Description
Originally named Eishuu Retsu, Retsu Kaioh trained at China's Bailin Temple in Heilongjiang under the alias Shaoron Retsu. He relentlessly pursued the Kaioh title, exclusive to China's premier martial artists. Barred from the examination for perceived inadequacy, he escaped confinement, defeated six armed guards, and confronted his master Kaiou Ryuu. This revealed Kaiou Dorian’s feat of digging a massive tunnel barehanded overnight, driving Retsu to intensify his training until he earned the Kaioh title. An accidental killing of a sparring partner during temple drills contributed to periods of confinement.
Standing 176 cm tall and weighing 106 kg, Retsu had black hair typically tied in a single braided pigtail. He commonly wore dark blue or black Shaolin monk pants and boots, often fighting shirtless. After losing his leg to the prehistoric fighter Pickle, he used a pegleg that never impeded his combat effectiveness or daily activities.
Early on, Retsu exhibited fierce pride in Chinese Kenpo, dismissing other martial arts. He confronted karate practitioner Katsumi Orochi before the Maximum Tournament, demanding acknowledgment of Kenpo’s superiority. During the tournament, he defeated Sergei Taktarov with the Spinning Lotus technique, overwhelmed Mount Toba by exploiting a knee weakness, and blinded Katsumi with his "Invisible Blinding" breath before knocking him out with the Sunkei (a one-inch strike). In the semi-finals, Baki Hanma nearly killed him by breaking his neck. This loss, alongside prior intimidation by Yujiro Hanma, began challenging his worldview. Post-tournament, he formed a friendship with Katsumi, leading him to train and teach at the Shinshinkai Dojo. This marked a shift toward openness—valuing diverse fighting styles while retaining dedication to Kenpo.
Retsu reappeared during the "Search of Our Strongest Hero" saga, encountering death row convicts Dorian and Doyle. He later aided Baki Hanma by taking him to China for a tournament to cure poisoning. In the "Son of Ogre" arc, his battle against Pickle caused severe leg damage and amputation. He subsequently trained Katsumi for his own fight against Pickle. Seeking to promote Chinese martial arts globally, Retsu participated in boxing exhibitions. He destroyed a punching bag during a strength test and fought a former boxing champion, demonstrating techniques like damage absorption and full-power strikes. Despite earning significant money, he remained indifferent to it.
Retsu’s combat mastery centered on Chinese Kenpo, augmented by superhuman physical traits. Key techniques included pressure point strikes, the Sunkei (utilizing Fa Jin for internal damage), lung expansion for compressed air attacks ("Invisible Squash"), and Defensive Xiaoli for damage reduction. He displayed genius-level analytical skills, instantly deciphering fighting styles and weaknesses. Statistically, he achieved Town Level (7-C) attack potency and durability, with High Hypersonic speed. His Defensive Xiaoli allowed him to survive a lethal sword strike from Musashi Miyamoto, though he succumbed shortly after. Musashi acknowledged their battle’s intensity, likening it to the historic Sekigahara conflict. Retsu’s death stemmed from overconfidence and eagerness to challenge powerful foes, yet he showed compassion, notably toward the mentally regressed Dorian.
In the spin-off "Baki Gaiden: Retsu Kaiou wa Isekai Tensei Shitemo Ikkou ni Kamawan," Retsu is reincarnated into another world after his main-timeline death. This story references primary canon events, including Katsumi’s use of Retsu’s arm. Illustrated by Eiji Murai and written by Sai Ihara, with Keisuke Itagaki contributing to the original story, it holds semi-canon status. Retsu battles new adversaries within this fantasy setting.
Standing 176 cm tall and weighing 106 kg, Retsu had black hair typically tied in a single braided pigtail. He commonly wore dark blue or black Shaolin monk pants and boots, often fighting shirtless. After losing his leg to the prehistoric fighter Pickle, he used a pegleg that never impeded his combat effectiveness or daily activities.
Early on, Retsu exhibited fierce pride in Chinese Kenpo, dismissing other martial arts. He confronted karate practitioner Katsumi Orochi before the Maximum Tournament, demanding acknowledgment of Kenpo’s superiority. During the tournament, he defeated Sergei Taktarov with the Spinning Lotus technique, overwhelmed Mount Toba by exploiting a knee weakness, and blinded Katsumi with his "Invisible Blinding" breath before knocking him out with the Sunkei (a one-inch strike). In the semi-finals, Baki Hanma nearly killed him by breaking his neck. This loss, alongside prior intimidation by Yujiro Hanma, began challenging his worldview. Post-tournament, he formed a friendship with Katsumi, leading him to train and teach at the Shinshinkai Dojo. This marked a shift toward openness—valuing diverse fighting styles while retaining dedication to Kenpo.
Retsu reappeared during the "Search of Our Strongest Hero" saga, encountering death row convicts Dorian and Doyle. He later aided Baki Hanma by taking him to China for a tournament to cure poisoning. In the "Son of Ogre" arc, his battle against Pickle caused severe leg damage and amputation. He subsequently trained Katsumi for his own fight against Pickle. Seeking to promote Chinese martial arts globally, Retsu participated in boxing exhibitions. He destroyed a punching bag during a strength test and fought a former boxing champion, demonstrating techniques like damage absorption and full-power strikes. Despite earning significant money, he remained indifferent to it.
Retsu’s combat mastery centered on Chinese Kenpo, augmented by superhuman physical traits. Key techniques included pressure point strikes, the Sunkei (utilizing Fa Jin for internal damage), lung expansion for compressed air attacks ("Invisible Squash"), and Defensive Xiaoli for damage reduction. He displayed genius-level analytical skills, instantly deciphering fighting styles and weaknesses. Statistically, he achieved Town Level (7-C) attack potency and durability, with High Hypersonic speed. His Defensive Xiaoli allowed him to survive a lethal sword strike from Musashi Miyamoto, though he succumbed shortly after. Musashi acknowledged their battle’s intensity, likening it to the historic Sekigahara conflict. Retsu’s death stemmed from overconfidence and eagerness to challenge powerful foes, yet he showed compassion, notably toward the mentally regressed Dorian.
In the spin-off "Baki Gaiden: Retsu Kaiou wa Isekai Tensei Shitemo Ikkou ni Kamawan," Retsu is reincarnated into another world after his main-timeline death. This story references primary canon events, including Katsumi’s use of Retsu’s arm. Illustrated by Eiji Murai and written by Sai Ihara, with Keisuke Itagaki contributing to the original story, it holds semi-canon status. Retsu battles new adversaries within this fantasy setting.