Was reading a webcomic that showcased a few boxing styles recently (Apolliona Ch38-39 if anyone is interested, coincidentally enough that one is also about cowboys). While the boxer amongst them has only switched between a few boxing styles thus far I did enjoy the summaries of what each one was used for, and I'd love to see a full video on the topic.
It's so genius that I can't believe I didn't see it sooner. He's a cowboy whose revolver is a katana. Even the stuff like ricocheting the slash off a card represents ricocheting a gunshot off a coin or something. On that alone he might just be the most well-designed character in that series, or at least the best conceptual one.
I’ve had this thought forever of the "samurai slashes enemy, but enemy only explodes after sword is sheathed" bit, but enemy stops them from sheathing katana, negating the damage.
Camera cuts in close on the posed samurai, as they slowly lower their hilt, only for a third grip to snap into frame, and a swipe to the opponent, bloodied gash lightening, with a grim statement: "No."
Turn the worlds greatest swordsman into a gag character because they are so good at making clean cuts they physically cannot actually hurt anyone without sheating their sword. And someone stole their sheath. Then turn everything on its head and destroy your audience by having the swordsman become friends with one of the people he cut and realizing that he can't sheath his blade again without killing them
I've had this idea as well, it'd be an interesting mechanic I think. "Well you got comboed, act fast before the big slash hits you and opens you up for another one." sort of thing
Johnny got the spotlight here, but I always liked Baiken's version of iaido for how it isn't perfect. Not only is her sword on the wrong side, forcing her to quickdraw it with an awkward reverse grip, but she'll draw into this huge wild-animal swing that she throws all her weight into. And because her swordsmanship is unrefined, she supplements it with the hidden weapons and sometimes just straight up slugging you or kicking you in the gut. It conveys the idea that she taught herself to fight and doesn't really have any formal training, and it's a great contrast to the super-polished iaido that Johnny bases his entire fighting style around.
Baiken kind of fits more into the more traditional samurai archetype. She does have draw attacks but it’s more out of her other gimmick of the wandering ronin with hidden weapons and dishonorable techniques.
She actually wears her sword correctly on the left side. She just has to draw it unconventionally because of her missing arm. Also her character design is based on Onna Sanzen (a female version of fictional Tange Sazen) who was trained as a swordsman so it's not a stretch to say that Baiken was also formally trained.
i believe that the pause before blood geyser that is so iconic for this is actually a result of a prop misfire. the first time it happened in a film, the pump for the blood spray effect was over-primed, which caused a delay before it started, then the iconic geyser of blood. it was kept in because of how it looked, and the rest was history
It's amazing to think that one of the most iconic moments in cinematic history happened because two actors stayed in character during an extreme prop malfunction.
It gets better. IIRC Kurosawa was infamous for being super demanding and firing people over anything, and the pump failure came from repeating the scene because it wasnt good enough, and the special effects guy was terrified of the director. When it failed, everyone held their breaths thinking they were the next one on the chopping block (lol) but the director was very pleasantly surprised for the unintended cinematic effect and loved it. You can even see the actor falling down hesitant because of the "Oh shit...what now....eeeeeh, follow the script, I'm supposed to fall and die...please dont fire me boss"
Fun fact: the og "cut then massive blood fountain" was actually a malfunctioning blood Squib. The director thought it looked cool, and that's how we got possibly one of the (in my opinion) funniest visual motifs in media.
My favourite example of this might have to be Jetstream Sam in Metal Gear Rising, who has a magazine-loaded, trigger-activated sheath that uses ballistics to launch the sword out of the sheath for a quicker draw. Very stupid, but also a fun justification for actually returning the sword to the sheath mid-battle, since it's powered up by something beyond his own strength.
It also should be mentioned that it does kinda strengthen the reveal about Sam later on that Sam has a surprisingly low amount of actual cybernetic enhancement, that his “cyborg body” is just an exoskeleton and the only wholly robotic enhancement he has is his arm
@hambor12 he only got the cyborg arm after the fight with armstrong, so you have to consider that he was capable of doing what he did *without* the cyborg arm
Small note at 10:45 The moves shown by Ed and Yamazaki are more reminiscent of a real life boxing style by Thomas "Hitman" Hearns called a flicker jab, and exaggerated through the manga Hajime No Ippo. Just wanted to mention that.
I think both cases are correct in a way. With both techniques, you aim for quick, precise strikes that prevent a defensive manouver due to sheer speed. Somewhere along the way, I'm sure both borrowed from each other to arrive at the current iteration in art.
I was going to make a similar note, but then I considered the wording of the video. While the flicker jab is a real boxing technique, and Ed certainly as a boxer is meant to be performing a flicker jab, their moves are implemented similar to how games implement iaido. A real boxing flicker jab is relatively horizontal, but Yamazaki and Ed are given steeper upward and downward angle options just like iaido characters tend to be given. Yamazaki and Ed's flickers arguably aren't really used like a real boxing flicker jab either, acting a bit more like video game iaido.
You're not wrong in that they're technically different, but the comparison is still sound in that they are similar in principle of delivering a quick attack from a low-ready stance. Especially Yamazaki who literally has a hand in his pocket. His pocketed hand is always on the side in which one would keep the sheath while he strikes with his opposite hand that would be holding the sword. Even his start up frames of animation have his striking hand close to his pocketed hand like reaching for a sheathed sword.
With the practical applications- it’s worth noting that a samurai's primary armament on the battlefield was generally (aiui) either a spear, a bow, or (during certain periods) a gun. The katana was a backup weapon. Iaijutsu was applied when the enemy got in close or knocked the spear out of your hands. It also- and this is true for swords in many cultures- was a weapon appropriate to carry when not on the battlefield. To make an analogy with Wild West media (incidentally, this is your reminder the end of the samurai and the Wild West were contemporary with each other), the katana was a revolver, while a spear was a long rifle.
Same with medieval knights and their swords. Since they primarily fought in horseback lances were the primary weapons, and in close combat with other armoured knights maces and Morningstars were more effective. Swords were primarily for ceremonies or for fighting lots of unarmoured opponents (cutting down filthy peasants 😂)
I'd say their bow was the long rifle since Samurai with their bows were terrifying to the common soldier. The spear or naginata was when the enemy got close, the sword and short sword when the spear broke. The best part about learning Iaido in Japan, where I studied, was the calmness of it. I was doing Kendo, too, but didn't like how loud it was. When you practice Iaido there is only silence and your footsteps and, if you do it correctly, the sound of the sword cutting through the air.
@@Laneous14 oh yeah, but I’m also talking socially- you could equate the spear to an SMG and the analogy would work, though. A sword was something you could carry around without (at best) coming off as weird. (And as pointed out, this applied fairly widely, not just in Japan)
@potatonator343 both cultures had armored swordsmaniship techniques. A good 90% of this is stabbing the weakpoints after grappling an opponent. Often using the sword more like a tiny spear.
No it’s not, it’s Hibiki getting love, the most popular character in Last Blade; not Last Blade itself. While the games are still played, “Last Blade” is dead.
It's kind of ironic that a style focused on always being ready to defend at a moment's notice from a vulnerable position turned into a powerful offense with a significant wind-up in a fighting-ready stance. It really highlights the difference between conflict as seen in fighting games (one-on-one tournament style bouts) and the reality that necessitated these techniques in the first place.
The coolest single iaido attack in a game is Jetstream Sam's finisher in MGR revengeance. Sheathing the sword in the middle of battle to launch it out of the scabbard as a startup for the draw.
PLEASE the way they do boxing in fighting games is so unique, especially Dudley! The way that kicks are treated as punches make for something so incredibly cool
Finally a martial arts nerd who can appreciate both realistic and fantasy nonsense in an action film. Yes the martial art itself is intended purely for the practice of drawing as quickly as possible so you can get it out when you need it out. And once it's out it should stay out until no longer needed BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, a guy whipping out a pistol or a sword and taking down five targets in literal seconds is just fucking bad ass and we want to see more of it
Glad to have this series back. Not to be a nuisance nancy, but there's some weird reverb sound when you speak, not sure if that's my headphones or not - but might be something to check for?
I'm getting the sound too, sounds like a sound glitch like when a headphone jack or the microphone jack or cable has any problem. It hurts my ears every time this happens. Your video is wonderful though.
Glad to see y'all posting again! I always wanted to see an Iaido character be a Stance Fighter instead of Rushdown or Setplay. A "Weapon Sheathed" stance for what makes Iaido what it is, and a "Weapon Drawn" stance for realism. I hope Ninjutsu wins the Poll because it's so detached from real life Ninjutsu, but still has a style all to its own (also, saw a Ninja Analysis video recently, so the topic stays in the mind).
Mitsurugi in Soul Calibur kind of does this. He has a sword sheathed stance, but otherwise fights like a conventional swordsman, sword drawn and pointed at the opponent.
Chaka from Jojo HFTF is literally the exact character you're describing. He is a stance fighter who alternates between a more conventional rushdown/poker character with his sword out, or a more neutral-orientated character with big punishes using iajitsu sword techniques. Each stance even has its own super. He's a really cool character, but sadly overshadowed because he's in the same game as Pet Shop and Kakyion and etc
Much like the subject of this video, ABI took his sweet ass time to charge up and deliver a devastating blow to our boredom. Cant wait for the next one
Glad to see you back! Also, my favorite version of Iaido in games is in ff14, simply by how nonsense it goes. Once you approach an enemy, your character automatically draws the weapon, no fuss, like every other class. Then, you fight with your weapon drawn, until you fill your bar, in which point you do your big move by sheathing, THEN draw slashing, just to go back to wielding it like normal. It's the opposite of what makes any sense, you keep it unsheathed until you need to be cool, so you sheath just to draw. I love it.
It goes further than that even. All jobs in the game, even the non-magic combats or crafters, make use of aether to bolster their attacks. All the martial ones do this by imbuing themselves and their weapons with aether, but Samurais go a step further. Over the course of battle, they store aether into their sheathes, which then can then release with the Iaijutsu techniques. The sheath is just as important as the katana itself is to their combat style. All the jobs make cool use of aether like that in some way.
I love that you took time to explain the difference between "do" and "jutsu." Few people ever ask the question, and it can be hard to explain to non-martial artists.
I've always liked Iai characters in fighting games. Ever since the Samurai Shodown with Ukyo, I tended to pick them. Whether in games or cinema, characters using some form of Iaido/Iaijitsu are always cool, and I love seeing how the fictional interpretations of their art keeps evolving. Great to see you back. Looking forward to the next one.
I've been waiting eagerly for Style Select to come back, because goddamn there is nothing better than rewatching these videos 1000 times to absolve every morsel of information
It's not a fighting game, but I think it's cool to share that in DMC5 and DMC4, Vergil got a Concentration Gauge that rewards calm and precise play. The gauge decrease if you run, miss an attack, or get hit. So you have to act like Vergil to increase the gauge.
These videos are just so truly TRULY magnificent. The way you marry a meaningful but not overbearing amount of cultural and/or historical context as a tone-setter with narrative+gameplay storytelling elements with how that might be executed in various games or hell even genres of works. AUCKGH they make for these incredibly satisfying to watch, not too short and about as long as can be expected(I usually enjoy longer vids but that’s personal taste hehe), medium-sized masterpieces. I always get quite giddy whenever I see a new one come out. Keep up the great work.
This isn’t technically a fighting game but my favourite instance of Iaido is just jetstream Sam’s freaking gun sheath where if he puts his sword back into his sheath and then PULLS A TRIGGER SO THAT IT COMES OUT FASTER, HE CAN ALMOST INSTANTLY CUT DOWN HIS OPPONENT. ITS SO STUPID AND I LOVE IT.
I popped off when I saw this in my sub box! Not because it's Iaido, but because it was a Sugarpunch video! I'm also glad you're back ABI. (also yeah the video was sweet too)
Don't forget the ridiculous extreme of the sword-gun hybrid in Ga-Rei Zero. The Michael 13 sword was a katana with a gun trigger on the hilt of the sheath. One basically shoots to draw even faster for an Iaido slash.
My mind played tricks on me. When you used Kunimitsu's Tekken 7 theme, I momentarily expected music from Muramasa the Demon Blade, since you were talking about the technique in other games as well. The quick draw is a major mechanic there that has to be charged but can hit all enemies on screen when it is ready.
DMC Vergil has to be one of the more interesting iaido mechanics in video games. Judgement cut is pretty sick and tying its mechanics to the sheathing animation of your attacks is cool. They even affect your style meter and concentration meter if you let the sheathing animation play out.
Returning your blade to its scabbard requires a motion that breaks the natural arc of the iaido slash. It is clear that the most efficient way to practice this technique is to carry 10 to 50 scabbards on your person at all times, positioned in all manners of different places and angles, so that your blade can always naturally find its way to a scabbard regardless of the angle of your attack.
It's possible that he might get a mention should Ninjutsu win out, but interestingly enough it seems like Yoshimitsu in his current iteration has been turned into something resembling an Iaido character: he's always had certain moves that have that instantaneous counterplay sort of quality, but the new buffs that his sword moves gain if they're done from his No Sword Stance makes the comparison a lot stronger than it used to be. It's a really cool angle I never considered until now.
Not a fighting game, but in Devil May Cry 5 they went a step further in Vergil’s iado technique by penalizing players who would miss with their attacks, and reward players (with the “concentration” mechanic) who played with precision and composure. The game even rewards players (with increases in the “devil trigger” meter) who don't cancel or interrupt the sheathing animation after his sword attacks.
It's so nice for you Sugar Punch to come back. And while on topic with Iaido, one notable fighting game character that emphasizes Iaido in so many unique ways would have to be none other than Kamui Tokinomiya from Arcana Heart. She could literally freeze time with her default Arcana Anutpada (Arcana of Time) which is sort of like practicing Iaido (by standing still before unsheathing very quickly) except that she could fight even when the time around her is frozen in place.
I know, at least to a certain extent, this series covers historical martial arts, but I would love to see you cover how magic is used in fighting games. More specifically, glass-cannon “sorcerer” types who primarily use magic in place of conventional weaponry.
From a narrative sense, it's sort of interesting that the fictionalized Iaido always ends with your sword in its scabbard, because it sort of says two things using it. 1. The characters using it want to be as ready to end a fight as much as start one 2. The opponent may not always know what you're going to do next (there are a decent number of cuts originating from sheathed) Although it is interesting that Demon Slayer actually de-fictionalizes it a bit, because Zenitsu (the Thunder-Breathing Style Iaido user) actually is noted to be under-trained due to him only using Form 1 of Thunder-Breathing, the Flash-step Draw Cut. Now of course, since he later hones this to perfection, it sorta re-fictionalizes it, which isn't bad, I just find it funny. You're supposed to use Iaido as your ignition, not the entirety of the fight, even in Demon Slayer, it's just that Zenitsu makes his bug into a feature, which is both entirely on brand with martial arts films where often if a character is only good at 1 move, they'll dictate the terms of the fight by using that one really busted move, even if it's not perfectly practical.
Not one mention of Bushido Blade 2. Kaun & Gengoro alone make iaido so iconic yet challenging enough to be fit for experienced wielders only - someone not as "good" at the good will die due to the defensive drawbacks of having no drawn weapon to block, whereas a master of iaido stance will be sending the opponent's crimson arcing across the screen so quick it gives whiplash. And all in real-time, no cinematic "freeze time" meta-gimmicks (as fun as that is).
I had to scroll for a mile to find one person that's talking about Bushido Blade... It was a cool system having one school with experts in the two sword style and the other school iaido. The style was so rad to childhood me, I played Gengoro and Kaun religiously. Part of my brain optimistically thought half of this video was going to be about Bushido Blade 2... Then I scrolled to find this comment and remembered very few of us still think about it. Another sad addition to the list of game sequels we'll never see 🥹
I'm gonna vote for Boxing as the next fighting style. There's a reason why it's called the Sweet Science, and I'd love to see how fighting games interpret what can be a very subtle and complicated fight style.
Since you're already talking about Sword Fighters in fighting games, can you also analyze the Rapier Fencers using both Modern Olympic Fencing and Historical European Fencing please? For example: - Charlotte - SamSho - Amy & Raphael - SoulCal - Mitsuru - P4A - Katalina - GBVS - Orie - Under Night In Birth - Weiss - BB Cross Tag - Marie & Marta - Hellish Quart And many more...
Always loved Iaido's dramatic flare, from Kurosawa films to Usagi Yojimbo to Samurai Shodown, got a good bit of exposure to it at a decently young age and I still get excited at the sheathed katana entering the ring. lol
I love seeing this style whenever it shows up, both in practice and in fiction. In terms of the latter, I've been interested in seeing if there are characters out there who have a reason for sheathing their weapon again mid-combat to prepare for another attack. The Rule of Cool is a valid reason, and some in the comments have mention Jetstream Sam's sheathe having a trigger mechanism that can launch his sword out faster. Besides him, I can only think of one character in Bleach, though it's been so long since I watched it that I can't remember who it was. All I do recall is that he was initially battling with quick draw slashes, until someone managed to grab his sword and prevent it from entering its scabbard, nullifying whatever trick he was using up to that point.
I’m super happy style select is back. I’ve rewatched stuff from this channel a lot while drawing, and it gives me a new level of appreciation for fighting games👍
balrog/bison, dudley, vanessa, rick strowd, heavy d, kaori (efz), akihiko sanada, steve fox, roger? (tekken), ed, tiffany & boman (rival schools), jet (yatagarasu), Sebastian McClane (pocket bravery), TJ combo, yugo (bloody roar), mickey rogers, axel hawk, nelson (kof), little mac (if we count smash), makoto (bbcf) ...just to name a few lol. fingers crossed for Boxing SS in future! 🤞 second favorite depiction/dramatization of martial arts in FGs after Bajiquan *honorable mention to Full Moon Ciel in MBAACC because Ryo Mashiba-style flicker punches are cool
Thank you for covering this. I am Tetsuo, one of the Six Heavenly Blades of the Iron Lotus, and there are a lot of misconceptions of iaido that I struggle every day to dispel from my students’ minds.
honestly an episode on karate cause be a whole 20+ min episode with the varying about of styles in different fighting game characters, also I hope you can do an episode on Taido one day
When you see a sheated katana after the battle start, you know you will be getting chipped to death while your opponent attacking half screen away from you
I've heard that a large focus of Iai's quick draw was a legal issue where you needed to draw second to not be legally at fault for the fight. Making up the difference in letting the enemy start attacking first would naturally be vital and of course it explains the other proponent of attacking second in many Iai techniques.
One of my personal favorite examples is from the recent "Blue Eye Samurai" series. There's a duel near the beginning of the series that takes place with each opponent adjusting their stance, playing out the scenario in their head, and adjusting again. Theirs only like, three real strikes in the actual fight but the scene is around 7 minutes long and amazing! It's like watching professional chess while reading each players minds! The stylization is also fantastic, with their thoughts being depicted as swirling ink-blots.
One of my favorite depictions of the quick draw in gaming comes from a character that doesn't even use iaido (or at least certainly not traditionally), that being Link/the hero's shade in twilight princess. It's a bit situational, only being able to activate if you have you are VERY close to an enemy, not targeting it, AND have your sword sheathed, but that very difficulty and its massive damage are what makes it so cool. And it also honestly feels more true to how the quickdraw should work: a surprise attack that gives you a pretty bit advantage, but can only really be used once per encounter. I honestly prefer that to, say, botw's ambushes, which are similar in concept but different enough in execution.
I never really cared before about what I called "egdy sword slashing" as it's not something I encounter by myself often enough to care, but this to this video I at the very least how it's called, but also the cool history and parallels of it and I really enjoyed learning about all of thay. I greatly appreciate it!
Iaido or Iaijutsu is so cool, you can’t change my mind most of my favorite game characters are Katana user who performs Iaido, I’m glad someone finally covered this technique both in fictional form and reality (since I rarely saw people mention about Iaido in fiction)
Love the effort put into this. I’m an editor and I have to say that this is such a fun channel. You 100% deserve my subscription. Can’t wait to see what comes next.
The difference, to my knowledge, is IAI specializes in drawing strikes with the sword returning to the scabbard to "reload". BATTO begins with a drawing strike but does not reload.
Never underestimate the ability to confuse your opponent. I used to sheath my sword in middle of matches and as soon as I see the 'wtf?' on their face, I would use a draw cut at a weird angle and snipe arms and hands.
It all happened when Kurosawa just used it in his movies, and then EVERYONE started doing it when Vergil really made it look cooler than anything else.
I think Elden Ring cae out a little after 2020, it hasn't been _that_ long Cool to have you back! Lots of great iaido examples, I didn't realize how many there was
@SugarPunch YOU ARE COOKING! I saw your other videos, it's insane that you're the reasons while I have 3 games downloading and 5 movies bookmarked I'm about to watch!! I hope this comment reaches u. Can't believe this man
I think it’s worth mentioning that iaido is by design a “self-defense” technique; this inherently gives the art an almost righteous feel fit for a protagonist. They’re not there to start a fight, but they’re damn sure gonna end it.
I know Boxing isn't gonna stand up next to Ryu and fucking Ninjas, but I'm gonna hope it pulls through
Who knows maybe
Boxing will get its time to shine
I'm hoping it does anyway
You never know, Boxing is low key popular.
Was reading a webcomic that showcased a few boxing styles recently (Apolliona Ch38-39 if anyone is interested, coincidentally enough that one is also about cowboys). While the boxer amongst them has only switched between a few boxing styles thus far I did enjoy the summaries of what each one was used for, and I'd love to see a full video on the topic.
maybe the next one after we are done with the weeb coner here
Oh Definitely!
that’s why Johnny from guilty gear is a cowboy. make sense now
It's so genius that I can't believe I didn't see it sooner. He's a cowboy whose revolver is a katana. Even the stuff like ricocheting the slash off a card represents ricocheting a gunshot off a coin or something. On that alone he might just be the most well-designed character in that series, or at least the best conceptual one.
@@BLACKOUT-MK2back when GG was cool, Johnny even had coins as a part of his toolkit.
@@adambaryliuk3393 GG still cool as hell
@@Pianohnonono Think we mean "cool" as in "hadn't made the mainstream", kinda a tongue-in-cheek "before it was cool" tinge.
But, if Johnny is a "samurai cowboy," what makes a "cowboy samurai"?
I’ve had this thought forever of the "samurai slashes enemy, but enemy only explodes after sword is sheathed" bit, but enemy stops them from sheathing katana, negating the damage.
Camera cuts in close on the posed samurai, as they slowly lower their hilt, only for a third grip to snap into frame, and a swipe to the opponent, bloodied gash lightening, with a grim statement: "No."
Up there with countering the "Six shots, or only five?" moment by confidently answering "Six. I counted."
as someone who came here for inspiration for a fight scene in my manga
I'm taking your idea😂😂😂
Turn the worlds greatest swordsman into a gag character because they are so good at making clean cuts they physically cannot actually hurt anyone without sheating their sword.
And someone stole their sheath.
Then turn everything on its head and destroy your audience by having the swordsman become friends with one of the people he cut and realizing that he can't sheath his blade again without killing them
I've had this idea as well, it'd be an interesting mechanic I think. "Well you got comboed, act fast before the big slash hits you and opens you up for another one." sort of thing
Johnny got the spotlight here, but I always liked Baiken's version of iaido for how it isn't perfect. Not only is her sword on the wrong side, forcing her to quickdraw it with an awkward reverse grip, but she'll draw into this huge wild-animal swing that she throws all her weight into. And because her swordsmanship is unrefined, she supplements it with the hidden weapons and sometimes just straight up slugging you or kicking you in the gut.
It conveys the idea that she taught herself to fight and doesn't really have any formal training, and it's a great contrast to the super-polished iaido that Johnny bases his entire fighting style around.
Baiken kind of fits more into the more traditional samurai archetype. She does have draw attacks but it’s more out of her other gimmick of the wandering ronin with hidden weapons and dishonorable techniques.
Considering she has one arm, the drawing and sheathing process is probably much harder for her
She actually wears her sword correctly on the left side. She just has to draw it unconventionally because of her missing arm.
Also her character design is based on Onna Sanzen (a female version of fictional Tange Sazen) who was trained as a swordsman so it's not a stretch to say that Baiken was also formally trained.
i believe that the pause before blood geyser that is so iconic for this is actually a result of a prop misfire. the first time it happened in a film, the pump for the blood spray effect was over-primed, which caused a delay before it started, then the iconic geyser of blood. it was kept in because of how it looked, and the rest was history
It was a malfunction, a gorgeous accident, that they kept
see now I can believe the universe has a will of its own😂
It's amazing to think that one of the most iconic moments in cinematic history happened because two actors stayed in character during an extreme prop malfunction.
It gets better.
IIRC Kurosawa was infamous for being super demanding and firing people over anything, and the pump failure came from repeating the scene because it wasnt good enough, and the special effects guy was terrified of the director. When it failed, everyone held their breaths thinking they were the next one on the chopping block (lol) but the director was very pleasantly surprised for the unintended cinematic effect and loved it.
You can even see the actor falling down hesitant because of the "Oh shit...what now....eeeeeh, follow the script, I'm supposed to fall and die...please dont fire me boss"
sorry babe i can’t talk rn, new style select just dropped
It's been too long 😭
and just as the new Pannenkoek video ended too
lolz, so true
Jetstream Sam be like
She steps in, slashes your computer and declares herself The Storm that is Approaching!
Fun fact: the og "cut then massive blood fountain" was actually a malfunctioning blood Squib. The director thought it looked cool, and that's how we got possibly one of the (in my opinion) funniest visual motifs in media.
hell yeah
hell yeah
Hell yeah!
similar case with the arrow through the neck in Friday the 13th, there was a malfunction that made the gore way gnarlier and it was kept
My favourite example of this might have to be Jetstream Sam in Metal Gear Rising, who has a magazine-loaded, trigger-activated sheath that uses ballistics to launch the sword out of the sheath for a quicker draw. Very stupid, but also a fun justification for actually returning the sword to the sheath mid-battle, since it's powered up by something beyond his own strength.
There will be bloodshed
It also should be mentioned that it does kinda strengthen the reveal about Sam later on
that Sam has a surprisingly low amount of actual cybernetic enhancement, that his “cyborg body” is just an exoskeleton and the only wholly robotic enhancement he has is his arm
@hambor12 he only got the cyborg arm after the fight with armstrong, so you have to consider that he was capable of doing what he did *without* the cyborg arm
Small note at 10:45 The moves shown by Ed and Yamazaki are more reminiscent of a real life boxing style by Thomas "Hitman" Hearns called a flicker jab, and exaggerated through the manga Hajime No Ippo. Just wanted to mention that.
I think both cases are correct in a way. With both techniques, you aim for quick, precise strikes that prevent a defensive manouver due to sheer speed. Somewhere along the way, I'm sure both borrowed from each other to arrive at the current iteration in art.
I was going to make a similar note, but then I considered the wording of the video. While the flicker jab is a real boxing technique, and Ed certainly as a boxer is meant to be performing a flicker jab, their moves are implemented similar to how games implement iaido. A real boxing flicker jab is relatively horizontal, but Yamazaki and Ed are given steeper upward and downward angle options just like iaido characters tend to be given. Yamazaki and Ed's flickers arguably aren't really used like a real boxing flicker jab either, acting a bit more like video game iaido.
@@AkuniLesare also in kof 14 and 15 Luong, who's martial art is taekwondo, has a flamingo stace from wich she uses fast directional kicks
You're not wrong in that they're technically different, but the comparison is still sound in that they are similar in principle of delivering a quick attack from a low-ready stance. Especially Yamazaki who literally has a hand in his pocket. His pocketed hand is always on the side in which one would keep the sheath while he strikes with his opposite hand that would be holding the sword. Even his start up frames of animation have his striking hand close to his pocketed hand like reaching for a sheathed sword.
With the practical applications- it’s worth noting that a samurai's primary armament on the battlefield was generally (aiui) either a spear, a bow, or (during certain periods) a gun.
The katana was a backup weapon. Iaijutsu was applied when the enemy got in close or knocked the spear out of your hands.
It also- and this is true for swords in many cultures- was a weapon appropriate to carry when not on the battlefield. To make an analogy with Wild West media (incidentally, this is your reminder the end of the samurai and the Wild West were contemporary with each other), the katana was a revolver, while a spear was a long rifle.
Same with medieval knights and their swords. Since they primarily fought in horseback lances were the primary weapons, and in close combat with other armoured knights maces and Morningstars were more effective. Swords were primarily for ceremonies or for fighting lots of unarmoured opponents (cutting down filthy peasants 😂)
I'd say their bow was the long rifle since Samurai with their bows were terrifying to the common soldier. The spear or naginata was when the enemy got close, the sword and short sword when the spear broke.
The best part about learning Iaido in Japan, where I studied, was the calmness of it. I was doing Kendo, too, but didn't like how loud it was. When you practice Iaido there is only silence and your footsteps and, if you do it correctly, the sound of the sword cutting through the air.
@@Laneous14 oh yeah, but I’m also talking socially- you could equate the spear to an SMG and the analogy would work, though. A sword was something you could carry around without (at best) coming off as weird.
(And as pointed out, this applied fairly widely, not just in Japan)
@potatonator343 both cultures had armored swordsmaniship techniques. A good 90% of this is stabbing the weakpoints after grappling an opponent. Often using the sword more like a tiny spear.
Yup. Iai is literally the sword version of 'it's faster to switch to your sidearm.' XD
Just happy to see The Last Blade getting some love on the thumbnail
Me too .
No it’s not, it’s Hibiki getting love, the most popular character in Last Blade; not Last Blade itself. While the games are still played, “Last Blade” is dead.
@@MultiBoxingKidI know it's dead for now, but the sprite on the thumbnail is def from LB 1 or 2. I'm just acknowledging it, that's all.
Only on the thumbnail
I mean, sure, Last Blade may be dead right now, but SNK is working on a new Group/Fatal Fury game so who knows what the future has in reserve for us?
It's kind of ironic that a style focused on always being ready to defend at a moment's notice from a vulnerable position turned into a powerful offense with a significant wind-up in a fighting-ready stance. It really highlights the difference between conflict as seen in fighting games (one-on-one tournament style bouts) and the reality that necessitated these techniques in the first place.
The coolest single iaido attack in a game is Jetstream Sam's finisher in MGR revengeance. Sheathing the sword in the middle of battle to launch it out of the scabbard as a startup for the draw.
you forgot to mention his scabbard has a trigger that shoots the sword when pulled
It's good. But I don't think it beats Judgement Cut
Nah, Judgment Cut End clears that
PLEASE the way they do boxing in fighting games is so unique, especially Dudley! The way that kicks are treated as punches make for something so incredibly cool
Yeah that gentleman boxer
Finally a martial arts nerd who can appreciate both realistic and fantasy nonsense in an action film.
Yes the martial art itself is intended purely for the practice of drawing as quickly as possible so you can get it out when you need it out. And once it's out it should stay out until no longer needed
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, a guy whipping out a pistol or a sword and taking down five targets in literal seconds is just fucking bad ass and we want to see more of it
Glad to have this series back.
Not to be a nuisance nancy, but there's some weird reverb sound when you speak, not sure if that's my headphones or not - but might be something to check for?
Yeah, I’m hearing that too.
Oh wow, I was assuming it was just my phone crapping out
Yeah, same here.
Ohhh, okay, I did think it was my phone being weird. But yeah, I’m getting some distortion on my end too.
I'm getting the sound too, sounds like a sound glitch like when a headphone jack or the microphone jack or cable has any problem.
It hurts my ears every time this happens. Your video is wonderful though.
I LOVE Draw characters in fighting games...but I suck at playing them, because they require such precise timing, and almost always ZERO mashing.
Glad to see y'all posting again!
I always wanted to see an Iaido character be a Stance Fighter instead of Rushdown or Setplay. A "Weapon Sheathed" stance for what makes Iaido what it is, and a "Weapon Drawn" stance for realism.
I hope Ninjutsu wins the Poll because it's so detached from real life Ninjutsu, but still has a style all to its own (also, saw a Ninja Analysis video recently, so the topic stays in the mind).
That's Narmaya GBFVS (in the video at 11:20-ish)
Mitsurugi in Soul Calibur kind of does this. He has a sword sheathed stance, but otherwise fights like a conventional swordsman, sword drawn and pointed at the opponent.
Yasuo in Project L is going to work like this. His Special 1 is a sheathed stance, but he fights with his sword drawn most of the time.
Chaka from Jojo HFTF is literally the exact character you're describing. He is a stance fighter who alternates between a more conventional rushdown/poker character with his sword out, or a more neutral-orientated character with big punishes using iajitsu sword techniques. Each stance even has its own super. He's a really cool character, but sadly overshadowed because he's in the same game as Pet Shop and Kakyion and etc
Much like the subject of this video, ABI took his sweet ass time to charge up and deliver a devastating blow to our boredom.
Cant wait for the next one
Glad to see you back!
Also, my favorite version of Iaido in games is in ff14, simply by how nonsense it goes.
Once you approach an enemy, your character automatically draws the weapon, no fuss, like every other class. Then, you fight with your weapon drawn, until you fill your bar, in which point you do your big move by sheathing, THEN draw slashing, just to go back to wielding it like normal.
It's the opposite of what makes any sense, you keep it unsheathed until you need to be cool, so you sheath just to draw. I love it.
It goes further than that even. All jobs in the game, even the non-magic combats or crafters, make use of aether to bolster their attacks. All the martial ones do this by imbuing themselves and their weapons with aether, but Samurais go a step further. Over the course of battle, they store aether into their sheathes, which then can then release with the Iaijutsu techniques. The sheath is just as important as the katana itself is to their combat style.
All the jobs make cool use of aether like that in some way.
11:42 That edit was slick.
I love that you took time to explain the difference between "do" and "jutsu." Few people ever ask the question, and it can be hard to explain to non-martial artists.
I've always liked Iai characters in fighting games. Ever since the Samurai Shodown with Ukyo, I tended to pick them. Whether in games or cinema, characters using some form of Iaido/Iaijitsu are always cool, and I love seeing how the fictional interpretations of their art keeps evolving.
Great to see you back. Looking forward to the next one.
I've been waiting eagerly for Style Select to come back, because goddamn there is nothing better than rewatching these videos 1000 times to absolve every morsel of information
It's not a fighting game, but I think it's cool to share that in DMC5 and DMC4, Vergil got a Concentration Gauge that rewards calm and precise play.
The gauge decrease if you run, miss an attack, or get hit. So you have to act like Vergil to increase the gauge.
Yeah, the concentration guage is basically Vergil's secondary style meter.
Probably my favorite anime trope. Actually kind of disappointed you didn't clip Jetsteam Sam's gun-assisted scabbard from Metal Gear Rising.
"You have likely seen it; a thousand times."
I seriously expected the Nero meme after that intro.
These videos are just so truly TRULY magnificent. The way you marry a meaningful but not overbearing amount of cultural and/or historical context as a tone-setter with narrative+gameplay storytelling elements with how that might be executed in various games or hell even genres of works. AUCKGH they make for these incredibly satisfying to watch, not too short and about as long as can be expected(I usually enjoy longer vids but that’s personal taste hehe), medium-sized masterpieces. I always get quite giddy whenever I see a new one come out. Keep up the great work.
Been waiting for this for awhile, hope you’re doing well.
iaido and boxing are the two dopest fighting styles ever so those back to back in vids would be raw
This isn’t technically a fighting game but my favourite instance of Iaido is just jetstream Sam’s freaking gun sheath where if he puts his sword back into his sheath and then PULLS A TRIGGER SO THAT IT COMES OUT FASTER, HE CAN ALMOST INSTANTLY CUT DOWN HIS OPPONENT. ITS SO STUPID AND I LOVE IT.
Did the audio sound weird for anyone else?
I popped off when I saw this in my sub box! Not because it's Iaido, but because it was a Sugarpunch video! I'm also glad you're back ABI. (also yeah the video was sweet too)
Don't forget the ridiculous extreme of the sword-gun hybrid in Ga-Rei Zero. The Michael 13 sword was a katana with a gun trigger on the hilt of the sheath. One basically shoots to draw even faster for an Iaido slash.
Oh yeah, I remember that. Was it gas-powered?
I have to appreciate that you started the video with "Ephemeral Dream", Setsuka's debut theme in SoulCalibur III.
My mind played tricks on me. When you used Kunimitsu's Tekken 7 theme, I momentarily expected music from Muramasa the Demon Blade, since you were talking about the technique in other games as well. The quick draw is a major mechanic there that has to be charged but can hit all enemies on screen when it is ready.
12:12 I'm so glad you put in the best representation of Ninjustsu in fighting games. 🦅
DMC Vergil has to be one of the more interesting iaido mechanics in video games. Judgement cut is pretty sick and tying its mechanics to the sheathing animation of your attacks is cool. They even affect your style meter and concentration meter if you let the sheathing animation play out.
Man really showed everyone using Virgil's moves except Virgil
Returning your blade to its scabbard requires a motion that breaks the natural arc of the iaido slash. It is clear that the most efficient way to practice this technique is to carry 10 to 50 scabbards on your person at all times, positioned in all manners of different places and angles, so that your blade can always naturally find its way to a scabbard regardless of the angle of your attack.
It's possible that he might get a mention should Ninjutsu win out, but interestingly enough it seems like Yoshimitsu in his current iteration has been turned into something resembling an Iaido character: he's always had certain moves that have that instantaneous counterplay sort of quality, but the new buffs that his sword moves gain if they're done from his No Sword Stance makes the comparison a lot stronger than it used to be. It's a really cool angle I never considered until now.
Not a fighting game, but in Devil May Cry 5 they went a step further in Vergil’s iado technique by penalizing players who would miss with their attacks, and reward players (with the “concentration” mechanic) who played with precision and composure. The game even rewards players (with increases in the “devil trigger” meter) who don't cancel or interrupt the sheathing animation after his sword attacks.
It's so nice for you Sugar Punch to come back. And while on topic with Iaido, one notable fighting game character that emphasizes Iaido in so many unique ways would have to be none other than Kamui Tokinomiya from Arcana Heart. She could literally freeze time with her default Arcana Anutpada (Arcana of Time) which is sort of like practicing Iaido (by standing still before unsheathing very quickly) except that she could fight even when the time around her is frozen in place.
"im glad to be back" HELL YEAH
I know, at least to a certain extent, this series covers historical martial arts, but I would love to see you cover how magic is used in fighting games. More specifically, glass-cannon “sorcerer” types who primarily use magic in place of conventional weaponry.
Yeah, I'm sure if Fire Emblem ever gets a fighting game, Lyn will have this style as well, so I appreciate the clip of her in this video.
From a narrative sense, it's sort of interesting that the fictionalized Iaido always ends with your sword in its scabbard, because it sort of says two things using it.
1. The characters using it want to be as ready to end a fight as much as start one
2. The opponent may not always know what you're going to do next (there are a decent number of cuts originating from sheathed)
Although it is interesting that Demon Slayer actually de-fictionalizes it a bit, because Zenitsu (the Thunder-Breathing Style Iaido user) actually is noted to be under-trained due to him only using Form 1 of Thunder-Breathing, the Flash-step Draw Cut. Now of course, since he later hones this to perfection, it sorta re-fictionalizes it, which isn't bad, I just find it funny. You're supposed to use Iaido as your ignition, not the entirety of the fight, even in Demon Slayer, it's just that Zenitsu makes his bug into a feature, which is both entirely on brand with martial arts films where often if a character is only good at 1 move, they'll dictate the terms of the fight by using that one really busted move, even if it's not perfectly practical.
This samurai = cowboy in regards to duels and portrayal in media is quite the eye-opener
It’s been so long!!!! Love to see you back man!!!
Glad to finally see this series continue.
knowing that the iconic quick draw blood splash was born from sfx error is so glorious
Not one mention of Bushido Blade 2. Kaun & Gengoro alone make iaido so iconic yet challenging enough to be fit for experienced wielders only - someone not as "good" at the good will die due to the defensive drawbacks of having no drawn weapon to block, whereas a master of iaido stance will be sending the opponent's crimson arcing across the screen so quick it gives whiplash. And all in real-time, no cinematic "freeze time" meta-gimmicks (as fun as that is).
I had to scroll for a mile to find one person that's talking about Bushido Blade... It was a cool system having one school with experts in the two sword style and the other school iaido. The style was so rad to childhood me, I played Gengoro and Kaun religiously.
Part of my brain optimistically thought half of this video was going to be about Bushido Blade 2... Then I scrolled to find this comment and remembered very few of us still think about it.
Another sad addition to the list of game sequels we'll never see 🥹
This is how you make 10/10 youtube content! What an amazing analysis and video.
I'm gonna vote for Boxing as the next fighting style. There's a reason why it's called the Sweet Science, and I'd love to see how fighting games interpret what can be a very subtle and complicated fight style.
Just happy to see SugarPunch post another goated style select video
Since you're already talking about Sword Fighters in fighting games, can you also analyze the Rapier Fencers using both Modern Olympic Fencing and Historical European Fencing please? For example:
- Charlotte - SamSho
- Amy & Raphael - SoulCal
- Mitsuru - P4A
- Katalina - GBVS
- Orie - Under Night In Birth
- Weiss - BB Cross Tag
- Marie & Marta - Hellish Quart
And many more...
So glad to see Style Select is back! Love the series
0:40 why is there a mosquito in my ear
Always loved Iaido's dramatic flare, from Kurosawa films to Usagi Yojimbo to Samurai Shodown, got a good bit of exposure to it at a decently young age and I still get excited at the sheathed katana entering the ring. lol
So glad to have you back my guy!!!
As a practitioner of Iaido and a long term lover of video games, it was inevitable for a video like this one to show on my feed eventually. Cheers.
Johnny is a samurai cowboy pirate. The very definition of cool.
I love seeing this style whenever it shows up, both in practice and in fiction. In terms of the latter, I've been interested in seeing if there are characters out there who have a reason for sheathing their weapon again mid-combat to prepare for another attack. The Rule of Cool is a valid reason, and some in the comments have mention Jetstream Sam's sheathe having a trigger mechanism that can launch his sword out faster. Besides him, I can only think of one character in Bleach, though it's been so long since I watched it that I can't remember who it was. All I do recall is that he was initially battling with quick draw slashes, until someone managed to grab his sword and prevent it from entering its scabbard, nullifying whatever trick he was using up to that point.
I’m super happy style select is back. I’ve rewatched stuff from this channel a lot while drawing, and it gives me a new level of appreciation for fighting games👍
balrog/bison, dudley, vanessa, rick strowd, heavy d, kaori (efz), akihiko sanada, steve fox, roger? (tekken), ed, tiffany & boman (rival schools), jet (yatagarasu), Sebastian McClane (pocket bravery), TJ combo, yugo (bloody roar), mickey rogers, axel hawk, nelson (kof), little mac (if we count smash), makoto (bbcf)
...just to name a few lol. fingers crossed for Boxing SS in future! 🤞
second favorite depiction/dramatization of martial arts in FGs after Bajiquan
*honorable mention to Full Moon Ciel in MBAACC because Ryo Mashiba-style flicker punches are cool
Welcome Back Sugar Punch.😎👍🏾
I've never wanted to hug a video more than seeing this show up.
Thank you for covering this. I am Tetsuo, one of the Six Heavenly Blades of the Iron Lotus, and there are a lot of misconceptions of iaido that I struggle every day to dispel from my students’ minds.
my frist exposure to Iaido was Ukyo from samurai showdown i was wowed as a kid lol
So glad you made this!!
I like the idea that Cowboys and Samurais are similar, even if it's just from a cinematic point of view or in games
honestly an episode on karate cause be a whole 20+ min episode with the varying about of styles in different fighting game characters, also I hope you can do an episode on Taido one day
Hasn’t stopped being my favorite style since I’ve seen it as a child. Victor in tekken 8 was the reason I got the game.
When you see a sheated katana after the battle start, you know you will be getting chipped to death while your opponent attacking half screen away from you
My favorite type of character starting with Ukyo in sam show and even further in that blind samurai movie.
Seeing a karate style select would be really cool
I've heard that a large focus of Iai's quick draw was a legal issue where you needed to draw second to not be legally at fault for the fight. Making up the difference in letting the enemy start attacking first would naturally be vital and of course it explains the other proponent of attacking second in many Iai techniques.
Glad to see you back!
One of my personal favorite examples is from the recent "Blue Eye Samurai" series. There's a duel near the beginning of the series that takes place with each opponent adjusting their stance, playing out the scenario in their head, and adjusting again. Theirs only like, three real strikes in the actual fight but the scene is around 7 minutes long and amazing! It's like watching professional chess while reading each players minds! The stylization is also fantastic, with their thoughts being depicted as swirling ink-blots.
They also have a scene like this in Star Wars Rebels. Both of which are a reference to a duel (or several duels) in The Seven Samurai.
shoutout to Chaka from part three of jojo's bizzare adventures . and the capcom 2d game.
Damn, glad to see you back
One of my favorite depictions of the quick draw in gaming comes from a character that doesn't even use iaido (or at least certainly not traditionally), that being Link/the hero's shade in twilight princess. It's a bit situational, only being able to activate if you have you are VERY close to an enemy, not targeting it, AND have your sword sheathed, but that very difficulty and its massive damage are what makes it so cool. And it also honestly feels more true to how the quickdraw should work: a surprise attack that gives you a pretty bit advantage, but can only really be used once per encounter. I honestly prefer that to, say, botw's ambushes, which are similar in concept but different enough in execution.
let me guess your favorite character is dave/dirk
@@eliflot4019 No it's actually Fefetasprite
@@homestuck_official i feel sorry for your loss
@@eliflot4019 S)(ea will live in our )(earts furrever
We are SO BACK
I never really cared before about what I called "egdy sword slashing" as it's not something I encounter by myself often enough to care, but this to this video I at the very least how it's called, but also the cool history and parallels of it and I really enjoyed learning about all of thay. I greatly appreciate it!
Iaido or Iaijutsu is so cool, you can’t change my mind
most of my favorite game characters are Katana user who performs Iaido, I’m glad someone finally covered this technique both in fictional form and reality (since I rarely saw people mention about Iaido in fiction)
The information the iaido is a cowboy showdown is so unnerving.
Wow, even dungeon fighter made the cut!? Awesome video!
Amazing! Really interesting to learn about iado's history, I gotta watch some of those Kurosawa movies sometime
Love the effort put into this. I’m an editor and I have to say that this is such a fun channel. You 100% deserve my subscription. Can’t wait to see what comes next.
The difference, to my knowledge, is IAI specializes in drawing strikes with the sword returning to the scabbard to "reload". BATTO begins with a drawing strike but does not reload.
Never underestimate the ability to confuse your opponent. I used to sheath my sword in middle of matches and as soon as I see the 'wtf?' on their face, I would use a draw cut at a weird angle and snipe arms and hands.
It all happened when Kurosawa just used it in his movies, and then EVERYONE started doing it when Vergil really made it look cooler than anything else.
I think Elden Ring cae out a little after 2020, it hasn't been _that_ long
Cool to have you back! Lots of great iaido examples, I didn't realize how many there was
You should make a video on fans, they're a very unique weapon type.
@SugarPunch YOU ARE COOKING! I saw your other videos, it's insane that you're the reasons while I have 3 games downloading and 5 movies bookmarked I'm about to watch!! I hope this comment reaches u. Can't believe this man
I’m so hype for a boxing video. The greatest has to come up.
very fascinating history, and a great video! I also hope you fix those audio issues 👍
We are going back to basics with the next video, looking forward to it.
New Sugar Punch Style Select video! Let's goooooo!
I think it’s worth mentioning that iaido is by design a “self-defense” technique; this inherently gives the art an almost righteous feel fit for a protagonist. They’re not there to start a fight, but they’re damn sure gonna end it.
woot! Style Select is back. I've been missing it.