Tantō Proficiency

Tantō Proficiency
Sio (Afro Samurai)
Power/Ability to:	Be a master of wielding tantō

The ability to be a master of wielding tantō, either innately or through training. Variation of Knife Proficiency.

Also Called

• Tantō Aptitude/Expertise/Intuition/Mastery/Skill/Specialism/Talent
• Tantojutsu (Japanese: 短刀術) Aptitude/Expertise/Intuition/Mastery/Proficiency/Skill/Specialism/Talent

Capabilities

The user, either innate or through training, is a master of using tantō, shortswords or knives wielded by the samurai of feudal Japan. These weapons started out as functional weapons used in the Hein period (794-1185 B.C.). These were designed to primarily be stabbing weapons, but of course the razor fine edge could also slash cut as well.

Applications

• Cutting
  • Speed Cutting
• Defense Bypassing
• Deflection
  • Parrying Mastery
• Dual Wielding
  • Multi Slash
• Enhanced Dexterity
  • Enhanced Adroitness to control the user’s own coordination even in seemingly uncomfortable spots.
• Enhanced Precision
  • Precise Strike
• Enhanced Reflexes
  • Quick-Draw Mastery
• Impale
• Physical Attack Reversal
  • Countering Mastery
• Pressure Strike
• Severing
• Slash Effect/Projection
  • Air Cutting
  • Cutting Wave
• Weakness Detection
  • Shatterpoint Mastery for easily using a knife to damage objects that would be too difficult for those with at least enhanced strength to do by going for the target's weak points.

Associations

• Adoptive Muscle Memory
• Enhanced Combat
• Intuitive Aptitude
• Knife Proficiency
• Short Sword Proficiency
• Weapon Manipulation
• Weapon Physiology
• Weapon Proficiency Touch

Limitations

• May require a degree of training or exposure.
• May take time to achieve mastery.

Known Users

• Sio (Afro Samurai)
• Katrina Westing (Demon Accords)
• Nobume Imai (Gintama)
• Roronoa Zoro (One Piece)
• Slade Wilson/Deathstroke (DC Comics)
• Various characters (Naruto)
  • Butsuma Senju
  • Fū Yamanaka
  • Gamabunta
  • Gamakichi
  • Gotta
  • Hamaki Mimura
  • Hyō
  • Ino Yamanaka
  • Inojin Yamanaka
  • Kakashi Hatake
  • Kosuke Maruboshi
  • Sai
  • Sakura Haruno
  • Samui
  • Shikamaru Nara
  • Shin
  • Shinigami
  • Shisui Uchiha
  • Tajima Uchiha
  • Tenten
• Antonio Garcia/Gold Samurai Ramger (Power Rangers Samurai/Super Samurai)
• Genta Umemori/Shinken Gold (Samurai Sentai Shinkenger)
• Bird (Shadow Fight)
• Shadow (Shadow Fight)
• April O'Neil (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2012 TV series)
• Leonardo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2012 TV series)
• Tantō-class touken danshi (Touken Ranbu)
• Goro Majima (Yakuza/Like a Dragon)
• Kazuma Kiryu (Yakuza/Like a Dragon)

Gallery

Katrina Westing (Demon Accords) with her tanto short blade.

Nobume Imai (Gintama) wielding her tanto short blade.

Gotta (Naruto) is a powerful member of the Iburi Clan using his strength, and smoke transformation bloodline ability with his kenjustu skills to fight an Anbu-ranked Kakashi with a tanto and matching him in each clash.

Inojin Yamanaka (Naruto)

Kosuke Maruboshi (Naruto) was a master with his tanto, enabling him to take down a large battalion of Iwagakure Shinobi...

...He can also combine it will genjutsu to cause hallucinations to strike down his enemies while they are under its effects.

Shisui Uchiha (Naruto) was a powerful and talented shinobi even by his clan standards possessing great skills in kenjutsu with a tanto, able to compete against Anbu shinobi as a teenager....

...and overwhelm them with his speed and skill in Ninjutsu combined with his tanto skills.

Roronoa Zoro (One Piece) generating a Flying Slash Attack with a ceremonial seppuku tanto...

...and then wielding it along with a wakizashi to defeat and kill attacking samurai.

Genta Umemori/Shinken Gold (Samurai Sentai Shinkenger)/Antonio Garcia/The Samurai Gold Ranger (Power Rangers Samurai/Super Samurai) is good at using his signature tanto Sakanamaru/Barracuda Blade, able to cut down enemies so fast that he can't be seen....

...by the naked eye,...

...and cut down a fast barrage of arrows mid-flight.

Bird (Shadow Fight)

Shadow (Shadow Fight)

Leonardo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2012 TV series) is highly skilled at tantojutsu, able to wield a small tanto to fight and cut the fearsome Tiger Claw who was stronger than him in their first clash,...

...match Karai who was wielding a longer shikomizue,...

...and destroy a skilled and dangerous Foot Clan Robot/Footbot with one of his tanto.

April O'Neil (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2012 TV series)

Goro Majima (Yakuza/Like a Dragon) with his signature tanto, Demonfire Dagger.

Kazuma Kiryuu (Yakuza/Like a Dragon) is an expert in tantojutsu.