Articles by Antoni Matteo Garcia

Greetings, Splendid Seven devotees, martial arts aficionados, and fighting video game fans. Antoni here with another written entry focusing on Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran specialising in the martial arts they do. Today, I will be covering my seven most favourite Splendid Seven pairings in the forms of martial arts spars. As always, there are three platonic duos, two platonic trios, one romantic OTP pairing, and one romantic OT3 threesome. For those of you who have been reading my previous Splendid Seven entries, you probably already know who they are.   Whether platonic or romantic let alone in twos or in threes, the martial arts are always going to be about cooperation, respect, allegiance, discipline, humility, honour, integrity, and truth. It is not always about whose fists and feet get to fly the most or who gets to choke out their opponent in the most suffocating manner possible. Rather, it is about how two or three people can use their combat prowess well and work together as effectively as possible. With that said, let us sharpen our minds, clench our fists, jettison our limbs, and get into combat stances together, for these seven Yokai warriors are always prepared to work together in the pairings that make them the truly united family of martial artists that they are. Osu. Hajime.   Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha (BroTP): The Most Powerful Martial Artist Brothers Stealthy lethalness and muscular strength are melded together by discipline, honour, integrity, and courage, as Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha the two dog Yokai brothers prepare themselves to show their opponents that two is better than one. Combining Sesshoumaru’s spear-hand strikes, ox-jaw strikes, and kneebars with Inuyasha’s double axe handles, ground-and-pounds, and armbars makes them a winning fraternal duo, for they can dish out one huge serving of ownage. Powerful attacks aside, Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha build each other up as inseparable brothers, thus encouraging each other in terms of strength and dedication. Kyokushin Karate vs Pankration Shotokan Karate vs Vale Tudo Nippon Kenpo vs Mixed Martial Arts Shorinji Kenpo vs Shootfighting Kajukenbo vs Kapu Kuialua Jujutsu vs Brazilian Jiujitsu Judo vs Luta Livre   Shuran, Hakkaku, and Ginta (BroT3): The Most Fearsome Vanquisher Brothers Brute force, indestructible stamina, and quick reflexes are joined together by respect, self-respect, allegiance, and good attitude, for these three brothers consisting of Shuran the hulking panther Yokai as well as Hakkaku and Ginta the athletic wolf Yokai ready themselves to show their opponents that a bond of three makes for more dynamic attacks. Joining Shuran’s piledrivers and bearhugs with Hakkaku’s headbutts and elbow strikes and Ginta’s spinning backfists and knee strikes promises a world of pain to their attackers. Furthermore, Shuran’s, Hakkaku’s, and Ginta’s sturdy brotherhood keeps them united against animosity. Professional Wrestling vs Muay Boran vs Lethwei Combat Sambo vs Muay Chaiya vs Pencak Silat Malla-yuddha vs Muay Lerdrit vs Sanda Pehlwani vs Muay Thai vs Jeet Kune Do Sumo Wrestling vs Pradal Serey vs Bando Turkish Oil Wrestling vs Panantukan vs Naban Greco-Roman Wrestling vs Yaw-Yan vs Pongyi Thaing   Ayame and Shunran (BroTP): The Most Dynamic Attacker Sisters Relentless power and fearless agility are united together by justice, valour, compassion, and dignity, as these two sisters consisting of Ayame the wolf Yokai and Shunran the panther Yokai arm themselves to show their opponents that they have the right to do battle with every fighter they meet, and they will never go easy on them. Melding Ayame’s uppercuts, liver punches, and reverse punches with Shunran’s leopard blows, palm strikes, and nerve strikes together as one aims to destroy their enemies both inside and outside. Outside battle, Ayame and Shunran possess a close, warm, and unconditionally loving sisterhood for life. Bokator vs Shaolin Kung Fu Koppojutsu vs Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu Hapkido vs Baguazhang Yongmudo vs Wing Chun Taekkyeon vs Eagle Claw Kung Fu Taekwondo vs Savate Boxing vs Kickboxing   Sesshoumaru and Shuran (BroTP): The Toughest Demolisher Duo Both Sesshoumaru and Shuran embody copious amounts of physical, psychological, and mental power, strength, formidability, and fortitude rushing through their bodies, minds, and souls. The result of Sesshoumaru and Shuran joining forces is the permanent evisceration they can deliver to their opponents with no chance of the pain ever mitigating from them. When Sesshoumaru’s ridge-hand strikes, ox-jaw strikes, and roundhouse kicks are united with Shuran’s sharpshooters, German suplexes, and torture racks unite, they will unleash terror and excruciation to their enemies while demonstrating allegiance towards each other. Kyokushin Karate vs Professional Wrestling Shotokan Karate vs Combat Sambo Nippon Kenpo vs Malla-yuddha Shorinji Kenpo vs Pehlwani Kajukenbo vs Sumo Wrestling Jujutsu vs Turkish Oil Wrestling Judo vs Greco-Roman Wrestling   Inuyasha, Hakkaku, and Ginta (BroT3): The Strongest Bludgeoner Trio There is no doubt that Inuyasha, Hakkaku, and Ginta represent true strength, formidability, and fortitude coming in numbers, thus using this principle to their advantage when combating against stronger and fiercer opponents. Once Inuyasha, Hakkaku, and Ginta band together, they will let their penchant for close-range combat and powerful blows show with pure abandon. This comes to effect when Inuyasha’s omoplatas and gogoplatas, Hakkaku’s overhand punches and hooks, and Ginta’s thrust kicks and shin kicks merge together to cause enough bloody damage as possible all while maintaining a genuine and loving brotherhood. Pankration vs Muay Boran vs Lethwei Vale Tudo vs Muay Chaiya vs Pencak Silat Mixed Martial Arts vs Muay Lerdrit vs Sanda Shootfighting vs Muay Thai vs Jeet Kune Do Kapu Kuialua vs Pradal Serey vs Bando Brazilian Jiujitsu vs Panantukan vs Naban Luta Livre vs Yaw-Yan vs Pongyi Thaing   Inuyasha and Ayame (OTP): The Mightiest Champion Couple The power couple that makes genuinely passionate love to each other sticks together even under the glaring heat of battle, especially if that couple happens to be Inuyasha and Ayame. They personify ferocity, fierceness, toughness, and super strength to the nines when combining Inuyasha’s magnificent muscles with Ayame’s laudable limbs, thus making their opponents quake at the sight of this mighty couple. Inuyasha’s Superman…

Greetings, Splendid Seven devotees, martial arts aficionados, and fighting video game fans. Antoni here with another written entry focusing on Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran specialising in the martial arts they do. Today, I will be touching up and delving into the seven all-time greatest signature martial arts that Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran specialise in. If you remembered the entries where I dealt with the countries that correspond to these seven Yokai combatants’ martial arts as well as their signature martial arts, look at this as a retouched and slightly revamped version.   Ever since I made the previous entries involving Sesshoumaru’s, Shuran’s, Inuyasha’s, Hakkaku’s, Ginta’s, Ayame’s, and Shunran’s martial arts from around the world, I did some thinking and rethinking in terms of the worldly martial arts that truly define them. Some of them still stick true, while others deserve to be changed up a bit. Nevertheless, it is still going to be a fun and enjoyable ride, especially when these martial arts that I chose for them and ingrained into them would define them to the full, from their moves to their personalities to their choices of attacks. As always, I have to thank the inspiration I have been receiving from watching let’s plays of fighting games from Street Fighter to Tekken and most of the martial arts documentaries which I have loved so intensely. The seven signature martial arts I have chosen for Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran shall be ranked in intensity, and knowing these seven Yokai martial artists, they would pull their signature martial arts off to a high degree to the point of collaterally damaging their enemies. With that said, let us get ready to rumble with The Splendid Seven’s seven signature main martial arts. Osu. Hajime.   Sesshoumaru: The Honourably Traditional Martial Artist Preserving the code of the martial arts with all the valour, discipline, decorum, and integrity of a true warrior is Sesshoumaru who makes it his duty to represent himself well not only as a martial artist but also as a person. The dojo is his sanctuary, and he would never allow invaders to besmirch let alone vandalise it. Sesshoumaru observes proper dojo etiquette when bowing to his opponents and comrades as well as keeping his family safe from harm. His spear-hand strikes, knife-hand strikes, ox-jaw strikes, ridge-hand strikes, roundhouse kicks, kneebars, and small joint manipulations can cause physical and psychological damage. Kyokushin Karate Shotokan Karate Nippon Kenpo Shorinji Kenpo Kajukenbo Jujutsu Judo   Shuran: The Mightily Powerful Martial Artist Being large and in charge inside and outside the arena while living with courage, stamina, fortitude, and might is Shuran whose reputation as one of Japan’s and the world’s mightiest and most intimidating wrestlers of all time far precedes him. There is no arena too grand, no gym too well-functioned, and no opponent too powerful to contain this brutish beast who has a softer side for staying loyal to his friends and family and using his strength to protect those he loves against invaders. His piledrivers, sharpshooters, torture racks, bearhugs, rear-naked chokes, German suplexes, and sleeper holds can cause permanent bone destruction. Professional Wrestling Combat Sambo Malla-yuddha Pehlwani Sumo Wrestling Turkish Oil Wrestling Greco-Roman Wrestling   Inuyasha: The Lethally Bloody Martial Artist Serving up huge portions of big muscular power and bigger manly virility to his opponents is Inuyasha who thrives with fortitude, formidability, grit, and triumph as a super strong and magnificently muscular warrior. His muscles of steel combined with a mighty roar powerful enough to intimidate any lion or tiger makes him one of the most fearsome competitors anybody has the chance to do battle with, thus demonstrating his brutally sheer physical super strength. His double axe handles, hammer fists, Superman punches, ground-and-pounds, armbars, omoplatas, and gogoplatas can cause severe internal and external bleeding. Pankration Vale Tudo Mixed Martial Arts Shootfighting Kapu Kuialua Brazilian Jiujitsu Luta Livre   Hakkaku: The Ferociously Destructive Martial Artist Rampaging through opponents using stamina and endurance as his weapons is Hakkaku whose great attitude for combat is endowed with high energy, gutsiness, drive, and courage, thus making a mark for himself as an instinctively shrewd fighter. Armed with his rock-hard limbs that can destroy even the sturdiest of trees, Hakkaku will never rest until he reaches his ultimate potential as a warrior and as a person. When he does combat with his opponents, he would give them the fight of their lives. His headbutts, elbow strikes, overhand punches, knee strikes, hooks, front kicks, and elbow slashes can cause painful bodily distortion. Muay Boran Muay Chaiya Muay Lerdrit Muay Thai Pradal Serey Panantukan Yaw-Yan   Ginta: The Dangerously Quick Martial Artist Jettisoning himself while toked up on quick reflexes and enduring stamina is Ginta whose undying charisma towards his fans, friends, and foes is well-seasoned with zeal, passion, patience, and duty as a consistently willing trooper. What makes Ginta an effective trooper inside and outside the ring are his iron limbs, head, sinews, and spirit as well as the high levels of respect and allegiance he has for his friends and his opponents. Nobody can ever knock Ginta down. His thrusting headbutts, upward headbutts, shin kicks, spinning back kicks, cross punches, thrust kicks, and spinning backfists can cause internal damage to the organs. Lethwei Pencak Silat Sanda Jeet Kune Do Bando Naban Pongyi Thaing   Ayame: The Formidably Steely Martial Artist Dishing out copious amounts of greatly ferocious strikes and fiercely effective takedowns is Ayame who has a lot to give to the world with her ambition, persistence, perseverance, and resilience as a powerful champion. Her combination of physically powerful attacks and psychologically formidable mettle forms the cornerstone of Ayame’s unbreakable spirit and determination to challenge herself against stronger and more skilled opponents. She is truly a disciplined and hard-working fighter. Her uppercuts, jabs, hooks, liver punches, reverse punches, spinning axe kicks, and wristlocks can cause devastating muscle evisceration. Bokator Koppojutsu Hapkido Yongmudo Taekkyeon Taekwondo…

Greetings, Splendid Seven devotees, martial arts aficionados, and fighting video game fans. Antoni here with another written entry focusing on Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran specialising in the martial arts they do. Today, I will be talking about the seven countries that correspond to Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran and the martial arts from each of their respectively chosen countries.   It has been said that martial arts are one of the most integral components of world culture since forever. Fighting styles from all around the world have practitioners demonstrating the moves as well as the whys and ways of how they are done. One principle unites the world’s various martial arts which is the importance of mind, hands, feet, arms, legs, head, and soul being used to defend oneself from infiltrators. If the objective is being involved in unarmed combat, a fighter’s primary weapons would be their fists, feet, knees, elbows, head, arms, legs, and shins all powered by leverage, timing, precision, and balance regardless of punching, kicking, striking, grappling, and/or clinching.   Where Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran as martial artists are concerned, their corresponding countries would not only define the martial arts they do but also what type of fighters they are. Therefore, I will enlist their respective countries as well as the four martial arts that they would specialise in per country. Why four, you ask? Because it is a more manageable number and that it is easier to decipher how each martial art can define their signature attacks. With that said, let the international martial arts gatherings begin, complete with the breaking of wooden boards, cement bricks, ice blocks, and cement walls and, most of all, sparring demonstrations. Osu. Hajime.   Sesshoumaru: Japan Honour, integrity, respect, discipline, excellence, dedication, and tradition define Sesshoumaru’s martial arts code most especially in his native Japan. The need to perfect his techniques in punching, kicking, grappling, striking, takedowns, pressure points, and joint locks are second nature to him because of his staunch belief that complacency is his greatest enemy which he needs to conquer with open arms. Powerful moves aside, Sesshoumaru is a combatant who constantly observes proper dojo etiquette. Therefore, the dojo is home to him, as he treats it with dignity, respect, and honour, thus personifying martial arts ethics. Karate – From Shotokan to Kyokushin, his counterattacks and blows are well-exemplified in his jabs, knife-hand strikes, spear-hand strikes, and ox-jaw strikes. Kenpo – In both Nippon Kenpo and Shorinji Kenpo, he can launch paralysing thrust punches, ridge-hand strikes, spinning crescent kicks, and roundhouse kicks. Jujutsu – He would be more than happy to show his opponents a world of pain through his excruciating kneebars, armbars, small joint manipulations, and shoulder locks. Judo – The tatami is home to his leg wheels, foot sweeps, rear throws, and hip throws.   Shuran: The United States of America Abundance, liberty, confidence, equality, wealth, roughness, and exuberance may course through Shuran’s steel veins in the United States of America, but he is there to do combat against strong opponents and get well-acquainted with them, thus demonstrating his endurance and sportsmanship. He has worked hard on his piledrivers, chokeholds, Full Nelsons, camel clutches, Boston crabs, torture racks, and sleeper holds and does not want to return empty-handed. Even if Shuran does not win the gold belt, he would still be grateful that he got a chance to compete in American wrestling promotion companies such as WWE. Professional Wrestling – The likes of WWE and TNA would gladly get their hands on him because of his terrifying piledrivers, chokeslams, torture racks, and Boston crabs. Greco-Roman Wrestling – Marines and Air Force members alike would marvel at his bone-crushing bearhugs, backbreakers, rear naked chokes, and German suplexes. Collegiate Wrestling – He would be excited to take to the mat to introduce his opponents to his destructive overhooks, over-unders, collar ties, and overties. Freestyle Wrestling – He rules in leg trips, split legs, side circles, and underhooks.   Inuyasha: Brazil Fierceness, ferocity, determination, strength, toughness, power, and formidability all radiate within Inuyasha’s fighting prowess in Brazil. However, this is not a holiday for Inuyasha to go to the beaches, go sightseeing, get a tan, and relax. He is there to train and fight with the creme de la creme of martial artists as well as adamantly push himself to greater and stronger heights. Inuyasha has the uppercuts, Superman punches, ground-and-pounds, joint locks, hooks, low kicks, and fireman’s carries to prove his undying mettle. Every gym, dojo, and underground arena would be ecstatic to have him around as a superstar prize-fighter. Vale Tudo – All the Gracie Family members and all of UFC would embrace him thanks to his bloody ground-and-pounds, uppercuts, double axe handles, and hammer fists. Mixed Martial Arts – From Sao Paulo to Amazonas, he is going to show the folks how it is done with his brutal Superman punches, reverse punches, hooks, and low kicks. Luta Livre – He would make his opponents tremble and fall on their knees at his savage rear-naked chokes, palm strikes, cervical cranks, and spinal locks. Brazilian Jiujitsu – Armbars, omoplatas, gogoplatas, and Guillotines are his weapons.   Hakkaku: Thailand Shrewdness, courage, fortitude, self-respect, drive, grit, and high energy are injected in Hakkaku’s physical being in Thailand. Denizens of the jungles, temples, and ancient arenas would resound with a thunderous applause when he enters the scene endowed with honour and respect for everybody present. Hakkaku even represents the physical, mental, and psychological strengths found in training strong and well every day, especially seen in his shin kicks, headbutts, knee strikes, elbow strikes, spinning backfists, front kicks, and overhand punches. Gyms, arenas, and castles are always going to have their gates open for him. Muay Boran – Kings and princes would salute him for his vicious headbutts, horizontal elbow strikes, jumping knee strikes, and shin kicks. Muay Chaiya – Whether battles take place in a jungle or in a…

Greetings, Splendid Seven devotees, martial arts aficionados, and fighting video game fans. Antoni here with another written entry focusing on Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran specialising in the martial arts they do. Today, I will be focusing on the number one main martial art that Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran not only specialise in but also define them as combatants and as individuals.   I am sure that those of you who have trained in the martial arts would be fully aware that cross-training in different martial arts is a great thing. Nevertheless, there is always that key martial art that you not only first trained in as well as form the basis of what you specialise in but also correlate moves also rooted in the various other martial arts you train in. This boosts your repertoire in self-defence and possible attacks that can be launched towards your opponents. The one martial art you have is almost like your identity, so long as you do not forget about it even when you experiment in various other martial arts, and, as much as I hate sounding like a complete propagator, correlate what you have learned with that main martial art with the other martial art styles you continue to learn from.   When you are a septet of Yokai martial artists like Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran, you will understand that their respective main signature martial arts not only define what attack they can throw at their enemies but also how they define themselves through the chosen martial arts they have been specialising in when they were in their formative years. This is also true of the types of signature attacks, which I will limit to seven, they use to defend themselves and inflict as much excruciating damage to their foes as possible. In fact, each of their signature martial arts would be judged on how lethal they are. Thanks to watching videos by Jesse Enkamp, Rokas Leonavicius, Oliver Enkamp, Seth “Sensei Seth” Adams, Micah “Kwonkicker” Brock, and many other martial arts YouTubers I could barely name off the top of my head as well as researching on which martial arts and martial arts moves are deadly, I think I have found the number one best martial art that define each of the Splendid Seven members.   With that said, let us punch, kick, strike, grapple, hold, block, and charge into action with the number one main martial art Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran specialise in the most. Osu! Hajime!   Sesshoumaru: Shotokan Karate There is no doubt that Karate fits Sesshoumaru well thanks to his decorum, discipline, and valour as a warrior constantly striving for excellence which would make Gichin Funakoshi and Mas Oyama proud of him. Yes, he may also specialise in Kyokushin, Wado-Ryu, and Ashihara in terms of close-range combat, but he will always fall back on Shotokan because he has an advantage of speed, accuracy, timing, and power, especially when he breaks boards, bricks, ice blocks, and his opponents’ bones. Attacks to look out for are his spear-hand strikes, knife-hand strikes, jabs, ox-jaw strikes, low kicks, roundhouse kicks, and double leg takedowns.   Shuran: Professional Wrestling With a massively burly body size, toweringly imposing height, and an abundantly big personality, Shuran is Professional Wrestling incarnate to the point where Vince McMahon and Ric Flair would command the audience to cheer for this champion. He also uses techniques in Sambo, Luta Livre, and Vale Tudo to make his repertoire in Professional Wrestling gain in raw power, sheer strength, brutal aggressiveness, and deadly ferociousness, especially against stronger opponents. Attacks to look out for are his spinning piledrivers, German suplexes, bearhugs, camel clutches, Boston crabs, torture racks, and sleeper holds.   Inuyasha: Mixed Martial Arts Muscles of steel, lethal combat prowess, and fierce dedication are the components of what make Inuyasha a prodigious practitioner of Mixed Martial Arts as well as gain all of Carlos Gracie’s and Helio Gracie’s respect. With loads of experience in Pankration, Kapu Kuialua, and Shootfighting by Inuyasha’s side, his expertise in Mixed Martial Arts would put him above his opponents in terms of super strength, brute ferocity, explosive blows, and grand penchant for close-range combat. Attacks to look out for are his ground and pounds, Superman punches, uppercuts, double axe handles, triangle armbars, chokeholds, and soccer kicks.   Hakkaku: Muay Boran Rock-hard limbs, a metallic head, and loads of leverage propel Hakkaku’s skills in Muay Thai’s ancestor Muay Boran, thus honouring King Chulalongkorn and King Prajadhibok with all of his being. Where his specialties in its descendant Muay Thai, the Cambodian variant Pradal Serey, and the Philippine variant Panantukan are concerned, he uses attacks from them, but he always goes back to Muay Boran because it enables him to use every part of his body to launch various attacks from head to his insteps. Attacks to look out for are his headbutts, knee strikes, elbow strikes, shin kicks, front kicks, spinning backfists, and overhand punches.   Ginta: Lethwei When sterling stamina, explosive hands, and quick legs are well-combined, Ginta would inhabit the brutal power of Lethwei and would make it his zeal to be inspired by Kyar Ba Nyein and Kyaung Thar in terms of moves and moral codes. While he does use the disarming techniques in Pencak Silat, the strikes in Sanda, and all the fast attacks in Jeet Kune Do, he finds his way back to Lethwei thanks to how he incorporates using his body as a weapon to stun his opponents. Attacks to look out for are his thrust kicks, hammer fists, upward headbutts, cross punches, thrusting headbutts, elbow thrusts, and jumping knee strikes.   Ayame: Hapkido If furious fists, fleet feet, and strangulating submission holds were engendered into one combatant, it has to be Ayame embodying the strong spirit, explosive power, and gritty determination of Hapkido to the point where Choi Yong-sool and Seo Bok-Seob would salute her. Mixing…