Fencing Style

The "Fencing style" used by Brook is an unnamed form of swordsmanship that resembles classical fencing. It's attacks consist of fast cutting techniques used by Brook's Kingdom's Assault Squad. The majority of the techniques are named after songs and dances coupled with fencing terms usually spoken in French but sometimes makes use of Japanese. This sword discipline was also used by Ryuuma, who had also demonstrated most of the known attacks.

Attacks

 *  Hanauta Sanchou: Yahazu Giri (鼻唄三丁:やはずぎり; Three-Verse Humming: Arrow-Notch Slash): A technique in which the user seemingly instantly slashes an opponent at such a fast pace that it appears that they didn't attack at all (in fact, to the casual observer it would look like the user simply walked past the victim). Only when a certain amount of time has passed, which is approximate to the time the user walks ten feet away or 3 steps or "verses" as the name suggests, does their opponent only realize the attack. It seems to employ elements of Iai (instant sword-draw-and-resheath) since it is generally initiated (though not always) with the user moving towards the intended target(s) with a naked blade and walks past them before sheathing it back. It is usually at this point that the victims start manifesting the effects of this high-speed attack. The actual attack is however not seen clearly due to the speed it implemented. The technique is highly versatile, since with it, the user can slash multiple targets at once and if they so wish, the damage they inflict can be as fatal or as incapacitating as they like. The latter was performed by Ryuuma using the back edge of his Shuusui. Also, when Brook used it against Talleran, he, at the same time, applied salt to purify the zombie; and it was only until the shadow inside him was expelled did Talleran realized it. According to Brook this was originally named "Requiem Banderole" and was a fast cutting technique that learned from his kingdom's "Assault Squad". It was nicknamed it's current name by his nakama and was praised by them. This technique was first seen being used by Ryuuma on Nami, Usopp, and Chopper in Hogback's lab where it was used to render all three unconscious. This was first seen being used by it's original practitioner, Brook, against Taleran. It's original name comes from "Requiem", a type of song sung during funerals, and "Banderole", a type of small flag or streamer used by knights in heraldry. Banderole is also a reference to the fencing move Coup de Banderole, when the attacks performs a lateral slash against the opponent's chest, leaving a "stream" mark, hence the name banderole.


 * Aubade (Dawn Serenade) Coup Droit (Dawn Serenade: Right Handed Strike): A thrusting technique with the sword that apparently creates a highly compressed blast of air with enough power to burst its way through a thick wall as if fired from a gun. Powerful as it is, it could just as easily be countered by a similar attack as demonstrated by Zoro with his pound cannon. "Aubade" is a poem or song of or about lovers separating at dawn. "Coup Droit" means right handed strike in french. This was first seen being used by Ryuuma. According to Brook, this technique is completely different when he uses it.


 * Prelude Au Fer (Prelude: After): A technique in which the user slashes an opponent's weapon almost instantaneously. Apparently intended to disarm the opponent by destroying whatever weapon they might be wielding at close range. "Prelude" comes from the prelude found in music. "Au Fer" comes from the fencing term "Attaque Au Fer" which is a basically attacking an opponent after hitting their sword with one's own. This was first seen being used by Ryuuma against Zoro.


 * Gavotte Bond en Avant (Gavotte: Leap Forward): A sword thrusting technique in which the user propels himself forward in order to strike an opponent. As demonstrated by Brook, this, move can be done even at mid-air. "Gavotte" comes from Gavotte, a fast paced french folk dance. "Bond en Avant" is French for "Leap Forward". "Bond en Avant", a technique in fencing, is also usually used to propel oneself to their opponent to attack. This was first seen being used by Ryuuma against Zoro. This was first seen being used by it's original practitioner, Brook, against Oz in a combo with Usopp, Robin, and Nami.


 * Polka Remise (Polka Continuation): A technique in which the user delivers several thrusts against an opponent. Visually, due to the user's speed, it looks as if they are thrusting with several swords. The technique is named after Polka, a type of dance and genre of music originating from Bohemia. "Remise" is a fencing term referring to the continuation of an attack after initially missing or parried. This was first seen being used by Ryuuma against Zoro.


 * Nemuriuta Flanc (Lullaby Parry): A technique wherein the user swipes his weapon over a violin like a fiddle and plays a soothing melody which makes the user's enemies fall asleep. This allows him to score a free hit on the sleeping enemies. The main drawback however is that allies of the user are also susceptible to falling asleep as well. "Nemuriuta" is japanese for lullaby. "Flanc" is a fencing Parry technique (Parade de Flanc) where the fencer moves his sword, hand, elbow and upper arm in a wave/arc movement upto sholder level with the swords edge facing to the right. So Brook's sword carries the "lullaby parry" song on it swords edge like a violinists bow and creating a sleep inducing soundwave. This was first seen being used by Brook against some Flying Fish Riders.


 * Swallow Bond En Avant (Swallow Leap Forward): An attack where Brook first positions himself in mid-air several feet above his target and then performs a descending Bond En Avant spinnng downwards in an attempt to spear his target. Like Zoro's Shishi Sonson, this technique managed to tear its way through a Pacifista's outer covering, but not the armor beneath it and did left significantly less damage then Zoro's Shishi Sonson. The word "swallow" comes from the fact it is a extremely fast air-based attack.

Combo Attacks

 * Raikotsuken (雷骨剣 (らいこつけん) Lightning Bone Sword): By being thrown by Usopp's Kuwagata and spun by Robin with Slalom Vine, Brook, with his Shikomizue positioned vertically above his head with the blade's tip pointed at the path of his trajectory, is propelled at a large opponent through a cloud created by Nami's Dark Cloud Tempo. Upon being electrocuted by the cloud, Brook is turned into an arrow of lighting. Brook then thrusts through the opponent with Gavotte Bond en Avant, further propelling him. The opponent is then shocked as well as stabbed by the attack. The only drawback to this attack however is that after being shot through an opponent, Brook doesn't have any control of where he goes next. This was first seen being used against Oz.