Breathing technique and martial arts (Demon Slayer)

SUN BREATHING

Known Techniques

Sun Breathing was initially created with 12 techniques all connected to one another by Yoriichi Tsugikuni. Later upon meeting Muzan Kibutsuji, Yoriichi perfected his swordsmanship form, creating a new unnamed thirteenth form.

Dance ( Enbu?)[5] - The user performs a singular downwards vertical slash in an arcing motion.

Dancing Flash ( Enbu Issen?)[6] - A modified version of Dance developed and utilized only by Tanjiro Kamado. The user combines the Thunderclap and Flash technique of Thunder Breathing with the high-powered slash of Dance by inhaling huge amounts of oxygen, increasing the pumping of blood through the entire body, focusing it on the legs, and releasing it all to assault the target with a slash. This technique was capable of out-speeding Genya Shinazugawa, Nezuko Kamado, as well as the fleeing Hantengu.

Clear Blue Sky ( Heki-ra no Ten?)[7] - The user spins and twists their upper body in a circular motion, releasing a 360° slash.

Raging Sun (Retsujitsu Kōkyō?)[8] - The user unleashes two consecutive arcing slashes around themself in order to strike incoming attacks.

Burning Bones, Summer Sun ( Shakkotsu En'yō?)[9] - The user performs a singular slash utilizing a spiraling motion which extends in front of themself to defend from imminent frontal attacks.

Setting Sun Transformation ( Shayō Tenshin?)[10] - The user backflips into the air before performing a singular horizontal slash which aims to decapitate the target.

Solar Heat Haze ( Hirin Kagerō?)[11] - The user rushes forth, now attempting to deliver a strike seemingly enveloped in a heat-haze, masking the true length and location of the blade to deliver an unexpected strike.

Beneficent Radiance (Kiki Onkō?)[12] - The user spirals into the air whilst performing a swirling slash upwards to strike the target.

Sunflower Thrust (Yōkatotsu?)[13][14] - The user performs a singular thrust utilizing the tip of their blade to strike the target.

Sun Halo Dragon Head Dance ( Nichiun no Ryū Kaburimai?)[15] - The user performs a large array of consecutive slashes in a continuous motion to strike the target whilst also being capable of decapitating multiple targets.

Fire Wheel (, Kasha?)[16] - The user flips into the air behind the opponent before unleashing a singular vertical slash in a circular motion to swiftly cut the target in half.

Fake Rainbow ( Gen'nichi Kō?)[17] - The user performs high-speed twists and rotations, thus creating afterimages used mostly to evade attacks. The afterimages work most effectively on enemies with good vision.[18]

Flame Dance ( Enbu?)[19] - A two-combo strike which starts with a vertical slash leading into a horizontal slash right after.

Thirteenth Form ( Jū San no kata?)[20] - The user continuously performs all twelve forms of Sun Breathing in repetitive succession to increase the accuracy and agility of its movements, and attacks. This form was created solely for the purpose of killing Muzan Kibutsuji, since the repetition of all twelve forms aims to destroy Muzan's twelve vital organs (seven hearts and five brains) that move freely inside his body.

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FLAME BREATHING

Flame Breathing ( Honō no kokyū?) is one of the five main Breathing Styles directly derived from Sun Breathing.

Overview

Flame Breathing is a Breathing Style that mimics flames and replicates it with the user's movements, techniques and abilities. Most, if not all, known techniques and forms involve extremely powerful singular strikes which 'burn' their opponents, with most attacks being initiated from a high stance. Users of Flame Breathing also visualize themselves seemingly creating and manipulating fire when unleashing its techniques.

This Breathing Style was created from one of Yoriichi Tsugikuni's students who attempted to learn Sun Breathing, but due to not being as innately powerful as Yoriichi, they were instead taught an alternated personalized Breathing Style that focused on their individual strengths and weaknesses, which eventually evolved into Flame Breathing.[1]

Known Techniques

Flame Breathing has 9 techniques in total, with six known forms. Among these, the Ninth Form: Rengoku is an "Esoteric Art" exclusive to the Rengoku family.

First Form: Unknowing Fire ( Ichi no kata: Shiranui?)[2] - The user dashes towards the target at tremendous speeds, before unleashing a singular horizontal slash directed at the targets neck for a decapitation.

Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun ( Ni no kata: Nobori En Ten?)[3] - The user unleashes an arcing vertical slash in an upwards motion, often brought up from a tail guard.

Third Form: Blazing Universe ( San no kata: Kien Banshō?)[4] - The user performs an arcing downwards vertical slash, often brought down from a high guard.

Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation ( Shi no kata: Sei En no Uneri?)[5] - The user performs a singular slash or multiple if needed, in a fluid circular motion to defend from incoming attacks and decapitate multiple targets.

Fifth Form: Flame Tiger ( Go no kata: Enko?)[6] - The user dashes forth, bringing their blade into a high guard before performing a series of sword slashes which take the form of a flaming tiger enveloping the user.

Ninth Form: Rengoku ( Ku no kata: Rengoku?, lit. Ninth Form: Purgatory)[7] - The most powerful Flame Breathing technique. The user assumes a high stance before performing an extremely high-speed dash towards the target and unleashing a singular, devastating slash. The technique is powerful enough to completely carve out the ground in its wake. In the movie and anime adaptation, this technique seemingly took the form of a flaming Japanese dragon that envelopes the user as they are charging towards the target.

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WATER BREATHING

Water Breathing ( Mizu no kokyū?) is one of the five main Breathing Styles directly derived from Sun Breathing.

Known Techniques

Water Breathing has 10 techniques, with an eleventh one created and exclusively used by the current Water Hashira, Giyu Tomioka along with numerous modified versions of pre-existing forms.

First Form: Water Surface Slash (Ichi no kata: Minamo Giri?)[5] - The user crosses their arms and generates enough momentum to release a singular, concentrated slash which is often horizontal.

Second Form: Water Wheel (Ni no kata: Mizu Guruma?)[6] - The user leaps forward into the air and performs a front flip, releasing a singular vertical slash in a circular motion.

Second Form: Improved, Lateral Water Wheel ( Ni no kata kai: Yoko Mizu Guruma?)[7] - An alternate variation of Second Form: Water Wheel created by Tanjiro Kamado that unleashes a horizontal spin instead of a vertical one.

Third Form: Flowing Dance ( San no kata: Ryūryū Mai?)[8] - The user swings and bends their blade in a winding motion along with their body and dances in a flowing pattern, slicing everything in its path.

Fourth Form: Striking Tide ( Shi no kata: Uchishio?)[9] - The user performs a multitude of slashes in a flowing fashion to release multiple consecutive slashes.

Striking Tide, Turbulent ( Uchishio - Ran?)[10] - An improved version of the Fourth Form: Striking Tide. The user increases the quantity of consecutive strikes and slashes along with improving its accuracy in order to contact a specific target during a chaotic situation.

Fifth Form: Blessed Rain After the Drought ( Go no kata: Kanten no Jiu?)[11] - The user changes the grip on their sword and decapitates the opponent in a single flowing strike that causes little to no pain. It is a "sword strike of kindness" used when the enemy willingly surrenders.

Sixth Form: Whirlpool ( Roku no kata: Nejire Uzu?)[12] - The user twists their body, using their blade to perform a fierce whirling motion which generates a whirlpool of air to shred apart anything caught within its current like a giant sharp blade. Its effect and efficiently is enhanced underwater, where the user can draw water around their weapon to create whirling currents enhance their slashes.

Whirlpool, Flow (Nejire Uzu - Ryūryū?)[13] - A combination of Third Form: Flowing Dance and Sixth Form: Whirlpool created by Tanjiro Kamado. The user combines the footwork from Flowing Dance and the twisting movements of Whirlpool, performing an attack around the user that conjures a twisting, swirling, vicious flow of water to redirect projectiles from multiple angles.

Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust ( Shichi no kata: Shizuku Hamon Tsuki?)[14] - The user performs a precise, fast and accurate thrust with their blade

Drop Ripple Thrust, Curve ( Shizuku Hamon Tsuki - Kyoku?)[15] - A modified strike that hits from a specific angle corresponding to the sword's structure which nearly nullifies the impact and momentum of a moving object.

Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin (, Hachi no kata: Takitsubo?)[16] - The user cuts the target vertically in a flowing motion which is most effective when they are falling downward.

Ninth Form: Splashing Water Flow, Turbulent (, Ku no kata: Suiryū Shibuki - Ran?)[17] - The user changes their footwork in a way that minimizes the landing time and surface needed when landing, allowing the user to move without limits. Ideal when fighting in a place with no solid foothold.

Tenth Form: Constant Flux (, Jū no kata: Seisei Ruten?)[18] - The user charges toward the target whilst performing a continuous flowing attack with their blade which increases in strength and speed over time using momentum.

Eleventh Form: Dead Calm (, Jū Ichi no kata: Nagi?)[19] - The personal creation of the current Water Hashira, Giyu Tomioka. The user ceases all body movements and enters a state of complete tranquility, deflecting, blocking and cutting any incoming attacks with imperceptible speed with their blade. However, its effectiveness is limited as fast and numerous attacks can break through.

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THUNDER BREATHING

1)First Form: Thunderclap and Flash ( Ichi no kata: Hekireki Issen?)[4] - The user unsheathes their katana, dashes forward at blinding speeds and decapitates their opponent faster than they can react, before sheathing it back. This technique is extremely reminiscent of Iaijutsu and its movements are described to be akin to "lightning ripping through the air".[5]

i) Sixfold (Rokuren?)[6] - An extension of the Thunderclap and Flash technique created by Zenitsu. The user performs Thunderclap and Flash six times in quick succession while slightly augmenting the power and speed of his dashes.

ii) Eightfold (Hachiren?)[7] - An extension of the Thunderclap and Flash technique created by Zenitsu. The user performs Thunderclap and Flash eight times in quick succession while slightly augmenting the power and speed of his dashes.

iii) Godspeed ( Shinsoku?)[8] - An extension of the Thunderclap and Flash technique created by Zenitsu. The user performs Thunderclap and Flash while greatly augmenting the speed of the technique. During the first display of this technique, an unconscious Zenitsu remarked that he mustn't perform this technique more than 2 times, otherwise his legs would be rendered useless due to muscle fatigue and exhaustion. However, during the battle against Muzan Kibutsuji, Zenitsu has shown improvement in the proficiency of this technique, allowing him to use it more than 2 times while still maintaining the power and speed of the technique.

2)Second Form: Rice Spirit ( Ni no kata: Inadama?)[9] - Kaigaku releases five arched slashes accompanied by lightning in quick succession.

3)Third Form: Thunder Swarm ( San no kata: Shūbun Seirai?)[10] - Kaigaku surrounds the enemy with waves of arched lightning and attacks them from all directions.

4)Fourth Form: Distant Thunder ( Shi no kata: Enrai?)[11] - Kaigaku generates a ball of electricity that releases waves of strong multi-directional lightning bolts from afar.

5)Fifth Form: Heat Lightning (Go no kata: Netsu Kairai?)[12] - Kaigaku unleashes a long-ranged upward sword slash accompanied by lightning.

6)Sixth Form: Rumble and Flash (Roku no kata: Dengō Raigō?)[13] - Kaigaku releases a series of powerful long-ranged lightning attacks that strike his opponent from afar.

7)Seventh Form: Honoikazuchi no Kami (Shichi no kata: Honoikazuchi no Kami?, lit. Seventh Form: Flaming Thunder God) [14] - The personal creation of Zenitsu Agatsuma. The user dashes forward at blinding speeds and unleashes a singular forward slash at a low stance, which is seemingly accompanied by a yellow Japanese dragon shaped like a lightning bolt.

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WIND BREATHING

Wind Breathing as a minimum of 9 known techniques and forms.

First Form: Dust Whirlwind Cutter ( Ichi no kata: Jin Senpū - Sogi?)[2] - The user dashes forward at blinding speeds and slashes continuously in a horizontal cyclone pattern.

Second Form: Claws-Purifying Wind ( Ni no kata: Sōsō - Shinato Kaze?)[3] - The user lifts the sword upwards towards the right, above their head and unleashes four vertical slashes at once down on the enemy resembling claws.

Third Form: Clean Storm Wind Tree ( San no kata: Seiran Fūju?)[4] - The user unleashes a whirlwind of slashes around their body that can defend them from incoming attacks and slice up their surroundings.

Fourth Form: Rising Dust Storm ( Shi no kata: Shōjō Sajinran?)[5] - The user releases several slashes above them from below their target.

Fifth Form: Cold Mountain Wind ( Go no kata: Kogarashi Oroshi?)[6] - The user creates several circular arched slashes that increase in size from above their target.

Sixth Form: Black Wind Mountain Mist ( Roku no kata: Kokufū Enran?)[7] - The user rotates their body in an uppercut movement, creating an arcing slash.

Seventh Form: Gale, Sudden Gusts (Shichi no kata: Keifū - Tengu Kaze?)[8] - The user leaps into the air while swinging their blade which generates gale-force winds to shred their opponent apart.

Eighth Form: Primary Gale Slash (Hachi no kata: Sho Rekkaza Kiri?)[9] - The user leaps into the air and swings their blade which generates circular torrents of wind that slices up the opponent instantly.

Ninth Form: Idaten Typhoon (Ku no kata: Idaten Taifū?)[10] - The user backflips into the air and while upside-down, unleashes a powerful gust of circular wind that slashes apart anything below

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STONE BREATHING

Stone Breathing has 5 known techniques and forms at minimum.

First Form: Serpentinite Bipolar ( Ichi no kata: Jamongan - Sōkyoku?)[2] - The user throws both the flail and axe towards their intended target and manipulates the chain by rotating it thus causing the axe and flail to also rotate in order to drill and grind right through his target.

Second Form: Upper Smash ( Ni no kata: Tenmen Kudaki?)[3] - The user throws both his axe and spiked flail for a pincer move before smashing down on the chain to cause the flail to then rebound and smash his target from afar.

Third Form: Stone Skin ( San no kata: Ganku no Hadae?)[4] - The user unleashes a series of slashes with his axe deflecting nearby attacks.

Fourth Form: Volcanic Rock, Rapid Conquest ( Shi no kata: Ryūmongan - Sokusei?)[5] - The user manipulates both the flail and axe weapons at both ends of the chain by swinging the chain on both sides in order to strike his opponents using a two pronged wide ranged attack.

Fifth Form: Arcs of Justice (Go no kata: Garin Gyōbu?)[6] - The user utilizes a powerful barrage with his flail and axe, doing a great amount of damage. The axe is destined to hit first with the trajectory of the flail following from the opposite side and slamming into the opponent.

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MOON BREATHING

First Form: Dark Moon, Evening Palace (, Ichi no kata: Yamidzuki - Yoi no Miya?)[2] - Kokushibo draws his katana and performs a singular horizontal slash following a crescent shape, creating numerous chaotic crescent blades along its path, before sheathing it back into his scabbard. This technique is extremely reminiscent of Iaijutsu.

Second Form: Pearl Flower Moongazing ( Ni no kata: Shuka no Rōgetsu?)[3] - Kokushibo performs three crescent-shaped slashes while releasing a multitude of crescent moon blades along with them.

Third Form: Loathsome Moon, Chains (San no kata: Enkidzuki - Tsugari?)[4] - Kokushibo performs two extremely broad crescent-shaped slashes directly in front of him, from which a storm of smaller crescent moon blades are released.

Fifth Form: Moon Spirit Calamitous Eddy (Go no kata: Geppaku Saika?)[5] - Kokushibo creates multiple long and curved slashes layered over one another, essentially creating a vortex of crescent moon blades. As stated by Sanemi Shinazugawa, this technique was performed without Kokushibo swinging his katana.

Sixth Form: Perpetual Night, Lonely Moon - Incessant (Roku no kata: Tokoyo Kogetsu - Muken?)[6] - Kokushibo rapidly performs a multitude of curved slashes several meters in front of him that releases a wild barrage of crescent moon blades capable of slicing up the surroundings.

Seventh Form: Mirror of Misfortune, Moonlit ( Shichi no kata: Yakkyō - Dzukibae?)[7] - Using his altered katana, Kokushibo performs a frontal crescent-shaped slash that unleashes numerous straight and curved slashes that expand outward.

Eighth Form: Moon-Dragon Ringtail (Hachi no kata: Getsuryū Rinbi?)[8] - Using his altered katana, Kokushibo performs a massive long-ranged curved slash that leaves dozens of crescent moon blades along its path.

Ninth Form: Waning Moonswaths (, Ku no kata: Kudaridzuki - Renmen?)[9] - Using his altered katana, Kokushibo performs multiple curved slashes, all in close proximity, that leave numerous crescent moon blades along its path.

Tenth Form: Drilling Slashes, Moon Through Bamboo Leaves ( Jū no kata: Senmenzan - Ragetsu?)[10] - Using his altered katana, Kokushibo creates three rotating circular saw-like slashes with crescent moon blades following their path.

Fourteenth Form: Catastrophe, Tenman Crescent Moon (, Jū Shi no kata: Kyōhen - Tenman Sengetsu?)[11] - Using his altered katana, Kokushibo performs a multitude of curved slashes which expand outward in every direction that incrementally grow in size, essentially creating an omni-directional vortex of crescent moon blades that surrounds him.

Sixteenth Form: Moonbow, Half Moon (Jū Roku no kata: Gekkō - Katawaredzuki?)[12] - Using his altered katana, Kokushibo swings upward, sending six curved slashes crashing down several meters in front of him, powerful enough to leave craters in their wake.

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DESTRUCTIVE DEATH

Soryu Style ( Soryū Shiki?):[5] A bare-fisted martial arts style taught to him by Keizo, a martial arts expert, when he lived with him and took care of Koyuki. The Soryu Style utilizes both a user's arms and legs to unleash swift and powerful strikes that target an opponent's neck and weapon. At the start of a battle, the user begins by going into a stance performed by bending their knees in a half-crouch position, extending their right arm with a half-clenched fist facing his body and bending his left arm with an open palm[50] or a nearly identical stance except they open their palm on their right arm while fully clenching their fists in a downwards bend on their left arm.[51] After becoming a demon, he used the Soryu Style as his main inspiration of his Destructive Death ( Hakai Satsu?) martial arts.[49]

Bell Splitter ( Suzu Wari?): A technique likely created from the Soryu Style where Akaza strikes a sword from the side as it is descending to break it with little effort.[52] When he was a human, Akaza was most proficient in this technique, likely due to having fought the neighboring dojo's swordsmen and murdering 67 of them when he was 18, which would likely require him to utilize that move many times in order to overpower them.

Destructive Death (Hakai Satsu?): Akaza's Blood Demon Art is centered around martial arts, combining the manipulation of destructive shockwaves and the 

Soryu Style ( Soryū Shiki?) martial arts he mastered when he was a human. The shockwaves Akaza manipulates are blue in color and can take on many forms, such as nigh-invisible air pressure,[53] circular energy-like shockwaves,[28] or cannon-shaped spikes.[54] He is capable of generating them at will, from any distance, and seemingly from any part of his body. In combat, Akaza has his shockwaves accompany his own punches and kicks to amplify its destructive capabilities, enveloping his every strike in a faint blue light.[27]

At the start of a battle, Akaza initiates his Blood Demon Art by deploying a special technique called 

Technique Development (Jutsushiki Tenkai?).[50] Akaza starts by going into a stance unique to the Soryu Style which there are 2 versions of. The first stance is performed by bending his knees in a half-crouch position, extending his right arm with a half-clenched fist facing his body and bending his left arm with an open palm; the second version is nearly identical except he opens his palm on his right arm while fully clenching his fists in a downwards bend on his left arm.[51]

Using the shockwaves of his Blood Demon Art and the Soryu Style, Akaza is able to attack his targets with both destructive long-ranged barrages and precise short-ranged strikes. During his battle with Kyojuro Rengoku, he was able to keep the Flame Hashira at bay with his shockwaves, forcing him to close the gap and putting him in range of his bare-handed fighting style, which was to the Upper Rank's advantage. The shockwaves generated from his Blood Demon Art are extremely powerful, once being able to smash Kyojuro's ribs and even internal organs, after he took a barrage of larger shockwaves head on,[55] the same Hashira who survived explosions being rained down upon him with insignificant injuries. Akaza can also use his Blood Demon Art in his kicks to generate additional destructive force to launch his opponents an extremely far distance.[56] More impressively, he can create countless shockwaves that surround his target with a hundred blows that strike them everywhere almost at the same time.[57]

Another crucial part of his Blood Demon Art is in the form of his Compass Needle technique, which is essentially a form of advanced extrasensory perception that enables him to sense a person's will to fight. He uses this information to instinctively aim for their vitals and weak points,[23] determine their strength at a glance,[22] predict where and how his opponents will attack,[58] sense their location in his immediate surroundings,[58] enhance the lethality and accuracy of his punches and kicks, and evolve and adapt to their attacks over time.[25]

Blood Demon Art



Techniques

Compass Needle ( Rashin?):[59] Akaza manifests a light blue snowflake-shaped compass underneath him with numbers ranging from 1 to 12. This technique allows Akaza to sense a person's "Fighting Spirit (, Tōki?)", a person's will to fight, which he uses to achieve numerous effects while in combat. Firstly, he is able to determine the strength of anyone at a glance, such as when he discerned that Kyojuro was a Hashira just by looking at him.[22] Secondly, Akaza is able to detect the presence of his opponents in his immediate surroundings (even in his blind spots) and can use this to predict where and how his opponents will strike him.[58] This technique also allows Akaza to tell where his target's weaknesses are located and instinctively aim for them.[23] Furthermore, the precision of Akaza's attacks are greatly enhanced, to the point where Tanjiro stated that it was like magnets were pulling his fists towards his vitals, and even described them as having "unparalleled precision".[23] This is hinted at when a slight scrape from his kick (even while his sword had blocked it) caused Tanjiro to bleed. Moreover, Tanjiro also stated that Akaza was able to pierce through any opening in his attacks without fail. Another trait of his Compass Needle allows him to reactively adapt to his opponent's attacks, learning to anticipate their techniques and attack forms and even strike back with equal accuracy over time.[60] Additionally, the stronger a person's Fighting Spirit, the stronger the response of his Compass Needle. His Fighting Spirit detection is so accurate that he can find the location of Tanjiro in his surroundings[61] and fight and overpower Giyu without a head, meaning that he is performing those feats while basically being deaf and blind.[62]

Air Type (Kūshiki?):[63] Akaza punches the empty air in front him while creating a shockwave that flies towards his target and hits them from afar. These airborne shockwaves can be created multiple times in quick succession and can be unleashed in the sky or on the ground.

Disorder ( Ranshiki?):[64][65] Punching rapidly at the target, Akaza creates a barrage of large shockwaves, destroying anything in front of him. This attack was capable of overpowering Kyojuro's Flame Tiger technique.

Annihilation Type (Messhiki?):[66] One of Akaza's most powerful techniques. Akaza crouches with both his arms at the side of his body poised to strike. He then lunges forward, creating two powerful circular shockwaves from the palm of his hands which he uses to strike his target with tremendous force. This technique was strong enough to go through Kyojuro's most powerful attack, Rengoku.

Leg Type: Crown Splitter ( Kyakushiki: Kamuro Saki Wari?):[67] A reverse, rising axe kick that produces a shockwave once it connects with the target.

Leg Type: Explosive Flurry ( Kyakushiki: Ryūsengunkō?):[56] A flashing flurry of powerful straight kicks so fast that they create afterimages, with each kick producing powerful shockwaves. This technique was powerful enough to launch Giyu an extremely far distance.

Leg Type: Flying Planet Thousand Wheels ( Kyakushiki: Hyūsei Senrin?):[68] A kick that utilizes a flowing motion which strikes Akaza's target from below and launches them upward.

Eight-Layered Demon Core (, Kishinya Eshin?):[69] Akaza unleashes eight powerful punches, each strike creating large and strong shockwaves in a similar fashion to his Disorder technique.

Crushing Type: Ten Thousand Leaves Flashing Willow ( Saishiki: Manyōsen Yanagi?):[40] A powerful downward punch that delivers a large shockwave into the ground which expands outward.

Final Form: Blue Silver Chaotic Afterglow ( Shūshiki: Aogin Ranzankō?):[57] Akaza's ultimate technique. Akaza unleashes an omni-directional barrage of countless thin and sharp shockwaves that deliver a hundred blows to his target coming from everywhere almost at the same time. This attack was so powerful that it could negate Giyu's Dead Calm technique, a move known for its immense defensive capabilities