Hokuto Shinken

Hokuto Shinken (北斗神拳, Big Dipper God Fist) is a fictional martial art from Tetsuo Hara's mangas, Fist of the North Star and Fist of the Blue Sky. It is a 1800 year old Chinese art used by the main character Kenshiro and his brothers. Its name has also been translated as "North Star God Fist," "God-Given Fist of the North Star," "Divine Fist of the North Star," and using the literal meaning of "hokuto," "Divine Fist of the Northern Sky."

History

Founded by Shuken after he and his aunt's son Ryūō split off from the original Hokuto style to form their respective styles. The art's power lies striking some of the 708 "Keiraku Hikō" or pressure points in the human body (also known as acupressure points, power points, vital points, tsubo, etc.). This causes the victim to explode, be controlled involuntarily or otherwise incapacitated. It can also be used to heal certain physical and psychological wounds, though the main purpose of Hokuto Shinken is assassination. Hokuto Shinken also derives power by using "Tōki" or fighting spirit to use the human body's full potential as well as to project energy attacks. These energy attacks can be also used to strike pressure points, as was the case when Kenshiro battled Souther.

Hokuto Shinken seems to be a very open style, not putting much faith in set stances or rigid technique. Certainly, special techniques are used (See below), but there is an open area for self-expression within them. The basic guard position in Hokuto Shinken is similar to the by-jong stance of Jeet Kune Do and allows for effective footwork. This footwork's worth is proven when Kenshiro easily avoids all but one blow thrown at him by Sanga in their duel at the end of the first chapter of Shin Hokuto No Ken.

The plethora of techniques used primarily involve high side-kicks, powerful non-chambered roundhouse kicks, backward elbows, straight punches and various flying kicks. Defense techniques use the forearms, specifically the outside flats of them, absorbing blows along the muscle of the top of the elbow. When facing an opponent and not wishing to kill him or her, the practitioner will most likely aim his or her punches at the chest of the opponent rather than the face. "My fist destroys the face of my opponent. If you were to meet head-on with it, you would only be heading towards death."

Hokuto Shinken, unlike Nanto Seiken, can only have one successor at a given time. Usually, it is passed down from father to son or some other blood relative; it was passed on to Ramon Kasumi (aka Ryuken) after Kenshiro Kasumi was presumably killed (see Fist of the Blue Sky). Anyone elsed schooled in Hokuto Shinken not selected as successor must vow to give up the art or be forced to either have their fists destroyed or their memory removed.

Ryuken had a series of students who grew up as if they were brothers. The ones shown in the manga are Kenshiro, Jagi, Toki, Raoh and Kim. Kim was eliminated from the rite of succession early on and was kicked out of the dojo. Toki was eliminated much later due to his nuclear accident which brought on a terminal illness. Jagi was presumably eliminated due to his underhandedness and clear lack of ability compared to his other brothers. Finally, Raoh and Kenshiro were put to a test where they were both confronted by a wild tiger and had to prove their merit as an assassin. Kenshiro was able to cause the tiger to submit quietly to death whereas Raoh caused the tiger to fear death and attack him. Kenshiro was seen as having a true assassin's style and therefor chosen as the 64th successor to Hokuto Shinken.

Important Hokuto Shinken techniques

• Hokuto Hyakuretsu Ken (北斗百裂拳, North Star Hundred Crack Fist):

The technique most often associated with Kenshiro and parodied by other animes. The practitioner uses punches and pokes the victim many times (presumably a hundred) and causes the victim's entire body to explode a few seconds later. Each attack is usually accompanied by multiple high-pitched martial arts vocalizations of a style perhaps in homage to Bruce Lee. It was first used by Kenshiro on Zeed in the very first chapter of the manga and first episode of the anime. It was never officially used again in the manga though it may very well have and just was not announced. In the anime it comes up many times against the "filler villains". It is usually a special move that can be used in Fist of the North Star video games. In Punchmania, it is the special move that Kenshiro uses when you fight against him as Raoh in the final difficulty level. Toki uses Tenshou Hyakuretsu Ken, a mid air version of the same technique. Another variation is with the use of the foot, as Kenshiro employs both in midair and on the ground.

Seiji seems to use the original technique in Shin Hokuto No Ken's third chapter, but as he practices Hokumon No Ken, a "style made to heal," it is easily defended against by the battle-hardened Kenshiro. Jagi also appears to use this technique in the Hokuto No Ken OVA, but he experiences the same results as Seiji would later.

• Hokuto Gousho Ha (北斗剛掌波)

The technique most often associated with Raoh, but it is used by Kenshiro and Baran (Emperor of Light) in the later episode of the manga. The practitioner emit their Touki (闘気) from their hand (raoh uses single hand, kenshiro uses both hands) to attack the others far away from himself. In the lastest arcade game of Fist of the North Star Raoh can use this technique in the mid-air (just like Gouki/Akuma's Tenma Gou Zankuu - an aerial version of Hadouken)

• Ganzan Ryōzan Ha (岩山両斬波, Mountain Splitting Wave):

A knife-hand strike that crushes the victim's skull. Noteworthy only because it is used more than once by Kenshiro and is an extremely straightforward maneuver in spite of its elaborate name. Does not even use any of the body's pressure points.

• Tenryū Kokyū Hō (転龍呼吸法, Spinning Dragon Breathing):

A method of breathing that allows the Hokuto Shinken practitioner to tap into their body's full potential. A normal human beings uses but 30% of their body's strength so Tenryū is used to tap into that other 70%. A technique of utmost secrecy, anyone who sees it being performed must be killed to protect one Hokuto Shinken's greatest advantages over other styles.

• Sekkatsukō (剎活穴):

A series of six pressure points, three on each inner thigh. A self-inflicted technique, when these points are pressed, the user gains great power and fully recovers from injury for a short while. After that, the user's lifespan is shortened considerably. The only people who had it used on them were Toki, Raoh and Falco, the former being critically ill and the last two being at death's door. Therefore, it is uncertain by how much it shortens the user's lifespan. Toki survived at least a few days after using it on himself, though his condition was considerably aggravated.

• Musō Tensei (無想転生, Nil Thought Reincarnation):

The ultimate Hokuto Shinken technique which was never mastered by anyone in all 1800 years of the style. Kenshiro was the first to use it, followed by Raoh. It is learned by filling one's self with deep sadness and have their mind reach nothingness. Musō Tensei causes the user to seem to float around and is impossible to pinpoint or strike.