Ryu

**Ryu** (劉 (リュウ) , *Ryū*) is one of the characters in Yuto Sano's manga series, *Gokurakugai*. Yoki introduced Ryu as Alma's instructor by offering him alcohol as a bribe.

## Profile

Ryu is a man who provided training for Tao and Nei. He was a strict and uncompromising instructor, but he also had a laid-back and alcoholic disposition.

## Appearance

Ryu possesses a well-defined physique and stands tall in stature. His long hair, though somewhat disheveled, suits him well. Notably, he has am untrimmed beard and mustache that is still growing. On more casual occasions, he opts for a black samue outfit, a traditional Japanese attire often associated with Buddhist monks and temple workers. This attire is characterized by its simple and functional design. Ryu pairs this with a long robe and casual, loose-fitting black pants that feature a drawstring waist for easy adjustment. His choice of footwear consists of black sandals. His overall appearance appears somewhat untidy, possibly influenced by his alcohol consumption.

## Personality

Ryu's personality is a blend of indifference, aggression, practicality, determination, and a complex set of motivations driven by his strong feelings against Magas. He exhibits an indifferent attitude, particularly at the beginning of his interactions with Alma, seeming unconcerned about societal norms and displaying an unconventional approach to teaching. His initial behavior towards Alma is aggressive and provocative, as he encourages confrontations and challenges Alma to overcome his fears and hesitation.

Despite his unorthodox methods, Ryu has a practical and goal-oriented approach to training Alma, aiming for him to harness his unique Maga blood power and become self-reliant. Additionally, Ryu is seen consuming alcohol during their training sessions and emphasizes the importance of practical combat experience and mastering the use of Maga blood independently. He is also open to conversations about Alma's condition and the reasons behind his inability to remove the restraint stake. Lastly, Ryu's motivations and past connections appear to be complex, as indicated by his interactions with Yoki and Dara, hinting at a history related to Tao and Nei that adds depth to his character.

## Plot

### Background

Ryu, introduced by Yoki as Alma's instructor for the day at Training Ground No. 2 of the Headquarters, initially declines to share his history related to Tao and Nei as prompted by Yoki. Concerns about Alma's safety arise when Dara points to Ryu's presence and the overall disdain for Magas within the Saragi Anti-Maga Organization Headquarters. Yoki further hints at Ryu's connection, referring to him as a "former," implying a history with the organization.

## Relationships

* **Yoki** Yoki introduces Ryu as Alma's instructor. He seems to have a prior connection or acquaintance with Ryu, as he brings him to the training ground and has confidence in Ryu's ability to teach Alma.
* **Alma:** Ryu is introduced as Alma's instructor by Yoki to help him become stronger, although he was bribed by Yoki for some expensive alcohol. Initially, Ryu demonstrating aggression during training, which leads to tension and a fight-to-kill scenario to help Alma confront his fears and control his unique Maga blood power. While their interactions start off combative, Ryu's ultimate goal is to train Alma and help him gain self-reliance, in order for Alma to not be their enemy in the future when he goes Berserk once again.
* **Tao:** Ryu recalls a time when Tao intervened to stop Alma, which suggests some interaction or knowledge about Tao's role in Alma's life.
* **Nei:** Nei encounters Ryu outside the training hall and asks about his perspective on Alma being a Maga. Ryu clarifies that Alma's status as a Maga isn't straightforward, as he possesses a human mind but could exhibit Maga traits. Nei is also involved in the training with Ryu and Alma.

## Abilities & Skills

* **Combat Skills:** Ryu possesses advanced combat skills, as demonstrated by his ability to perform a powerful sliding kick technique that knocked Alma to the ground. He engages in combat with Alma and displays proficiency in various combat techniques, such as elbow strikes, throws, and powerful kicks. He assumes a fighting stance when preparing for combat, indicating a level of martial arts expertise and readiness for battle.
	+ **Combat Experience:** Ryu views their training session as an opportunity for practical combat experience, indicating that he is experienced in combat training and can impart this knowledge to Alma.
* **Tactics and Strategy:** Ryu suggests a fight-to-kill scenario to help Alma confront his fears and become self-reliant. He encourages Alma to target his enemies' heads as a means of disabling them.
* **Training Philosophy:** Ryu emphasizes the importance of Alma learning to control his Maga blood power independently and not relying on external restraints. He encourages Alma to take command of his power and master it.

## Etymology

The Japanese name "劉" (Ryū) is derived from Chinese characters (pronounced as Liu) which means it was originally represented by a picture that symbolized its meaning. In this case, the character was originally a pictograph of a flowing river. The flowing river symbolizes movement, which is a fundamental concept in Chinese culture. The character represents the flowing or movement of water.

Over time, the character "劉" took on the semantic meaning of "to flow" or "to move." This semantic meaning is related to the original pictograph of a flowing river. It can also be associated with the flow of time or the continuity of a family's lineage.

## Trivia

* **Sake Enthusiast:** Ryu is shown to be fond of alcohol, particularly sake. He considers it his payment for teaching Alma and consumes it during their training session.
* At the start of their interaction, Ryu displays an indifferent attitude towards people's lives and a lack of concern for others.
* Ryu's teaching style is aggressive and provocative, as he encourages confrontations and challenges Alma to overcome his fears.
	+ He sets up unconventional training rules with the condition that Alma would lose if he died, reflecting his unorthodox teaching methods.
	+ Yoki specifically requested Ryu's assistance to help Alma become self-reliant, indicating that Ryu possesses unique skills or knowledge.
* Ryu's actions and treatment of Alma are influenced by his strong negative feelings against Magas, which serve as motivation for their training.

## References

 "Character Information". *Jump SQ Gokurakugai Official site*.
*Gokurakugai* Manga: Chapter 11 (Page 6).
*Gokurakugai* Manga: Chapter 11 (Pages 10-11).
*Gokurakugai* Manga: Chapter 10 (Pages 22-25).
*Gokurakugai* Manga: Chapter 11 (Pages 16-27).
*Gokurakugai* Manga: Chapter 11 (Pages 19-22).
*Gokurakugai* Manga: Chapter 11 (Pages 28-31).