Articles by Antoni Matteo Garcia

The Saban Era of Inurangers Updated and Revamped

Greetings and salutations, fellow aficionados of anime, Power Rangers, and everything early 1990s to early 2000s. Antoni here. Ever since I made the cast list of what I would love to call the “Saban” Era of Inurangers for the first time, I thought I was going to be satisfied with it. However, looking back at that former list, I was not entirely happy let alone satisfied with it, as there were some casting choices that could have been more legitimate let alone improved. There were casting choices which were based on me not fully researching on the character enough, which made me inquire to myself, what I was thinking when I made that move. Furthermore, some of the casting choices were based off of either blind nostalgia or just simply not knowing any better.   I have also done some reflecting on the “Saban” era of the Inurangers. Much like how its original and real-life Saban-era Power Rangers counterpart aired on Fox Kids from 1993 to 2002, I figured that the Inurangers’ “Saban” era would be called the Toonami Era from 2000 to 2009 because Toonami would be a great Cartoon Network afternoon block for children, teenagers, and the young at heart to see anime characters in spandex fighting evil while also having the occasional PSA that would teach us lessons about discipline, honesty, encouragement, and dedication. Yes, I know the original Toonami ended in October 2008, but just think of this as my personal vindication for the fans who really loved and were passionate about the 1997 to 2008 era of Toonami.   Once again the same rule applies for Inurangers in terms of main members, especially when I also list the anime series they originally come from. Unlike its real-life Power Rangers counterparts where there are between five to six main members of their respective groups from Mighty Morphin to Wild Force, there is going to be seven main members in the Inuranger franchise. Why seven, I hear you ask again? Let me remind you that the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers from Seasons 1 to 3, despite Tommy Oliver being the Green Ranger from Seasons 1 to 2 and the White Ranger from Seasons 2 to 3, actually has a total of seven Power Ranger suits, thus following the colour scheme of having a red ranger, a green ranger, a white ranger, a black ranger, a blue ranger, a yellow ranger, and a pink ranger. Member-wise, there will also be some deviations, especially in the later parts of Mighty Morphin Inurangers Seasons 2, all of Mighty Morphin Inurangers Season 3, and the later parts of Inurangers Zeo, as there are going to be a total of eleven members at least in those seasons. Colour-wise, there are also going to be some deviations in In Space, Lightspeed Rescue, Time Force, and Wild Force. Finally, and this is something I should have done in the older list, I am also going to list their English voice actors for their respective rangers because I am sure you would love the thought of hearing them say their respective Inuranger morphing time roll calls.   With that said, grab your bowl of cereal, plate of bacon and eggs, glass of orange juice, and pieces of fruit, as you sit in front of the television to see your favourite anime heroes in spandex defend the world from all evil. It’s Morphin time! Shift into Turbo! Let’s rocket! Go galactic! Lightspeed rescue! Time for Time Force!   Mighty Morphin Inurangers Season 1 (2000–2001) Inuyasha from Inuyasha the Red Tyrannosaurus Ranger version of Jason Lee Scott voiced by Richard Ian Cox Shuran from Inuyasha the Green Dragonzord Ranger version of Tom Oliver voiced by Scott Logie Sesshoumaru from Inuyasha the White Tigerzord Ranger version of Tommy Oliver voiced by David Kaye Hakkaku from Inuyasha the Black Mastodon Ranger version of Zack Taylor voiced by Alistair Abell Ginta from Inuyasha the Blue Triceratops Ranger version of Billy Cranston voiced by Paul Dobson Ayame from Inuyasha the Yellow Sabre-Toothed Ranger version of Trini Kwan voiced by Natalie Walters Shunran from Inuyasha the Pink Pterodactyl Ranger version of Kimberly Ann Hart voiced by Jocelyne Loewen   Mighty Morphin Inurangers the Movie (2001) Sesshoumaru from Inuyasha the White Tigerzord Ranger version of Tommy Oliver voiced by David Kaye Inuyasha from Inuyasha the Red Tyrannosaurus Ranger version of Jason Lee Scott voiced by Richard Ian Cox Ayame from Inuyasha the Yellow Sabre-Toothed Ranger version of Trini Kwan voiced by Natalie Walters Shuran from Inuyasha the Green Dragonzord Ranger version of Tom Oliver voiced by Scott Logie Hakkaku from Inuyasha the Black Mastodon Ranger version of Zack Taylor voiced by Alistair Abell Ginta from Inuyasha the Blue Triceratops Ranger version of Billy Cranston voiced by Paul Dobson Shunran from Inuyasha the Pink Pterodactyl Ranger version of Kimberly Ann Hart voiced by Jocelyne Loewen   Mighty Morphin Inurangers Season 2 Episodes 1 to 28 (2001) Sesshoumaru from Inuyasha the White Tigerzord Ranger version of Tommy Oliver voiced by David Kaye Inuyasha from Inuyasha the Red Tyrannosaurus Ranger version of Jason Lee Scott voiced by Richard Ian Cox Ayame from Inuyasha the Yellow Sabre-Toothed Ranger version of Trini Kwan voiced by Natalie Walters Shuran from Inuyasha the Green Dragonzord Ranger version of Tom Oliver voiced by Scott Logie Hakkaku from Inuyasha the Black Mastodon Ranger version of Zack Taylor voiced by Alistair Abell Ginta from Inuyasha the Blue Triceratops Ranger version of Billy Cranston voiced by Paul Dobson Shunran from Inuyasha the Pink Pterodactyl Ranger version of Kimberly Ann Hart voiced by Jocelyne Loewen   Mighty Morphin Inurangers Season 2 Episodes 29 to 52 (2001–2002) Sesshoumaru from Inuyasha the White Tigerzord Ranger version of Tommy Oliver voiced by David Kaye Inuyasha from Inuyasha the Red Tyrannosaurus Ranger version of Jason Lee Scott voiced by Richard Ian Cox Ayame from Inuyasha the Yellow Sabre-Toothed Ranger version of Trini Kwan voiced by Natalie Walters Shuran from Inuyasha the Green Dragonzord Ranger version of Tom Oliver…

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The Splendid Seven’s Fighting Game Mentors

Greetings and salutations, Splendid Seven devotees, martial arts aficionados, and hand-to-hand fighting game fans. Antoni here. When I did my written entry focusing on The Splendid Seven’s fighting game character inspirations, I was initially quite pleased with it. However, having a more critical second look at it, I know I could do one better for Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Shuran, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran. This version is going to be a bit more modified because the first version, when I look back at it, mostly relied on wild guesses on some characters. I also want to take this up a notch because the fighting game characters from Street Fighter, Tekken, and King of Fighters I have chosen for Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Shuran, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran are not just going to be inspirations but also mentors who will gladly aid and guide them to reach their fullest potential and cut their own paths as fighters, as individuals, and most importantly as a family.   There is no doubt that the following strengthening tactics are going to happen for The Splendid Seven when they are with their mentors. Gouken, Ryu Hoshi, T. Hawk, Charlie Nash, and Kazuya Mishima plus Akuma, Ken Masters, Guile, Alex, and Paul Phoenix could turn Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha into a pair of more powerful, stronger, and mightier Ansatsuken practitioners whose punches, kicks, takedowns, grapples, and submission holds match their beefier muscles of steel. E Honda, Zangief, Hugo, Darun, and Ganryu could further strengthen Shuran’s grappling and striking abilities to become a truly powerful and versatile wrestler. Sagat, Dhalsim, Dan Hibiki, Balrog, and Bruce Irvin could make Hakkaku an all-out striker and clincher who can use his entire body to bring opponents to their knees. Adon, Dee Jay, Fei Long, Vega, and Lei Wulong could transform Ginta into a lethal weapon with a great repertory of kicks, punches, and strikes up his sleeve. Chun-Li, Cammy White, Sakura Kasugano, Nina Williams, and Jun Kazama could ensure that Ayame combines strength, agility, and balance in terms of building her body to be a powerful yet lithe weapon with nicely formed sinews. Elena, Ibuki, Karin Kanzuki, Anna Williams, and Michelle Chang could give Shunran space to discover a union between power, agility, and style as a fighter complete with well-developed sinews in all the right places. That is just the short answer. The long answer lies within each Splendid Seven member and their respective seven mentors.   Sesshoumaru is a gold-medal champion in Shotokan, Kyokushin, Mixed Martial Arts, Marine Corps Martial Arts, Brazilian Jujitsu, and Japanese Jujitsu who can also master Ansatsuken, Mishima Style Fighting Karate, Thunderfoot Style Martial Arts, Kyokengryu Karate, and Hybrid Martial Arts that combine Karate, Judo, Jujitsu, Wrestling, and Boxing with his powerful mentors who inject him with huge doses of stealth, strength, balance, and courage. Gouken from Street Fighter T. Hawk from Street Fighter Charlie Nash from Street Fighter Ryu Hoshi from Street Fighter Kazuya Mishima from Tekken Ryo Sakazaki from King of Fighters Robert Garcia from King of Fighters   Inuyasha is a gold-medal champion in Taekwondo, Hapkido, Pankration, Ancient Greek Wrestling, Ancient Greek Boxing, Kapu Kuialua, and Bokator who also masters Ansatsuken, Mishima Style Fighting Karate, and Hybrid Martial Arts combining Karate, Judo, Wrestling, Boxing, and Jujitsu with his mighty mentors who incorporate him with strength, dedication, determination, and perseverance. Akuma from Street Fighter Guile from Street Fighter Alex from Street Fighter Ken Masters from Street Fighter Paul Phoenix from Tekken Terry Bogard from King of Fighters Andy Bogard from King of Fighters   Shuran is a gold-medal champion in Sumo Wrestling, Mongolian Wrestling, Professional Wrestling, Ssireum, Turkish Oil Wrestling, Pehlwani, and Malla-yuddha who can also throw himself in with Brazilian Jujitsu, Sambo, and Vale Tudo with all of his being thanks to his extremely macho mentors who imbue him with all the steeliness, ambition, power, strength, and might of any triumphant champion. E. Honda from Street Fighter Zangief from Street Fighter Hugo from Street Fighter Darun from Street Fighter Blanka from Street Fighter Ganryu from Tekken Akatsuki-Maru from King of Fighters   Hakkaku is a gold-medal champion in Muay Thai, Pradal Serey, Kajukenbo, Panantukan, Dambe, Moraingy, and Taekkyeon who can also implement moves from Boxing, Karate, Taekwondo, and Bushinryu with every fibre of his body and soul thanks to his formidable mentors who make sure that he has might, dedication, a great attitude, reverence, and relentlessness ingrained in his system. Sagat from Street Fighter Dhalsim from Street Fighter Dan Hibiki from Street Fighter Balrog from Street Fighter Guy from Street Fighter Bruce Irvin from Tekken Joe Higashi from King of Fighters   Ginta is a gold-medal champion in Lethwei, Lethwei, Pencak Silat, Sanda, Hwa Rang Do, Tang Soo Do, Eagle Claw Kung Fu, and Systema who can also prove himself just as phenomenal in Muay Thai, Taekwondo, Boxing, Jeet Kune Do, Kickboxing, and Shaolin Kung Fu with every inch of his heart, mind, body, and soul thanks to his fierce mentors who capitalise on his fearlessness, virility, power, passion, and will to constantly strive to be better. Adon from Street Fighter Dee Jay from Street Fighter Fei Long from Street Fighter Vega from Street Fighter Cody Travers from Street Fighter Lei Wulong from Tekken Kim Kaphwan from King of Fighters   Ayame is a gold-medal champion in Kickboxing, Nippon Kenpo, Shorinji Kenpo, Boxing, Judo, Krav Maga, and Sambo who is just as outstanding in Shaolin Kung Fu, Aikido, Karate, Koppojutsu, army-based martial arts, and assassination-based martial arts with the passion of a million burning suns helped by her strong mentors who fill her with courage, fortitude, determination, dedication, ambition, tenacity, and toughness. Chun-Li from Street Fighter Cammy White from Street Fighter Sakura Kasugano from Street Fighter Nina Williams from Tekken Jun Kazama from Tekken Mary “Blue Mary” Ryan from King of Fighters Mai Shiranui from King of Fighters   Shunran is a gold-medal champion in Capoeira, Shaolin Kung Fu, Wing Chun, Wushu, Baguazhang, Changquan, and Northern Praying Mantis who is just as amazing in…

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The Splendid Seven’s Fighting Game Inspirations

Greetings and salutations, Splendid Seven devotees, martial arts aficionados, and hand-to-hand fighting game fans. Antoni here. Ever since I sunk my teeth into Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran partaking in various martial arts, I also thought about my experience playing hand-to-hand video games such as Tekken, Street Fighter, and King of Fighters when I was a child. Furthermore, I also thought about Fatal Fury: Legend of the Hungry Wolf, Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie, Street Fighter Alpha the Animation, Street Fighter II V, and Street Fighter the Animated Series which have always been my most favourite animated adaptations from hand-to-hand fighting video games. What better way to unite my enjoyment of hand-to-hand fighting video games and the dedication I have to my beloved Inuyasha AU headcanon than to match the fighting game characters that I think match Sesshoumaru’s, Inuyasha’s, Shuran’s, Hakkaku’s, Ginta’s, Ayame’s, and Shunran’s fighting styles and personalities.   Since The Splendid Seven consists of, naturally, seven members who are united as one powerful and unconditionally loving family, I am going to list seven fighting game characters to each Splendid Seven member that I believe encapsulates each of them in terms of personality, style, and appeal. Furthermore, these fighting game characters are who I believe they would emulate with all their being. With that said, let us get cracking and mauling.   Sesshoumaru is undoubtedly a Shotokan, Kyokushin, Mixed Martial Arts, Marine Corps Martial Arts, Japanese Jujitsu, and Brazilian Jujitsu champion. However, I could also see him excelling in Ansatsuken, Mishima Style Fighting Karate, and Kyokengryu Karate with precision and lethalness. Here are the fighting game characters Sesshoumaru would potentially form the basis of his fighting style. Ryu Hoshi (Street Fighter) Guile (Street Fighter) Charlie Nash (Street Fighter) Kazuya Mishima (Tekken) Lee Chaolan (Tekken) Ryo Sakazaki (King of Fighters) Robert Garcia (King of Fighters)   Inuyasha is the undisputed master of Taekwondo, Hapkido, Pankration, Ancient Greek Wrestling, Ancient Greek Boxing, Kapu Kuialua, and Bokator. Just like Sesshoumaru, he would also excel in Ansatsuken and Mishima Style Fighting Karate. The difference is that Inuyasha would also employ Hybrid Style Martial Arts in his combat resumé with great strength and power. Inuyasha’s fighting game character inspirations are as follows. Ken Masters (Street Fighter) Akuma (Street Fighter) Alex (Street Fighter) Paul Phoenix (Tekken) Baek Doo San (Tekken) Terry Bogard (King of Fighters) Alex Bogard (King of Fighters)   Shuran can dominate any ring in Sumo Wrestling, Mongolian Wrestling, Professional Wrestling, Ssireum, Turkish Oil Wrestling, Pehlwani, and Malla-yuddha. Although he is predominantly a grappler, he could also adapt superbly with strikes, especially where his punches and palm strikes are concerned as well as having a background in Brazilian Jujitsu, Sambo, and Vale Tudo. No doubt is Shuran going to emulate these fighting game characters. E. Honda (Street Fighter) Zangief (Street Fighter) Hugo (Street Fighter) Ganryu (Tekken) The Jack Robots (Tekken) Akatsuki-Maru (King of Fighters) Antonov (King of Fighters)   Hakkaku can use his skills in Muay Thai, Pradal Serey, Kajukenbo, Panantukan, Dambe, Moraingy, and Taekkyeon to knock every single one of his opponents down. His signature elbow strikes, knee strikes, and shin kicks may be gloriously devastating, but he could also employ these attacks from Taekwondo, Bushinryu, and Boxing. It is through these fighting game characters that Hakkaku is going to find inspiration from the following seven. Dan Hibiki (Street Fighter) Sagat (Street Fighter) Guy (Street Fighter) Bruce Irvin (Tekken) Bryan Fury (Tekken) Joe Higashi (King of Fighters) Shen Woo (King of Fighters)   Ginta can implement what he has been learning from Lethwei, Pencak Silat, Sanda, Hwa Rang Do, Tang Soo Do, Eagle Claw Kung Fu, and Systema to effectively incapacitate all of his enemies. He is also extremely versatile in terms of his combat approaches, as evidenced in combining strikes from Muay Thai, Taekwondo, Boxing, Jeet Kune Do, and Shaolin Kung Fu. These seven fighting game characters are undoubtedly who can define Ginta. Fei Long (Street Fighter) Adon (Street Fighter) Cody (Street Fighter) Lei Wulong (Tekken) Marshall Law (Tekken) Kim Kaphwan (King of Fighters) Rick Strowd (King of Fighters)   Ayame is an exemplarily picture-perfect example of championing Kickboxing, Nippon Kenpo, Shorinji Kenpo, Boxing, Judo, Krav Maga, and Sambo. Given her formidability and adaptability to any and every martial art, she can also use what she has learned in Shaolin Kung Fu, Aikido, Karate, and army-based martial arts to propel her physical abilities and use them for protection. This is evidenced in the seven fighting game characters who define her. Chun-Li (Street Fighter) Cammy White (Street Fighter) Sakura Kasugano (Street Fighter) Nina Williams (Tekken) Mary “Blue Mary” Ryan (King of Fighters) Mai Shiranui (King of Fighters) Yuri Sakazaki (King of Fighters)   Shunran is a godsend through her incomparable Capoeira, Shaolin Kung Fu, Wing Chun, Wushu, Baguazhang, Changquan, and Northern Praying Mantis. She is also a very versatile martial artist who does not limit herself to kicks, somersaults, and dance-like moves, for she can use punches, hand strikes, knee strikes, elbow strikes, and joint locks to overcome her enemies. Shunran’s fighting game inspirations do shape what her identity as a fighter is. Hokuto (Street Fighter) Pullum Purna (Street Fighter) Elena (Street Fighter) Anna Williams (Tekken) Athena Asamiya (King of Fighters) Li Xiangfei (King of Fighters) May Lee Jinju (King of Fighters)   There you have it, ladies and gentlemen, the fighting game characters I believe would fit Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Shuran, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran really well. It was not easy compiling this, especially re-familiarising myself with certain fighting game characters, but it made me so overjoyed rediscovering my enjoyment of fighting games and incorporating it to my Splendid Seven AU headcanon.

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The Splendid Seven’s East meets West Martial Arts

Greetings and salutations, Splendid Seven devotees and martial arts aficionados. Antoni here. It is said that the martial arts have their place in culture, history, and sociolinguistic norms throughout the world. It is also said that when Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran practice various martial arts and make it a way of life, they not only become a powerful septet of Yokai warriors but also a strong family united by honour, courage, fortitude, discipline, attitude, confidence, and valour. Nothing can ever separate their bond as martial artists and as a family.   For this written entry, I am going to do something that is called East meets West in which each Splendid Seven member has two Eastern martial arts and two Western martial arts. This match-up would open them up to various combat possibilities and would combine specific physical aspects from each martial art to create adaptability to overcome stronger and more skilled opponents. While this would apply to all of The Splendid Seven members, the only exceptions are Shuran, Hakkaku, Ginta, and Shunran whose fighting styles are predominantly Eastern with one martial art being of Western origin, thus having three Eastern martial arts and one Western martial art for the four of them. With that said, let us get kicking, punching, grappling, and mauling, everybody.   Sesshoumaru combines tradition with innovation through Japan’s Shotokan and Kyokushin Karate, Brazil’s and America’s Mixed Martial Arts, and America’s Marine Corps Martial Arts. Shotokan’s and Kyokushin’s focus, balance, and power are combined with Mixed Martial Arts’ sheer brutality and Marine Corps Martial Arts’ speedy reaction time, survival tactics, and lethal precision. For Sesshoumaru, timing is everything when it comes to how he blocks, throws punches and kicks, and grapples his opponents to the ground to choke and batter the life out of them with his bare hands. If that were not enough, the Japanese and American army bases would be really proud to have Sesshoumaru on board with his skills in Marine Corps Martial Arts, for he has the speed and lethal accuracy to make his enemies squirm with terror, especially when he snatches their weapons away with lightning-fast quickness and incapacitates them with soul-shattering blows. He would even incorporate Karate’s main principles of Kihon, Kata, and Kumite in Mixed Martial Arts and Marine Corps Martial Arts as a means to condition himself, his teammates, and his troupes well against their enemies. Sesshoumaru is truly a martial artist worthy of respect and admiration.   Inuyasha combines power with brutality through Korea’s Taekwondo and Hapkido, Greece’s Pankration, and Hawaii’s Kapu Kuialua. Taekwondo’s and Hapkido’s speed, power, balance, and timing are combined with Pankration’s brute strength and Kapu Kuialua’s fierce brutality. Inuyasha’s raw power, super strength, and muscular virility are a wonderful yet dangerous combination should thugs, hellions, and lowlives dare cross paths with him. He uses every part of his body from his fists to his elbows to his knees to his heels to overcome his enemies and make them submit to his awesome power. Furthermore, Inuyasha’s combination of Taekwondo’s predominant punches and kicks with Hapkido’s, Pankration’s, and Kapu Kuialua’s joint locks, arm bars, submission holds, bearhugs, back-breakers, and neck-breakers demonstrate how serious of a fighter he really is. Whether he delivers a series of fatal spinning back kicks or disfiguring jabs to the face or devastating uppercuts to the chin or submission holds so tight that an anaconda is strangling his prey, Inuyasha can accomplish them all with pride and glory as well as having his muscles being bathed in his enemies’ blood. There is no escape when Inuyasha invites his enemies to their own demise.   Shuran combines brute force with grand virility through Japan’s Sumo Wrestling, Mongolian Wrestling, Korea’s Ssireum, and America’s and Great Britain’s Professional Wrestling. Sumo Wrestling’s, Mongolian Wrestling’s, and Ssireum’s grandly time-honoured tradition and cultural significance to Asia are combined with Professional Wrestling’s macho bravado and boundless thrills for all the spectators to witness. Locking enemies in various submission holds and throws is only one part of Shuran’s game in doing what he can to not falter. Consistency in his technique and dedication to his craft as a martial artist as well as to his family are also what make him thrive in perseverance and fortitude. Should any opponent dare to squeeze the life out of Shuran, he would just retaliate a million times harder with bearhugs, back-breakers, neck-breakers, suplexes, arm bars, joint locks, Boston Crabs, and Full Nelsons that can easily suffocate them to submission. Even his palm strikes and bodyslams have been proven to cause so much collateral damage. The ring and the ground are essentially home to Shuran. When potential opponents try their strength at him, they would not even last one nanosecond, thus bringing them to their knees.   Hakkaku combines fierceness with quick reflexes through Thailand’s Muay Thai, Cambodia’s Pradal Serey, Hawaii’s Kajukenbo, and the Philippines’s Panantukan. Muay Thai’s and Pradal Serey’s lethalness and brute force are combined with Kajukenbo’s versatility and Panantukan’s no holds barred determination to triumph. Hakkaku’s repertoire of punches and kicks may be devastating, but how he uses his clinches, elbow strikes, knee strikes, and shin kicks is nothing short of phenomenally jaw-dropping in the most brilliant way possible. He could never begin to tell the many occasions where he found purpose in kicking oak trees and banana trees with his bare shins to the point where Thailand and Cambodia honoured him as a fighter worthy of discipline, respect, and dignity. No mugger nor murderer would be impudent to dare besmirch Hakkaku’s good name. While Hakkaku’s punches and kicks can disfigure skeletons and break bones, his clinches combined with his knee strikes, shin kicks, and elbow strikes can leave his enemies bleeding, bruised, and beaten almost to death. There is no stopping Hakkaku when it comes to dishing out a huge serving of pain and punishment when he puts his elbows, knees, and shins to phenomenal use.   Ginta combines ferocity with speed through Myanmar’s Lethwei,…

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The Splendid Seven’s Iron Fist Tournament

Greetings and salutations, Splendid Seven devotees and martial arts aficionados. Antoni here. Have you ever wanted to watch Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Shuran, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran duke it out with opponents much larger and stronger than them whether in the arena, the colosseum, the cage or the ring? Does the thought of seven Yokai warriors implementing their various fighting styles as one team in tournaments thrill you to the point of cheering for them? Do you find it fun to see The Splendid Seven use a fabulous combination of strength, stealth, speed, and stamina in their strikes, grapples, and holds against opponents who only use muscle? Dream no more, dear martial arts aficionados. Your day has arrived. The Splendid Seven have been reigning gold-medal champions as a martial arts tournament team ever since their teens, thus pummelling larger demons, mashing bulkier musclemen, and challenging more experienced martial artists with their skill, power, timing, valour, stamina, courage, and sheer determination. Attempting to best Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Shuran, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran in combat is akin to asking where fighters would love to be buried should they be defeated.   If you, dear readers, remembered my Splendid Seven updated martial arts entry, you will realise that Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Shuran, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran specialise in a variety of Eastern and Western martial arts that I argue are perfect for them. Lest we forget that, when it comes to The Splendid Seven as a family of super Yokai fighters, Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha are the strongest and most complete fighters by virtue of their striking and grappling skills, Shuran is the most physically powerful fighter by virtue of his grappling skills, Hakkaku and Ginta are the speediest strikers and the tightest clinchers, Ayame is a powerful puncher and incomparable kicker, and Shunran is a gracefully agile kicker and flipper. Be warned that The Splendid Seven are never to be messed with, especially when all seven of them are in their full Yokai forms.   Sesshoumaru’s integrity as a combatant means he combines the old-fashioned traditions and customs of Shotokan Karate, Kyokushin Karate, and Japanese Jujitsu with the modern innovativeness of Shootfighting, Marine Corps Martial Arts, Mixed Martial Arts, and Brazilian Jujitsu. Considering his military precision through his experience in America’s Marine Corps Martial Arts, how he honours tradition, history, and reverence with Japan’s Shotokan Karate, Kyokushin Karate, and Japanese Jujitsu, and his no holds barred approach to bringing his opponents to the ground with America’s Mixed Martial Arts, Brazilian Jujitsu, and Japan’s Shootfighting, his opponents would end up bruised, shattered, and borderline destroyed thanks to his combat prowess. This is further evidenced in his straight punches, spinning back kicks, roundhouse kicks, uppercuts, knife hands, and hooks done in Shotokan and Kyokushin Karate; his brutal takedowns complete with merciless battering in Mixed Martial Arts and Shootfighting, his strangulating chokeholds and strangleholds full of muscular strength in Brazilian and Japanese Jujitsu, and his lethal timing in Marine Corps Martial Arts. Even when Sesshoumaru does his Kata, he always implements moves from not only Shotokan Karate and Kyokushin Karate, but also from Mixed Martial Arts, Shootfighting, Marine Corps Martial Arts, Japanese Jujitsu, and Brazilian Jujitsu. If a thug dared to smash a chair onto Sesshoumaru’s head, he would counter that attack with a gut punch, snatch the chair from the thug, bash it on his head, lock him in a chokehold, and bash his head in with his fists until blood is splattered on Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru’s sense of tradition, integrity, and honour is matched by his strength, stamina, and stealth as a complete martial artist.   Inuyasha’s fatal brutality combines the pummelling takedowns of Pankration, Ancient Greek Wrestling, Hapkido, and Kapu Kuialua and the deadly punches, elbow strikes, knee strikes, and kicks found in Taekwondo, Bokator, and Ancient Greek Boxing. Those who dare challenge Inuyasha are looking at a fighter who has been punching and kicking huge and hard rocks, lifting boulders, wrestling stuffed deerskin dummies, and unleashing mighty roars ever since he was a young child, especially in his full Yokai form. This meant that, as he grew into maturity, his muscles bulged with power, his fists were hard as iron, his bones gained in sheer density, and his feet were lethal. In fact, Inuyasha is a lethal weapon in of himself, as he combines muscular power, super strength, and ferocious fierceness. Inuyasha definitely does go global with his powerful fighting style, as Pankration, Ancient Greek Wrestling, and Ancient Greek Boxing are from Greece, Taekwondo and Hapkido are from Korea, Bokator is from Cambodia, and Kapu Kuialua is from Hawaii. Combining Pankration’s and Kapu Kuialua’s brutal smatterings and body locks, Ancient Greek Wrestling’s mighty chokeholds, Full Nelsons, Boston Crabs, and bearhugs; Hapkido’s, Taekwondo’s, Bokator’s, and Ancient Greek Boxing’s powerful and extremely speedy punches, kicks, and strikes including uppercuts, elbow strikes, and knee strikes can mean that Inuyasha would cause collateral damage to his opponents doing all these attacks. Should a bigger opponent attempt to conquer Inuyasha, he would give him an uppercut to the chin, a spinning back kick, a face punch, and proceed to chokehold the life out of him until he is doused in blood. Inuyasha always comes out on top by virtue of his lethal muscular brutality as a fighter.   Shuran is a wrestler who goes thoroughly global with his grappling approaches. From Japan’s Sumo Wrestling to the United States of America’s and the United Kingdom’s Professional Wrestling to Mongolia’s form of wrestling to Korea’s Ssireum to India’s Pehlwani and Malla-yuddha, he has definitely learned a whole lot of submission holds, pivots, grapples, and the occasional strikes from these international wrestling forms. While Shuran is a predominant grappler known for his anaconda-like submission holds, python-like bearhugs, back-breakers, neck-breakers, Boston Crabs, and Full Nelsons, he is also the possessor of powerful palm strikes, bodyslams, backfists, backhands, throws, and flips that could send his enemies flying out of the ring. If Shuran’s thorough wrestling background did not suffice, his background in Brazilian and…

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The Splendid Seven’s Updated Martial Arts

Greetings and salutations, fellow Splendid Seven devotees and martial arts aficionados. Antoni here with another piece of writing revolving around my most favourite seven-member group of Yokai warriors ever. Ever since I have been writing about my Iron Fist AU for The Splendid Seven consisting of Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran, not to mention all of the martial arts documentaries, let’s plays of Tekken, Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, King of Fighters, and Fatal Fury; indulging myself with watching content from Jesse Enkamp also featuring his brother Oliver Enkamp, Martial Arts Journey hosted by Rokas Leonavicius, Sensei Seth, and a bevy of martial arts-related channels; and watching National Geographic’s Fight Science, I have been more fascinated by martial arts as a whole. If you remembered my first entry where I listed seven martial arts that I thought could be appropriate for all seven members of The Splendid Seven, it was enjoyable doing that and hearing some feedback from you, dear readers, but I only scratched the surface of why I think these particular martial art styles are particularly excellent for them. Now that I am a lot more conscientious, I have managed to re-evaluate certain martial arts styles that I think fit Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran exceptionally well.   Before going into the specific martial arts that these seven Yokai warriors specialise in, what needs to be kept in mind are the following aspects regarding their respective martial arts styles. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha aka The Inu Brothers are the strongest, fiercest, and most powerful fighters of The Splendid Seven, especially reflected in their skills as both grapplers and strikers, given their bone-shattering punches, nerve-destroying kicks, and overpowering submission holds, although Inuyasha is also completely open to throwing elbow strikes, knife hands, knee strikes, and clinches. Shuran is also the physically strongest fighter in terms of his skills as a grappler who specialises in various forms of wrestling, and his palm strikes, knee strikes, elbow strikes, and submission holds are truly powerful. Hakkaku and Ginta are strikers and clinchers through and through, given how effectively they use their elbow strikes, clinches, knee strikes, and head-butts. Ayame is a predominant striker who has a huge repertoire of punches from her uppercuts to her crosses and equally mighty kicks. Shunran is a flexible striker who has a sizeable repertoire of kicks and flips but also backfists and punches to show that she is more than just a fighter with kicks and flips. Furthermore, trying to challenge all seven of them in the arena, the ring, and/or the cage match is asking for trouble because, whether fighters try to combat them individually or together, they never hold back on their punches, kicks, submission holds, clinches, and strikes and can leave their opponents with concussions, broken bones, black eyes, bloodied noses, ballistic head traumas, and massive internal bleeding. With that said, let us get re-acquainted with The Splendid Seven’s updated seven martial arts styles based on their fighting skills.   Sesshoumaru Mixed Martial Arts Kyokushin Karate Shotokan Karate Brazilian Jujitsu Japanese Jujitsu Marine Corps Martial Arts Program Shootfighting Inuyasha Pankration Taekwondo Hapkido Ancient Greek Wrestling Ancient Greek Boxing Kapu Kuialua Bokator Shuran Mongolian Wrestling Sumo Wrestling Professional Wrestling Ssireum Turkish Oil Wrestling Pehlwani Malla-yuddha Hakkaku Muay Thai Kajukenbo Pradal Serey Taekkyeon Panantukan Dambe Moraingy Ginta Lethwei Pencak Silat Sanda Hwa Rang Do Tang Soo Do Systema Eagle Claw Kung Fu Ayame Kickboxing Nippon Kenpo Shorinji Kenpo Judo Krav Maga Boxing Sambo Shunran Capoeira Shaolin Kung Fu Wing Chun Wushu Northern Praying Mantis Baguazhang Changquan There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. The Splendid Seven’s more updated martial arts styles. Your comments and additional suggestions are more than welcome. Cheers and have a lovely day.

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The Splendid Seven Pair-Ups in Martial Arts Styles

Greetings, fellow Splendid Seven devotees and martial arts aficionados. Antoni here with another piece of written revolving around my Splendid Seven Iron Fist AU headcanon. I briefly covered some pairings and the martial arts Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Hakkaku, Ayame, and Shunran would spar in whenever they are divided into groups of two or three in a previous entry I made. Now, I will state the following martial arts each pairing would find themselves in whenever they are together, regardless of sparring or working together with them. With that said, I hope this interests you. If you agree with the martial arts styles I chose for each pairing whether they be romantic or platonic, please let me know. Enjoy.   The Most Loved OTP for Life Couples   Inuyasha x Ayame Kickboxing, Taekwondo, Bokator, Pankration, Ancient Greek Boxing, Ancient Greek Wrestling, and Kapu Kuialua   Ginta x Shunran Sanda, Tang Soo Do, Capoeira, Wing Chun, Lethwei, Wushu, and Eagle Claw Kung Fu   The Liked Pairings but not on OTP Level   Sesshoumaru x Ayame Kyokushin Karate, Shotokan Karate, Mixed Martial Arts, Taekwondo, Sambo, Nippon Kenpo, and Shorinji Kenpo   Shuran x Shunran Judo, Brazilian Jujitsu, Japanese Jujitsu, Vale Tudo, Systema, and Baguazhang   Hakkaku x Shunran Brazilian Jujitsu, Shaolin Kung Fu, Systema, Baguazhang, Judo, Panantukan, and Japanese Jujitsu   The Main Familial Platonic Pairings   Sesshoumaru x Inuyasha Taekwondo, Kyokushin Karate, Shotokan Karate, Hapkido, Pankration, Ancient Greek Wrestling, and Ancient Greek Boxing   Sesshoumaru x Shuran x Inuyasha Brazilian Jujitsu, Japanese Jujitsu, Ancient Greek Wrestling, Pankration, Pehlwani, Malla-yuddha, and Mongolian Wrestling   Sesshoumaru x Shuran x Hakkaku Brazilian Jujitsu, Japanese Jujitsu, Judo, Pehlwani, Kajukenbo, Pradal Serey, and Muay Thai   Shuran x Hakkaku x Ginta Muay Thai, Lethwei, Judo, Japanese Jujitsu, Brazilian Jujitsu, Turkish Oil Wrestling, and Tegumi   Inuyasha x Hakkaku x Ginta Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Lethwei, Bokator, Kajukenbo, Panantukan, and Judo   Inuyasha x Ginta Bokator, Kapu Kuialua, Pehlwani, Malla-yuddha, Sanda, Lethwei, and Pencak Silat   Hakkaku x Ginta Muay Thai, Lethwei, Pradal Serey, Kajukenbo, Pencak Silat, Sanda, and Panantukan   Sesshoumaru x Inuyasha x Shuran x Hakkaku x Ginta Mixed Martial Arts, Muay Thai, Lethwei, Judo, Brazilian Jujitsu, Mongolian Wrestling, Pradal Serey, Bokator, Taekwondo, Mixed Martial Arts, Japanese Jujitsu, Ancient Greek Wrestling, Ancient Greek Boxing, and Pankration   Ayame x Shunran Nippon Kenpo, Kickboxing, Shaolin Kung Fu, Wing Chun, Wushu, Taekkyeon, and Subak   The Heterosexual Platonic Pairings   Sesshoumaru x Shunran Wing Chun, Shaolin Kung Fu, Northern Praying Mantis, Wushu, Shorinji Kenpo, Taekkyeon, and Hwa Rang Do   Shuran x Ayame Brazilian Jujitsu, Japanese Jujitsu, Judo, Sambo, Boxing, Krav Maga, and Tegumi   Inuyasha x Shunran Taekwondo, Kyokushin Karate, Shotokan Karate, Wushu, Wing Chun, Hwa Rang Do, and Bokator   Hakkaku x Ayame Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Kajukenbo, Nippon Kenpo, Pradal Serey, Judo, and Krav Maga   Ginta x Ayame Lethwei, Kickboxing, Pencak Silat, Krav Maga, Judo, Nippon Kenpo, and Sanda   Sesshoumaru x Inuyasha x Shunran Kyokushin Karate, Shotokan Karate, Taekwondo, Shaolin Kung Fu, Baguazhang, Wing Chun, and Wushu   Shuran x Hakkaku x Ayame Brazilian Jujitsu, Japanese Jujitsu, Judo, Mongolian Wrestling, Muay Thai, Kajukenbo, and Boxing   Hakkaku x Ginta x Ayame Muay Thai, Lethwei, Pradal Serey, Pencak Silat, Kickboxing, Kajukenbo, and Nippon Kenpo   Super Strong and Diversely Dynamic Groups   Sesshoumaru x Inuyasha x Ayame Mixed Martial Arts, Kyokushin Karate, Shotokan Karate, Pankration, Bokator, Ancient Greek Boxing, Taekwondo, Nippon Kenpo, Shorinji Kenpo, Kickboxing, Kapu Kuialua, Hapkido, Ancient Greek Wrestling, and Krav Maga   Shuran x Hakkaku x Ginta x Shunran Brazilian Jujitsu, Japanese Jujitsu, Judo, Muay Thai, Pradal Serey, Lethwei, Systema, Hwa Rang Do, Tang Soo Do, Pencak Silat, Sanda, Taekkyeon, Kajukenbo, and Mongolian Wrestling   Inuyasha x Ayame x Ginta x Shunran Taekwondo, Pankration, Bokator, Nippon Kenpo, Shorinji Kenpo, Kickboxing, Lethwei, Sanda, Pencak Silat, Eagle Claw Kung Fu, Shaolin Kung Fu, Wing Chun, Capoeira, and Wushu   Formidable Square-Offs chiefly with Main Platonic Pairings   Sesshoumaru vs Inuyasha Shotokan Karate vs Taekwondo, Kyokushin Karate vs Hapkido, Mixed Martial Arts vs Pankration, Hapkido vs Bokator, Japanese Jujitsu vs Ancient Greek Wrestling, Taekwondo vs Ancient Greek Boxing, and Brazilian Jujitsu vs Kapu Kuialua   Shuran vs Hakkaku vs Ginta Mongolian Wrestling vs Muay Thai vs Lethwei, Sumo Wrestling vs Pradal Serey vs Pencak Silat, Professional Wrestling vs Kajukenbo vs Sanda, Ssireum vs Taekkyeon vs Hwa Rang Do, Turkish Oil Wrestling vs Panantukan vs Tang Soo Do, Kurash vs Dambe vs Systema, and Shuai Jiao vs Moraingy vs Eagle Claw Kung Fu   Sesshoumaru vs Shuran vs Hakkaku Shotokan Karate vs Mongolian Wrestling vs Muay Thai, Kyokushin Karate vs Sumo Wrestling vs Pradal Serey, Mixed Martial Arts vs Professional Wrestling vs Kajukenbo, Hapkido vs Ssireum vs Taekkyeon, Japanese Jujitsu vs Turkish Oil Wrestling vs Panantukan, Taekwondo vs Kurash vs Dambe, and Brazilian Jujitsu vs Moraingy vs Eagle Claw Kung Fu   Inuyasha vs Ginta Taekwondo vs Lethwei, Hapkido vs Pencak Silat, Pankration vs Sanda, Bokator vs Hwa Rang Do, Ancient Greek Wrestling vs Tang Soo Do, Ancient Greek Boxing vs Systema, and Kapu Kuialua vs Eagle Claw Kung Fu   Ayame vs Shunran Kickboxing vs Capoeira, Nippon Kenpo vs Shaolin Kung Fu, Shorinji Kenpo vs Wing Chun, Judo vs Wushu, Krav Maga vs Northern Praying Mantis, Boxing vs Baguazhang, and Sambo vs Changquan   Ladies and gentlemen, there you have it. The Splendid Seven sparring pair-ups I have concocted. Please let me know if you have suggestions too. Cheers.

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The Splendid Seven Martial Arts Diet and Warm-Ups

Greetings and salutations, Splendid Seven devotees and martial arts aficionados all over the world! Antoni here with another Splendid Seven-related piece of work revolving around the martial arts Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran specialise in. This time, I am focusing on their warm-up rituals that see them being in pique physical, mental, and psychological strength and power whenever they get themselves in tournaments, in cage matches, and in battles with opponents ten to a million times larger than them. Have you ever wondered how Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran are the mighty Yokai warriors that they are? Do you know how they obtain their individual and collective strength? The answers lies in their intense physical training, über active lifestyle, and an all-natural diet that have seen them thrive so wonderfully in everything they do as warriors and as individuals. They have never met an opponent they did not like and are always embracing challenges that make them grow a whole lot stronger than they are.   The Splendid Seven’s diet and lifestyle are what make them physically strong and mentally healthy, for they live on a carb-free, sugar-free, yet protein-rich as well as fat-rich diet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Instead of the usual cow’s, goat’s, sheep’s, and/or camel’s milk, Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Shuran, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran drink the milk of bull and ox Yokai which manage to be beneficial for stronger bone density, quicker muscle repair, and ensuring a more formidable mental capacity, especially for clearer focus and higher energy, thus making it a great breakfast food staple alongside Birds of Paradise eggs cooked either sunny side-up or scrambled, which is high in protein, zinc, and selenium as well as having a more savoury flavour than chicken eggs and ostrich eggs combined; boar demon bacon, which has more of a meaty texture but far less sodium and a whole lot more niacin, Vitamin B12, and magnesium than regular pig’s bacon; Birds of Paradise sausage, which has more protein and Vitamin B12 than regular sausage; and a mixture of blueberries, strawberries, passion fruit, and dragon fruit. Furthermore, the milk of bull and ox Yokai is richer and creamier in texture than cow’s, goat’s, and camel’s milk combined and is also very useful for making cheese, butter, and cream. Meats and fish would usually consist of boar demon, crow demon, salmon, trout, tuna, eel, bird demon like Tekkei, owl demon, crocodile, and alligator which would give The Splendid Seven the super strength, stamina, and stealth they need to kickstart every physical activity they get themselves into. Fruits and vegetables would consist of blueberries, strawberries, apples, passion fruit, dragon fruit, spinach, purple yam, celery, carrots, seaweed, broccoli, onions, and kale in order for their bodies to be rid of free radicals. Rice and noodles are still part of their diet, but they are eaten very sparingly and are eaten alongside meat, fish, and vegetables. Therefore, their diet is guaranteed to keep them energised from sunup until sundown with the strength of an entire army.   Coupled with a healthy diet and lifestyle is how Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Shuran, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran physically and mentally prepare themselves for every fight they engage in. They do these preparations either with punching boards or bags, dummies, lifting weights, and/or fighting imaginary opponents.   Sesshoumaru’s conscientious expertise in Mixed Martial Arts, Brazilian Jujitsu, Tae Kwon Do, Shotokan Karate, Kyokushin Karate, Japanese Jujitsu, and Shorinji Kempo means that his warm-ups are firmly rooted in tradition, physical fortitude, and unwavering discipline. He bench presses huge barbells and even boulders and does deadlifts with heavy weights. He practices his punches on a Makiwara as well as a metal punching bag, his kicks on huge boulders, and grapples with a stuffed demon dummy made of the hid of boar demon and stuffed with the feathers of crow demon. Moreover, Sesshoumaru also practices Kata in order to fully condition himself whenever he takes down his enemies. Even when he is in his full Yokai form with red eyes and jagged stripes on his cheeks, he focuses his energy on doing his Kata, punching on a Makiwara and a metal punching bag, and kicking huge boulders so that his bones and muscles will harden like the strongest of iron.   Inuyasha’s undeniable formidability in Pankration, Ancient Greek Wrestling, Ancient Greek Boxing, Shotokan Karate, Kyokushin Karate, Bokator, and Kapu Kuialua demonstrates how he is not afraid to go all out when wanting to take his foes down. He bench presses huge barbells, boulders, and dense demon bones as well as does deadlifts with heavy weights. He practices his punches and kicks on huge boulders and on thick wooden blocks, wrestles stuffed deerskin dummies, and has boxing matches with giant demon bones. Inuyasha even shadowboxes to make sure that his iron fists are in great shape to deliver some powerful uppercuts, jabs, and hooks as well as his entire body is ready to deliver roundhouse kicks and submission holds. Even when he is in his full Yokai form with red eyes and jagged stripes on his cheeks, he focuses his super strength and boundless energy on bench pressing, deadlifting, shadowboxing, punching and kicking huge boulders, thick wooden blocks, and thick demon bones, and wrestling with stuffed deerskin dummies, thus strengthening his muscles and bones just like the huge war tank he ought to be.   Shuran’s towering persistence in Mongolian Wrestling, Sumo Wrestling, Ssireum, Tegumi, Turkish Oil Wrestling, Kurash, and Shuai Jiao highlights how he can use every battle he is in to his advantage. He bench presses giant boulders, does ab crunches, and does deadlifts with heavy weights. He even wrestles with giant dummies stuffed with cotton. Whether the dummies are made of deerskin or alligator leather, it does not matter to Shuran just as long as he keeps himself as well as his muscles mighty and strong as a professional wrestler and grappler willing to tackle all of his foes.   Hakkaku’s excitable energy…

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The Splendid Seven’s Iron Fist Familial Bonds

Greetings and salutations, Splendid Seven devotees and martial arts aficionados all over the world! Antoni here with another Splendid Seven-related piece of work revolving around the martial arts Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran specialise in. I will start off with their dominant and individual martial arts, traverse into groups revolving around my main Splendid Seven BroTPs then OTPs, and finally all of The Splendid Seven members sparring like one big, formidable, powerful family. I will do another entry revolving around all the Splendid Seven BroTPs and the martial arts they spar in on a daily basis. Sesshoumaru is a gold-medal prizefighter in Mixed Martial Arts, Tae Kwon Do, and Brazilian Jujitsu who can give his opponents vice-like submission holds, joint locks, and chokeholds supported by his quick foot sweeps, iron hooks, jabs, uppercuts, and elbows to the face, cheeks, guts, mouth, and/or chest, and, most of all, his devastating kicks devoid of the proverbial foot-fencing, for they can cause collateral damage to his enemies, regardless if the kick is a roundhouse, a hook, a spin or a crescent. He also has experience in Shotokan Karate, Kyokushin Karate, Judo, Nippon Kempo, Vale Tudo, Marine Corps Martial Arts, Shootfighting, and Japanese Jujitsu on his side to effectively propel his attacks. Strength, stealth, and stamina are the names of his game when opponents dare challenge him and incomparable skills as a striker and a grappler. Shuran has seen triumph after triumph as a prizewinning wrestler specialising in Mongolian Wrestling, Sumo Wrestling, and Ssireum. He may have also had his roots in Brazilian Jujitsu, Japanese Jujitsu, Muay Thai, Tae Kwon Do, Tegumi, Turkish Oil Wrestling, Kurash, and Shuai Jiao, but these martial arts have helped him strengthen his skills as a full-fledged grappler, although his strikes are just as effective such as his palm strikes, gut punches, tiger feint kicks, shoot kicks, and head-bashers. Shuran’s chokeholds, back-breakers, and bearhugs are his signature attacks, thus leaving his opponents desperately gasping for air until they can no longer breathe. Therefore, Shuran never holds back on the grappling, and his towering size and brute strength speak volumes. Inuyasha is optimally platinum level when it comes to his combat skills in Pankration, Ancient Greek Wrestling, and Ancient Greek Boxing. He is also a complete hand-to-hand martial artist when it comes to combining striking with grappling, considering his insurmountable experience in Shotokan Karate, Kyokushin Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Mixed Martial Arts, Brazilian Jujitsu, Japanese Jujitsu, Judo, Nippo Kempo, Kapu Kuialua, Bokator, Pehlwani, and Malla-yuddha. Therefore, Inuyasha’s uppercuts, hooks, jabs, roundhouse kicks, spinning back kicks, clinches, Full Nelsons, Boston Crabs, camel clutches, and his ever-popular bodyslam are the stuff of legends to the point where his enemies end up severely injured. Combining muscular strength, sheer combat power, and heaps of determination have always made him a champion who never surrenders. Hakkaku has the Thai gods’ blessings in his great abilities in Muay Thai, Pradal Serey, and Kajukenbo. He is also just as great in Lethwei, Judo, Japanese Jujitsu, Brazilian Jujitsu, Tae Kwon Do, Panantukan, Moraingy, Dambe, and Taekkyeon, given that his grappling, striking, and acrobatic capabilities have made him a strong combatant through and through. Although predominantly a striker, Hakkaku’s clinches, elbow strikes, and sleeper holds have proven to be really deadly and have incapacitated his enemies. Even his axe kicks, shin kicks, and knee kicks can guarantee a lightning quick and frighteningly painful finish that will see his opponents fall down to the ground like huge trees being felled at. Hakkaku’s relentlessness is what also propels his moves to incapacitate all of his foes. Ginta has the ancient Burmese kings’ honour in his unparalleled abilities in Lethwei, Pencak Silat, and Sanda. He is also equally laudable in Muay Thai, Judo, Japanese Jujitsu, Brazilian Jujitsu, Tae Kwon Do, Systema, Hapkido, Eagle Claw Kung Fu, and Tang Soo Do, for his combination of grappling, striking, and acrobatics have made him truly formidable. This is specific in terms of his clinches, elbow strikes, head-butts, scissor kicks, and head scissors which make his enemies writhe in a lot of pain. Equally noteworthy are his axe kicks, shin kicks, and knee kicks that could also figuratively break his enemies’ bones to smithereens. Ginta’s persistence is the hallmark of his creed and his way of life. Ayame is the reigning champion of Kickboxing, Nippon Kempo, and Judo. Furthermore, she is just as great in Shotokan Karate, Kyokushin Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Mixed Martial Arts, Brazilian Jujitsu, Japanese Jujitsu, Boxing, Krav Maga, and Sambo. If it were not already clear, Ayame is a predominant striker and is just as adept as a grappler, for her main strengths are in punches and kicks. For instance, every backfist, uppercut, hook, jab, gut punch, haymaker, roundhouse kick, front kick, spinning back kick, axe kick, shin kick, knee kick, and side kick she throws can cause collateral damage to her enemies because their bones could break and they could suffer internal bleeding if they are not careful. Ayame’s super strength is beautifully complimented by her long-lasting stamina and undying determination, thus ensuring that her amazing efforts do not go to waste. Shunran is a shining and flashing star in Capoeira, Shaolin Kung Fu, and Wing Chun. She is also just as phenomenal in Brazilian Jujitsu, Japanese Jujitsu, Muay Thai, Tae Kwon Do, Wushu, Baguazhang, Northern Praying Mantis, and Changquan. As Shunran is agile and graceful, her dominant attacks are striking-related, given the huge array of kicks she can master, although she is also capable of throwing hooks, jabs, haymakers, elbow strikes, uppercuts, and a few chokeholds to add to her repertoire, all while defying gravity. Whether she does a roundhouse, a spinning back kick, a split kick, an axe kick, a flying kick, a shin kick, a knee kick, a side kick or any other kick she can do, Shunran has an indubitable number of foot attacks devoid of any form of foot fencing. She would effectively incapacitate her enemies with her shins, her knees, and her…

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The Splendid Seven’s Fists of Iron

Greetings, Splendid Seven devotees and martial arts aficionados. Antoni here with another written entry revolving around Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran as The Splendid Seven. I have this to ask. Would you want to see these seven Yokai warriors in various combat tournaments competing against opponents much stronger and bigger than they are? Would you want to know what martial arts Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Ayame, Shuran, Hakkaku, Ginta, and Shunran specialise in which suit them perfectly? If your answer is yes, I got you covered because these seven Yokai warriors are always ready to kick loads of butt and be the formidably skilled combatants that they are. Even better is when they bring their martial arts skills together in order to demonstrate to their enemies and their opponents that they are not the type of combatants to ever surrender by any stretch of the imagination. Therefore, they are prizefighting champions who always aim for the higher ground. Growing up playing Street Fighter, Tekken, King of Fighters, and many other fighting games that involve various hand-to-hand martial arts as well as reigniting my own interest in researching about various martial arts that would suit Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran well made me come to this conclusion. The ideas I acquired from my favourite hand-to-hand fighting games, martial arts anime, and underground and public tournament competitions portrayed in various media could be very applicable for another Splendid Seven AU headcanon where our favourite seven Yokai warriors specialise and compete in various martial arts of their choice but were trained in similar ones when they were younger. The models I am particularly inspired by when it comes to making Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran partake in various martial arts are Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie as well as video games including Tekken, Street Fighter, and King of Fighters. This is significant to me because this would enable all seven Yokai warriors to use their bodies, especially their hands and feet, as the most formidable weapons ever. Where the martial arts all seven Yokai warriors have practiced when they were younger is concerned, all of them have practiced Shotokan and Kyokushin Karate, Japanese and Brazilian Jujitsu, Tae Kwon Do, Judo, Nippon Kempo, Boxing, and Kickboxing in terms of forming the basis of their punches, kicks, and grapples. Sure, they have trained really hard in various martial arts. However, their purpose is to not always use their bodies as weapons to beat others up, but to demonstrate teamwork, dedication, brotherhood and sisterhood, perseverance, confidence, humility, and discipline. Their love of martial arts is what brought them together as a family, and it is what has always defined them as a team of potently powerful and super strong Yokai warriors. Who better to instruct them in martial arts than their own parents and grandparents, specifically Toga the Dog General for Shotokan and Kyokushin Karate, InuKimi for Aikido, Izayoi for Shaolin Kung Fu, and The Wolf Elder for various grappling forms of combat. From that moment on, The Wolf Elder, Toga, InuKimi, and Izayoi have aided Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran in becoming the strong and determined fighters that they are. Sparring is a great way for all seven Yokai warriors to bond, especially where match-ups are concerned. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha would always spar in Kyokushin Karate, Shotokan Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Mixed Martial Arts, Ancient Greek Boxing, Pankration, and Ancient Greek Wrestling to the point where every intense combat culminates in a warm hug between the two brothers and even call each other the greatest sparring partners ever. As brothers who love to spar and shower each other with punches, kicks, clinches, and grapples, Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha would have a strong fraternal relationship akin to Ryu and Ken as well as Terry Bogard and Andy Bogard, given how much they would always inspire each other to grow as strong warriors. Shuran, Hakkaku, and Ginta would always spar in Brazilian Jujitsu, Japanese Jujitsu, Muay Thai, Lethwei, Ssireum, and Mongolian Wrestling, for their collective love of grappling and clinches make them forces to be reckoned with as well as give the likes of Akuma, E Honda, Zangief, and Sagat a run for their money all while being a merry trio of brothers. Ayame and Shunran would always spar in Nippon Kempo, Judo, Kickboxing, Boxing, Shaolin Kung Fu, Wushu, and Sambo, considering how Ayame as the older sister would instil a sense of competition in Shunran as her younger sister as well as having combats that could put Nina Williams, Anna Williams, Chun-Li, Cammy White, and Sakura Kusagano to shame as combatants. One favourite activity all seven Yokai warriors would do is called switch fighting in which they use various fighting styles when sparring and have to adapt to each of them. For instance, Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha start sparring with each other in Mixed Martial Arts and Pankration, then Shuran enters to combat either or both of them in wrestling which they have to adapt, Hakkaku and Ginta enter with their Muay Thai and Lethwei skills, Ayame enters with her Kickboxing moves, and Shunran enters with Capoeira to the point where all of them would end up dog-piling each other, but it is all in great fun and laughter, and it is a great way for all seven of them to release tension after such a long and hectic day of strife. As each of the seven Yokai warriors grow into maturity, they would end up specialising in their own sets of martial arts. Sesshoumaru would reign supreme in Mixed Martial Arts, Tae Kwon Do, and Brazilian Jujitsu. Shuran would dominate in Mongolian Wrestling, Ssireum, and Sumo Wrestling. Inuyasha would wipe the floor with his opponents’ heads in Pankration, Ancient Greek Wrestling, and Ancient Greek Boxing. Hakkaku would rule the ring in Muay Thai, Pradal Serey, and Kajukenbo. Ginta would be victorious in Lethwei, Pencak Silat, and Sanda. Ayame would be a master specialist in Kickboxing, Judo,…

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