Taizanji Kenpo

The Taizanji Kenpō (泰山寺拳法, "Taishan Temple Martial Arts") was the original rival style of Hokuto Shin Ken in the two pilot episodes of Hokuto no Ken drawn and written by Tetsuo Hara. In the present day setting of the pilot episodes, the Taishan Temple is an organization of assassins that disguises themselves to the public as a regular martial arts school, working primarily as assassins for powerful political figures. Eventually, they carried much influence over the world's governments, extending their hands to Japan. When Hokuto no Ken was picked up as a series, this storyline was discarded and Nanto Seiken (and later Hokuto Ryūken) took on the role of Hokuto Shinken's primary rival style, reducing the Taishan style to a minor one used primarily by small fry characters. According to the 1986 publication Hokuto no Ken Special: All About the Man, the school's name is derived the Chinese epithet "Mount Tai & Big Dipper" (泰山北斗, Taizan Hokuto) from The New Book of Tang, since they were the original enemies of the Hokuto Shinken style.

• Styles and techniques in the pilot episodes:
  • Taizanji Kenpō Bōjutsu (泰山寺拳法棒術, "Taishan Temple Martial Arts Staff Technique") - A stick fighting style used by Yazaki, a corrupt detective. AKA Taizan Ryū Bōjutsu (泰山流棒術, "Taishan Style Staff Technique")

• • Yūsō Ryōdan Ken (熊爪両断拳, "Bear Claw Bisection Fist") - Used by Gōda, a Taizanji assassin Kenshiro fought in the first pilot episode. It is the same technique he uses to kill Yuki, Kenshiro's girlfriend, in the same episode. The character of Gōda was recast in the anime series in episode 33 as a half-bear mutant henchman of Amiba, although no references are made of this version of Gōda being a Taishan master.
  • Taizanji Hakuja Gokusui (泰山寺白蛇獄水, "Taishan Temple White Snake Hell Water") - Sai-fighting technique used by Denki Saitō. Mentioned, but never actually used.
  • Yō Gōkin Ki (妖鋼筋鬼, "Bewitching Steel Muscle Demon") - A muscle hardening technique used by Baiken Kinbu. The character of Generallisimo Balcom (who was modeled after Baiken) in the anime series uses a similar technique in episode 21.
  • Genyu Ken (幻幽拳, "Phantasm Fist") - A flesh ripping technique used by Baiken in the second pilot chapter and by Barcom against Shin in anime episode 21. When this technique is used, the user rapidly moves his hands up and down until they become a blur. The speed is such that it can create air currents sharp enough to cut. The name given in the anime is Yōki Genyu Ken (妖鬼幻幽拳, "Bewitching Ghostly Illusion Fist").

Styles and techniques in the manga series

• • Taizan-ryū Sōjō Ben (泰山流双条鞭, "Taishan Style Twin Streak Whip") - Double Whip-wielding style used by Uighur, the warden of Cassandra. The ultimate technique performed by Uighur in this style is Yūdō Danha (熊胴断波, "Bear Trunk Severance Wave"), in Uighur shreds his victim in half. A more powerful variation of this style, also used by Uighur is the Taizan-ryū Senjō Ben (泰山流千条鞭, "Taishan-style Thousand Streak Whip"), in which Uighur removes several whips from the two horns on his helmet. Uighur's ultimate attack with the "Thousand Streak Whip" style is the Mōko Hakyoku Dō (蒙古覇極道, "Tao of the Mongolian Champion"), a powerful shoulder tackle he performs while Ken is bind to his whips.
  • Taizan Tenrō Ken (泰山天狼拳, "Taishan Celestial Wolf Fist") - The style of Ryūga of the Tenrō-sei ("Celestial Wolf Star"). The user scoops out chunks of flesh from the opponent's body before killing them. Ryūga's primary technique is the Tenrō Tōga Ken (天狼凍牙拳, "Celestial Wolf Freezing Fang Fist").
  • Taizan Hadatsu Gō (泰山破奪剛, "Taishan Destroy and Plunder Strength") - The style used by Geruga, a thug that Jūza fought against.
  • Taizan Yō Ken (泰山妖拳, "Taishan Bewitching Fist") - Ribbon-cutting style used by Hiruka, an underling of Raoh.

Styles and techniques in the anime series

• • Taizan-ryū Zanjin Battō Jutsu (泰山流斬人抜刀術, "Taishan-style Man-Slicing Sword-Drawing Technique") - Fencing style used by Garō, a lieutenant of Ryūga who challenges Kenshiro in episode 76.
  • Taizan-ryū Shisoku Ken (泰山流四束拳, "Taishan-style Four Coil Fist") - The style used by the brothers Gokure, Guzuri, Jira and Naburi. The four brothers spin around Kenshiro and attack him simultaneously. Appears in episode 88.
  • Taizan Kokuei Ken (泰山黒影拳, "Taishan Silhouette Fist") - A style used by Dolphy and Zenda, where the former blinds Kenshiro with the light reflection of metal hand before Ken can dodge or counterattack Zenda's attacks. Appears in episode 91.
  • Taizan-ryū Kenbu Jutsu (泰山流剣舞術, "Taishan Sword Dance Technique") - Another fencing style of Taishan, used by the ninja Jemoni, an assassin who claims to have performed exactly 9,999 kills. Appears in episode 93.

• Taizan Senbu (泰山旋斧)
• Taizan-ryū Satsumō Len (泰山流殺網拳)