March 2023

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 specializing in the martial arts they do. This time I will be focusing on the very people who have shaped them to be the strong martial artists that they are. Those are Ayame’s and Shunran’s grandfather The Wolf Elder, Sesshoumaru’s and Inuyasha’s father and mother Toga and InuKimi, and Shuran’s, Hakkaku’s, and Ginta’s mother Izayoi. While four parental figures may appear to be a good picture to shape and mold The Splendid Seven to be the powerful Yokai fighters that they are, there are three more parental figures that I would gladly add to this roster of older veteran martial artists. Those are Raditz, Olibu, and Broly from Dragonball Z who will also serve as additional father figures to these seven mighty Yokai martial artists.   I know what some of you are thinking right now. Raditz and Broly? Those two overpowering and brutish Saiyan warriors? Olibu? That otherworldly warrior reminiscent of a Greek god? Please calm down because I always have a method to the madness. I figure that Raditz’s overpowering might, Olibu’s godly muscle power, and Broly’s brute fortitude are great outlets for Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran to not only emulate but also serve as well-deserved father figures, with Raditz and Inuyasha having a close uncle-nephew bond that also passes as Raditz being a second father to Inuyasha while Sesshoumaru honors Raditz, Olibu can be the strong father figure Shuran, Hakkaku, and Ginta need, and Broly can use his brute muscularity and otherworldly strength to protect and provide unconditional love to his surrogate daughters Ayame and Shunran. Therefore, Raditz, Olibu, and Broly are superb additions to my Splendid Seven AU headcanon as super strong and powerfully potent father figures to seven mighty Yokai martial artists and also complete the overall number of seven veteran martial artists.   Since this is my Splendid Seven AU headcanon, I thought the Wolf Elder shall have a humanoid design based on his appearance in the anime. I do have an idea of what he shall look like in humanoid form, but I have to fully achieve that vision by drawing him. Moreover, I will assign the four main martial arts that I believe fit The Wolf Elder, Raditz, Olibu, Broly, Toga, InuKimi, and Izayoi exceedingly well. Spoilers, all seven veteran martial artists have a background in Karate, with The Wolf Elder, Toga, InuKimi, and Izayoi also having a Kickboxing background and Raditz, Olibu, and Broly having a Shootfighting background. They would even mix Karate with the other styles they specialize in to form their signature martial arts. With that said, strap yourselves in for these parental figures to kick loads of butt while demonstrating abundant honor. Osu! Hajime!   The Wolf Elder: Ancient Roman Boxing, Catch Wrestling, Muay Thai, and Shorin-Ryu Karate With the Wolf Elder’s furious fists, everlasting endurance, and sterling strength, he is a well-rounded warrior worthy of emulation and respect. Ayame and Shunran have always looked up to their grandfather, for they have also acquired his exceptional striking power, because of how exceptionally well he has trained them since they were little girls and have kept true to his teachings as adult women respectively married to Inuyasha, Hakkaku, and Ginta. The Wolf Elder’s uppercuts, overhand punches, cross punches, knee strikes, foot-thrusts, triangle chokes, and clinches can overpower his enemies to a high degree of pain even in his old age.   Raditz: Combat Sambo, Brazilian Jujitsu, Shoot Boxing, and Shorin-Ryu Karate Radical ruthlessness, superbly super strength, and bionic barbarism are the hallmarks that define Raditz as a powerful prizefighter. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha are consistently inspired to be as strong and fierce as their uncle/second father is, thanks to how the latter always committed himself to intense sparring matches from boyhood to adulthood, thus making Raditz proud to see Inuyasha grow up to be the powerfully mighty husband he is for Ayame. Raditz’s gogoplatas, Guillotine chokes, knee mounts, Superman punches, hammer fists, double axe handles, sleeper holds, and liver punches can easily leave his foes tossed and torn.   Olibu: Ancient Greek Boxing, Ancient Greek Wrestling, Shooto, and Shito-Ryu Karate Magnificent muscle power, incredible imposingness, and bodacious brawn are the most valuable traits that make Olibu the mighty hero that he is. Shuran, Hakkaku, and Ginta are truly blessed that Olibu is in their lives as their father figure because he has always been the man to inspire them to live courageously, thus motivating them to grow well as martial artists and as men, especially since Hakkaku and Ginta are Shunran’s loyal husbands. Olibu’s camel clutches, drop kicks, headlocks, double uppercuts, leglocks, elbow strikes, and elbow drops can cause absolute and brutal destruction to his fiends’ skeletons, muscles, and organs.   Broly: Vale Tudo, Luta Livre Esportiva, Shoot Wrestling, and Shindo-Jinen-Ryu Karate Punishing potency, vociferous viciousness, and brutal bloodiness are the true signifiers that elucidate Broly and his magnificent might as a champion who holds nothing back when it comes to executing many a challenger. Ayame and Shunran may feel safe under Broly’s muscular might and fierce ferocity, but he uses his traits to show unconditional love and protection to his surrogate daughters as well as motivate them to never surrender to their foes. Broly’s armbars, headbutts, anaconda chokes, piledrivers, torture racks, elbow slashes, and flying knees can destroy his challengers’ nerves and spirits until their dying days.   Toga: Japanese Jujitsu, Judo, Dutch Kickboxing, and Shotokan Karate With Toga’s limbering limbs, dedicated determination, and sterling steeliness, he is a courageous combatant who is the apple of every martial artist’s eye as well as a paradigm of honor and truth as a warrior and as a person. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha have always emulated Toga’s code of honor as martial artists, thanks to how he always instills perseverance and discipline in his sons, thus seeing their remarkable growth as…

December 12, 2004. 12:25 PM. Grandiosity and an air of pomp were entwined in a frenzied waltz with brutality and bloodiness when spectators took their seats in the Wernerstein Mansion Combat Arena, which was owned by 45-year-old former bodybuilder Ulrich Wernerstein, and was situated high above the snowy Austrian Alps, to witness the carnage-filled blood sport about to unfold, especially since his guards and watchdogs were checking the guests’ tickets for today’s event. With a floor fashioned from the finest concrete, walls intricately designed with marble to look like a hybrid between a castle and a factory, various pictures from Ulrich’s years as a bodybuilder before disappearing from competitions, machines producing his Bulky Bars by the tons, and a golden statue of Ulrich, the Wernerstein Mansion Combat Arena had a long and storied history of hosting one of the most prestigious martial arts tournaments in all of Austria as well as the world. Martial artists from all different fighting styles, all nations, and all weight categories came to the Wernerstein Mansion Combat Arena to compete against Ulrich and his four hulking bodybuilder goons with the hopes of emerging triumphantly as victors. Spectators had the pleasure of seeing blood spew from the fighters’ bodies, hearing joints and body parts crack from every blow and lock delivered, and witnessing announcers commenting on the fight, referees trying to keep control of the ensuing battle, and martial artists fighting as vociferously and powerfully as possible to win against Ulrich and his goons. From Karate to Kung Fu to Capoeira to Vale Tudo, any martial art was permitted if the fighter was well-prepared to face Ulrich and his four bodybuilder goons’ sheer muscle power. 17-year-olds Samantha “Sam” Simpson, Clover Ewing, and Alexandra “Alex” Casoy, who were spies working for WOOHP, did attempt overcome Ulrich’s bodybuilder goons with their freestyle martial arts that combined Kung Fu and Karate. Even 17-year-old Britney Akiwara, who also worked for WOOHP, tried to help her friends, but it was all for naught. Just when all hope was lost for Sam, Clover, Alex, and Britney, the spotlight shone on the new challengers who entered the arena. The crowd cheered loudly as seven powerful Yokai martial artists called The Splendid Seven consisting of two white-haired dog Yokai brothers, 23-year-old Sesshoumaru and 22-year-old Inuyasha, three brothers, with the eldest being the 22-year-old male panther Yokai with black spiky hair Shuran and his two younger brothers being 21-year-olds Hakkaku with the white mohawk and Ginta with gray hair and a tuft of black hair in the middle, and two auburn-haired sisters, the 19-year-old female wolf Yokai Ayame and the 18-year-old female panther Yokai Shunran, rose to the challenge to combat Ulrich and his bodybuilder goons. While Ulrich and his four bodybuilder goons were all muscle upon muscle and were sufficiently adequate grapplers, each member of The Splendid Seven had their own martial art that they specialized in. Sesshoumaru, who specialized in Mixed Martial Arts, was famed for his fatal ground and pounds and sprawls and brawls. Inuyasha was a muscular Pankratiast who reveled in his lethal tracheal grip chokes and rear naked chokeholds. Shuran towered over his fellow combatants as a pro wrestler who could deliver obliterating piledrivers and torture racks. Hakkaku practiced Muay Boran and was renowned for his shattering elbow strikes and headbutts. Ginta did Lethwei and bore devastating shin kicks and knee strikes. Ayame reigned in Kyuk Too Ki, thanks to her destructive uppercuts and roundhouse kicks. Shunran excelled as a Shaolin Kung Fu fighter, thanks to her explosive finger strikes and flying double kicks. This was an epic battle that the spectators paid good money for and one that was guaranteed to be the most exciting battle ever. Guest spectators even came to watch the blood sport spectacle for free, specifically The Splendid Seven’s martial arts mentors, parents and grandparents, best friends who were also their sparring partners, and all of their children who were very excited to see their parents win against Ulrich and his goons because they wanted to emulate their strength and fierceness as martial artists. Sam, Clover, Alex, and Britney even found themselves sitting in the very front seats to witness the carnage. Alex’s 22-year-old bodybuilder/gym instructor boyfriend Raymond and 35-year-old Cabo bodybuilder Robert Beefcake, who were mercifully cured from the Bulky Bars’ insidious effects on their muscles and minds, as well as the spies’ 18-year-old best guy friend, David, took their seats to witness The Splendid Seven beat Ulrich and his four bodybuilder goons to a bloody, messy, and vicious pulp. Even with all the spectators cheering for the fight to be an exciting one, The Splendid Seven’s parents, grandparents, martial arts mentors, best friends, and children showing outstanding support to Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran; and Robert, Raymond, David, Sam, Clover, Alex, and Britney joining in the maenadic revelry of seeing blood about to be spewed from Ulrich’s and his bodybuilder goons’ bodies due to The Splendid Seven inflicting massive amounts of physical and psychological damage on them, the question remained. How far would Ulrich and his goons last against seven mighty Yokai martial artists? The seven Yokai martial artists would indubitably overpower Ulrich and his four goons with their strength, speed, and stamina. As for the spectators and honored guests, their thunderous cheers reverberated through the hall in sheer excitement, as the combatants charged headfirst into battle after the bell rang.