The Niko Style was born from Mukaku rearranging the Gaoh Style with some parts of the Kaiwan Style into something more useful in the modern age.[1] Particularly, it was born during the finally years of Mukaku's attempts of unifying The Inside through martial force.[1]
The style is made up of four different katas, or forms, each of which must be fully mastered in order for the Niko Style to be complete.[4] This style places a high focus on adaptability and applicability; many of the techniques are not set patterns, but rather basic principles which can be applied in multiple situations.
The Niko Style utilizes unique styles of training to maximize the user's physical conditioning. This includes underwater shadow-boxing (which combines anaerobic exercise with water resistance) to improve muscular and cardiovascular functions.[5]
The term, Tiger's Vessel (虎の器, Tora no Utsuwa), refers to the heir of Tokita Niko, or more specifically, one who is a clone of a specific high-ranking member of the Worm, as well as a master of the Niko Style. As Fei Wangfang discovered, the real Tiger's Vessel is Tokita Ohma.
There are separate schools of the Style based on the practitioner, due to its inherent adaptability. For example, the Other Niko created techniques such as Dancing Serpent, Ironbreaker: Chain and the Fallen Demon. However, The Other Niko would abandon it in favor of a new style, called Formless. It is also worth noting that the Niko named Four that taught Ohma focused on elevating the Niko Style into a pure barehanded martial art, while Mukaku kept it as a style that can be used with or without weapons interchangeably.
Four Katas[]
The Niko Style's Four Katas are Adamantine, Flame, Redirection and Water. Each kata has an 'ultimate technique' which are not necessarily the most powerful techniques but are rather "aces in the hole" that can be used no matter what condition the user is in.[6]
Adamantine Kata[]
Adamantine Kata: Indestructible
Adamantine Kata: Indestructible explained
Adamantine Kata: Ironbreaker
Adamantine Kata: Iron Fingers
Ohma using Iron Fingers to snap a rapier
Adamantine Kata, Ultimate Technique: Bone Binding
1/6
The Adamantine Kata (金剛の型, Kongō no Kata; lit. "Adamant Form")[7] involves the tightening of the muscles (thus hardening one's body) for both defensive and offensive purposes.
Flying Axe Kick[]
Flying Axe Kick (飛斧脚, Hibukyaku) is a flying kick enhanced by the Adamantine Kata. The resulting force is able to stagger the likes of Takeshi Wakatsuki.
Indestructible[]
Indestructible (不壊, Fue) allows the user to either defend from powerful blows or attack the opponent with immense power, through instantaneously clenching all of their muscles at the moment of impact; tensing and tightening of the muscles increases the solidity and density of the user's body, thus preventing the impact of outside attacks from inflicting much, if any, damage.[8][9] This gives the technique massive defensive and offensive power.
By the user also picturing themselves as if they are rooted to the ground, the technique has the capability to withstand blows from opponents up to a certain weight limit.[8] The sturdy muscles presented by Indestructible are durable enough to mitigate attacks as brutal as Rakshasa's Palm (in this case, because it prevents the permeation of the palm strike's rotational energy).[9] However, Indestructible is not infallible and can be broken through by overwhelmingly powerful blows (such as Takeshi's superhuman strength)[10] or by attacks that can gradually wear Indestructible down (such as Setsuna's Rakshasa's Sole).[9] It also isn't flawless. Ohma pointed out that the more rigid the muscles become, the more maneuverability is sacrificed. This technique also can't strengthen the joints, as noted by Kuroki Gensai.
Ironbreaker[]
Ironbreaker (鉄砕, Tessai) is a strike-enhancing technique that is delivered while tensing and tightening the muscles in the user's hands or feet.[11] It produces attacks powerful enough to leave an impression of one's fist in their opponent's body.[12] However, for lesser users. It causes the fist to become stiff to the point of being paralyzed, as demonstrated when Koga uses it.
Ironbreaker: Chain[]
An application of Ironbreaker unique to Fei Wangfang's version of the Niko Style, Ironbreaker: Chain (鉄砕・連, Tessai Tsunare), as the name implies, is a continuous barrage of Ironbreaker enhanced strikes. Wangfang demonstrates this as a counter to Takeshi's attempt to throw him out of his hold.[12]
Iron Fingers[]
Iron Fingers (鉄指, Tesshi) is a technique that involves tightening the muscles in the fingers thereby hardening the joints of the fingers.[4] This is an extremely versatile technique and can be used as a jabbing attack against the opponent's vitals, as a pinching hold or even to enable movement of the fingers even if they are broken.
It is presumed that this technique is related to the Pierce technique of the Gaoh Style.
Bone Binding[]
Bone Binding (抱骨, Hōkotsu) is the ultimate technique of the Adamantine Kata.[13] Using precise and delicate muscle control, the user is able to move body parts where a bone has been broken. This technique appears to be one of the many Kaiwan Style techniques transferred over, as Kuroki Gensai demonstrated the same technique when his entire right fist was broken.[1]
The Flame Kata (火天の型, Katen no Kata; lit. "Heavenly Fire Form") is centered around movement and positioning, giving the user incredible speed and agility.
Flashfire[]
Flashfire (火走, Hibashiri) is a style of movement that allows for the user to flicker like a flame. This technique is able to confuse the enemy by creating afterimages.[14]
Phantom Pace[]
Phantom Pace (幽歩, Yūho) is a technique where user quickly sidesteps at the moment right before their opponent's attack, causing the opponent to think that their attack phased right through them.[15]
Raging Fire[]
Raging Fire (烈火, Rekka) is a sprinting technique that is performed after digging their toes into the ground, allowing them to accelerate at unthinkable speeds.[16]
Earth-Shrinking[]
The ultimate technique of Flame Kata, Earth-Shriking (縮地, Shukuchi) with the essence of the technique laying in "standing on one's bones alone" without the use of the muscles. It relies on shifting one's center of gravity to move, with its "interval" visibly different from regular motions. It yields the illusion that the user is back stepping and the distance between the user and the opponent suddenly shrinks.[17]
Redirection Kata[]
Ohma's Weeping Willow
Teen Ohma's Weeping Willow
Kiryu's Weeping Willow
Fei Wangfang' Weeping Willow
Redirection Kata: Change of Scenery
Ohma using Chi Blockage against Kiriyu.
The effects of Chi Blockage.
Redirection Kata: Entanglement
Redirection Kata: Flowing Edge explained
Redirection Kata: Flowing Edge
Redirection Kata: Flowing Edge
1/11
The Redirection Kata (操流の型, Sōryū no Kata; lit. "Flow Control Form")[18] involves seeing and manipulating the "flow of power", using minimal motions to turn the opponent's attacks against them. As a result, this kata requires incredible kinetic vision and delicate physical control.
Weeping Willow[]
The most basic move of the Redirection Kata, Weeping Willow (柳, Yanagi) alters the trajectory of their opponent's attack by redirecting their flow of power.[19] In this manner, the user can make their opponent's attacks miss as well as make an opponent lose their balance, allowing an opening for an attack.
Change of Scenery[]
Change of Scenery (転地, Tenchi) is where user hurls their opponent with a twisting throw.[20]
Chi Blockage[]
Chi Blockage (絶氣, Zetsuki) is a powerful palm strike that was originally created to destroy the nerves. However it can also be used to suppress the autonomic nervous system.[21]
Entanglement[]
Entanglement (絡み, Karami) is a technique that goes one step beyond the Weeping Willow. By not only altering the trajectory of the opponent's attacks but grabbing onto them while doing so, the user can redirect the power back into their opponent. This can cause dislocation of the joints, as seen when Ohma used it on Komada Shigeru.[22]
Flowing Edge[]
Flowing Edge (流刃, Ryūjin) is a defensive technique that deflects an attack's trajectory by applying power to its side.[23] It can even be used to deflect projectiles (such as bullets) by calculating the angle of incidence of the projectile and creating an angle to deflect the projectile off of hard bone in order to change the projectile's trajectory.[20]
Marionette[]
The ultimate technique of Redirection Kata, Marionette (傀儡, Kugutsu) amplifies the body's internal power and control their body with minimal usage of energy, enabling them to move and fight when their stamina is extremely limited.[24]
Water Kata[]
Water Kata: Bind of Pisces
Ohma using Bind of Pisces on Kuroki
Ohma setting up Jellyfish Hold
Water Kata: Jellyfish Hold
Ohma setting up to use Screw Cutter Jizo
Ohma using Screw Cutter Jizo on Raian
Water Kata: Seagrass Hold
Ohma setting up Water Dragon's Vein
Water Kata: Water Dragon's Vein
Water Kata: Water Dragon's Vein
Water Kata, Ultimate Technique: Water Mirror explained
Ohma using Water Mirror to choke Cosmo
Ohma using Water Mirror to choke Cosmo
1/13
The Water Kata (水天の型, Suiten no Kata; lit. "Heavenly Water Form") is a grappling-based kata that places emphasis on flexibility and fluidity of motion.
Bind of Pisces[]
Bind of Pisces (双魚之縛, Sōgyo no Shibaru) is an armbar that involves immobilizing the opponent's arms by pinning one arm by their head with one's legs and the other arm with one's hands.[4]
Dancing Serpent[]
A technique from Wangfang's Niko Style, Dancing Serpent (舞蛇, Mai Hebi) is where the user bends their entire body backwards to avoid the opponent's attack.
Guillotine[]
Guillotine (首断, Shudan) is a technique that is performed while the opponent is off balance, the user then grabs the front of their opponent's neck with both hands (while facing in the opposite direction to them) and then violently pulls and lifts their opponent's body up off the ground using their neck as a lever, heavily damaging the opponent's neck.[25]
Jellyfish Clutch[]
Jellyfish Clutch (海月固め, Kurage Gatame) is where the user runs at the opponent and catches them in a headlock, leaning down using the momentum of their run. This movement is used to viciously snap the opponent's neck back.[26]
Screw Cutter Jizo[]
Screw Cutter Jizo (捻切地蔵, Nejikiri Jizō) is a technique that, while the opponent is off balance in a supine position, the user grabs their opponent's arm with both hands, before flipping them over into a prone position and then tightly holding that arm in a manner similar to an armlock that also involves sitting on the opponent's shoulder.[25]
Seagrass Hold[]
Seagrass Hold (水草取り, Minakusa Tori) is a technique used to evade and then lock a thrusting movement; the user quickly dodges a thrusting weapon (such as a spear) or thrusting attack (such as a punch or nukite) and grabs and locks the offending weapon/limb under their armpit in one fluid motion.[27]
Water Dragon's Vein[]
A variation of the bow and arrow hold, Water Dragon's Vein (水龍脈, Suiryūmyaku) is where the user lies on their back with their arms clutching their opponent's neck and knees, and their legs pushing up on their opponent's back.[26] This causes loss of consciousness within seven seconds, due to the carotid sinus reflex, though it has been surmised that the true purpose of this technique is to snap the opponent's spine.[28]
Water Mirror[]
The ultimate technique of the Water Kata, Water Mirror (水鏡, Suikyō) can be used when the user cannot can't use their normal locks and holds, such as if they had broken their arm. This technique involves using a part of their opponent's body to place their opponent in a lock or a hold. Because there is no specific form for Water Mirror, it allows the user to be flexible and change the way they use it in a fight situation. For instance, in Ohma's battle with Imai Cosmo, Ohma grabbed Cosmo's arm and used it to put him in a choke hold; he also dislocated Cosmo's shoulder and broke his wrist to prevent him from escaping.[6]
Other Katas[]
Nil Kata[]
Nil Kata: Void
The Nil Kata (無の型, Mu no Kata, lit. "Empty Form") is not one of the four katas of the Niko Style per se, but rather a compilation of breathing exercises.[29]
Void[]
Void (空, Kū) is a breathing exercise similar to Ibuki breathing and neigong, which involves deep exhalations through increasing the abdominal pressure, focusing awareness towards the body's meridian. This is used as a means of concentration and internal regulation.[29]
Combined Katas[]
Flame & Water Kata: Fire Water
Adamantine & Flame Kata: Flashing Steel: Blast
Niko's Flashing Steel: Blast
Adamantine & Flame Kata: Flashing Steel: Smash
Adamantine & Flame Kata: Flashing Steel: Smash
Adamantine & Flame Kata: Flashing Steel: Smash
Redirection & Flame Kata: Flickering Flame
Redirection & Flame Kata: Flickering Flame
Redirection & Flame Kata: Flickering Flame
Ohma setting up Ironbreaker Revolution
Ohma using Adamantine & Water Kata: Ironbreaker Revolution
Niko's Swimming Swallow
Ohma's Swimming Swallow
Redirection & Flame Kata: Will-O'-the-Wisp
Redirection & Flame Kata: Will-O'-the-Wisp
1/15
Some moves of the Niko Style utilize principles from multiple katas.
Absolute Destruction[]
A combination of the Water and Fire Katas, Absolute Destruction (絶壊, Zekkai) is a technique from Wangfang's Niko Style that appears to use the principles of fa jin to deliver a powerful impact.
Binding Demon[]
A combination of the Redirection and Water Katas unique to Wangfang's Niko Style, Binding Demon (縛鬼, Bakuki) consists of utilizing one's arms & legs to restrain the targets arms against their torso from behind, seemingly using their own force to bind them, as even Takeshi Wakatsuki was unable to break free with the strength of his arms.[12]
Bone Consumption[]
A combination of the Redirection and Water Katas, Bone Consumption (骨喰, Honeku) involves loosening the joints to increase the range of motion before resetting them back.
Demon Wheel[]
A combination technique that is unique to Gaoh Mukaku where the user knocks the target of balance with a palm strike and then immediately follows up with an upward elbow strike in an arc. Tokita Ohma comments that that move would have killed Narushima Koga if he did not pull him back.
Fire Water[]
A combination of the Flame and Water Katas, Fire Water (炎水, Ensui) is a rapid transition from a forward dash to a low tackle, evading any incoming attacks while aiming to tackle the opponent to the ground at the same time.[30]
Flashing Steel[]
A combination of Raging Fire and Indestructible, Flashing Steel (瞬鉄, Shuntetsu) is the fastest attack of the Niko Style. It involves charging the opponent at a high speed and delivering a blow with tightened muscles.[4] The momentum and hardness interact to make for a devastating blow; it's best used as a counter, utilizing both the opponent's and the user's momentum to maximize inflicted damage.[25] However, despite its speed, its linearity makes it predictable.[4] Flashing Steel has at least three forms: Blast (爆, Baku), a blow with the elbow[8], Smash (砕, Sai), a punch[31], and Pierce (穿, Sen), a finger stab.[32]
Flickering Flame[]
Combining the Flame and Redirection Katas, Flickering Flame (畝焔, Uneri Homura) is a technique that shifts the user's center of gravity when at full sprint, enabling the user to change directions mid-dash immediately and still maintain top speed. The technique puts heavy strain on the legs, however.[33][30]
Ironbreaker: Revolution[]
A combination of the Adamantine and Water Katas, Ironbreaker: Revolution (鉄砕廻, Tessai-kai) is where the user first throws their opponent to the ground and immediately follows up with a revolved Ironbreaker punch.[25]
Leech[]
A combination of the Redirection and Flame Katas unique to The Other Tokita Niko, Leach (original Jap, name needed) is where the user sticks his fingers on his opponents skin, and then uses the physical control of the Redirection Kata and the acceleration of the Flame Kata to seemingly burn of the opponents skin. Setsuna Kiryu described it as a "petty move" and while The Other Niko Tokita didn't deny that, he commented on how a single hit might cause "just a little pain", widespread damage would cause someone to lose their minds.
Swimming Swallow[]
A combination of the Redirection and Water Katas, Swimming Swallow (水燕, Suien) is a rush of blows with unpredictable and quickly-altering trajectories, making them incredibly difficult to guard against.[31]
Will-O'-the-Wisp[]
Using the principles of both the Redirection and Flame Katas, Will-O'-the-Wisp (不知火, Shiranui) is a turning sidekick and that redirects the flow of the kick into a full-body stomp. The attack is powerful enough to smash a hole into the ground when utilized.[34]
Secret Techniques[]
There are three known Secret Techniques (奥義, Ōgi) of the Niko Style. Some of them were created by Gaoh Mukaku.
Fallen Demon[]
Kiryu Setsuna using Fallen Demon
The Secondary Secret Technique: Fallen Demon (第弐奥義降魔, Dai-ni Ōgi: Gōma) is a technique created by The Other Tokita Niko. The user enters a state of tachypsychia, an altered perception of time, allowing them to see everything around them in slow motion. While this does not increase the speed of the user's physical actions, it allows them to identify and react more effectively, making it easier for the user to dodge and counterattack.[35] The technique is highly taxing on the brain, due to forcing the brain to analyze what it sees at high speeds, and will permanently damage the brain if it's overused. As seen with Setsuna Kiryu, it can cause life-like hallucinations.[35]Long Min, Ranjo, and Fei Wangfang also know how to use the technique, with Wangfang noted to be the only one to handle the strain of using Fallen Demon and Possessing Spirit simultaneously.
Demonsbane[]
Demonsbane, the pinnacle of the Niko Style
How to perform Demonsbane
How to perform Demonsbane
Incorrectly performing Demonsbane
Niko Style, Secret Technique: Demonsbane
Ohma using Demonsbane against Wakatsuki
Ohma using Demonsbane against Wakatsuki
1/7
The Secret Technique: Demonsbane (奥義鬼鏖, Ōgi: Kiō) is the application of all four katas acting as one. As such, can only be performed by someone who has mastered all four.[36] The training for the technique requires the user to have experienced the heightened sense of awareness that comes with a near-death experience.[37] It is a counter that enables the user to completely ward the impact of an opponent's attack. The user utilizes Redirection to change the direction of the attack's power, Water to allow the power to flow throughout the body and Flame to check positioning. Finally, Adamantine is used to deliver the diverted power back to the opponent while also adding their own power to the attack, drastically augmenting the damage inflicted.[15]
Demonsbane is also a formless move, making it deceptively deadly because no matter what attack the opponent performs, the user can divert and return it back with more power. However, the move does have a few weakness: besides having to be a master of the Niko Style, the Redirection and Water Katas are key to achieve the move in the first place. If the Redirection Kata is used improperly, the flow of the attack won't change and will instead hit the user. If the Water Kata is used improperly and their body is not completely relaxed, the flow of the attack will move randomly in the user's body, damaging themselves or lowering the damage of the final attack.[15]
Divine Devil[]
Fei Wangfang demonstrating Divine Devil
The Tertiary Secret Technique: Divine Devil (第参奥義神魔, Dai-san Ōgi: Shinma) is a technique that only Fei Wangfang is capable of using, which surpasses the Possessing Spirit in sheer power. A combination of Possessing Spirit and Fallen Demon, Divine Devil utilizes both techniques at an even higher level than a normal user would be capable of. Wangfang's heartbeat is so rapid only those close to the user can hear it clearly. Said acceleration can also be used to fling the user's blood at an opponent at high speeds with mild piercing force, which Wangfang uses to disrupt Takeshi's use of Blast Core. Takeshi notes that Wangfang also lacks any signs of the drawbacks that Possessing Spirit has.
However, because of the immense strain of using two already damaging enough techniques at once, Wangfang can only maintain its full strength for so long before he needs to pull it back. Like Possessing Spirit, Divine Devil has a maximum output. However, unleashing the full strength of the technique after continuous use does have dire consequence, with Wangfang's body breaking down in a bloody mess not long after.
