Ansatsuken is a Japaneseneologism used frequently in fictional works to describe any martial art style or fighting technique that has been developed with the purpose of killing an opponent. The term satsujinken is used interchangeably as well, and the homophonous term satsujinken is used when the martial art style or technique explicitly revolves around swordsmanship rather than barehanded combat.
Examples in fiction
Hokuto Shinken from the Fist of the North Star franchise, which is described as an "assassination art passed down from one master to a single successor". The term ansatsuken has also been applied as well to other fighting styles in the series, particularly Nanto Seiken, Gento Kōken and Hokuto Ryūken.
Tenshū, Suichū, and Chishū, the three sons of Zekū in Ironfist Chinmi, are collectively known as the "Three Brothers of the Assassination Fist", as each of them are proficient in their own assassination styles: Hangetsuken, Sentōken, and Ryūsōken respectively.
. It depicts the fighting style used by Street FightercharactersRyu, Ken, Akuma and Gouken is described as a "martial art rooted as an assassination art". Although Ansatsuken is a general term in Japanese, it has been used in the English language edition of Street Fighter: Eternal Challenge and other English-languageStreet Fighter media specifically as the name of Ryu and Kens fighting style which is heavily based on striking-based martial arts such as Karate and Kempo. Though not a mistranslation, it likely stems from a wrong understanding of the usage of the term when converted to the English media from the Japanese sources.
Gen from the Street Fighter series employs two assassination styles, Mourning style and Hateful style.
Gensatsuken used by the Mysterious Warrior in the NES version of '. In Double Dragon Advance, this style is renamed Gensetsuken and its now used by a group called the Five Emperors.
The Japanese language edition of Avenger!, the first book in the Way of the Tiger series, is titled Tiger Ansatsuken.
The character Myousai Kakouen in Ikki Tousen has been described as a "master of the assassination fist".
The character Kuzuki Soichiro in Fate/stay night uses a rare martial arts technique known as Hebi'.
History's GreatestDisciple has "Satsujinken" as the main opposition to the protagonists. It depicts a group of warriors who do not hold back in a fight and aim to kill their opponent.
