Hokuto Shinken: Difference between revisions

[[File:Hokuto_Shin_Ken.jpg|thumb|250px]]{{Audio|Hokutoshinken.ogg|'''Hokuto Shin Ken'''}} (北斗神拳 ''[[wikipedia:Big Dipper|Big Dipper]] [[wikipedia:Shen (Chinese religion)|God]] Fist'') is an ancient Chinese martial art, dating back 1800 years from [[Land of Asura|China]]. Its founder was [[Shuken]] of the ancient "Hokuto Sōke" ruling line, who combined his [[Hokuto Sōke no Ken]] and [[Seito Gek Ken]] to create Hokuto Shin Ken. This martial art makes use of the opponents' 708 [[Keiraku Hikō]], also known as tsubo or pressure points. These pressure points destroy the enemy from within. The Hikō can also be used to heal and even to revive the dead. While a normal fighter uses 30% of his natural abilities, a Hokuto Shin Ken successor knows how to utilize his remaining 70% using Tenryū Kokyū Hō (転龍呼吸法 Art of Dragon's Breathing). A Hokuto Shinken successor can also resist attacks on the pressure points with the Hikō Fūji (秘孔封じ, Pressure Point Sealing), copy techniques after witnessing them only once with Suieishin (水映心, Water Reflection Spirit) and use [[Tōki]] (闘気 Fighting Spirit), an expert user can often radiate Tōki from his own body as an aura (Tōki no Aura)Fighting Spirit Aura) whilst focusing it for attacks. It can be used to launch ki-based attacks that can be used to strike targets (even tiny ones, like the Keiraku Hiko) at long range, or, to defend the user from attack. Hokuto Shin Ken follows the [[Isshi Sōden]](一子相伝) tradition: it can only be passed down from one father to one son, and there can only be one successor at a time. Sons that do not succeed in becoming successor must never practice the art again, or risk having their memories erased and fists shattered. The ultimate Hokuto Shin Ken technique is the [[Musō Tensei]], which can only be performed by one who completely understands sadness.

== History ==

Hokuto Shinken (北斗神拳 Pinyin：''Beidou Shenquan/ ''Jyutping: ''Bak Dau San Kyun'' in its native Chinese) is first described as an 1,800 years old (2,000 years in the TV series and 1986 movie) Chinese assassin's art formed during the [[wikipedia:Han Dynasty|Eastern Han Dynasty]]. The art's power lies into channeling one's energy in a single blow and striking into the 708 {{nihongo|'''[[Keiraku Hikō]]'''|経絡秘孔||"Hidden Channeling Points"}} points in the human body (also known as [[wikipedia:acupressure|acupressure]] points, power points, vital points, tsubo, etc.). This causes the victim to explode, be controlled involuntarily or otherwise incapacitated. It can also be used to heal certain physical and psychological wounds, such as restoring a person's voice, eyesight or memories, though the main purpose of Hokuto Shin Ken is assassination. The average person uses only 30% of their body's potential strength, but those who had mastered Hokuto Shin Ken can tap into the remaining 70% as well. Hokuto Shin Ken also derives power by using {{nihongo|'''[[Tōki]]'''|闘気}} or fighting aura to use the human body's full potential as well as to project energy attacks. These energy attacks can be also used to strike pressure points, as was the case when Kenshiro fought [[Souther]].

The role of successor is intertwined with Taoist astrology and legend, being the merciless protector and judge against those that would dare to disrupt peace and order.

==Techniques ==