ONA
Description
Kaku Kaioh is the Supreme Grandmaster of Chinese Kenpo and the reigning champion of the Raitai Tournament, a title he has held for over a century. Exceeding 146 years of age, his physical form is that of a shrunken, frail elder, standing only 155 centimeters tall and weighing around 40 kilograms. He typically appears with long white hair, deep wrinkles, long fingernails, and uses a wheelchair when not engaged in combat, wearing a traditional Chinese cap, round glasses, and a tangzhuang jacket. This appearance is deliberate, as he abandoned physical strength training in his youth after being easily defeated by an elderly martial arts master, dedicating himself instead to the philosophy of weakness overcoming strength which ultimately caused his body to atrophy to its current state. In his youth, he was an arrogant bodybuilder who considered himself the strongest in Asia and dismissed martial arts philosophy, but his defeat led him to pursue the true essence of Chinese martial arts.
Personality-wise, Kaku displays a complex mix of ruthless pragmatism and deep pride in Chinese martial arts. He has shown sociopathic tendencies, such as stabbing and dismembering elders from the Chinese Martial Arts Association for perceived failures. He is also cunning and manipulative, rearranging tournament lineups to secure China's victory, even threatening to kill his own son to save the team's reputation after a defeat. He exhibits very little emotion, having abandoned most of life's pleasures in his relentless pursuit of martial strength. He respects very few people, with Yujiro Hanma being a notable exception, as Yujiro was able to nearly kill him in a match, earning the title of Hanma Kaioh from Kaku. Despite his ruthless side, in later appearances he is shown to have a more approachable and even comedic personality, particularly when training younger martial artists.
Kaku's primary motivation is the mastery of Chinese Kenpo and the demonstration of its superiority. His vast knowledge and experience, accrued over more than a century, drive him to seek worthy opponents and to ensure that Chinese martial arts remain undefeated against foreign challengers. He draws inspiration from his own past failures and from observing life around him.
In the story of the crossover, Kaku Kaioh is a legendary figure whose reputation precedes him. He is known to have met Metsudo, the patriarch of the Kengan matches, a long time ago, indicating a pre-existing connection between the worlds of Baki and Kengan Ashura. He also demonstrates knowledge of advanced techniques from the Kengan side, such as the Removal, showing his deep understanding of various martial arts. The crossover event takes place after the Pickle arc and before the father-son battle, with Kaku appearing as an established and respected grandmaster. His key relationships include his son Shunsei Kaku, though his attitude toward him is often harsh and critical, reflecting his uncompromising standards. He also has a connection to Retsu Kaioh and later trains Katsumi Orochi, showing a willingness to guide the next generation of fighters.
Development wise, Kaku has evolved from a prideful bodybuilder into a living embodiment of Chinese martial arts philosophy. He has spent over a century refining his techniques and understanding of combat, and his role has shifted from active competitor to mentor and symbol of martial arts supremacy.
His most notable ability is the use of Xiaoli, a technique that produces a state of hypoesthesia or extreme relaxation. Defensive Xiaoli allows him to absorb and redirect an opponent's attacks by offering zero resistance, essentially becoming like a flexible blade of grass that cannot be harmed by force. This technique is so effective that he could withstand punches from Yujiro Hanma with minimal damage. Offensive Xiaoli allows him to channel accumulated force into devastating counterattacks. Despite his frail body, Kaku can perform attacks with supersonic speed, slice through limbs with a simple hand chop, and even temporarily stop his own heart to feign death and survive against a stronger opponent. His observational skills are also extraordinary, allowing him to analyze a fighter's mentality, preferred style, and power level simply by watching them.
Personality-wise, Kaku displays a complex mix of ruthless pragmatism and deep pride in Chinese martial arts. He has shown sociopathic tendencies, such as stabbing and dismembering elders from the Chinese Martial Arts Association for perceived failures. He is also cunning and manipulative, rearranging tournament lineups to secure China's victory, even threatening to kill his own son to save the team's reputation after a defeat. He exhibits very little emotion, having abandoned most of life's pleasures in his relentless pursuit of martial strength. He respects very few people, with Yujiro Hanma being a notable exception, as Yujiro was able to nearly kill him in a match, earning the title of Hanma Kaioh from Kaku. Despite his ruthless side, in later appearances he is shown to have a more approachable and even comedic personality, particularly when training younger martial artists.
Kaku's primary motivation is the mastery of Chinese Kenpo and the demonstration of its superiority. His vast knowledge and experience, accrued over more than a century, drive him to seek worthy opponents and to ensure that Chinese martial arts remain undefeated against foreign challengers. He draws inspiration from his own past failures and from observing life around him.
In the story of the crossover, Kaku Kaioh is a legendary figure whose reputation precedes him. He is known to have met Metsudo, the patriarch of the Kengan matches, a long time ago, indicating a pre-existing connection between the worlds of Baki and Kengan Ashura. He also demonstrates knowledge of advanced techniques from the Kengan side, such as the Removal, showing his deep understanding of various martial arts. The crossover event takes place after the Pickle arc and before the father-son battle, with Kaku appearing as an established and respected grandmaster. His key relationships include his son Shunsei Kaku, though his attitude toward him is often harsh and critical, reflecting his uncompromising standards. He also has a connection to Retsu Kaioh and later trains Katsumi Orochi, showing a willingness to guide the next generation of fighters.
Development wise, Kaku has evolved from a prideful bodybuilder into a living embodiment of Chinese martial arts philosophy. He has spent over a century refining his techniques and understanding of combat, and his role has shifted from active competitor to mentor and symbol of martial arts supremacy.
His most notable ability is the use of Xiaoli, a technique that produces a state of hypoesthesia or extreme relaxation. Defensive Xiaoli allows him to absorb and redirect an opponent's attacks by offering zero resistance, essentially becoming like a flexible blade of grass that cannot be harmed by force. This technique is so effective that he could withstand punches from Yujiro Hanma with minimal damage. Offensive Xiaoli allows him to channel accumulated force into devastating counterattacks. Despite his frail body, Kaku can perform attacks with supersonic speed, slice through limbs with a simple hand chop, and even temporarily stop his own heart to feign death and survive against a stronger opponent. His observational skills are also extraordinary, allowing him to analyze a fighter's mentality, preferred style, and power level simply by watching them.