August 2022

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 delving into my seven favourite Splendid Seven romantic pairings in the form of the main martial arts sparring matches they focus on. They will be categorised as OTP, Loved Pairing, and Liked Pairing, and they will be strictly heterosexual.   It is often said that there is power in unconditional love, especially if there is varying degrees of intimacy. Whether romantic love is thoroughly intimate, based on mutual closeness or based on respect and allegiance, there is no doubt that the loving ties that bind can draw on fortitude, dedication, determination, drive, perseverance, wilfulness, and cooperation. Therefore, true love is unbreakable in contentious doubt and in triumphant joy.   Here are the rules for this entry. There will be only one martial arts sparring match per romantic pairing, and they will receive different ones for each pairing. I will judge each martial art based on lethalness, effectiveness, and overall impact. Knowing the likes of Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran, they would be the most lethal martial artists Japan and the world have ever encountered. Furthermore, each martial art would not be solely pigeonholed as a striking one, a grappling one or a clinching one, for the different elements of striking, clinching, and grappling are going to be combined. With that said, let us get ready to rumble in the most romantic and intimate way possible. Osu! Hajime!   Inuyasha x Ayame (OTP): Kapu Kuialua vs Hapkido Inuyasha and Ayame bear the complete package when it comes to defeating their opponents with their formidably versatile repertoire of punches, kicks, grapples, takedowns, clinches, strikes, and submission holds. Anybody with common sense should be aware of the damage this mighty couple can deliver because Inuyasha and Ayame hold nothing back and can make them bleed profusely. This is evidenced in how Inuyasha uses his background in Full-Contact Karate and Pankration to increase his capacity in Kapu Kuialua and how Ayame uses her experience in Kickboxing and Koppojutsu to make her skills in Hapkido even more lethal.   Hakkaku x Shunran (OTP): Muay Thai vs Ninjutsu Hakkaku and Shunran are exuberance, glee, and enthusiasm personified thanks to how they consistently propel their punches, strikes, clinches, and takedowns with panache and passion. The imperative hallmarks of their effective attacks boil down to quicksilver speed, abundant power, thorough balance, and accurate timing which places them at an advantage over their opponents. A barrage of clinches, elbow strikes, knee strikes, and shin kicks from Hakkaku combined with a flurry of joint locks, kicks, punches, and strikes from Shunran can signify indubitable sudden death to those brazen enough to oppose this lovingly optimistic couple.   Ginta x Shunran (OTP): Lethwei vs Shaolin Kung Fu Ginta and Shunran may appear lovable, sweet, and cuddly towards each other on the outside, but test their patience and leniency and they will rain a grand series of blows, strikes, and takedowns rich in quick speed, formidable strength, relentless stamina, and explosive reaction time. They have never met an opponent they did not like and would prove themselves to be consistently willing to deliver strikes, clinches, and takedowns galore. Whether those attacks are found in Ginta’s brutal headbutts and knee strikes or in Shunran’s rapid punches and flying kicks, victory is definitely in this adorably lovable couple’s favour.   Sesshoumaru x Ayame (Loved Pairing): Mixed Martial Arts vs Koppojutsu Sesshoumaru and Ayame have an indubitably profound bond based on allegiance, respect, encouragement, and perseverance. Should opponents be imprudent to step beyond their boundaries and cross swords with Sesshoumaru and Ayame, they would end up being at the receiving end of Sesshoumaru’s paralysing joint locks, throws, and strikes as well as Ayame’s strikes, punches, and kicks. With Sesshoumaru’s expertise in Karate, Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Jujutsu, and Taekwondo being used in Mixed Martial Arts plus Ayame’s power in Boxing and Kickboxing amplifying her skills in Koppojutsu, they are unstoppable in and out of battle.   Shuran x Shunran (Loved Pairing): Sambo vs Savate Shuran and Shunran can prove themselves to be an extremely dynamic pair of combatants by virtue of combining his submission holds, piledrivers, chokeholds, and throws and her kicks, tricking moves, strikes, and punches. Therefore, this combination brute force and fancy yet lethal hand- and footwork makes for an awe-inspiring and formidable weapon that could make their foes surrender almost without any effort, especially since Shuran also uses Pro Wrestling and Shunran also uses Capoeira to boost up their respective skills in Sambo and Savate. Furthermore, their loving bond contains high amounts of synergy and appreciation.   Shuran x Ayame (Liked Pairing): Vale Tudo vs Nippon Kenpo Shuran and Ayame make a ripe pair of physical powerhouses, thus combining raw power with undeterred relentlessness. Shuran’s attacks ranging from ground and pound to body locks to submission holds as well as Ayame’s willingness to launch her punches, kicks, strikes, and takedowns make their enemies weak in the knees every time this duo appears and delivers on their sheer power. Aside from ensuring well-launched, quick, and lethal attacks planted in the most uncompromising way possible, Shuran and Ayame possess a bond that is rich in encouragement, understanding, and consistently building each other up in a healthy way.   Hakkaku x Ayame (Liked Pairing): Kajukenbo vs Kickboxing Hakkaku and Ayame constantly prepare their fists, elbows, knees, the balls of their feet, their heels, their insteps, and the bottom of their feet for some epic punching, kicking, striking, and takedowns. With every striking flurry Hakkaku and Ayame emit against all of their foes, they demonstrate that there is not one moment that they will be knocked down and can easily demolish their foes with everything they have. If their foes were foolish enough to find themselves blasted by Hakkaku’s and Ayame’s punches, kicks, and clinches,…

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 delve into my five most favourite main Splendid Seven platonic pairings in the forms of main martial arts sparring matches.   The rules for this entry are that I will choose one martial art sparring match for each platonic pairing. Furthermore, the catch is that the martial art style each character will be judged on lethalness, ferociousness, and the possibility of high impact when especially used in close-range attacks. Although I am far from being a martial arts expert, I did consult various sites as to which one could be deemed as the most lethally bloody and most effective that the likes of Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran would use. After all, these seven Yokai martial artists would be considered the deadliest combatants of their chosen martial arts should any super strong opponent dare challenge them. I also want to ensure that the martial arts sparring matches I have chosen for each of them do not just contain only striking or only grappling but a mixture of strikes, grapples, clinches, and holds, thus increasing the effectiveness of each martial arts sparring match. For instance, as much as I am tempted to have Sesshoumaru and Shuran spar in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu versus Sumo Wrestling, these two are basically grappling martial arts which would relatively trivialise the skills they have as combatants who are more than capable of just one attacking style. With that said, let’s get our punches, kicks, strikes, clinches, grapples, takedowns, and submission holds in gear, everybody. Osu! Hajime!   Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha: Ashihara Karate vs Kudo Karate, Judo, Jujutsu, Taekwondo, Pankration, Boxing, and Wrestling have formed the basis of Sesshoumaru’s and Inuyasha’s powerful brotherhood, thus establishing their ever-expanding martial arts repertoire plus being strong and versatile combatants. It has gotten to the point where they combined every punch, kick, grapple, takedown, strike, clinch, and submission hold they have learned and turned them into weapons of mass destruction. These two dog Yokai love a full-contact spar with each other and challenging themselves against mightier opponents because they grow in fortitude, fraternal love, and wisdom.   Sesshoumaru and Shuran: Mixed Martial Arts vs Vale Tudo With Sesshoumaru’s background in Karate, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Judo, and Taekwondo and Shuran’s background in Pro Wrestling, Combat Sambo, Sumo Wrestling, and Ssireum combined, they have become a formidable force to be reckoned with. This is especially evidenced in Sesshoumaru’s penchant for brutal takedowns and ground and pound attacks combined with Shuran’s unparalleled skill in chokeholds, submission holds, and groundwork. Teamwork, allegiance, and respect are the hallmarks of what further strengthen them as a duo who thrive on takedowns, grapples, and making their enemies surrender with ease.   Shuran, Hakkaku, and Ginta: Sambo vs Kajukenbo vs Pencak Silat Nobody could ask for a higher dose of versatility when Shuran’s wrestling skills, Hakkaku’s punches, kicks, and strikes, and Ginta’s offensive and defensive attacks come into play. All it takes is great teamwork and boundless cooperation to make every finishing blow they commit to all the more worthwhile against their foes. First, Ginta disarms the opponents by numbing them with quick strikes. Then, Shuran locks them with a bearhug and a Full Nelson for good measure. Finally, Hakkaku rains a series of paralysing blows on them. Their effective teamwork in defeating opponents is coupled with truth, synergy, and a positive attitude.   Inuyasha, Hakkaku, and Ginta: Kapu Kuialua vs Muay Thai vs Lethwei Words cannot begin to describe how bloody and vicious Inuyasha, Hakkaku, and Ginta are in close-range combat. These three mightily potent warriors have the punishing punches, terrifying takedowns, killer kicks, claustrophobic clinches, stunning strikes, lethal locks, and superb submission holds to defeat all of their opponents. To Inuyasha, Hakkaku, and Ginta, strength alone is never enough because endurance, dedication, and quick reflexes can propel every attack possible. Their sparring matches and battles against foes may result in painfully deadly bloodshed, but they always encourage each other to stay relentless and determined.   Ayame and Shunran: Hapkido vs Shaolin Kung Fu When Ayame’s punches, throws, grapples, and kicks mesh with Shunran’s punches, strikes, kicks, and acrobatics, this would result in a grand combination of power, speed, balance, and timing so formidable and accurate that foes can never stand a chance against these two auburn-haired sisters. Ayame’s main strengths may be in her punches, grapples, strikes, and kicks thanks to her expertise in Kickboxing, Boxing, and Hapkido, while Shunran’s are in her punches, kicks, strikes, and tricking thanks to her experience in Capoeira, Shaolin Kung Fu, and Savate, but they prove themselves to be abundant dedication and cooperation incarnate.   Whatever the main Splendid Seven platonic pairing in martial arts sparring form, each of them is filled to the brim with undeniable respect, tight allegiance, and synergetic flexibility that they would constantly better each other every single waking moment. No enemy is too powerful or too strong to ever knock them down, especially when these platonic pairing combos come play a major role. As always, please let me know in the description which of these five main platonic spars has caught your fancy the most. Until then, have a great time, everybody. Osu!