Chinese martial artist Retsu Kaioh, age 29, has consistently prioritized the development of martial arts over conventional notions of camaraderie, according to observations of his competitive behavior. Kaioh, who holds the title of “Kaioh” (Sea King) within Chinese martial arts circles, first gained prominence in the initial “Baki” manga series during the World Martial Arts Tournament held at the Tokyo Dome Underground Arena.
Kaioh’s training began at the Hakurin Temple in Heilongjiang, China, at the age of four under the tutelage of Liu Haiwang. By the time of the Kaioh Tournament, he had dedicated 25 years to rigorous training. He is described as “ferocious, intense, but does not stray from the righteous path,” and maintains a firm belief in the superiority of Chinese martial arts, consistently challenging formidable opponents to prove his conviction.
Despite a chivalrous and warm-hearted nature demonstrated through acts such as providing medical assistance and sustenance to his opponent Doyle, a British man, during the Death Row Convicts arc, Kaioh’s primary focus remains the advancement of his martial skills. He famously utilized qinggong, running on water, to transport the injured Doyle to receive medical attention and prepared specialized meals based on secret Chinese martial arts recipes for Doyle, Baki, and others. However, these actions are framed as stemming from a code of honor rather than personal affection.
Kaioh’s competitive career suffered a significant setback during a battle with the primordial man Picky in the third part of the “Baki” series, resulting in the destruction of his right leg. He later died in a duel against a cloned Miyamoto Musashi in the fourth part, “Baki Dou.”
Retsu Kaioh is voiced by Kunihiko Yasui and Rikiya Koyama in the anime adaptation of the “Baki” series. He is also known by the aliases Retsu Xiaolong and Retsu. His physical characteristics include a height of 176 cm and a weight of 106 kg.
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