Gaoh Style

The **Gaoh Style** (臥 (が) 王 (おう) 流 (りゅう) , *Gaō-ryū*; lit. *"Prostrating King Style"*) is an older form of classical jiu-jitsu. Gaoh Mukaku was thought to be its last master until his grandson, Gaoh Ryuki, was found to still utilize the martial art.

## History

The Gaoh Style was passed down among "cowards"; the essence of its style lies in one hit kill moves and "surprise attacks". Because of this, it's unsuited for blows exchanges and those aware of its techniques. The style is not meant for sport or fair fights, but rather for survival in incredibly dangerous situations and times. It is believed that it is the Gaoh Style's "surprise attack" nature that caused Gaoh Mukaku to modernize it into the Niko Style.

Although originally thought to be a form of classical Jiu-jitsu, there were no known records of the style until the nineteen-forties, when Gaoh Mukaku first utilized it in the Kengan matches. 80 years later, Katahara Retsudo would discover via a text from the late Edo period that, in actuality, the Style was a long forgotten martial art passed down in a rural village in Kensai, that Gaoh Mukaku had rebranded as the Gaoh Style and falsely claimed as his own.

## Techniques

* Gaoh Style stance
* Gaoh Style's evasive movements
* Ryuki using Air Rending against Akoya
* Ryuki's Armor Clad
* Explanation of Armorclad
* Pierce, the deadly application of Armorclad, used on Naidan
* Kokuro lands a blow...
* ...only to be immediately countered by Ryuki's Earth-Crouching Dragon
* Gaoh killing a Worm memeber with Retrograde Moon.
* Ryuki's Soft Strike, a "mail-piercer" blow
* An attempt to land Twin Dragon Charge on Naidan
* Ryuki redirecting Akoya's strike with Weeping Willow
* Ryuki redirecting Akoya's strike with Weeping Willow
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### Air Rending

**Air Rending** (裂空 (れっくう) , *Rekkū*) is a flying roundhouse kick thrown from a low stance (as if from a prostrate position). It works best when used after the Earth-Crouching Dragon, as the technique is virtually indistinguishable from Earth-Crouching Dragon up until the flying roundhouse kick is thrown.

### Armorclad

A primarily defensive technique that works by tightening all the muscles in the body at once to prepare for impact, **Armorclad** (纏 (てん) 鎧 (がい) , *Tengai*) drastically increases the user's durability, useful for offense and defensive purposes. It is one of many Gaoh Style techniques that became a part of the Niko Style. In this case, it is the original name of the Adamantine Kata technique, Indestructible..

#### Pierce

A specific application of Armorclad, **Pierce** (穿 (うがち) , *Ugachi*) is where the finger muscles are developed and hardened, then used to pierce a vulnerable spot. The technique appears to be the predecessor of the Niko Style's Iron Fingers.

### Earth-Crouching Dragon

A surprise attack, **Earth-Crouching Dragon** (地 (ち) 伏 (ふく) 龍 (りゅう) , *Chifukuryū*) is a powerful uppercut thrown from a low stance (as if from a prostrate position); it often hits the opponent from a blind spot if successful. It is likely the technique was originally used with a small blade.

### Mental Control

**Mental Control** is a technique that preserves the user's energy for a decisive strike, subtly shifting their body to slightly mitigate the damage received. However, as it's only a slight mitigation, Mental Control is intended as a last resort.

### Retrograde Moon

**Retrograde Moon** (逆 (さか) 月 (ずき) , *Sakazuki*) is a technique where the user manipulates the direction of an opponent's attack through control of their joints, redirecting the attack back at the opponent. This technique is most effective against opponent's armed with a weapon.

### Root Cutter

**Root Cutter** (根 (ね) 断 (だ) ち, *Nedachi*) is an upwards diagonal knife hand strike which travels in an arc. It is first seen when Ryuki used it on Xia Ji, albeit without success, and later used by Mukaku to break the neck of Ogi.

### Shrike

**Shrike** (百舌 (もず) , *Mozu*) is a technique where the user strikes at vital areas from their blind spot with either a bladed weapon or even their bare fingers. The technique is meant for a decisive kill.

### Soft Strike

**Soft Strike** (柔 (やわら) 打 (うち) , *Yawarauchi*) is a type of "mail-piercer", where the force penetrates inside the enemy's body. Ryuki used this move against Naidan Mönkhbat in the Kengan Association VS Purgatory Tournament.

### Twin Dragon Charge

**Twin Dragon Charge** (双 (そう) 龍 (りゅう) 突 (とつ) , *Sōryūtotsu*) appears to be a charging twin thrust to the opponent's neck. The full extent of this move was not shown since Naidan anticipated it.

### Uncoiling Serpent Fist

**Uncoiling Serpent Fist** (蛇 (じゃ) 伸 (しん) 拳 (けん) , *Jashinken*) is a technique that was anticipated by Naidan before Ryuki could use it. It appears that the technique involves the user to charge at the opponent and as they close the distance they will rapidly change the direction, catching the opponent off guard.

### Weeping Willow

**Weeping Willow** (柳 (やなぎ) , *Yanagi*) is a technique used to alter the trajectory of an opponent's attack via redirecting their flow of power. It is the exact same technique as the Weeping Willow of the Niko Style, and so far the only one that hadn't undergone any name changes.

### Swift Foot

**Swift Foot** (速脚, *Sumiashi*) is a technique in where the user shifts their centre of gravity just as an opponent strikes, which would catch them off-guard.

### Fanged Beast

**Fanged Beast** (original Jap. name needed) is a technique that seemingly involves the user throwing two perpendicular, diagonal strikes from an X-shaped cross-arm guard, consequently resulting in an cross-like attack. It was first used by Gaoh Mukaku against Shen Wulong - in that case, the technique served as a distraction to cover a throw of iron pellets.

## References

1. ↑ Chapter 228
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Chapter 38 (Omega)
3. ↑ Chapter 211 (Omega)
4. ↑ Chapter 8 (Omega)
5. ↑ Chapter 87 (Omega)
6. ↑ Chapter 150 (Omega)
7. ↑ Chapter 83 (Omega)
8. ↑ Chapter 82 (Omega)
9. ↑ Chapter 39 (Omega)
10. ↑ Chapter 215 (Omega)