Created by Watsuki Nobuhiro, Rurouni Kenshin is about a blood-thirsty samurai gone good named Himura Kenshin. The storyline takes place back in in Japan in 1878, the eigth year of the Meiji era and is based off of an actual Hitokiri named Kawakami Genzai. Genzai was a short man with long hair, kind of like Kenshin and his main stance is a lot like Kenshin's, "the right leg is extended in front, knee slightly flexed, while the left leg is folded with the knee touching the ground. One slash with the right hand, and that's it." Anyways, Genzai unlike Kenshin was killed because the Meiji Government considered him a nuisance @_@x I'm rambling... But the Hitokiri Battousai(man slayer) in the show Rurouni Kenshin changed his views, reversed his Katana(so it couldn't kill anyone) and became the wandering Rurouni who helps people. One problem that arises from the beginning of the series, though, is that Kenshin has many adversaries who try to convert him back to his Hitokiri ways, and even try to piss him off to accomplish this. Himura always seems to counter this by converting his enemies, and turning many of them into allies. Below you will see some sword skills of the different characters in the series.

The pace of the Hiten Mitsurugi ( Flying Heaven's Honorable Sword Flow) sword skill is extremely fast. The moves can be divided into four main parts. There are different names of moves in each part.

The first part is called Ran-Geki-Jutsu, which means to wield the sword to attack sequentially at once. Moves that belong to Ran-Geki-Jutsu are:

Ryu-Kan-Sen (Dragon Wind Up Flash) :
A technique used once one has gotten beside an opponent, it involves a very powerful swing with the twist of your whole body, inflicting a direct blow under the skull.
Do-Ryu-Sen (Ground Dragon Flash):
A technique where it strikes the ground and with the force of the strike, the ground will explode toward the opponent.
Ryu-Sou-Sen (Dragon Double Flash):
This involves multiple slashes to its opponent, without giving the opponent the chance for a counter attack. It is effective in dealing with those who will not get knocked out with one move.

The second part is called Totsu-Shin-Jutsu, it means to attack immediately and just wield the sword once. Skills of this part are:

Ryu-Tsui-Sen (Dragon Mallot Flash) :
This move is like a Dragon diving into its opponent from the sky and hammering by using its weight.
Ryu-Kan-Sen Tsumuji (Dragon Wind Up Flash Hair-spin):
Ryu-Kan-Sen-Tsumuji is another variety of Ryu-Kan-Sen. It begins by dashing into an opponent without gravity and at a tremendous speed. After getting into position beside your opponent, a Ryu-Kan-Sen will be performed. The damage is more powerful than Ryu-Kan-Sen, due to its speed. However, landing poses a problem due to its speed.
Tsumuji=Gyrate
Ryu-Sho-Sen (Dragon Rising Flash) :
This move is like a dragon that lifts up into the air with the blade of the sword attacking its opponent's vital points with the force of its jump.

The third part is called Battou-Jutsu (Sword Skill), Battou - an instant sword draw. Jutsu - technique. In a stance form and waiting for an opponent with the correct timing, a powerful swing with the twist of waist. It is the skill to attack by drawing the sword. The names of the skills in this part are:

Hi-Ryu-Sen (Flying Dragon Flash):
This move may be accomplished using the left hand only (as in the fight with Raijyuuta). As you twist your body around, the sword is sprung from the sheath with the left hand coupled with the centrifugal force, so the key here is to aim the hilt of the sword at your opponent's weak point, like between the eyes.
Sou-Ryu-Sen (Paired Dragon Flash):
Sou-Ryu-Sen is one of the variaties of Battou-Jutsu. Sou-Ryu-Sen contains double attack with the sword and the sheath. It is best used when the sword is blocked then without moment of waste, the second Battou-Jutsu using the sheath will strike the opponent. If I'm not wrong, Kenshin invented this move while fighting with Kurogasa.
Sou-Ryu-Sen Igazuchi
Igazuchi=Thunder

The last part is the most important and powerful skill in which the master can be killed while passing on this skill to the student:

Ouki Ama-Kakeru-Ryu-No-Hirameki (Heaven's Soaring Dragon Flash):
The succession technique. The secret of the Ama-Kakeru-Ryu-No-Hirameki is revealed by Soujirou after his last fight with Kenshin. Normally, when using the Battou-Jutsu, the right leg is placed in front of the left leg so to avoid cutting your own leg (since the sword is at the left side). However, at the very last moment of attack, Kenshin placed his LEFT leg in front of his RIGHT leg before drawing his sword, thus bringing the speed and might of the sword to its very maximum. At that very moment, he must calculate the MOMENT of attack and how to twist his body properly in order not to cut himself. To do this, he must possess a strong desire to live.
Ouki=profoundness

Before passing on the above skill to Kenshin, Hiko Seijuurou showed another skill to Kenshin:

Ku-Zu-Ryu-Sen (9 Headed Dragon Flash):
This is a move that was taught before the succession technique. It is to wield the sword nine times from nine different directions at once and strike all nine vital points all instantly. Because of that, it is impossible to dodge or to defend this certain move. According to Hiko, since this move is completely impossible to be avoided or blocked, the only way to break it is by making one's move before one's opponent uses the 9 Headed Dragon Flash, i.e. by using a Battou-Jutsu which surpasses the "God-like Speed".

In each generation heritage of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu, the master is always killed by the student (the next inheritor) after passing on the most powerful skill.

In manga volume 17, which is about the end of fighting between Shishio & Kenshin, Kenshin uses 5 new moves (5 new names).

I don't know where these 2 moves fit in, please help!
Ryu-Tsui-Sho-Sen (Dragon Mallot Rising Flash):
This is a combination of Ryu-Tsui-Sen and Ryu-Shou-Sen. It begins by attacking the opponent on it's way down from the air with Ryu-Tsu-Sen. When it lands, Ryu-Sho-Sen will be performed to give the opponent twice the damage. It's an up and down attack.
Ryu-Kan-Sen-Arashi (Dragon Wind Up Flash Storm):
Ryu-Kan-Sen-Arashi is similar to Tsumuji although Arashi is more like an aggressive style of Tsumuji and probably more damaging than Tsumuji.

Kamiya Kasshin Ryu is the style that Kaoru, Yahiko (albeit reluctantly), and Yutaro practice. It was developed by her father because her father wanted to make a style that would be used for protecting not killing. In other words, Kamiya Kasshin Ryu has no killing techniques, got that? Good. Kaoru is completely devoted to this style, despite the fact that it's not the most powerful or effective one out there. That's pretty unique for this series. ^_^

"Ok let me describe the gatotsu from a logical point of view. At first glance it looks like an ordinary thrust except with the left hand, this is not true. First off its a version of the hirazuki technique which means that it can turn into a side slash in the event the target moves left or right. Also the grip is a few inches lower on the hilt then normal, meaning that the range is increased by about 2 and a half to 3 inches over a normal thrust. Because it is being thrusted across the body, the power in the thrust is greater then normal, much like a left hook compared to a right hook. The final reason the gatotsu is so powerful is because of the stance, the stance isnt broken until the final possible moment, meaning that it is near impossible to predict the point of impact.

Now there are 4 stances for the gatotsu,

The first is the traditional horizontal blade thrust
The second is with the sword elevated over the head and slashing diagonally
down
The third is performed with the blade vertical and is used as a counter for
air attacks
And the fourth is zero stance, a point blank gatotsu which relys on springs
in the upper body"

"Jissen Kenbuu-the technique he uses against Kenshin at the Kanryu estate. Much like the Ryu sui Aoshi moves around his target at amazing speed, but instead of multiple images circling around him, it is only one translucent image that appears and vanishes at random times

Kaiten Kenbuu-Heaven spin sword dance, a technique where Aoshi attacks and slashes three times in one moment, spinning around in a circle.

Kaiten Kenbuu Rokuren- Heaven spin sword dance six series. The same as the original Kaiten Kenbuu except its six slashes in one moment and can come
from either side.

Ryu Sui-Running water. A defensive and deceptive technique of aoshi's, he moves so fast it appears that there are multiple Aoshi's circling the target

Onmyo Hasshi- Ying Yang Jump Stop. Aoshi's long range attack. He places his left kodachi's hilt against the tip of the one in his right hand and throws them both at the same time. The right kodachi boosts the speed of the left one and the left one conceals the right kodachi, so if the lead kodachi is knocked away, it will give way to the right kodachi.

Gohou Juuji- Give vast cross. Another technique which has more to it then it seems:
Aoshi crosses his kodachi over each other forming a barrier infront of his body which protects him as he charges forward. As he approaches the target he raises the blades to neck level and closes the hilts together, which in turn narrows the space between the blades on the swords much like a pair of scissors."

  Your brain switch language to Japanese, when it's not even your native language. (done it!) 

You learn how to write "Aku. Soku. Zan." when you're not even familiar with Chinese or Japanese. 

You write a 100-page paper on "Aku. Soku. Zan." and all its properties and implications along with a complete, detailed paper on Shinsengumi and the roles they played (oh um, yeah, that's the topic of my history paper...) 

You Hiten-Mitsurugi-Ryuu your steak. 

You dye your hair red. 

You make an X scar on your left cheek. 

You always use the knife upside down, pretending it's a Sakaba. 

You can re-enact every single Kenshin battle. 

You pretend you're a son of god. 

You can sing all the opening and ending songs. 

You memorize all the lyrics of the opening and ending songs, when you don't even know the meaning of the words. 

You pratice singing 1/2 10 times a day. 

You master 1/2. 

You instinctively reach for an imaginary sword when you hear someone yells "Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu...!" 

You Gatotsu-ed your text books. 

You buy all Kenshin mangas, especially to see Saitou sliced Usui into two and Jinchuu Arc. 

You start calling yourself "sessha". 

You start going "Oro?" 

You can go Battousai. 

You wear golden color contact lenses. 

You scribble the kanji "Aku" everywhere. 

You have the "Aku" character on the back of your shirt. 

You wear a red bandanna (or purple, pick your choice). 

You wear bandages on your fists and abs. 

You wear bandages all over your body. 

You master DDR so you can move your legs as fast as Soujirou. 

You can chant the names of the four dead Oniwa Banshuus with the exact tone, intonation, pause and tempo as Aoshi. 

You suspect the owner of your favourite Japanese restaurant a closet RK otaku by looking at the Udon/Soba list. 

You only eat Kakke Soba. 

You only eat Tanuki Udon or Kitsune Udon. 

You have a raccoon, a fox, a weasel, a wolf, and a chicken as your pets. 

You write RK fan fics. 

You make an RK-inspired website. (obviously i've done it) 

You know how to say "The strong survives, the weak dies." in at least 3 different languages.

You visit many different Japanese restaurants in hope to find old Jump Weekly with RK in it among their collection of reading materials. 

You find the Jump Weeklys and steal the coloured RK pages. 

You have all RK songs in CDs, tapes, midis, and MP3s. 

You keep hearing Kyoto Arc background music playing in your head. 

You keep hearing Kyoto Arc backgorund music playing outside your head. 

You know every single RK episode in details and can tell the episode number precisely. 

You smile all the time. 

You smoke all the time. 

Your hairstyle is modeled after one of RK characters. 

You notice Tomoe twice on the "1/3 no Junjou na Kanjou" ending although you have no clue who she is. 

You cry everytime you hear "Departure". 

You instinctively go in a battle mode when you hear "Warriors Suite". 

You chew fishbones all the time. 

You meditate everyday. 

You sing "It's Gonna Rain" when the sky is cloudy. 

You turn at least 20 other people into die-hard RK otakus. 

You can point all the inconsistencies and loopholes in Shimabara Arc. 

You become a crossdresser. 

You end every sentence with "de gozaru", never mind you're not even talking in Japanese. 

You know every blow exchanged complete with the order it's done during the last battle of Kyoto Arc by heart. 

Every song you hear reminds you of one of the couples in RK. 

You visit all RK websites. 

You join a dojo and learn kenjutsu. 

You turn your house into a dojo. 

You believe in Feng Shui/Fusui. 

You suspect every Feng Shui person a member of the Wind clan. 

Your house is in a traditional Japanese style, Feng Shui-applied. 

You absolutely hate dubbed versions of RK. 

You become a Shinsengumi fan. 

You major in Japanese History. 

You know how to make your own pineapple bombs. 

You hate your country's government. 

You publish an anti-government newspaper. 

You bomb a goverment building. 

You dream of achieving your own Kunitori. 

You have a tattoo of a popular phrase from RK, in Japanese (i.e. "Aku. Soku. Zan.") 

You use a name from RK as your nickname. 

You legally change your name to one of the character's name. 

You buy all RK merchandise and related thingies you can lay your hands on. 

You get RK-related dreams, in Japanese. 

You cosplay, everyday.

You're a kind and gentle person with a dark past that haunts you. But you find happiness in your friends and by protecting the weak and oppressed. Let's face it. You kick ass! ReverseBlade!