Ryouta entered the 2nd Squad Library. Supposedly, it was supposed to be completely devoted to information on assassination techniques and the like, whatever the Covert Ops would be engaged in.

After talking with the librarian, he located a book entitled, “Taijutsu” by Yoruichi Shihōin.

He opened the book and began to read.
Taijutsu, literally meaning "body skill" or "body art", is a term for martial arts techniques that rely on a science of body movements. This generalization can be broken down into several different categories:
Koppojutsu- breaking bones.
Koshijutsu- striking nerve points, muscles, knowledge of the human body, etc.
Taihenjutsu- evasion, postures, ukemi (rolls/falling), etc.
Dakentaijutsu- striking patterns, fist formations, conditioning, etc.
Jutaijutsu- throws, joint locks, pins, etc.

Chapter 1: Koppojutsu
Koppojutsu means to destroy the bone structure of the attacker. What characterizes the Koppojutsu techniques is that distance is created by moving along with the attack, then moving forward with a strike and then moving quickly out to a safe distance again. This is done to come in with a strike at exactly 90 degrees against the bone structure of the attacker to do the most damage. Doing this demands good timing and rhythm in the defensive attack, often done by moving with the legs crossing each other. Another important part of the footwork is to hit the top of the attacker’s foot, by kicking or stepping on it to control his balance.

It should also be noted that the starting distance should be really big from the start; the attacker must take one big step or several steps to reach the defender. Note: this means that Koppojutsu cannot be used to its full efficacy inside or in any other confined space.
A practitioner should be looking right between the attacker’s eyebrows, so that the attacker will not be able to read the intentions through his eyes. The attacker will also believe that he has eye contact, which will be confusing for him. Exploit this advantage by eye-gouging, or blinding the enemy in some other way. Carry some kind of blinding pepper powder, or, if it’s raining, throw collected rainwater from your blade in the opponent’s face before coming in with a slash.

To build strength in your feet and hands that are essential to utilizing this, I recommend training by wrapping straw around a tree and placing cloth over the straw, then punching and kicking it until you’re bleeding. Keep doing that until those areas are hard as rock.

End of Discussion on Basic Koppojutsu

ooc: intelligence for this entire thread, please

+0.5 Intelligence

Ryouta continued reading.
Chapter 2: Koshijutsu
Koshijutsu is the skill of attacks to muscle and nerve points. This art of nerve striking utilizes the knowledge of the human body's nerves and muscles. The striking of these points causes sharp pain, numbness, and through some vital points the practitioner can cause temporary paralysis and even death. One can use this knowledge to gain an advantage over a larger or maybe even more physically powerful opponent. For example, if the opponent is skilled in blocking strikes, one could start by striking the points on the limbs and slowing the adversary down bit by bit, working up to the more vital nerve points and incapacitating the opponent and allowing for escape, or more favorably, perhaps slow enough so you can make the kill.

A diagram of human nerve points (frontal view) to aim for is shown here:


Here is an explanation of the diagram shown above:
1. Bridge of nose: A strike to this area can result in broken bones and disorientation.
2. Temple: A strike to this area can result in disorientation or unconsciousness.
3. Septum: A strike to this area can result in extreme pain, bleeding and disorientation.
4. Front teeth: A strike to this area can result in broken bones and disorientation.
5. Side of jaw: A strike to this area can result in broken bones.
6. Carotid artery: A strike to this area can result in unconsciousness.
7. Larynx: A strike to this area can result in broken bones, permanent damage to the voice or death.
8. Clavicle: A strike to this area can result in broken bones and disabling of the arm.
9. Solar plexus: A strike to this area can disrupt breathing or cause unconsciousness.
10. Floating ribs: A strike to this area can disrupt breathing and result in broken bones, internal injuries and death.
11. Radius bone: A strike to this area can result in numbness to the hand or broken bones.
12. Groin: A strike to this area can result in incapacitating pain, reproductive organ damage (in men) or unconsciousness (in men)
13. Inner thigh: A strike to this area can result in muscle cramping or numbing of the lower leg.
14. Knee: A strike to this area can result in dislocated bones.
15. Instep: A strike to this area can result in dislocated bones.

As you can see, gaining proficiency in striking any of these areas with an easily obtained amount of force can result in devastating effects (for your unlucky opponent.)

Now here is a diagram of human nerve points (rear view) to aim for. Perhaps against a particularly strong opponent who is currently being distracted by your partner.

Again, an explanation.
16. Base of skull: A strike to this area can result in disorientation or unconsciousness.
17. Fourth cervical vertebra: A strike to this area can result in broken bones, paralysis or death.
18. Third lumbar vertebra: A strike to this area can result in broken bones and paralysis.
19. Kidney: A strike to this area can result in internal injuries and death.
20. Coccyx: A strike to this area can result in broken bones and numbness to the legs.
21. Back of knee: A strike to this area can bend the knee or result in dislocated bones

Note also that here, striking with proficiency is very helpful, and also doesn’t require all that much strength. Effective strikes can come in the form of any attack really, from palm thrusts, to kicks, to actual punches.

Now, the basic movements utilized in Koshijutsu are comparable to that of a spinning top. If a lock is placed on a joint, the joint is held still by the body, while the feet move one's body around the joint. Because footwork takes time, nerve strikes are applied before and during the motion. The movement in Koshijutsu is also around an opponent's fixed point of balance.

Before you continue further, memorize all the above points and strikes. Don't practice on a friend- at least, not the one's that can result in paralysis or death. Headquarters should have training dummies that are marked so you can practice this.

Ryouta picked up the book and walked out of the library. He would go see if any of those practice dummies would be available any time soon.

Approved +1 to intelligence.

Ryouta re-entered the library with the book tucked under his arm. He sat down, and then opened the book to Chapter 3.

Chapter 3: Taihenjutsu
Taijutsu is not just about fighting. You need to be able to move to attack effectively. Taihenjutsu is a system of movement and positioning that allows the user to adapt to his or her environment through a series of postures and skills primarily relying on dexterity, coordination, agility, and bone alignment. Taihenjutsu typically depends on skills that require the user to have a fair degree of spatial awareness as well as kinetic awareness due to the constant movement and placement via pinpointed pre-cognition based on muscle memory. That means practice a lot to get this right! Because of this, highly developed taihenjutsu practitioners (like myself) typically develop a high degree of awareness in their environment and bodies which allows them to escape injury from strikes, throws, pins, etc.

Dodging strikes is fairly simple. For a straight on punch or kick, sidestepping or rolling is probably the most effective way to dodge. If the punch or kick is a swinging one, flash stepping above or behind is a good way to turn such an attack to your advantage. If the attack is coming from above or below, flash stepping always works, but also consider catching the attack if it's from above, or moving slightly and stomping down hard on their clavicle or something if your enemy is coming from below.

Throws are fairly hard to get out of if you are caught. The most surefire way to do it is to get fast enough to use the utsusemi technique. For anyone who can't do that, I suggest biting, eye-gouging, pinching, scratching, even groin-kicking. It all depends on how you're grabbed. Kido might come in handy as well.

If you're pinned to the ground, randomly whacking at your attacker is not going to help. Either use utsusemi or kido to get yourself out of that situation.

Chapter 4: Dakentaijutsu
Dakentaijutsu is basically the combination of Koppojutsu and Koshijutsu. Here I will detail the many methods with which you can hit your opponent.
1. Kikaku-Ken -- Demon Horns Fist (striking with the head)
2. Shuki-Ken -- Hand Start Fist (striking with the elbow)
3. Fudo-Ken -- Unmoving Fist (clenched fist/immovable fist)
4. Kiten-Ken -- Turn-Causing Fist (half open sword hand)
5. Shishin-Ken -- Finger Needle Fist (use the little finger- for eye gouging)
6. Shitan-Ken -- Finger End Fist (uses three fingers primarily- also for eye gouging)
7. Shako-Ken -- Mantis Crab Fist (thrust with fingers/palm- good for breaking noses, jaws)
8. Shito-ken -- Finger Sword Fist (striking with the thumb- again, eye gouging)
9. Shikan-ken -- Finger Ring Fist (hit using extended knuckles- any knuckle use is good for causing cramping)
10. Koppo-ken -- Bone Method Fist (use of extended thumb knuckle)
11. Happa-ken -- Eight Leaf Fist (palms of both hands)
12. Sokuyaku-ken -- Foot Dance Fist (heel/sole kick)
13. Sokki-ken -- Foot Start Fist (striking with the knee)
14. Sokugyaku -- Ken Foot Reverse Fist (striking with extended toes)
15. Tai-ken -- Body Fist (striking/crushing with the body)

Chapter 5: Jutaijutsu
Jutaijutsu is all about flexibility. Learn how to do splits and the other extreme forms of flexibility. Then, make them combat applicable. A person who can contort their body into strange positions has an advantage in battle. For example, it is possible to wrap your leg in such a way around an opponent’s limb and break it with just a little flex. In order to obtain that flexibility, it is recommended that you do a lot of stretching before your training. Before you know it, you’ll be as flexible as any cat. Think liquid muscle. That’s what you’re going for.

Approved +1 to intelligence