Water Breathing

The Water Breathing (の) is one of the five main Breathing Styles directly derived from the Sun Breathing.

The Water Breathing combat and breathing style mimics water, specifically the flow, flexibility and adaptability of the liquid and replicates it with the user's movements, techniques and abilities. Most, if not all, known techniques involve the user bending their body, arm and weapon in a flowing motion. When utilized properly, the user visualizes water in varying shades of blue with white wavy patterns akin to waves resembling water found in classical Japanese paintings, to seemingly emanate from their weapon, surroundings or themselves.

This Breathing Style was originally created by one of Yoriichi Tsugikuni's students who attempted to learn the Sun Breathing, but due to not being as innately talented as Yoriichi, they were instead taught and trained an alternative personalized breathing style that focused on their strengths and weaknesses, eventually becoming Water Breathing.

It is said to be the most common Breathing Style among Demon Slayers due to being the easiest to learn for beginners. A known Cultivator of Water Breathing in the Demon Slayer Corps is Sakonji Urokodaki, though there are other Cultivators as well. The Eleventh Form is an original technique created by the current Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka.

Techniques
There are ten known Forms, with an eleventh one created and exclusively used by the current Water Hashira, Giyu Tomioka.


 * 1) First Form: Water Surface Slash (ノ り) - The user generates enough momentum to create a powerful single concentrated slash.
 * 2) Second Form: Water Wheel (ノ) - The user leaps and vertically spins forward in the air while releasing a flowing attack in a circular motion.
 * 3) *Second Form: Improved - Lateral Water Wheel (ノ・) - An alternate variation of Second Form: Water Wheel that uses a horizontal spin.
 * 4) Third Form: Flowing Dance (ノ い) - The user swings and bends their blade in a winding motion along with their body and dances in a flowing pattern, slicing everything in its path.
 * 5) Fourth Form: Striking Tide (ノ ち) - The user makes multiple consecutive slashes while twisting their body and sword in a flowing fashion to deliver multiple blows simultaneously.
 * 6) *Striking Tide - Turbulent (ち・) - An improved version of the Fourth Form: Striking Tide. The swordsman increases the quantity of consecutive strikes and slashes along with improving its accuracy in order to contact a specific target during a chaotic situation.
 * 7) Fifth Form: Blessed Rain After the Drought (ノ の) - The user changes the grip on their sword and decapitates the opponent in a single flowing strike that causes little to no pain. It is a “sword strike of kindness” used when the enemy willingly surrenders.
 * 8) Sixth Form: Whirlpool (ノ ねじれ) - The user fiercely twists their upper and lower body, creating a whirlpool of air that cuts anything caught in it. Its effect and efficiently is enhanced underwater, where the user can draw water around their weapon to enhance their slashes.
 * 9) *Whirlpool: Flow (ねじれ・) - A combination of Third Form: Flowing Dance and Sixth Form: Whirlpool. The swordsman combines the footwork from Flowing Dance and the twisting aspect of Whirlpool, resulting in the swordsman to perform an attack around the user and conjure a twisting, swirling, vicious flow of water to redirect projectiles from multiple angles.
 * 10) Seventh Form: Piercing Rain Drop (ノ き) - The user performs a fast and accurate stab, capable of reducing the impact of a moving target. The fastest and only thrusting technique of this breathing style.
 * 11) *Seventh Form: Piercing Rain Drop - Curve (ノ き・) (Drop Ripple in English Dub) - A modified strike that hits in an arc from an angle corresponding to the sword's structure in order to minimize the impact of a moving target.
 * 12) Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin (ノ) - The user cuts the target vertically in a flowing motion which is most effective when they are falling downward.
 * 13) Ninth Form: Splashing Water Flow (ノ) - The user changes their footwork in a way that minimizes the landing time and surface needed when landing, allowing the user to move without limits. Ideal when fighting in a place with no solid foothold.
 * 14) *Ninth Form: Splashing Water Flow - Turbulent (ノ ・)
 * 15) Tenth Form: Constant Flux (ノ) - The most powerful Water Breathing technique. The user performs a continuous flowing attack which takes the form of a water dragon that increases in strength and power with each rotation.
 * 16) Eleventh Form: Dead Calm (ノ) - A powerful technique with phenomenal defensive capabilities and the personal creation of the current Water Hashira, Giyu Tomioka. Giyu ceases all body movements and enters a state of complete tranquility, deflecting, blocking and cutting any incoming attacks with imperceptible speed with his blade. However, its effectiveness is limited as fast and numerous attacks can break through.

Demonstrations

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