This is the type of info I needed!!! I can read bleach lore all day and thank you for explaining 🙌
CrypticBoss
2024-10-30 03:06:55 +0000 UTC
The Zan Ken So Ki Kira mentions as being the disciplines they have to master to become Soul Reapers are the four fundamental areas of Soul Reaper combat.
• Zan (sword) - Zanjutsu, i.e. fighting with your zanpakuto. This includes kendo (swordfighting) as well as the basics required to eventually learn shikai and bankai.
• Ken (fist) - Hakuda, aka hand-to-hand combat (i.e. taijutsu). Basically, unarmed combat techniques.
• So (speed) - Hohō, aka fast movement techniques. The most advanced version is the flash step we've seen characters like Yoruichi and Byakuya using.
• Ki (spirit) - Kidō, aka magic. These are divided into Hadō (offensive spells, like the Hadō 31: Shakkaho that they were practicing), Bakudō (defensive spells, like barriers or binding spells), and healing.
Every soul reaper is required to master the fundamentals of all four while at the academy, but they specialise in different areas once they join their squads. For example, Squad 11 (Zaraki Kenpachi's squad) are all specialists in Zanjutsu but disdain Kidō.