Ripple
Ripple (波紋, Hamon), also known as Sendō (仙道, lit. "Way of The Hermit/Wizard"), is an ancient form of martial arts.
Through self-controlled respiration, Ripple links trained persons with the energy of the Sun; in polar opposition to the energy exerted by Vampires, Zombies and the Pillar Men.
Ripple is the main source of power for the heroes of Phantom Blood and Part II: Battle Tendency. It is also briefly featured in Stardust Crusaders.
Description
Ordinary humans can also be affected by Ripple attacks, as Caesar had used his Ripple to control a woman into fighting Joseph before he had undergone the final stages of his training, and Joseph's trained Ripple would have caused an ordinary person experience a pins and needles-feeling before fainting - similar in nature to symptoms experienced after prolonged exposure to the sun's rays. Kars' Ripple energy, boasting several hundred times Joseph's power, caused Joseph's flesh to nearly instantly melt.[1] Ripple is also transferable between users, as both Will A. Zeppeli and his grandson Caesar transferred their Ripple to the protagonists they were aiding shortly before their deaths. Ripple users can reject harmful substances inside of them by ejecting it from their bloodstream with the use of Hamon energy.
Liquids conduct Ripple especially well (and the user's Hamon shows on liquids as actual ripples), and it can even be used to increase the surface tension enough to allow the user to walk on water. It was mentioned by Joseph that objects covered in oil can conduct Hamon much easier. Joseph was also shown to be able to cover his body in Hamon energy by channeling through his own Stand. It is unknown if a humanoid Stand like Star Platinum, belonging to his grandson Jotaro, could do the same.
Weaknesses
While the Ripple users can make even the most simplistic of objects into lethal weapons and become themselves dangerously powerful, they are not without significant weaknesses. A Ripple user must be able to constantly breathe: if this breathing is stopped or reduced due to injury or other conditions, they slowly grow weaker and lose the ability to create more Ripple energy, to the point that they can be easily defeated - even by a mere zombie. This weakness was exploited by many vampires - notably when Dio mortally injured Jonathan, piercing his trachea and in the process preventing him from using Ripple. Dio had also discovered that he could flash-freeze a Hamon user in seconds (he even claimed to be able to freeze Jonathan whole in just two seconds), causing their blood to flow slowly to an eventual stop, making them unable to attack as rapidly or disabling them outright.
Techniques
- Forced Ripple Breathing: The Ripple user gut punches someone with the little finger raised so he reaches one's diaphragm. By doing so the target will momentarily lose their breathe and be in agony but will momentarily be able to produce the Ripple. Wounds sustained by a normal person can be healed faster. One can also gauge how much Ripple a neophyte can produce in one breath, enabling one to determine a person's potential. However the technique requires precision and is difficult to perform. Even experienced Ripple Masters can fail it, as was the case when Will A. Zeppeli tried the forced Ripple Breathing on Speedwagon.
- Zoom Punch (ズームパンチ
- Ripple Cutter (波紋カッター Hamon Kattā?, literally meaning Ripple Cutter): The user spits globs of wine from between his teeth. The ripple combined with the liquid makes it sharp and dense enough to cut through solid objects, as well as agile and accurate enough to deflect other projectiles.
- Sendo Wave Kick (仙道波蹴ウェーブキック Sendō Uēbukikku?, literally meaning Way of the Hermit Wave Kick): A ripple-infused strike with the knee. The ripple energy tears vampires and Undead apart upon entering the bloodstream.
- Ripple Detector: The user imbues a contained liquid with the Ripple. The Ripple will pass throught the liquid's holder's body and the environment, enabling the holder to sense his surroundings and detects others even through walls.
- Sendo Ripple Overdrive (仙道波紋疾走(オーバードライブ)
- Scarlet Overdrive (緋色の波紋疾走(スカーレットオーバードライブ)
- Underwater Turquoise Blue Overdrive (水中のための青縁波紋疾走(ターコイズブルーオーバードライブ)
- Overdrive Barrage (波紋疾走(オーバードライブ)連打
- Metal Silver Overdrive (銀色の波紋疾走(メタルシルバーオーバードライブ)
- Life Magnetism Overdrive (生命磁気への波紋疾走(オーバードライブ) Seimei jiki e no Ōbādoraibu?): With the aid of another Ripple user, one can draw all the leaves in the immediate area and magnetize them together to form one giant leaf, which was used as an impromptu-hang glider. This move can be applied to most plants, and has the ability to revive them passively as well - as when Jonathan touched a dead tree branch with his newly Ripple-healed arm and restored its wilted flowers.
- Sunlight Yellow Overdrive Sanraito Ierō Ōbādoraibu (山吹き色の波紋疾走(サンライトイエローオーバードライブ)！！?, Lit. "Bright Yellow Ripple Sprint"): It is a devastating and extremely rapid flurry of Ripple-infused punches with power comparable to the sun itself and has the ability to completely obliterate the Undead. Alternatively a simple, quick jab is enough to blow away a group of zombies and eventually melt them into ash.
- Tornado Overdrive (波紋乱渦疾走(トルネーデイ・オーバードライブ) Torunēdei Ōbādoraibu?): The Ripple user leaps into the air and points his legs towards his opponent. From here, he is able to move the ripple to his lower half and essentially dive bomb the opponent in a spinning motion, much like a drill.
- Ultimate Deep Pass Overdrive (究極深仙脈疾走(デイーパスオーバードライブ) Kyūkyoku Deī Pasu Ōbādoraibu?): One of the most powerful ripple techniques. Right before death, a Ripple user can transfers all his life energy into another Ripple user. Using this technique, the survivor obtains all of the performer's power - causing his strength, agility, and ripple technique to increase dramatically. This rapid loss of life energy naturally also changes the performer's physical appearance, causing his skin to thin and wrinkle as well as his hair to turn white, as if greatly aged in the short time.
This section requires expansion.
History
According to Will Anthonio Zeppeli, only one in ten thousand bears the aptitude capable of utilizing Ripple, and the main characteristic of driving Hamon comes from the pressure one has felt through harsh situations in life. Those who are not capable will still be able to use Hamon, but only to an insignificant extent.[2]
Hamon seems to have been created at the dawn of humanity with the purpose of fighting off the Pillar Men's influence on the world. This also includes the creation of minor demi-humans, known as vampires and zombies, created through the Stone Masks, and stopping them from ever achieving perfection through the Red Stone of Aja. Ripple users have built many devices and temples across the world to help them train and learn from one another.
Similar Phenomena in Part VII
In the new canon beginning with Steel Ball Run, a power called the Spin is introduced, similar in a few notable ways to Ripple; as part of a series of parallels to concepts native to the original canon.
Channeled by Gyro Zeppeli with special Steel Balls and by Johnny Joestar with a Stand power that spins his nails, the Spin enables a range of effects on the environment and the body.
Trivia
- Araki has mentioned engaging in a morning breathing routine (perhaps like Qigosiming).[citation needed]
- At the beginning of Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe - Episode 6: Poaching Reef, Rohan Kishibe engages in a breathing exercise.
- According to Araki, the concept of "Rules" and psychic powers in the manga, Babel II by Mitsuteru Yokoyama helped him form the basis around the idea of Hamon.[3]
- The English dub of the OVA translates Ripple as "Wave Energy."
- Hamon is similar in concept to the concept of Qi found in other manga and anime.
- Ripple-based moves, such as the Overdrive, form the basis of some of Joseph's techniques in video game Heritage for the Future, as well as the entirety of Young Joseph's moves. When performing these Ripple moves using the strongest attack button, both Josephs can be seen visibly breathing.
- Ripple also has medicinal usages, such as being use to effectively counter and reverse gangrene.
References
- ↑ Chapter 112: The Phenomenal Power of the Red Stone p.6
- ↑ Chapter 24: Invitation to A Trap p.3
- ↑ Interview with Araki.
