Takuma Sakazaki

## Personal Info

Birthdate: February 4

Age: 48-50

Birthplace: Japan

Height: 5’11 (180)

Weight: 194 (88)

Blood Type: O

Job: Dojo Owner,
Karate Instructor

Style: Kyokugenryu Karate

## History

### Early Life

During his younger days, he became rivals with Ryuhaku Todoh
and Lee Gakusuo, Lee Pai Long's father. He once fought in a match with Gakusuo,
but they could not decide on a final victor and it ended in a draw. In honor of
one another's strength, Gakusuo was dubbed "The Ultimate Tiger" and
Takuma was known as "The Invincible Dragon". He was also
acquaintances with Jeff Bogard, and seems to have a yet-to-be-divulged history
with Saisyu Kusanagi. His experiences with his various opponents lead Takuma to
eventually invent Kyokugenryu Karate.

As time passed, Takuma married an American woman named
Ronnet. Both Takuma and Ronnet became parents of Ryo and Yuri, who were born
respectively four years apart. Shortly after Yuri's birth, they moved near
Southtown to raise their family and to spread the prestige of the Sakazaki
martial arts.

Takuma trained Ryo exclusively at the beginning, as he felt
Yuri was too young and he wanted Ryo to be his proper heir as Kyokugenryu
Master. He accepted Robert Garcia into the dojo after seeing his earnest
interest in the style. When Ryo was 10, Ronnet was killed in a car accident.
Sensing that he and she were most likely targeted by someone, Takuma leaves his
home to investigate the manner and leaves Ryo to take care of Yuri.

### Fist of the Dragon and Tiger

Takuma eventually fought his way through lackeys and stooges
to confront the man responsible for crime in the area, Geese Howard. He
demanded that he put an end to the tyranny and Geese replied with threats
against Takuma's children. To protect the safety of his remaining family, he
was forced to work for Geese. In order to preserve his honor, Takuma donned a
tengu mask and formed another persona: "Mr. Karate". During his years
of labor, he became feared as the indomitable and undefeated hitman for Geese.

While Geese was out on business, Mr. Big was in charge. In
order to keep Takuma firmly under his control, Mr. Big had Yuri kidnapped.
Unfortunately, that move caused Ryo and Robert to tear up Southtown in search
of her and Takuma. When Mr. Big was defeated, he called for Mr. Karate to deal
with the two youths. He fought with Ryo and, after a fierce battle, Ryo became
the victor. Not knowing Mr. Karate's true identity, Ryo threatened to kill him
if he didn't tell him where Takuma and Yuri were. Yuri stopped Ryo from killing
their father, and they had a joyous reunion.

To redeem himself as a master of Kyokugenryu Karate, he
decides to enter the King of Fighters tournament without his Mr. Karate
persona. In his ending for the second Art of Fighting, Takuma's injuries from
fighting takes its toll and he hands responsibility of the dojo to his
children. He implies that he'll probably have to retire from the fighting
circuit for awhile.

### King of Fighters

Takuma led Ryo and Robert as a team in the new King of
Fighters for two years, until he retired and brought in Yuri as a replacement.
He remained on the sideline until 1999, when he rejoined the team as their
fourth man. In 2000, Takuma welcomed King into the team, knowing that she and
Ryo have a "special something" together. He couldn't use the Garcia
fortune to rebuild with, as a world financial crisis had virtually wiped it
out. He entered the team into the 2001 tournament to win the prize money. At
the end of King of Fighters 2003, he is apparently attacked by an unseen
assailant. He tries to tell what happened to him, but passes out before he can.
It was rumored that his assailant may either be Yamazaki or Eiji Kisaragi,
however, according to the official KOF XI story, it is stated that Takuma
collapsed due to malnutrition, liver problems, and other health issues. He uses
his "weak state" as an excuse to once again enforce his wishes for a
grandchild, requesting that King enter the tournament in his stead. He makes a
healthy recovery to enter KOF XIII with Robert and Ryo.

## Powers

Gather Chi

Energy Projectile

Vacuum

Multi-Attack

## Music

Normal Shihan ver. 2 (FDT 2)

Ryuuko no Ken (KOF 94)

Yurero Otokogokoro (KOF 95)

In Spite of One’s Age (KOF 98)

Dragon-Ko (KOF 99)

Beauty and the Beast (KOF 00, 02)

Fight to the Limit (KOF 01)

After a Long Absence (KOF 13)

Kyokugen Training: Mountain Seclusion (KOF 13)

In Spite of One’s Age: Immortal (KOF 02: Unlimited Match)