What is Serpent Breathing in Demon Slayer? Obanai's techniques, explored
Demon Slayer is a series comprised of demon hunters, who attempt to take down and kill demons. Humanity has devised a certain way to do this, bridging the gap between humans and demons. The concept of Total Concentration Breathing was introduced. This allowed demon hunters to improve their physical abilities and be on par with demons. This was further used in swordsmanship and new styles were developed.
One style that has gained traction is the Serpent Breathing. Obanai Iguro is the Serpent Hashira, and he uses this breathing style to combat demons. It is a unique breathing style that utilizes Obanai’s incredible flexibility. Let’s take a closer look at the breathing style, all the forms, and how it can give the swordsman an advantage over the demons they are fighting.
More About Serpent Breathing in Demon Slayer
Serpent Breathing is a style that was derived from Water Breathing. As the name suggests, the style relies on movements that mimic a snake. These are apex predators who use twisting strikes from a coiled position. The moves in this style require a lot of flexibility as the user is forced to mimic the twisting motions while fighting demons. It also relies on generating a ton of force in a short period of time, making it extremely powerful and dynamic.
Obanai Iguro is the only known user in the Demon Slayer series. Therefore, it’s highly possible that he created this style. That being said, the manga does not explicitly mention anything about the Serpent Breathing’s origins. It is also interesting to see Obanai fight on the big screen. We got a glimpse of his fighting style in the Hashira Training arc of the Demon Slayer anime series.
Serpent Breathing in Demon Slayer demands explosive movements that coil around their target. Interestingly, Obanai’s sword is unique as well. The blade is twisted resembling the body of a snake that is moving in a particular direction.
Those who have read the manga will know that the Serpent Breathing has five forms in total. The first form is called Winding Serpent Slash. The user performs a singular horizontal slash on the frontal plane with a winding motion. The second form is called Venom Fangs of the Narrow Head. The user reaches behind the target at blinding speeds and cuts the head from the back. This form relies a lot on one’s speed.
The third form is called Coil Choke, wherein the user circles the target and cuts it from all angles. The fourth form is called the Twin-Headed Reptile. Here, the user leaps forward and then proceeds to perform a horizontal slash that cuts the head of the demon. The final form is called Slithering Serpent. The user circles multiple targets, twisting and coiling around them while decapitating them. This technique is ideal for subduing multiple targets all at one go. These are all the forms of the Serpent Breathing Style in Demon Slayer.
Conclusion
The Serpent Breathing Style is quite interesting and fans are gearing up to see Obanai fight in the Infinity Castle arc. The winding twisted movements tend to look quite flashy. More importantly, Obanai is a slippery fighter that most demons can’t take on. His fight against Muzan will be quite entertaining as he shows his true potential during that exchange.
Stay tuned for more anime and manga news as 2024 progresses.
Related Links:
- 10 unsolved Demon Slayer mysteries from the Hashira training arc
- Demon Slayer's length is its greatest strength