Demon Slayer (kimitsu No Yaiba): Secret Behind All Breathing Technique - Part 1

In the dark and bloody world of demon slayer: kimetsu no yaiba , Humanity faced an existence threat from immortal and flesh-eating demons. These creatures have extraordinary strength, Unbelievable speed, infinite stamina and also have ability to regenerate from any type of wound.

Their only weakness is Sun. On other side humans are weak as compare them, they don’t have extraordinary strength, also their stamina has a limit and the most important thing is human wounds do not recover automatically. They can’t regenerate. So to reduce these huge biological gap demon slayers (who hunt those creatures) use a specialized swordsmanship technique, that is known as Breathing technique. This is technique which is cause of victory over that creature in the series.

Before knowing the breathing technique, we must understand the how actually breathing technique works. Breathing technique is not a magic; it is an extreme manipulation technique of human body’s physical limits. To inhale maximum amounts of oxygen and pushing it into bloodstream, a swordman turns his blood into hyper-oxygenates. The sudden increase of oxygen basically accelerates the user’s heartbeat and body temperature. As a result, temporary but explosive surge in physical strength and agility, these will allow to match weak human body to a demon’s physical strength.

Understanding the Role of Demon Slayer Techniques

A Standard or normal demon slayer only uses Breathing technique during the exact moment of attack. However, Hashira (the highest-ranking demon-slayer) has mastered this breathing technique. To master this harsh technique, it requires the user to maintain the hyper-oxygenates state 24 hours of a day, even while sleeping. Mastering this breathing technique, it can permanently increase user’s lungs air capacity and also increase his physical ability that can define a huge gap between a Hashira and a ordinary demon slayer.

The Genesis: Sun Breathing (Hinokami Kagura)

Every Breathing style that is used by demon slayers is comes from one single and perfect technique this is sun breathing.

It was created over 400 years ago during the Sengoku Era by the legendary swordsman Yoriichi Tsugikuni. Sun Breathing represents as ultimate demon slayer art. It can directly mimic the intense, radiant power of sun. This is the only weakness of every demon. When Yoriichi try to teach this technique to his peers, he discovered one surprising thing and that is no other human body was capable to handling necessary physical stress are required to perform the legendary sun breathing technique. To confirm that humanity have fighting chance Yoriichi modifying his technique to suit the natural talents, muscle and weaponry of his students. Then the original breathing technique is divided in various derivative styles.

Since, demon king Muzan Kibutsuji was hunted down by the Yoriichi, Sun breathing was thought to be lost to his history (Not everyone knows about it) but it secretly survived. It passed down through the humble kamado family as ritualistic dance, known as the Hinokami Kagura(Dance of the Fire God).

The Five Fundamental styles:

From sun breathing , five fundamental branches were born.

Water Breathing :

Primary Practitioner : Giyu Tomioka, Sakonji Urokodaki , Tanjiro kamado (initially)

Philosophy: water breathing is the most common and easiest breathing style for beginners , who wants to learn breathing technique because it focus on fluid and continuous movement that will allow to swordsman to perform offence to defense.

Just like as water takes shapes of whatever container holds it, a water breathing style user adapts to their opponents fighting style.

Nobel Form: Eleventh form (Dead Calm) . it was created by water hashira , Giyu Tomika. The user stops their all movements and enters a state of absolute calm, visually turning their defense into a placid lake that instantly deflects all incoming attacks.

Flame Breathing:

Primary practitioner: Kyojuro Rengoku

Philosophy: For his high damage strikes Flame breathing is well known to everyone.

This breathing style users keep their feet firmly on ground for a stable base to attack their demolishing or high- damage slashes. For attacking their demolishing or high damage slashes, the users keep this breathing style and keep their feet firmly on ground for stable base.

Nobel Form: Ninth form (Purgatory). Kyojuro Rengoku has created it. An explosive single strike dash has been created by the users for delivering fast and high damage slash.

Thunder Breathing:

Primary Practitioner: Zenitsu Agatsuma , Jigoro Kuwajima

Philosophy: For his god like speed and his single strike attack Thunder Breathing is well known for. The breathing style of the Thunder Breathing is quite varied from other breathing style as other style severely focused on the arms and core where as thunder breathing absolutely to a great extent focused on users legs.

In this breathing style user channeling all oxygen into the leg muscles that’s why user act as a lighting rod and lunches a forward speed slash which is invisible to the human eye.

Nobel Form: First form (Thunder clap and Flash) . This is fundamental of this breathing style. Zenitsu masters this single in such way that he create various versions of it like sixfold, eightfold and god speed also.