Hokuto Shinken

"Hokuto Shin Ken" is named after the asterism Hokuto Shichi Sei, which is the Japanese name as the Big Dipper.

(北斗神拳 Big Dipper God Fist) is an ancient Chinese martial art, dating back 1800 years to the Land of Asura. 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. While a normal fighter uses 30% of his natural abilities, a Hokuto Shin Ken successor knows how to utilize his remaining 70%. Hokuto Shin Ken follows the Isshi Sōden 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 attack is the Musō Tensei, which can only be performed by one who completely understands sadness.

History

Hokuto Shinken 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 Three Kingdoms era. The art's power lies into channeling one's energy in a single blow and striking into the 708 Keiraku Hikō (経絡秘孔, "Hidden Channeling Points") points in the human body (also known as 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 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.

Due to its deadliness, Hokuto Shin Ken can only have one successor per generation according to the art's law. Students who failed the successorship must renounce the style voluntarily or risk having their memories erased or their fists crushed. Because of this, there has been great competition over who gets to be the successor. Prior to the events of the Hokuto no Ken manga, the successor of Hokuto Shinken was Ryūken, who won the successorship against his rival Kōryū. Ryuken then trained four adopted sons; Raoh, Toki, Jagi and Kenshirō in the art. Kenshiro was chosen by Ryuken to become his successor, although the other brothers still used the style due to Ryuken's death at the hands of Raoh. In the prequel series Souten no Ken, Ryuken (or Ramon Kasumi, as he is called in the series) is revealed to had been the 63rd Grand Master of Hokuto Shinken, preceded by his elder half-brother Kenshirō Kasumi, the 62nd Grand Master. The two brothers learned the style from their father, Tesshin Kasumi, the 61st Grand Master, thereby making the Kenshiro from Fist of the North Star the 64th Grand Master.

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.

Late in the series, it is revealed that the founder of Hokuto Shinken is a man named Shuken of the Hokuto Sōke (北斗宗家) bloodline and the ancestor of Kenshiro and Hyoh. Souten no Ken further develops the origins of Hokuto Shinken, where it is revealed that Hokuto Shin Ken is a blending of Shuken's original Hokuto Sōke no Ken and the Keiraku Hikō techniques of Seito Gek Ken.

Techniques

Techniques listed alphabetically (omitting the redundant word "Hokuto").
㊙ = An "Ōgi" (奥義 secret) technique.

Kenshiro’s Hokuto Shin Ken style
	Dan Kotsukin (断骨筋, Cutting Bone and Tendon): Killed Scorpio in the manga. Causes an opponent's muscles to self-destruct.
	Enkan Zanshū Kyaku (円環斬襲脚, Ring Beheading Layered Leg): Anime-only technique in which Kenshiro defeats a group of enemies with a spin kick.
	Ganzan Ryōzan Ha (岩山両斬波, Rocky Mountain Splitting Wave): A knife-hand strike that crushes the victim's skull. Noteworthy only because it is used more than once by Kenshiro and is an extremely straightforward maneuver in spite of its elaborate name. Does not even use any of the body's pressure points. Kenshiro uses this attack at least three times: once against one of Shin's men, a second against Taki's murderer/ambusher and the last time against Kiba Daiō.
	Gedokujutsu (解毒術, Antidote Technique) Cures venom in one's body.
	Gekitsui Shi (撃墜指 (help·info), Strike-Down Fingers): Kenshiro strikes his opponent's forehead with four fingers. When he moves his fingers the opponent is left with 3 seconds to live. Kenshiro used this on Targel after he killed Bella.
	Gōkin Bundan Kyaku (鋼筋分断脚, Steel Muscle Cutting Kick): Weakens muscles; used on Burō.
	Goshi Retsu Dan (五指烈弾, Five Finger Violent Bullets): Explodes fingers. Used on Madara and Club.
	Hachimon Kudan (八悶九断, Eight Agonies Nine Breaks): A technique that induces eight sensations of pain, before the body dismembers into nine parts. This technique was cancelled against Jagi during a flashback.
	Hagan Ken (破顔拳, Face Breaking Fist): Caves in face, used on Madara, only named in anime series.
	Hakkei no Hō (発勁の法, Method of Internal Energy Release): Stops projectiles thrown towards one's body.
	Hichō Kūzan Pa (飛鳥空斬波, Flying Bird Empty Beheading Wave): A flying kick that Kenshiro used to counter the Nanto Komori Ken.
	Hiei Ken (飛衛拳, Flying Defense Fist): A flying kick used to counter Shin's Gokuto Ken. Named in the TV series.
	Hikō Fūji (秘孔封じ, Pressure Point Sealing): Resists pressure points, used to break Amiba's pressure point hold.
	Honsha Bakuretsu Ken (翻車爆裂拳, Spilling Wheel Exploding Fist): Anime-only technique which defeats a large group of thugs at once.
	Hyakuretsu Dan (百裂弾, Hundred Crack Snap): A prototype version of the Hyakuretsu Ken from the series. Kenshiro uses this technique as a finishing move against the Taishan Temple assassin Baiken Kinbu.
	Hyakuretsu Ken (百裂拳, Hundred Crack Fist): Kenshiro's trademark technique; the one most frequently associated with him. It is characterized as a strike of over a hundred blows, delivered at rapid speed to the designated 708 Keiraku Hikō (Pressure Points) on the adversary's body. Each attack is usually accompanied by shouting, "Atatatatata!".
	Hyappō Zan (百方斬, Every-Way Beheading): An enhanced version of the Four Way Slash which kills several more enemies. Depicted only in the anime series as well.
	Jarai Kō (北蛇雷咬, Snake Thunder Bite): A rushing punch.
	Jūha Zan (柔破斬, Soft-Breaking Slash): A technique Kenshiro used against Heart that allowed him to penetrate his gummy flesh and strike his vital points.
	Jūji Zan (十字斬, Cross Slash): Kenshiro used this technique to defeat Shin during their rematch, striking his vital points in the cross-shape of Shin's emblem. The victim is given only minutes to live.
	Jūretsu Ha (縦列破, Column Break) Anime-only technique in which Ken destroys a single line of thugs.
	Kaikotsu Ken (壊骨拳, Bone Crushing Fist): Two fingers to the forehead which causes the skeleton to explode from the body; used to kill the Colonel.
	Kokū Zan (虚空斬, Void Slash): Kenshiro developed this technique to counter Shin's aerial flying kick, but it was also used to counter the South Star Human Cannonball technique. In the latter case, the adversary was left completely paralyzed (Afterwards, Kenshiro fires this enemy out of a cannon).
	Kōretsu Ha (鋼裂把, Steel-Rending Grasp): Destroyed Uighur's shoulder with six fingers only.
	Kōshu Gyakusetsu (絞首逆折, Hanging Reverse Break): Twisted head around on a Taisan Guard.
	Kōshu Hagan Ken (交首破顔拳, Neck Twisting Face Breaking Fist): A knee kick to the face used against Diamond, causing his head to split open in half.
	Kōshu Hatō Ken (交首破頭拳, Successive Neck-Breaking Head Fist) A kick to the back of the opponent's head which causes the body to split in half. Depicted only in the anime series, where its used against Buckham, the leader of the God's Army Elite Forces.
	Kūkyoku Ryūbu (空極流舞, Empty Polar Current Dance) An evading technique used to avoid the Golan Colonel's boomerangs.
	Kyomu Shidan (虚無指弾, Nothingness Attack): Erases memory; used on Jackal's Warriors.
	Kyōsatsu Shitotsu Ken (胸殺刺突拳, Chest Murder Thrust Fist) Anime-only technique in which Kenshiro strikes the opponent's chest with hand thrusts, which then explodes.
	Meidatsu Hōkai Ken (命奪崩壊拳, Life-Snatching Collapse Fist) Anime-only technique used by Ken to destroy an undead minion of Zaria.
	Musō Tensei (無想転生, Nil-Thought Rebirth)㊙: The ultimate Hokuto Shin Ken technique, which had never before been fully mastered by anyone in the 1800 year history of the style. Kenshiro was the first to master it, followed by Raoh. Ken achieved this by becoming consumed with sorrow to the point where he had achieved communion with the deathless absolute emptiness or void spoken of in Buddhism. At times it enables him to be at one with the spirits of deceased fighters (Toki, the Nanto Roku Sei warriors), and in the second series, it enables his spirit to fight Kaioh even though he is in a coma (following the first fight with Kaioh, after Shachi escapes with his body). Its mastery was perfected after Kenshiro learned the secrets of the Hokuto Soke in Taiseiden, Asura, in the second TV series.
	Nishi Shinkū Ha (二指真空把, Two-Finger Nil-Space Grasp)㊙: Deflects arrows back at attackers. This technique took Spade's eye.
	Rakan Geki (羅漢撃, Arhat Attack): A series of rapid hand-thrusts.
	Rekka Gyakuryu Ken (烈火逆流拳, Raging Flame Reverse-Flow Punch): This technique causes the opponent's throat to close, preventing the escape of air (or in one victim's case, fire). The adversary chokes for a few moments before exploding. This technique is administered in the same manner as the Hokuto Hyakuretsu Ken.
	Renkan Kumite (連環組手, Surrounding Exercise): Defeats a group of enemies using only basic techniques. Named in episode 7 of the anime series
	Ryū Geki Ko (龍撃虎, Dragon Attacks Tiger): Like the Nanto Ko Ha Ryū, it puts the victim in a false state of death. Used by Kenshiro on Rei.
	Ryūsei Hagan Kyaku (流星破顔脚, Meteorite Face Breaking Kick): A head-splitting kick that killed Denki Saitō.
	Seiei Kō (醒鋭孔, Sobering Sharp Hole)㊙: Kenshiro strikes his opponent's Ryugan, located in the chest. This causes the victim's body to become like a mass of bare nerves, causing extreme pain with the slightest touch. Kenshiro uses this technique on Jagi as revenge for Yuria before finally killing him with a blow to the head.
	Seikyokurin (聖極輪, Saint Zenith Ring)㊙: A stance used to signal an unwilling opponent in case of an emergency.
	Senjukai Ken (千手壊拳, Thousand Hand Destruction Fist): A more powerful and devastating version of the Hokuto Hyakuretsu Ken, the technique increases the severity of pain by increasing the number of punches to one thousand; Kenshiro used this punch on Kemada after he pried Ko's necklace from his neck.
	Senpū Rengeki (旋風連撃, Whirlwind Group Attack):
	Senren Kyaku (千連脚, Thousand Group Leg) Anime-only technique in which Kenshiro defeats an entire group of enemies using his kicks.
	Shichishi Kihei Zan (七死騎兵斬, Seven Death Cavalry Kill): A flying technique against enemies on horseback. Ken first wounded Raoh with this, cutting his face and breaking his helmet.
	Shichishi Seiten (七死星点, Seven Star Points of Death): Kenshiro uses this to strike Devil Rebirth's vital points in the shape of the Big Dipper and defeat him.
	Shichishi Tōki Dan (七死闘気断 Seven Death Aura Cut): Tōki no Aura gathering. Frightened Kokuō. This technique was only named in 1986 movie promotional materials.
	Shihō Zan (四方斬, Every Direction Beheading) A spin kick which kills four surrounding enemies. Depicted only in the anime series.
	Sōkin Jizai Ken (繰筋自在拳, Reeling Muscle At-Will Fist) Anime-only technique which causes two rival gang leaders, Baron of the Scorpions and Junk of the Snakes, to embrace each other literally to death.
	Sōkin Jizai Kyaku (繰筋自在脚, Tendon Pulling Will Kick): Kenshiro performs a series of two kicks at the pressure points in the neck, sending a wave of paralysis to the enemy, unable to move.
	Sōryū Ha (双龍波, Twin Dragon Wave): Both fists hit chest and destroy. Used on Gōda.
	Suieishin (水映心, Water Reflection Spirit) ㊙: A technique stealing stance. After watching somebody use a special technique, the Suieishin allows Kenshiro to replicate it. The moves he replicated with this were Yuda's Densho Reppa and Shu's Nanto Rekkyaku Zanjin.
	Tenha Kassatsu (天破活殺, Heaven Breaking Life or Death) ㊙: A secret technique, similar to Hokuto Gōsho Ha, in that the aspect of the fighter's Tōki (闘気) being expelled through their hands. However, with the Tenha Kassatsu, their Tōki is transmitted via the fingertips into the adversary, penetrating the body and causing tōki to erupt from the body in the pattern of the "Big Dipper" constellation, piercing even solid objects behind them. This technique was used by Kenshiro against Souther during their final battle atop the Pyramid of the Holy Emperor.
	Tenha no Kamae (天破の構え, Heaven Breaking Stance): A stance that resembles the Hokuto constellation. In Souten no Ken, this technique is revealed to be one of the secrets Shuken learned from the Seito Gekken style.
	Tenkai Senretsu Shō (天魁千烈掌, Dubhe Breaking Palm)㊙: A powerful series of punches that sends waves of Tōki before a palm strike that sends a finishing explosive blast. This technique is only used in the game, Hokuto Musō.
	Tenki Shō (天帰掌, Return to Heaven Palm): Right fist against palm stance; used to signal an honorable match.
	Tenryū Kokyū Hō (転龍呼吸法, Art of Dragon's Breathing)㊙: A method of breathing that allows the Hokuto Shin Ken practitioner to tap into their body's full potential. A normal human uses but 30% of their body's strength so Tenryū is used to tap into that other 70%. A technique of utmost secrecy, anyone who sees it being performed must be killed to protect one of Hokuto Shin Ken's greatest advantages over other styles. Use of this technique causes Kenshiro's jacket to burst. He only announces this technique twice during the series, however it is assumed that he uses it every time his jacket explodes when fighting against a strong opponent.
	Tōki no Aura (闘気のオーラ, Fighting Spirit Aura):
	Zankai Ken (残悔拳, Remorse Fist): This technique is used by Kenshiro against Spade. Kenshiro inserts his thumbs into the temples of his enemy. Upon removal of Kenshiro's thumbs the enemy is left with just three seconds to live. In these three seconds, Kenshiro advises them to meditate on the folly of their wicked ways, before being split in half vertically and exploding.
	Zankai Sekiho Ken (残悔積歩拳, Burden of Regret Walk Fist)㊙: By striking the power-point known as Shitsugen, Kenshiro triggers the involuntary locomotion of the adversary's legs to walk backwards, and the adversary is helpless to stop the legs' motion.
Toki’s Hokuto Shin Ken style
	Kōretsu Ha (鋼裂把, Steel-Rending Grasp): Only used by Toki in Ten no Haoh.
	Tenki Shō (天帰掌, Return to Heaven Palm): Right fist against palm stance; used to signal an honorable match.
Raoh’s Hokuto Shin Ken style
	Musō Tensei (無想転生, Nil-Thought Rebirth)㊙: The ultimate Hokuto Shin Ken technique, which had never before been fully mastered by anyone in the 1800 year history of the style. It can only be achieved by one who is consumed by sorrow. Kenshiro was the first to master it, followed by Raoh.
	Shichisei Tenshin (七星点心, Seven Star Point Spirit)㊙: Seven pillars of crimson energy erupt in the area in front of Raoh. Moments later, Raoh charges forward to barrel over anyone in his path. During the original series, this was the same killing technique Raoh's adopted father tried to use in order to end the dispute for his successor.
	Tōki no Aura (闘気のオーラ, Fighting Spirit Aura): Raoh could attack an enemy with his "Touki" Aura.
Jagi’s Hokuto Shin Ken style
	Jatensha (邪剪手, Evil Dividing Hand)㊙: Jagi performs a hopping knee attack to stun the foe in front of him. He punctures his thumbs into their temples and jumps back to see them explode. This attack is not named in the manga.
	Rakan Geki (羅漢撃, Arhat Attack): Used by Jagi against Kenshiro; a series of rapid hand-thrusts, which Jagi also uses to mask his spitting needle attack.
	Senju Satsu (千手殺, Thousand Hand Murder): A rapid-fire hand thrust originally used by Jagi against Kenshiro during a flashback.
	Inyo Satsu (陰陽殺, Shadow Sun Murder): Jagi places his hands on the sides of his opponent's head and heaves his body upwards to balance upright above them. He then twists his body to break their neck, turning their visage 180 degrees behind them. This technique is no named in the manga.
Ryuken’s Hokuto Shin Ken style
	Rakan Geki (羅漢撃, Arhat Attack): A series of rapid hand-thrusts which can only be mastered when achieving Arhat. Ryuken teaches this to Jagi in Jagi Gaiden.
	Shichisei Tenshin (七星点心, Seven Star Point Spirit)㊙: A secret technique used by Ryuken in his final fight against Raoh. Its movements follow the pattern of the Big Dipper to overwhelm the opponent.
	Senki Raidan (仙気雷弾, Hermit Spirit Lightning Bolt): This technique fires a lightning bolt at a target. Used by Ryūken on Jūkei.
Kenshiro Kasumi’s Hokuto Shin Ken style
	Chōki Kokyū Jutsu (調気呼吸術, Style Spirit Respiration Art) Hold breathing for ten minutes.
	Hyakuretsu Ken (百裂拳, Hundred Crack Fist): Kenshiro's trademark technique; the one most frequently associated with him. It is characterized as a strike of over a hundred blows, delivered at rapid speed to the designated 708 Keiraku Hikō (Pressure Points) on the adversary's body. Each attack is usually accompanied by shouting, "Atatatatata!".
	Musō Tensei (無想転生, Nil-Thought Rebirth)㊙: The ultimate Hokuto Shin Ken technique, which had never before been fully mastered by anyone in the 1800 year history of the style. Kenshiro was the first to master it, followed by Raoh. Ken achieved this by becoming consumed with sorrow to the point where he had achieved communion with the deathless absolute emptiness or void spoken of in Buddhism. At times it enables him to be at one with the spirits of deceased fighters (Toki, the Nanto Rokusei warriors), and in the second series, it enables his spirit to fight Kaio even though he is in a coma (following the first fight with Kaio, after Shachi escapes with his body). Its mastery was perfected after Kenshiro learned the secrets of the Hokuto Souke in Taiseiden, Asura, in the second TV series.
	Nishi Shinkū Ha (二指真空把, Two-Finger Nil-Space Grasp)㊙: Deflects arrows back at attackers.
	Raibō Shin Kyaku (雷暴神脚, Thunder Violent God Leg) A leaping technique which leaves a print on the ground.
	Tenha Kassatsu (天破活殺, Heaven Breaking Life or Death)㊙: A secret technique, similar to Hokuto Gōsho Ha, in that the aspect of the fighter's Tōki (闘気) being expelled through their hands. However, with the Tenha Kassatsu, their Tōki is transmitted via the fingertips into the adversary, penetrating the body and causing tōki to erupt from the body in the pattern of the "Big Dipper" constellation, piercing even solid objects behind them.
	Tenha no Kamae (天破の構え, Heaven Breaking Stance): A stance that resembles the Hokuto constellation. In Souten no Ken, this technique is revealed to be one of the secrets Shuken learned from the Seito Gekken style.
	Tenrei no Ken (Fist of the Blue Sky)㊙: Used for Kenshiro Kasumi
	Tōki no Aura (闘気のオーラ, Fighting Spirit Aura):
Koryu’s Hokuto Shin Ken style
	Shichisei Massatsu (七星抹殺, Seven Star Obliteration): A self-sacrificing attack used by Koryu.
Shuken’s Hokuto Shin Ken style
	Musō Tensei (無想転生, Nil-Thought Rebirth)㊙: The ultimate Hokuto Shin Ken technique, which had never before been fully mastered by anyone in the 1800 year history of the style. Kenshiro was the first to master it, followed by Raoh. Ken achieved this by becoming consumed with sorrow to the point where he had achieved communion with the deathless absolute emptiness or void spoken of in Buddhism. At times it enables him to be at one with the spirits of deceased fighters (Toki, the Nanto Rokusei warriors), and in the second series, it enables his spirit to fight Kaio even though he is in a coma (following the first fight with Kaio, after Shachi escapes with his body). Its mastery was perfected after Kenshiro learned the secrets of the Hokuto Souke in Taiseiden, Asura, in the second TV series.
Gaira's Hokuto Shin Ken style
	Zankai Ken (残悔拳, Remorse Fist): The failed technique performed on Kenshiro by Gaira, a minion of Jagi.
Bronza's Hokuto Shin Ken style
	Musō Tensei (無想転生, Nil-Thought Rebirth)㊙: The ultimate Hokuto Shin Ken technique, which had never before been fully mastered by anyone in the 1800 year history of the style. Kenshiro was the first to master it, followed by Raoh. Ken achieved this by becoming consumed with sorrow to the point where he had achieved communion with the deathless absolute emptiness or void spoken of in Buddhism. At times it enables him to be at one with the spirits of deceased fighters (Toki, the Nanto Rokusei warriors), and in the second series, it enables his spirit to fight Kaio even though he is in a coma (following the first fight with Kaio, after Shachi escapes with his body). Its mastery was perfected after Kenshiro learned the secrets of the Hokuto Souke in Taiseiden, Asura, in the second TV series.
Others Hokuto Shin Ken’s techniques
	Gen On Kai (幻闇壊 Phantom Dark Destruction): Freezes and silences attacker, who dies when he sees the Hokuto stars. Also used by Hokuto Ryū Ken.
	Hakkei no Jutsu (発頸の術, Art of Head Punching):
Nise - Hokuto Shin Ken
	Nise - Hokuto Shin Ken (偽・北斗神拳, Fake Big Dipper God Fist): A fake imitation of Hokuto Shin Ken used by Geese in Jubaku no Machi and Shin Hokuto no Ken.

Denshōsha

01. Shuken
{C}21. Ryūshō
{C}61. Tesshin Kasumi
{C}62. Kenshirō Kasumi
{C}63. Ryūken
{C}64. Kenshirō

Properly Trained

Improperly Trained

ja:北斗神拳