Mōko Takabisha being used to counter Shishi Hōkōdan
Mōko Takabisha (猛虎高飛車 also known as Pride of the Fierce Tiger?) is a ki blast technique created and used by Ranma Saotome. Inspired by the Shishi Hōkōdan used by Ryoga Hibiki, the Mōko Takabisha operates under the same principles as its counterpart, but draws its power from the user's confidence rather than their depression.
Ranma created this technique to counter the Shishi Hōkōdan after realizing that, due to his more upbeat and confident personality, he could not use the Shishi Hōkōdan to the same effectiveness as his rival.
Manga Version[]
Ranma producing a much smaller blast
Mōko Takabisha is first mentioned and used against Ryoga in the chapter Lion Versus Tiger! Unlike the large blasts of Shishi Hōkōdan, Mōko Takabisha produces a smaller ki sphere. Like Shishi Hōkōdan, it is based on the amount of emotion used to generate the ki. Shishi Hōkōdan uses depression, and Mōko Takabisha uses confidence. When Ranma gets hit with the final form of Shishi Hōkōdan, his confidence falls and produces a much smaller ball.
During his first battle against Hinako Ninomiya, Ranma reveals he has refined his skills to create a "Double Mōko Takabisha" that fires two equally strong chi blasts.
Anime Version[]
Mōko Takabisha is first mentioned and used against Ryoga in the episode From the Depth of Despair, Part II. In the anime version it is seen as a bright yellow blast, in contrast to Shishi Hōkōdan's pink. How it works is the same as in the manga counterpart.
Live Action Version[]
In the live action special, Ranma can already use the Mōko Takabisha by the time he arrives at the Tendo Dojo, but struggles to master it in his female form.
Trivia[]
- The anime version has the two blasts change color depending on the user, not the type. When Ranma uses Shishi Hōkōdan, it still comes out as yellow.
- The Shishi Hōkōdan and its counterpart the Mōko Takabisha are both based on some rather complex Japanese wordplay revolving around the different uses of the term "ki", which can refer to spiritual energy, emotions, ambience and weather conditions. In particular, the Mōko Takabisha is a play on the fact that the kanji for "Confident/Cocksure/Self-Assured" is literally a combination of the kanji characters of "ki" and "strong", resulting in a technique that literally weaponizes cockiness.
- The Mōko Takabisha is the second-least utilized of Ranma's serious techniques in canon, with only a single appearance after its debut in both the anime and manga: in Ranma's first major duel against Hinako Ninomiya in the manga, and in the climax of the second non-serial movie Nihao, My Concubine. Only the Umi-Sen Ken, which only appears in its focus arc, is used less frequently.