Here are some of Kenshin Himura's sword techniques as featured in the series. Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu is the strongest sword technique, and is comprised of several different techniques, some of which are briefly described in this section. The descriptions were taken from the Rurouni Kenshin Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu Special Techniques Collection video, and were supplemented with my personal observations. Feel free to contact me if you find any errors with the information below. Thanks and enjoy! ^^


Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu was originally founded
to protect people from conflict and fear. But as a free sword that doesn't belong to any ideology or authority.
~ Seijurou Hiko


RYUU SOU SEN | This move requires the user to attack the opponent's vital points at random, using incredible speed to execute the movement, thus denying the enemy of the chance to recover from the damage or launch a counterattack while the assault is in progress. This technique is ideal for opponents with a high level of endurance and stamina, as aptly used in battle with Sagara Sanosuke or "Zanza".

RYUU TSUI SEN | This attack is performed by quickly jumping high above the opponent and coming down with full force, using a single lethal blow to finish the enemy. It takes advantage of the user's momentum combined with his body weight as he plummets with high speed, adding much needed power to his sword strike. We see this in action in the fights with Hiruma Gohei, Isurugi Raijuta, and again with, Sagara Sanosuke.

SOU RYUU SEN | Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu's Battou Jutsu, this technique maximizes the sakabatou's length as it tends to be slower than a regular sword due to its curved edge. Because of its reduced speed, it gives the enemy the chance to dodge the attack. With Sou Ryu Sen, the sheath is used for the second blow, acting as a follow through attack should the opponent manage to evade the first. We also hear this process being referred to by Udou Jin'e as Nidan Battou Jutsu, using both the sword and the sheath in succession, the latter defending against the opening left by the former.

DO RYUU SEN | Using his sword, the user slashes just above the ground with incredible force, sending rocks and fragments of earth at the enemy in a fierce onslaught, similar to a dragon in flight. This technique can be used for enemies that are out of range or as an effective counterattack. This was used against Isurugi Raijuta, and was successfully deflected by Ren of the Sanada Sannin.

RYUU SHOU SEN | This is a frontal attack wherein the user charges up toward the enemy's throat and delivers a fatal blow. The combination of the enemy's weight combined with the user's upper thrust results to more damage and makes for an effective technique. We see this in motion during the battle with Senkaku in Shingetsu Village.

RYUU KAN SEN TSUMUJI | This is a technique that requires god-like speed to execute. The user slips past his opponent's sword with such speed and delivers a powerful blow to his midsection, akin to a dragon ascending the heavens. A brilliant display of this move is seen in the fight with Katanagari Chou, where Kenshin even spins in midair as he flies past the enemy's sword.

KUZU RYUU SEN | This technique is a transition to the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu Ougi, created in the course of perfecting the succession technique. It involves attacking the nine vital points at the same moment with god-like speed, making it impossible to defend all nine points at once. The vital points in budo are Karatake (head), Kesagiri (left shoulder), Sakagesa (right shoulder), Hidari Nagi (left arm), Migi Nagi (right arm), Hidari Kiriage (left waist), Migi Kiriage (right waist), Sakakaze (between the legs), and Tsuki (chest). Offense and defense is focused on one or more of these vital points, regardless of the fighting style, and the fact that Kuzu Ryuu Sen targets all these points at once makes it an invincible technique.

However, the potency of Kuzu Ryuu Sen is in part determined by how well the user distributes the strength of his arms. Meaning, a person with the same level of skill but with more muscle and body weight will have a more powerful Kuzu Ryuu Sen, point illustrated by none other than Seijurou Hiko and Himura Kenshin wherein the latter's built serves to undermine the strength of this technique.

AMA KAKERU RYUU NO HIRAMEKI | Finally, this is the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu Ougi, the secret technique passed on from master to student in a fatal ritual. Ama Kakeru Ryuu no Hirameki is a technique hinged on the nature of Kuzu Ryuu Sen, and the only one that can cancel out the latter. It's essentially Battou Jutsu that's even faster than god-like speed. It's indicated by a stance with the left foot forward as opposed to the regular battou technique which is led with the right leg. It is learned during the final test, wherein the student must defend against his master's Kuzu Ryuu Sen using the succession technique. It is a technique whose power is rooted in the user himself, as only those who possess a strong will to live can achieve this. This final move was used on Shinomori Aoshi, Seta Soujiro, Makoto Shishio, and Amakusa Shougo.


A sword is a deadly weapon.
Kenjutsu is a murdering technique.
No matter what pretty words are used, that is the truth.
You kill to protect others. You kill to let others live.
This is the truth of kenjutsu.
~ Seijurou Hiko