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"Two Sword Style" redirects here. This is about Zoro's Two Sword Style techniques. For Kozuki Oden's sword style, see Oden Two Sword Style.

Two Sword Style is another related sword/blade-style that Roronoa Zoro developed over the course of his journey, when in situations where his techniques have had to adapt for one reason or another.

Techniques[]

These are the attacks he uses with two swords. Two Sword Style was also Zoro's original fighting style when he began to learn how to wield a sword, before accepting Kuina's sword and practicing Three Sword Style.

Before the Timeskip[]

  • Taka Nami (鷹波, Taka Nami?, literally meaning "Hawk Wave"): While airborne, creates a powerful gust of wind to knock opponents over. It was first used to wipe out some Baroque Works agents at Whisky Peak. It can be done while standing on the ground. Zoro says this attack is very useful against a group of weak enemies.[2] The pun here is Takanami can mean "high waves" in Japanese. This attack was the first non-Three Sword Style technique Zoro uses in the series. This is called Hawk Wave in the VIZ manga and Funimation adaptations.
    • During the raid on Onigashima, Zoro used an enhanced version of this technique against some of the Beasts Pirates who were guarding the gates, where he swings Sandai Kitetsu and Enma to create a purple and red hawk-shaped projectile.
  • Sai Kuru (犀回, Sai Kuru?, literally meaning "Rhino Revolve"): Zoro holds his swords in front of him pointing up, like rhinoceros' horns, and spin-slashes around himself in an instant (almost akin to Tatsu Maki, but more briefly). This was first seen being used against the Franky Family when they "ambushed" Zoro on the Going Merry.[3] Pun with the Japanese pronunciation of the English word "cycle". This is called Rhino Cycle in the VIZ manga and Funimation adaptations and Rhino Rampage in the English version of One Piece: Grand Battle! Rush! (dubbed by 4Kids).
Nitoryu Iai Rashomon

Nitoryu Iai: Rashomon.

  • Nitoryu Iai: Rashomon (二刀流 「居合」 羅生門, Nitōryū Iai: Rashōmon?, literally meaning "Two Sword/Blade Style Acting-Draw: Thin Life Gate"): A dual sword drawing technique so powerful that it can split large obstacles in half. Zoro draws his swords, and sheathes them quickly, able to split two train carriages in half. Built in the year 789, the Rashomon was arguably the grandest and most famous gate in Kyoto. The name of this move probably comes from the double-gate/double-sword connotation, as well as being the 'grandest move' in his Two Sword Style lineup. This was first seen being used to cut open two sea train carriages filled with Marines and World Government agents (none of the passengers were harmed at all).[4] This is called Two-Sword Style Castle Gate in the VIZ manga, Two-Sword Style Sword Draw Rashomon in the Funimation adaptations, and Castle Gate in the English localization of One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3. It is also used as a counter/reversal in Jump Ultimate Stars as opposed to a direct attack.
  • Nanajuni Pound Ho (七十二煩悩ポンド, Nanajūni Pondo Hō?, kanji meaning "Seventy-Two Klesha Phoenix"; furigana meaning "72 Pound Phoenix/Cannon"): Same principle as the Sanjuroku Pound Ho. Holding his two swords horizontally above the shoulder, Zoro then performs a circular swing that launches two air compressed projectiles spiraling towards the target instead of one, making it twice as powerful. This was first seen being used against Kaku to counter his Rankyaku "Hakurai" technique.[5] This is called 72 Pound Phoenix in the VIZ manga, and 72 Caliber Phoenix in the Funimation dub. The attack's name is actually a very heavy pun, it is written out as "Phoenix of the 72 Kleshas" in the manga with a skewed reading attached that makes it "72 Pound Ho" when read out:
    • Ho means both "cannon" and "phoenix"; however, the attached kanji is for "phoenix", making that the literal translation and the "cannon" reading a pun on that, both of which are correct.
    • The "pound" part is a skewed reading of the kanji bonnou for "klesha", a Buddhist term for "worldly desires of evil thoughts", and is a reference to the weight of the largest solid iron sphere that would fit down a cannon's barrel (a 72-pound cannon would fire 72-pound round shot).
    • In Pirate Warriors 3, when used as the second input of his inverted C3 chain (Trianglex2, Squarex2), Zoro instead runs with both swords at his left side for a rushing double-swing to his right, though no projectiles emerge whatsoever (and the final input leads into his 1080 Pound Phoenix).
Nitoryu Nigiri

Nitoryu: Nigiri.

  • Nigiri (弐斬り, Nigiri?, literally meaning "Two Cutter"): A stance where two swords are held parallel so that the tips are pointing to his right or left side, this move is like a pre-requirement to perform: Toro, Otoro, Hirameki, Samon,[6] and Maguma.[7] This was first seen being used against Kaku. The pun in this is taken from sushi - the "Nigiri" in "Nigirizushi" roughly means 'hand-rolled'. In the Funimation dub this technique keeps its original name.
  • Toro (登楼, Tōrō?, literally meaning "Climbing Tower"): Two air-based projectile slashes are sent upwards while jumping as Zoro swings his swords in an upward motion. This was first seen being used against Kaku.[8] The pun in this is that "Toro" is an expensive cut of tuna for sushi; a fattier cut than the normal, while the technique's kanji is an actual term for climbing a tower (or to "visit a brothel"); another difference between the tuna "toro" has no extended vowels, while the tower-term "tourou" has two extended "u" vowels when written in romaji. In the VIZ manga and Funimation adaptations, this is called Tower Climb.
  • Otoro (応登楼, Ōtōrō?, literally meaning "Reply Climbing Tower"): Two air-based projectile slashes are sent downwards while falling as Zoro swings his swords downwards, with the gravity complimenting the force of the attack. This was first seen being used against Kaku.[9] The pun in this is that "Ootoro" is an even more expensive cut of tuna for sushi; the underbelly which is said to be the most flavorful flesh (though in romaji, the kanji for "reply" has another extended "u" vowel as "ou" instead of an "o", making it "outourou"). In the VIZ manga and Funimation adaptations, this is called Tower Climb Return.
  • Hirameki (, Hirameki?, literally meaning "Flash"): Two air-based projectiles are sent forward after swinging both swords from the left or right side.[9] The name comes from "Hirame", a flat fish used for sushi. This was first seen being used against Kaku. In the VIZ manga and Funimation adaptations, this is called Flash.
  • Samon (砂紋, Samon?, literally meaning "Sand Drawing"): Two air-based projectiles are sent diagonally down and to the left or right after swinging both swords from the left or right.[9] The pun in this is obvious; it sounds like "Salmon", a common fish used for sushi. This was first seen being used against Kaku. In the VIZ manga and Funimation adaptations, this is called Ripple.
  • Maguma (魔熊, Maguma?, literally meaning "Demon Bear"): A simple downward pound into the opponent with both swords. This was first seen being used against Ryuma.[7] The name is derived from "Maguro", the Japanese name for tuna, another fish used for sushi and may be a pun on the Japanese pronunciation of "Magma". In the VIZ manga and Funimation dub, this is called Demon Bear and Demon Magma Bear in the Funimation subs.
  • Dai Gekken (大撃剣, Dai Gekken?, literally meaning "Great Fencing Sword"): Zoro pierces two of his swords into Franky's heavy nunchaku and hits the opponent with it. This was first seen being used against Oars.[10] In the VIZ manga and Funimation dub, this is called Great Shock Slash and Super Fencing in the Funimation subs. "Gekken" literally means "Striking/Attack Sword", which is normally a Japanese term associated with fencing.

After the Timeskip[]

This is a list showing the attacks Zoro used for his Two Sword Style after his two years of training with Dracule Mihawk. Most of the techniques listed are enhanced versions of his old attacks, save for a few exceptions.

Nigiri Toro Samon

Nigiri Toro Samon

  • Nigiri: Toro Samon (弐斬り 登楼砂紋, Nigiri: Tōrō Samon?, literally meaning "Two Cutter: Climbing Tower Sand Drawing"): A combination of two former techniques, Toro and Samon, performed from his Nigiri stance. Zoro uses two swords in an upward diagonal slash to send a double air-based projectile attack that cuts his opponent. This was first seen being used against Basil Hawkins.[11] The pun is that Nigiri is a type of sushi, Toro means fatty, and Samon is a homophone for Salmon in Japanese. Put it together and it is Fatty Salmon Sushi. It is called Nigiri Tower Climb Ripple in the VIZ manga and the Funimation adaptations.
  • Nanahyakuniju Pound Ho (七百二十煩悩ポンド, Nanahyakunijū Pondo Hō?, kanji meaning "Seven-Hundred Twenty Klesha Phoenix"; furigana meaning "720 Pound Phoenix/Cannon"): A more powerful version of the Nanajuni Pound Ho. Holding his two swords horizontally above the shoulder, Zoro then performs a circular swing that launches two air compressed projectiles spiraling towards the target. The attack was first seen being used against Kurozumi Orochi, though it was deflected by Kyoshiro.[12] This is called 720-Pound Phoenix in the VIZ manga and Funimation subs, and 720 Caliber Phoenix in the Funimation dub.
  • Clear Lance (空狸槍クリアランス, Kuria Ransu?, literally meaning "Sky Tanuki Lance"): Zoro performs a downward slash with two swords, generating a strong shockwave. The shockwave generated is such that it can be used while in midair to stop himself from falling and push himself a great distance, similar to Rokushiki's Geppo or Sanji's Sky Walk. It was first seen used during his fight against King to avoid falling from Onigashima, allowing him to return safely.[13] This attack's name is a pun, as it sounds exactly like the word "clearance" if using Japanese phonetics.

Trivia[]

  • Despite being the style Zoro is most used to (he began using three swords right after Kuina's death and he once said he was not very good with one sword), his Two Sword Style techniques are the only ones that have not been used as a finishing move against a powerful named opponent.
  • Nigiri is a type of sushi and Zoro's attacks in Nigiri are mostly sushi puns.
  • Zoro's Two Sword Style is based on the Niten Ichiryu (Two Heavens-as-One Style), one of the first styles of samurai swordsmanship that focus on dual-wielding swords in battle (famously used by the famed samurai and the Sword Saint, Miyamoto Musashi).
  • While not officially called a Two Sword Style technique, Zoro uses two swords when using Homura Saki.

References[]

  1. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 1 Chapter 5 (p. 9) and Episode 19, Zoro is called "Nitōryū Zoro".
  2. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 12 Chapter 108 (p. 14) and Episode 65, Zoro uses Taka Nami against 100 Baroque Works agents at Whisky Peak.
  3. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 34 Chapter 325 (p. 4-5) and Episode 231, Zoro uses Sai Kuru.
  4. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 39 Chapter 371 (p. 8-9) and Episode 260, Zoro uses Rashomon.
  5. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 42 Chapter 401 (p. 7-8) and Episode 286, Zoro uses Nanajuni Pound Ho against Kaku's Rankyaku: Hakurai.
  6. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 43 Chapter 416 (p. 9-10) and Episode 299, Zoro uses Nigiri against Kaku.
  7. 7.0 7.1 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 48 Chapter 467 (p. 4) and Episode 362, Zoro uses Maguma against Ryuma.
  8. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 43 Chapter 416 (p. 9) and Episode 299, Zoro uses Toro against Kaku.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 43 Chapter 416 (p. 10) and Episode 299, Zoro uses Otoro, Hirameki and Samon against Kaku.
  10. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 49 Chapter 472 (p. 11) and Episode 367, Zoro uses Dai Gekken against Oars.
  11. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 91 Chapter 913 (p. 12-13) and Episode 899, Zoro defend against Hawkins' Straw Man.
  12. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 94 Chapter 944 (p. 4-5) and Episode 942, Zoro uses Nanahyakuniju Pound Ho to attack Kurozumi Orochi.
  13. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 102 Chapter 1027 (p. 17) and Episode 1052, Zoro uses Clear Lance while fighting King.

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