against Usui.