Kodachi Nitō Ryū (
Aoshi's skill with his dual kodachi
Description[]
During his first appearance in the Rurouni Kenshin series, Aoshi used only one kodachi, which he mainly used for defense while pummeling his opponents with his hand-fighting prowess (he was extremely skilled in kenpo). However, during Kenshin's fight against Aoshi, the secret and weaknesses behind Aoshi's technique are unveiled. At close range, an opponent with a longer sword has a blind spot due to them having a longer reach than the shorter, light sword kodachi. Aoshi would then trap the sword with his kodachi using the blind spot, and beat his opponent with punches and kicks. However, after much struggle, Kenshin figured out that by holding his sword by the dull edge, the difference in reach would vanish, so the blind spot was naturally eliminated. Aoshi then acknowledged Kenshin's skill and moved in for his devastating "Kaiten Kenbu", which he would appear to kill Kenshin with at first glance.
The latter, however, survived by using his scabbard as a buffer to halve the strength of the three deadly slashes, and when he attempted the attack again, Kenshin mustered the last of his power to catch Aoshi's sword the only instant he was vulnerable, defeating him by striking his throat with the hilt of his own kodachi, disrupting his breathing and rendering him unconscious for a short moment.
It is only at the beginning of the Kyōto arc when, Aoshi begins to utilize his twin kodachi fighting style. By doing this, he strengthened his offense considerably, and his defense now has no such exploitable flaws due to there being an extra blade to fend counterattacks with. Due to his increased speed and strength from the training he did beforehand, Aoshi ended up becoming one of Kenshin's deadliest foes yet.
When Gein faces Aoshi he is constantly surprised by the latter's techniques and notes that his skills are much higher than they were when he fought against Shishio Makoto during the Kyōto arc. This is most likely due to Aoshi having cleared his mind and soul through meditation and having found a true purpose to work for: Eradicating the evil practitioners of the dark arts (Gehō), which is exactly what he does when he kills Gein.
Techniques[]
It is important to distinguish the Kodachi Nitō Ryū techniques depending if the user has one or two kodachi.
Common Techniques[]
- Ryūsui no Ugoki: (
流 水 の動 き, Move of Flowing Water) A mobility technique where Aoshi moves around silently, rapidly alternating between fast and slow movements and confusing the opponent due to the fluid motion and ever changing speeds. It can be beaten by watching for the moment the user attempts to strike. True to Aoshi's ninja heritage, the technique's imagery is evocative of the ninjutsu technique of "Kagebunshin No Jutsu", in which a ninja exploits the limits of human vision to create illusions with footwork and control of movement to distract and trick opponents into believing the user has cloned themselves.
- Jissen Kenbu: (
実践 剣 舞 , Real Practice Sword Dance) A combo attack using "Ryūsui no Ugoki" to flow around the enemy, confusing them with a constant change in speed. Aoshi will then strike from various points, slashing them with his kodachi before finishing them with "Kaiten Kenbu". Before deciding to use twin kodachi, this was Aoshi's final attack. Though he is nearly impossible to hit during the Jissen Kenbu, he is vulnerable for an instant when he switches from a defensive stance to an offensive one, a weakness exploited first by Kenshin and later on, Shishio.
Exclusively with One Kodachi[]
- Kaiten Kenbu: (
回天 剣 舞 , Revolve Heaven Sword Dance) Aoshi claims to have used this attack to defeat "All who have intruded upon Edo castle". It involves Aoshi rapidly spinning around three times, holding the kodachi backhand, to slash the opponent up to three times in an instant. Aoshi usually performs this attack after disorienting his opponent with the "Ryūsui no Ugoki". Only by using his scabbard as a buffer was Kenshin able to survive this attack and win the battle.- However, it's possible to perform this technique with two kodachi, especially in the video games, Conspiracy of the 10 Braves and Kyōto Circle of Hell. It is classified as a high attack in the former game.
Exclusively with Two Kodachi[]
- Onmyō Kōsa: (
陰 陽 交 叉 , Yin-Yang Intersect) Aoshi blocks an enemy's striking weapon with one of his kodachi before striking it with the second one and, when the opponent has been caught off guard, thrusts forward using the first. This attack is powerful enough to slice through even the toughest of shields, including steel tonfa that where made specifically to repel sword-based assaults.
- Onmyō Hasshi: (
陰 陽 撥 止 , Yin-Yang Plectrum Halt) Aoshi throws both kodachi at the opponent, hitting the end of the first one with the second one for an extra boost. The second kodachi is hidden directly behind the first, so the opponent would only see one kodachi heading for them in their line of sight. If such swift opponents as Kenshin are able to avoid both the swords, Aoshi usually uses this opening to kick them while they are vulnerable.
- Gokō Jūji: (
呉 鉤 十 字 , Wugou/Wu Hook Cross) Aoshi crosses the two kodachi and moves them outwards in a scissor-like cut, usually to kill the enemy by slicing their carotid artery.
- Kaiten Kenbu Rokuren: (
回天 剣 舞 六 連 , Revolve Heaven Sword Dance: Six Successions) This attack is Aoshi's ōgi. The attack involves Aoshi gripping both his kodachi in reverse grip, then slashing the opponent six times in rapid succession, from both sides (it relies on confusing the opponent on the direction from which each subsequent strike is going to come). It's basically Kaiten Kenbu but done with two kodachi, the key difference being that the unpredictability of where it strikes first puts the opponent at a disadvantage. Only Kenshin and Shishio, Aoshi's strongest enemies, have beaten this attack. However, it should be noted that against Shishio, Aoshi was severely weakened by Kenshin's ōgi first.
Known Practitioners[]
- Previous Okashira - The former chief of the Oniwabanshū. Okina explains that the previous Okashira knew the Kodachi Nitō Ryū but even he did not master it.
- Shinomori Aoshi - Present Okashira of the Oniwabanshū. At the beginning of the series, he uses only one kodachi. After Aoshi's first fight against Kenshin, Aoshi goes to a haunted forest to train and master the Kodachi Nitō Ryū.
Trivia[]
- It is important to note the fact that even though the name of the style implies it to be a two blade/dual-wielding style, at the beginning of the series Aoshi used the style while having just one kodachi. So, it is not known for sure the true nature of the style:
- One explanation could be that Aoshi was using another variant of his kodachi style while he had just a single kodachi.
- The Kodachi Nitō Ryū was apparently self-taught, but at least based slightly on observing the former Okashira's battles, as it was originally his forte.
Gallery[]
To be added