Greetings, Splendid Seven devotees, martial arts aficionados, and fighting video game fans. Antoni here with another written entry focusing on Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran specializing in the martial arts they do. This time I will be focusing on the very people who have shaped them to be the strong martial artists that they are. Those are Ayame’s and Shunran’s grandfather The Wolf Elder, Sesshoumaru’s and Inuyasha’s father and mother Toga and InuKimi, and Shuran’s, Hakkaku’s, and Ginta’s mother Izayoi. While four parental figures may appear to be a good picture to shape and mold The Splendid Seven to be the powerful Yokai fighters that they are, there are three more parental figures that I would gladly add to this roster of older veteran martial artists. Those are Raditz, Olibu, and Broly from Dragonball Z who will also serve as additional father figures to these seven mighty Yokai martial artists. I know what some of you are thinking right now. Raditz and Broly? Those two overpowering and brutish Saiyan warriors? Olibu? That otherworldly warrior reminiscent of a Greek god? Please calm down because I always have a method to the madness. I figure that Raditz’s overpowering might, Olibu’s godly muscle power, and Broly’s brute fortitude are great outlets for Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran to not only emulate but also serve as well-deserved father figures, with Raditz and Inuyasha having a close uncle-nephew bond that also passes as Raditz being a second father to Inuyasha while Sesshoumaru honors Raditz, Olibu can be the strong father figure Shuran, Hakkaku, and Ginta need, and Broly can use his brute muscularity and otherworldly strength to protect and provide unconditional love to his surrogate daughters Ayame and Shunran. Therefore, Raditz, Olibu, and Broly are superb additions to my Splendid Seven AU headcanon as super strong and powerfully potent father figures to seven mighty Yokai martial artists and also complete the overall number of seven veteran martial artists. Since this is my Splendid Seven AU headcanon, I thought the Wolf Elder shall have a humanoid design based on his appearance in the anime. I do have an idea of what he shall look like in humanoid form, but I have to fully achieve that vision by drawing him. Moreover, I will assign the four main martial arts that I believe fit The Wolf Elder, Raditz, Olibu, Broly, Toga, InuKimi, and Izayoi exceedingly well. Spoilers, all seven veteran martial artists have a background in Karate, with The Wolf Elder, Toga, InuKimi, and Izayoi also having a Kickboxing background and Raditz, Olibu, and Broly having a Shootfighting background. They would even mix Karate with the other styles they specialize in to form their signature martial arts. With that said, strap yourselves in for these parental figures to kick loads of butt while demonstrating abundant honor. Osu! Hajime! The Wolf Elder: Ancient Roman Boxing, Catch Wrestling, Muay Thai, and Shorin-Ryu Karate With the Wolf Elder’s furious fists, everlasting endurance, and sterling strength, he is a well-rounded warrior worthy of emulation and respect. Ayame and Shunran have always looked up to their grandfather, for they have also acquired his exceptional striking power, because of how exceptionally well he has trained them since they were little girls and have kept true to his teachings as adult women respectively married to Inuyasha, Hakkaku, and Ginta. The Wolf Elder’s uppercuts, overhand punches, cross punches, knee strikes, foot-thrusts, triangle chokes, and clinches can overpower his enemies to a high degree of pain even in his old age. Raditz: Combat Sambo, Brazilian Jujitsu, Shoot Boxing, and Shorin-Ryu Karate Radical ruthlessness, superbly super strength, and bionic barbarism are the hallmarks that define Raditz as a powerful prizefighter. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha are consistently inspired to be as strong and fierce as their uncle/second father is, thanks to how the latter always committed himself to intense sparring matches from boyhood to adulthood, thus making Raditz proud to see Inuyasha grow up to be the powerfully mighty husband he is for Ayame. Raditz’s gogoplatas, Guillotine chokes, knee mounts, Superman punches, hammer fists, double axe handles, sleeper holds, and liver punches can easily leave his foes tossed and torn. Olibu: Ancient Greek Boxing, Ancient Greek Wrestling, Shooto, and Shito-Ryu Karate Magnificent muscle power, incredible imposingness, and bodacious brawn are the most valuable traits that make Olibu the mighty hero that he is. Shuran, Hakkaku, and Ginta are truly blessed that Olibu is in their lives as their father figure because he has always been the man to inspire them to live courageously, thus motivating them to grow well as martial artists and as men, especially since Hakkaku and Ginta are Shunran’s loyal husbands. Olibu’s camel clutches, drop kicks, headlocks, double uppercuts, leglocks, elbow strikes, and elbow drops can cause absolute and brutal destruction to his fiends’ skeletons, muscles, and organs. Broly: Vale Tudo, Luta Livre Esportiva, Shoot Wrestling, and Shindo-Jinen-Ryu Karate Punishing potency, vociferous viciousness, and brutal bloodiness are the true signifiers that elucidate Broly and his magnificent might as a champion who holds nothing back when it comes to executing many a challenger. Ayame and Shunran may feel safe under Broly’s muscular might and fierce ferocity, but he uses his traits to show unconditional love and protection to his surrogate daughters as well as motivate them to never surrender to their foes. Broly’s armbars, headbutts, anaconda chokes, piledrivers, torture racks, elbow slashes, and flying knees can destroy his challengers’ nerves and spirits until their dying days. Toga: Japanese Jujitsu, Judo, Dutch Kickboxing, and Shotokan Karate With Toga’s limbering limbs, dedicated determination, and sterling steeliness, he is a courageous combatant who is the apple of every martial artist’s eye as well as a paradigm of honor and truth as a warrior and as a person. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha have always emulated Toga’s code of honor as martial artists, thanks to how he always instills perseverance and discipline in his sons, thus seeing their remarkable growth as…
Articles by Antoni Matteo Garcia
Rainelle Krause, a lyric coloratura soprano renowned for her fearlessness as an aerial acrobat, heralds the stage as one of her calling-card roles, The Queen of the Night, alongside the astounding light lyric soprano Victoria Randem as Pamina and the sweet soprano light lyric coloratura Regina Koncz as Papagena. Enjoy my review and let me know your opinions as well.
December 12, 2004. 12:25 PM. Grandiosity and an air of pomp were entwined in a frenzied waltz with brutality and bloodiness when spectators took their seats in the Wernerstein Mansion Combat Arena, which was owned by 45-year-old former bodybuilder Ulrich Wernerstein, and was situated high above the snowy Austrian Alps, to witness the carnage-filled blood sport about to unfold, especially since his guards and watchdogs were checking the guests’ tickets for today’s event. With a floor fashioned from the finest concrete, walls intricately designed with marble to look like a hybrid between a castle and a factory, various pictures from Ulrich’s years as a bodybuilder before disappearing from competitions, machines producing his Bulky Bars by the tons, and a golden statue of Ulrich, the Wernerstein Mansion Combat Arena had a long and storied history of hosting one of the most prestigious martial arts tournaments in all of Austria as well as the world. Martial artists from all different fighting styles, all nations, and all weight categories came to the Wernerstein Mansion Combat Arena to compete against Ulrich and his four hulking bodybuilder goons with the hopes of emerging triumphantly as victors. Spectators had the pleasure of seeing blood spew from the fighters’ bodies, hearing joints and body parts crack from every blow and lock delivered, and witnessing announcers commenting on the fight, referees trying to keep control of the ensuing battle, and martial artists fighting as vociferously and powerfully as possible to win against Ulrich and his goons. From Karate to Kung Fu to Capoeira to Vale Tudo, any martial art was permitted if the fighter was well-prepared to face Ulrich and his four bodybuilder goons’ sheer muscle power. 17-year-olds Samantha “Sam” Simpson, Clover Ewing, and Alexandra “Alex” Casoy, who were spies working for WOOHP, did attempt overcome Ulrich’s bodybuilder goons with their freestyle martial arts that combined Kung Fu and Karate. Even 17-year-old Britney Akiwara, who also worked for WOOHP, tried to help her friends, but it was all for naught. Just when all hope was lost for Sam, Clover, Alex, and Britney, the spotlight shone on the new challengers who entered the arena. The crowd cheered loudly as seven powerful Yokai martial artists called The Splendid Seven consisting of two white-haired dog Yokai brothers, 23-year-old Sesshoumaru and 22-year-old Inuyasha, three brothers, with the eldest being the 22-year-old male panther Yokai with black spiky hair Shuran and his two younger brothers being 21-year-olds Hakkaku with the white mohawk and Ginta with gray hair and a tuft of black hair in the middle, and two auburn-haired sisters, the 19-year-old female wolf Yokai Ayame and the 18-year-old female panther Yokai Shunran, rose to the challenge to combat Ulrich and his bodybuilder goons. While Ulrich and his four bodybuilder goons were all muscle upon muscle and were sufficiently adequate grapplers, each member of The Splendid Seven had their own martial art that they specialized in. Sesshoumaru, who specialized in Mixed Martial Arts, was famed for his fatal ground and pounds and sprawls and brawls. Inuyasha was a muscular Pankratiast who reveled in his lethal tracheal grip chokes and rear naked chokeholds. Shuran towered over his fellow combatants as a pro wrestler who could deliver obliterating piledrivers and torture racks. Hakkaku practiced Muay Boran and was renowned for his shattering elbow strikes and headbutts. Ginta did Lethwei and bore devastating shin kicks and knee strikes. Ayame reigned in Kyuk Too Ki, thanks to her destructive uppercuts and roundhouse kicks. Shunran excelled as a Shaolin Kung Fu fighter, thanks to her explosive finger strikes and flying double kicks. This was an epic battle that the spectators paid good money for and one that was guaranteed to be the most exciting battle ever. Guest spectators even came to watch the blood sport spectacle for free, specifically The Splendid Seven’s martial arts mentors, parents and grandparents, best friends who were also their sparring partners, and all of their children who were very excited to see their parents win against Ulrich and his goons because they wanted to emulate their strength and fierceness as martial artists. Sam, Clover, Alex, and Britney even found themselves sitting in the very front seats to witness the carnage. Alex’s 22-year-old bodybuilder/gym instructor boyfriend Raymond and 35-year-old Cabo bodybuilder Robert Beefcake, who were mercifully cured from the Bulky Bars’ insidious effects on their muscles and minds, as well as the spies’ 18-year-old best guy friend, David, took their seats to witness The Splendid Seven beat Ulrich and his four bodybuilder goons to a bloody, messy, and vicious pulp. Even with all the spectators cheering for the fight to be an exciting one, The Splendid Seven’s parents, grandparents, martial arts mentors, best friends, and children showing outstanding support to Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran; and Robert, Raymond, David, Sam, Clover, Alex, and Britney joining in the maenadic revelry of seeing blood about to be spewed from Ulrich’s and his bodybuilder goons’ bodies due to The Splendid Seven inflicting massive amounts of physical and psychological damage on them, the question remained. How far would Ulrich and his goons last against seven mighty Yokai martial artists? The seven Yokai martial artists would indubitably overpower Ulrich and his four goons with their strength, speed, and stamina. As for the spectators and honored guests, their thunderous cheers reverberated through the hall in sheer excitement, as the combatants charged headfirst into battle after the bell rang.
October 1, 2004. 5:00 PM. The Tokugawa Martial Arts Training Hall was brimming with the grunts and bellows of two powerful warriors. Inuyasha the Pankration champion and his wife Ayame the Kyuk Too Ki champion were sparring and training for their next martial arts tournament. Inuyasha wrapped his muscular calves around Ayame’s thighs in a leglock, while Ayame struggled to escape. Nevertheless, both had determined grins on their faces and found intimate pleasure far more invigorating than having sex. “Do you surrender, baby?” Inuyasha, imitating Arnold Schwarzenegger’s speaking voice and accent, inquired of Ayame, as seductively he flexed his tremendous biceps for her. “Not by a long shot, honey,” Ayame responded with a cross punch to Inuyasha’s right flank, thus causing him to fall to his side and have her be on top of him. “Heh. I don’t tap out so easily,” Inuyasha said. He placed his mighty hands on Ayame’s waist, tackled her to the ground, and both Inuyasha and Ayame rolled until they lay on their sides. “I know you don’t,” Ayame responded. She then caressed Inuyasha’s face, long white hair, and ears. “And you should know that I don’t give up, dear husband.” “You’re no quitter at all, my sweet wife,” Inuyasha answered, as he planted his lips on Ayame’s with a steamy kiss. Both he and Ayame began to kiss passionately. The training hall was then echoing with Inuyasha’s and Ayame’s pleasurable moans once they proceeded to make love to each other. Inuyasha took off his brownish-black Himantes and black G-string, while Ayame took off her ruby-red tank top, shorts, kickboxing gloves, shin guards, and foot guards. Both were now naked, as Inuyasha passionately embraced Ayame, Ayame ran her hands and fingers all over Inuyasha’s granite muscles, and both maneuvered in their intense lovemaking. Neither rainstorms nor blizzards nor powerful opponents could ever quench their fiery passion. After Inuyasha’s and Ayame’s moment of fiery intimacy, they enveloped each other’s bodies in their arms. “I love you so much, Inuyasha.” Ayame sighed, as she caressed Inuyasha’s pectorals. “I love you too, Ayame,” Inuyasha responded, as he made his pectorals bounce and kissed Ayame on her forehead. Subsequently, they dozed off, blissful and blessed to have each other in their lives.
August 12, 2004. The clock struck two in the afternoon at the Tokugawa Martial Arts Training Center’s main arena. A deadly silence rang throughout the arena, as all seven Yokai martial artists were bloodied, bruised, gashed, and eviscerated. Ayame and Shunran were prepared to beat Inuyasha, Hakkaku, and Ginta up and vice-versa. The silence broke when Sesshoumaru and Shuran continued to choke and strangle each other out. Inuyasha and Shunran charged at each other, as she gave him nerve strikes to his pecs and he countered them with a tracheal grip choke. Ayame, Ginta, and Hakkaku were giving each other shin kicks, elbow strikes, knee strikes, elbow slashes, overhand punches, jabs, and back fists. However, Ayame was far more excited to fight her husband, Inuyasha, while Shunran was just as excited to fight both of her husbands, Hakkaku and Ginta. Sesshoumaru and Shuran noticed the action occurring between the couple and the throuple respectively, just as the latter was crushing the former’s knees. However, Shuran let Sesshoumaru go to see what Inuyasha, Hakkaku, and Ginta were about to get themselves into with Ayame and Shunran. Sesshoumaru said, “It appears that my dear brother and my darling sister-in-law are going to bash each other’s brains out. Shall we continue our battle, Shuran?” Shuran responded, “Yeah, and my little bros and my little sister-in-law are going to crush each other. To answer your question, Sesshoumaru, yes. I would love to!” Sesshoumaru returned to his Mixed Martial Arts stance, while Shuran also returned to his Professional Wrestling stance. Once ready, Sesshoumaru and Shuran charged at each other. Shuran then proceeded to deliver Sesshoumaru one massive chokehold, thus making the latter counter the former’s attack with an armbar and vicious ground and pounds to his face. Inuyasha positioned himself with his Pankration stance and chuckled, “Ready for a massive beatdown, babe? Because this is going to be better than sex once I crush you!” Ayame readied herself with her Kyuk Too Ki stance and responded, “Yes, my dearest, it would be my pleasure to demolish you too and enjoy every single moment of it!” Hakkaku prepared himself with his Muay Boran stance, “All right, sweetheart, my brother and I are ready to take you down!” Ginta made himself ready with his Lethwei stance, “Yeah, honey bunch, and we are going to enjoy making you squirm!” Shunran composed herself with her Shaolin Kung Fu stance, “Well, cutie pies, this is going to be such rapture seeing you submit!” With all niceties being said, and with Sesshoumaru and Shuran still combating each other, Inuyasha and Ayame charged headfirst at each other as did Hakkaku and Ginta towards Shunran. Inuyasha proceeded to go all out with his Superman punches, liver punches, rear-naked chokeholds, tracheal grip chokes, camel clutches, piledrivers, torture racks, jabs, uppercuts, cross punches, and hammer fists on Ayame, while Ayame countered most of Inuyasha’s attacks with her jabs, hooks, uppercuts, front punches, axe kicks, double uppercuts, spinning back kicks, roundhouse kicks, corkscrew kicks, and front kicks right onto Inuyasha’s entire body, thus finding pleasure in shattering each other from the inside and on the outside. Meanwhile, Hakkaku and Ginta were unleashing their headbutts, elbow slashes, elbow strikes, knee strikes, knee bombs, overhand punches, clinches, shin kicks, and spinning kicks on Shunran, and Shunran was countering their attacks with her leopard blows, finger strikes, nerve strikes, spinning back fists, palm heel strikes, knife-hand strikes, flying double kicks, spear-hand strikes, foot sweeps, and leg wheels straight onto Hakkaku’s and Ginta’s whole bodies, thus giving each other excitement through the pain. Inuyasha and Ayame duking it out with each other as well as both Hakkaku and Ginta whaling it on Shunran felt so much more exciting than making love, let alone having sex. It also felt a million times better than the many orgasms when Inuyasha and Ayame have been having sex and the several pleasurable moans Hakkaku and Ginta emit when making love with Shunran. Sesshoumaru then broke free from Shuran’s grasp by giving him an elbow strike to the chest and a headbutt to his forehead and tackled Inuyasha, with Shuran also tackling Hakkaku and Ginta, and Ayame and Shunran also returning to face each other again. All seven martial artists were brutally bloodied, bruised, battered, and bashed, but they still had enough fight in them to let out one blood-curdling, decibel-breaking battle yell that sounded more like a lion or a tiger unleashing a terrifying roar. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha charged at each other with bone-damaging jabs to each other’s faces and straight onto their noses and mouths with blood gushing out of them like waterfalls. Shuran, Hakkaku, and Ginta were locked in an incredibly devastating and nerve-damaging headbutt that saw them bleed a lot more. Ayame and Shunran let loose with their destructive flying spinning back kicks to the cheeks, thus making blood spew from their mouths. All seven martial artists were scattered throughout the ring. They stood up once again, let out loud heaves, and let out an even louder roar reminiscent of a Tyrannosaurus Rex combined with a chimera, a dragon, a lion, a tiger, a gorilla, and a bear. Shuran then charged towards Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran with a massive body slam, thus leading to Sesshoumaru landing a front punch to Shuran’s nose, Inuyasha delivering a double axe handle to Sesshoumaru’s head, Hakkaku giving an elbow strike to Inuyasha’s right eye, Ginta throwing a shin kick to Hakkaku’s stomach, Ayame attacking with an uppercut to Ginta’s chin, Shunran striking with a back fist to Ayame’s jaw, and Ayame providing Shunran with a vicious liver punch in return. Even with every blow and strike all seven Yokai martial artists threw at each other and every bruise, wound, and gash that they acquired, they never surrendered. Just as all seven Yokai martial artists were about to proceed to beat each other down, they all collapsed to the ground flat as pancakes wincing in pain from all the lethal blows they acquired,…
August 12, 2004. The clock struck one in the afternoon at the Tokugawa Martial Arts Training Center’s main arena. With Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran all suited up, they first warmed up to keep themselves in mint condition. Sesshoumaru was punching boards and bricks, giving boulders and dummies ground and pounds as well as sprawls and brawls, and doing knuckle push-ups. Shuran was practicing his wrestling moves with a dummy by giving it sharpshooters and torture racks. Inuyasha was throwing uppercuts, jabs, crosses, and hooks on huge boulders, giving a dummy a series of piledrivers and armbars, bench-pressing, and giving the punching bag a series of powerful punches. Hakkaku was giving a series of elbow strikes and shin kicks on slabs of concrete. Ginta was throwing headbutts and knee strikes on oak logs. Ayame was practicing her punches, kicks, elbow strikes, and knee strikes on the punching bag. Shunran was practicing her palm strikes, finger strikes, tornado kicks, and roundhouse kicks on the striking post. They were going to do a whole lot of damage to each other. After their warmup, all seven martial artists entered the ring for their intense full-contact non-stop sparring session. The first matchups were Sesshoumaru versus Inuyasha, Shuran versus Hakkaku versus Ginta, and Ayame versus Shunran. The battle commenced as fast as lightning, as all seven martial artists went head-to-head. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha charged at each other with vicious intent. Sesshoumaru delivered Inuyasha a series of front punches to his stomach, roundhouse kicks to his head, jabs to his ribs, and low kicks to his legs. Inuyasha countered all of Sesshoumaru’s attacks by delivering him the following attacks: two double axe handles to his cheeks, ten fast liver punches, a rear naked chokehold slamming him to the ground, and an eviscerating stranglehold to pin Sesshoumaru down all while he tried to subdue his younger brother with hammer fists to his flanks. The two dog Yokai brothers gave each other devastating punches, kicks, grapples, and strikes charged with feral energy. Shuran also charged at his younger brothers, with Hakkaku and Ginta doing the same to their older brother. Shuran was unleashing torture racks, bearhugs, sharpshooters, and powerslams on Hakkaku and Ginta. Hakkaku and Ginta then retaliated by giving Shuran and each other a series of elbow slashes to the chest, knee strikes to the stomach, shin kicks to the legs, elbow strikes to the face, and overhand punches to the head. No doubt was Shuran giving Hakkaku and Ginta the fight of their lives, considering how his massive size was a challenge to both his younger brothers to contend with. Ayame and Shunran were just as ferocious as the men. Ayame threw Shunran a flurry of uppercuts to her chin, jabs to her face, hooks to her stomach, cross punches to her ribs, roundhouse kicks to her thighs, spinning back kicks to her cheeks, and axe kicks to her head. In return, Shunran threw Ayame a barrage of finger strikes to her bust, palm strikes to her face, nerve strikes to her shoulders, leopard blows to her ribs, back fists to her head, tornado kicks to her cheeks, and roundhouse kicks to her stomach. That was only the beginning, as the men quickly switched sparring partners, while the women continued to spar with each other. While Ayame continued to give Shunran a barrage of uppercuts, hooks, jabs, elbow strikes, knee strikes, spinning back kicks, and regular axe kicks, and Shunran returned the favor by continuing to give Ayame multiple finger strikes, nerve strikes, leopard blows, spinning backfists, flying kicks, front punches, and palm strikes, it was time for Sesshoumaru to spar with Shuran and for Inuyasha to spar with Hakkaku and Ginta, with Sesshoumaru also sparring with Hakkaku and Ginta and Inuyasha sparring with Shuran. Sesshoumaru held nothing back for Shuran, considering all the hammer fists, ground and pounds, sprawls and brawls, straight punches, hooks, armbars, and Kimuras the former threw to the latter, making Shuran scream in pain. On the other hand, Shuran threw Sesshoumaru a barrage of German suplexes, suplex powerslams, bearhugs, chokeholds, Full Nelsons, choke slams, and leg drops, attempting to reduce Sesshoumaru into a bag of crumbled bones. Inuyasha was throwing mighty uppercuts, hooks, jabs, camel clutches, bearhugs, piledrivers, and torture racks to Hakkaku and Ginta, while Hakkaku had enough overhand punches, knee bombs, elbow slashes, elbow strikes, knee strikes, shin kicks, and low kicks to spare, and Ginta had headbutts, front punches, overhand punches, shin kicks, axe kicks, haymakers, and face punches always on standby. For exceptional measure, Shuran gave piledrivers, Full Nelsons, sharpshooters, and suplexes to Inuyasha, with Inuyasha countering his attacks with rear naked chokeholds, camel clutches, tracheal grip chokes, elbow strikes to the face, and a huge headbutt to his forehead. Sesshoumaru also gave hammer fists, chokeholds, soccer kicks, and ox-jaw strikes to both Hakkaku and Ginta, with Hakkaku countering Sesshoumaru’s attacks with his elbow strikes and headbutts and Ginta with his knee strikes and push kicks. With Ayame and Shunran giving each other a glorious beating, it was time for them to give Sesshoumaru and Shuran a thrashing they will never forget. As Shuran was continuing to strangle Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru was continuing to ground and pound both Hakkaku and Ginta, Ayame and Shunran charged at both of them with nearly murderous intent. Ayame delivered an axe kick to Sesshoumaru’s head, and Shunran delivered a palm strike to Shuran’s back, thus releasing Inuyasha, Hakkaku, and Ginta from their grasps. Ayame and Shunran snarled with bloodied grins on their faces as they were going to fight their big brothers-in-law. Inuyasha, Hakkaku, and Ginta proceeded to spar with each other much further. Inuyasha continued to give it his all with his hammer fists, low kicks, rear naked chokeholds, and ground and pounds to both Hakkaku and Ginta. Hakkaku went all out with his overhand punches, front punches, shin kicks, and knee strikes for Inuyasha and Ginta. Ginta threw his elbow strikes, elbow slashes, headbutts, and axe…
August 12, 2004. It was noon at the Tokugawa Martial Arts Training Center’s changing room. Seven mighty martial artists were about to engage in an intense sparring match. They were the two long- and white-haired dog Yokai brothers, 23-year-old Sesshoumaru and 22-year-old Inuyasha, the hulking male panther Yokai with spiky black hair, 22-year-old Shuran, and his two younger wolf Yokai brothers 21-year-old Hakkaku, who had a white mohawk, and 21-year-old Ginta, who had gray hair with a tuft of black hair in the middle; and the two long- and auburn-haired sisters consisting of 19-year-old Ayame the she-wolf Yokai and 18-year-old Shunran her younger panther Yokai sister. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha were the sons of 41-year-old Toga and 39-year-old InuKimi, who were both prominent Karatekas, with their father Toga mainly specializing in Shotokan Karate and their mother InuKimi mainly specializing in Goju-Ryu Karate. Shuran, Hakkaku, and Ginta were the sons of 38-year-old Izayoi, an Aikidoka who was renowned for her forceful throws and precise strikes. Ayame and Shunran were the granddaughters of the 60-year-old Wolf Elder, a veteran mixed martial artist who combined Boxing, Wrestling, Kickboxing, and Muay Thai to create his own style and was still as powerful in his old age. Despite having different grown-ups raising their progeny to be the powerful martial artists they are, the seven powerful Yokai martial artists always remained a strong team and an even stronger family. Sesshoumaru and Shuran are single fathers both with fourteen adopted children, with Sesshoumaru’s ranging from 14 to 8 years old and Shuran’s ranging from 15 to 12 years old. Inuyasha has been married to Ayame for nine years, with Sesshoumaru being extremely supportive of both his younger brother’s and his younger sister-in-law’s romantic endeavors and passions, and have fourteen biological children from 9 to 2 years old. Both Hakkaku and Ginta have been married to Shunran for eight years, with Shuran also showing great support to his younger brothers for being the best men to be with Shunran for all eternity, and also have fourteen biological children from 8 to 1 year and 2 months old. Sticking together as a strong family may be one thing for these seven Yokai martial artists, but establishing families of their own also meant that their exciting legacies can last for a long period of time, especially when their children see their parents emerge triumphant in any and every martial arts tournament, and when their parents see their children grow and flourish as fighters and as people. The seven Yokai combatants were changing into their martial arts attires. Sesshoumaru the fierce Mixed Martial Arts warrior remained topless and barefoot, just as he was about to put on his white MMA shorts with an icy silver flame design on his right leg and his silver MMA gloves, while Inuyasha the Herculean Pankration champion, also topless and barefoot, was about to put on his black G-string and black Himantes or Ancient Greek boxing gloves made out of ox hide, as he was rubbing olive oil all over himself. Inuyasha, in his oiled and naked glory, flexed his tremendous biceps at Sesshoumaru, chuckling at him, “You better like what you see, big bro, because my big muscles are ready to crush you.” Sesshoumaru, also naked, responded also by flexing his biceps at Inuyasha and letting out a chuckle, “I do not fear you or your muscles, little brother. I will gladly conquer you.” Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha approached each other, and standing extremely close to each other, they flexed their biceps and grunted. “May the best man triumph, dear brother.” “Just so you know, I will own your butt, oh, favorite brother of mine.” Sesshoumaru’s and Inuyasha’s muscular bodies from their pecs to their abs were in full contact with each other, as they were growling and snarling at each other. They were then interrupted by Shuran the brutal Professional Wrestling prizefighter, who was putting on his green wrestling speedo, green gauntlets, and green ankle bands, “Hey, as soon as you guys are done trying to outmuscle each other, get your behinds ready for a good pummeling!” “You got it, Shuran!” Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha responded enthusiastically while they were still flexing their muscles at each other. Ayame the determined Kyuk Too Ki or Korean Kickboxing victor was putting on her red tank top and shorts from her husband Inuyasha’s robe of the fire rat. She also took notice of her brother-in-law’s and her husband’s nude pose down, as she approached the latter by running her fingers over his biceps and pecs. “Don’t forget to show me how strong you always are, you handsome stud.” Inuyasha flexed his bulging biceps, put them down, and made his granite pecs bounce at his wife, “Honey, you know me well. I always deliver the goods, especially for someone as gorgeous and strong as you are.” Inuyasha and Ayame kissed passionately, but Sesshoumaru, who was now putting on his MMA shorts and MMA gloves, interrupted their romantic endeavor, “All right, lovebirds, save your intimate moment for the bedroom. We are about to engage in battle.” “No worries, Sesshoumaru. I’ll make sure that I give my handsome Inuyasha a great fight.” Ayame replied as she wrapped her hands with her red kickboxing gloves, her feet with red footguards, and her shins with red shin guards. “Yeah, no worries, bro. We know exactly what we’re doing, and my babe Ayame is all mine.” Inuyasha said with a wide grin, as he quickly got into his G-string and Himantes. Meanwhile, Hakkaku the punishing Muay Boran combatant was putting on his forest green Muay Boran shorts, forest green armbands, white hand wraps made of hemp, and white ankle wraps, and Ginta the intrepid Lethwei competitor was putting on his brown Lethwei shorts, white hand wraps, and white ankle wraps. Shuran, now in his full wrestling attire, came over to excitedly greet his younger brothers, “I hope you guys are ready because I can’t wait to see what you are made of.” “We’ll definitely give you…
A bizarrely confusing Regietheater production of Strauss’s Arabella made its premiere at the Deutsche Oper Berlin three days ago with a cast of both veterans and fresh-faced singers. Enjoy my review and please let me know your opinions as well.
Jordan Shanahan, a dramatic baritone whose career has seen him rise from handsomely lyrical roles to more viscerally challenging roles, takes on Jochanaan the mysterious yet raving prophet. Enjoy my review and let me know your opinions as well.
This Quartet Meme originally belongs to PanDraconian-King90 and is dedicated to all of the aficionados of George of the Jungle, Basuli, Tarzan, and Maugli especially when they are united as a quartet of muscular, mighty, and magnificent jungle warrior king brothers. Sit back, relax, and revel in my fascination with Chief Keewazi’s four handsome, muscular, and awesome sons as well as my joy of keeping them brothers in my AU headcanon. Fresh off my recent piece of fanfiction placing George, Basuli, Tarzan, and Maugli on the forefront, this filled-up meme encapsulates everything I enjoy about making these four jungle warrior kings the best quartet of brothers that they are in my AU headcanon. George’s lovable brawniness as the eldest son, Basuli’s steely virility as the second son, Tarzan’s feral wildness as the third son, and Maugli’s manly rambunctiousness as the youngest son are the hallmarks that have been uniting these four strong brothers together from infancy to childhood to adolescence to adulthood plus having all four brothers being in polyamorous relationships with Namontack, Kocoum, and Hercules to their current lives as great-grandfathers. Furthermore, despite how different their skin color is, with George’s being ivory-white, Basuli’s being ebony-toned, Tarzan’s being tanned light copper, and Maugli’s being bronze-toned but approaching brown, these four brothers love each other unconditionally and care for each other with all of their hearts, minds, bodies, and souls. Nothing and nobody can ever separate the great brotherly bond that these four jungle warrior kings possess. The one physical attribute George, Basuli, Tarzan, and Maugli have is their handsomely built muscles from their bulging biceps to their alabaster abs to their tremendous triceps to their excellent Etruscan figure which they continue to have back when George and Basuli were 28, Tarzan was 27, and Maugli was 26 to this day as great-grandfathers in their fifties. Overlooking their manly muscles, George, Basuli, Tarzan, and Maugli are also powerful mixed martial artists who combine Pankration, Boxing, Malla-yuddha, Professional Wrestling, Senegalese Wrestling, Moraingy, Muay Thai, Lethwei, Kapu Kuialua, Pehlwani, Vale Tudo, and Brazilian Jujitsu with ferally animal-like attacks including using their claws, fangs, raw strength, and bulging muscles to subdue their enemies. George, Basuli, Tarzan, and Maugli respectively identify themselves as the tiger, the lion, the leopard, and the jaguar when unleashing vicious attacks and loud roars at their opponents. When these four jungle brothers are not involved in fighting tournaments, bodybuilding pose-downs either in the nude covered in olive oil and shea butter or in G-strings, and strongman contests in Africa’s arenas, especially in their home arena of Opar, they love to skinny dip in the lake, hunt for game meat in the nude while being bathed in the blood of their prey, train and work out for every martial arts tournament, bodybuilding pose-down, and strongman contest; and just cuddle each other like the close brothers that they are after an arduous day of battle and protecting their home from invaders. Chief Keewazi is certainly happy to see his beloved sons grow in strength, manliness, close brotherly love, and interpersonal fortitude and is proud to see how much they have grown as combatants, as kings, and as men. George of the Jungle is the first son of Chief Keewazi who is known for his big heart to match his equally bulging biceps, granite pectoral muscles, and overall magnificent muscles that can give heavyweights a run for their money. As the eldest brother, he does his best to set a great example for his younger siblings whether physically, thanks to his huge and magnificent muscles as a bodybuilder as well as a mixed martial artist, or morally, considering how he stands firmly for strong family ties, unconditional love, and unbreakable moral support. Therefore, his motto is that peak physical strength cannot exist alone without interpersonal strength. George always sees the best in his younger brothers from Basuli’s steadfastness to Tarzan’s loyalty to Maugli’s kindness and Basuli, Tarzan, and Maugli will always state that George is the best big brother they ever had. Despite George’s magnificent muscles and unparalleled strength as a bodybuilder/mixed martial artist, he has been known to be clumsy when it comes to him slamming into trees with a thud. Nevertheless, what always remains constant with George is the unconditional love that he has for his brothers, his best friends Mufasa, Kaj, Simba, and his father. George’s favorite things to do with his brothers are bodybuilding pose-downs, wrestling matches, weightlifting matches, and strongman contests. As a mixed martial artist, George mainly uses Professional Wrestling, Pehlawni, and Pankration and identifies himself with the tiger because his super strength and magnificent muscles mean that he can use piledrivers, bearhugs, liver punches, suplexes, torture racks, ground and pounds, and sprawl and brawls to thoroughly incapacitate his opponents. Just because George is clumsy and goofy does not mean he cannot be a dangerous fighter because his towering size and immense strength can make any combatant fall to their knees. Basuli is the second son of Chief Keewazi who is known for his bulging biceps, alabaster abs, powerful pecs, and victorious virility. Muscles and manliness aside, Basuli is just as loved and trusted as the second brother doing everything that he can to uphold integrity, honor, loyalty, respect, love, responsibility, and confidence not only as a bodybuilder, a wrestler, a mixed martial artist, and as an overall warrior but also as Chief Keewazi’s son, thus also setting a great example for himself, for his brothers, for his friends, and even for his opponents. Basuli knows fully well that respect needs to be earned through hard work, cooperation, and a confident attitude that radiates like the most brilliant of stars. Moreover, brotherhood is one trait that Basuli honors the most, for he gives unconditional support to George in all of his endeavors, loves Tarzan unconditionally as his favorite brother for life, and provides Maugli with all the compassion and encouragement that he needs in his life. There are occasions when Basuli tends to be too big…