Hohō (歩法, Agility; Viz "Fast Movement"; lit. step method) is the name given to one of the four combat skills of the Shinigami and relates to footwork. Hohō is an important skill for most Shinigami, and is one of their four basic fighting styles^[1]. The agility and speed of Hohō can be enhanced and improved through mastery of it, concentration, and training. The foremost practitioners of this technique are those assigned to the Onmitsukidō. Shunpo (瞬歩, Flash steps) is the greatest expression of the Hohō technique. However, there are variations even within Shunpo that only master Hohō practitioners can use.

Contents 1 Overview 2 Techniques 3 Notable Users 3.1 Shunpo Masters 3.2 Shunpo Experts 3.3 Shunpo Practitioners 3.4 Those Who Have Yet to Learn Shunpo 4 References 5 Navigation

OverviewEdit

Shunpo (瞬歩, Flash steps), a movement technique that allows the user to move faster than the eye can follow.^[2]. The focal point that determines the basis of this technique is speed. As speed is the main point of the technique the method is best characterized by how fast one can get from point A to point B in the least amount of steps. Training and skill are what determines how fast a user of Shunpo can move; those of little skill in the technique or those who haven't used it an extended amount of time would obviously be out of practice, causing those individuals to be considerably slower, which requires the use of more steps to move the same distance and become winded far easier in a shorter amount of time.

Yoruichi Shihōin was given the title "Goddess of the Flash" (瞬神, Shunshin), as she is the foremost Flash Steps Master in the Bleach Universe.

The Arrancar variation of Shunpo is Sonído and the Quincy variation of is Hirenkyaku.

TechniquesEdit

Shunpō Techniques.
Technique Name	Technique Information	Technique Picture
Senka (閃花, Flash Blossom)	A special Shunpo technique where one moves behind the opponent to directly attack and seal one's "Saketsu (鎖結, Chain Binding)" and "Hakusui (鎖結, Soul Sleep)" in two rapid attacks. The movement is so fast that an opponent may not be able to tell whether he was attacked from the front or the back and even an outside observer may find it impossible to tell what the movements are.[3][4]
Way of Onmitsu, 3rd of the Shihō (隠密歩法　四楓の参, Onmitsu Shunpo Shihō no San)	Utsusemi (空蝉, Cicada, referencing their molting): It allows for a movement at great speed leaving an afterimage behind. The afterimage may even appear to have taken damage [5]
Unknown Name	This technique is able to create at least 15 clones of oneself at once using Shunpo, similar in principle to Zommari Rureaux's Gemelos Sonído. While they are indistinguishable from the user's true self and mimic their movements, they do not seem to last long.[6]

Notable UsersEdit

Shunpo MastersEdit

Masters of the technique are obviously by far the fastest beings within Soul Society. They are capable of maintaining high speed movements for extended periods of time while only using the least amount of steps to achieve those movements. Masters are capable of using Advanced steps which are considerably harder to initiate. A master can possibly create new techniques but it is most likely a rare occurrence. (Note only those who have trained and achieved mastery either stated or shown, outside any advantage they gain from Shikai, Bankai or otherwise are included in this listing).
Name	Skill Level	User Picture
Sōsuke Aizen	Shunpo Master
Suì-Fēng	Shunpo Master
Byakuya Kuchiki	Shunpo Master
Kōga Kuchiki	Shunpo Master
Shunsui Kyōraku	Shunpo Master
Yoruichi Shihōin	Shunpo Master
Jūshirō Ukitake	Shunpo Master
Kisuke Urahara	Shunpo Master
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto	Shunpo Master

Shunpo ExpertsEdit

Experts of the technique are considerably fast and are capable of maintaining high speed movements for extended periods of time. While not as fast as a master they can keep up quite effectively. Some holding the title are faster than others but none the less their application of the technique is highly advanced.
Name	Skill Level	User Picture
Renji Abarai	Shunpo Expert
Love Aikawa	Shunpo Expert
Shūsuke Amagai	Shunpo Expert
Shinji Hirako	Shunpo Expert
Shūhei Hisagi	Shunpo Expert
Tōshirō Hitsugaya	Shunpo Expert
Gin Ichimaru	Shunpo Expert
Kagerōza Inaba	Shunpo Expert
Nanao Ise	Shunpo Expert
Ashido Kanō	Shunpo Expert
Makoto Kibune	Shunpo Expert
Ginrei Kuchiki	Shunpo Expert
Rukia Kuchiki	Shunpo Expert
Mashiro Kuna	Shunpo Expert
Ichigo Kurosaki	Shunpo Expert
Isshin Kurosaki	Shunpo Expert
Mayuri Kurotsuchi	Shunpo Expert
Kensei Muguruma	Shunpo Expert
Marechiyo Ōmaeda	Shunpo Expert
Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi	Shunpo Expert
Kaname Tōsen	Shunpo Expert
Retsu Unohana	Shunpo Expert
Lisa Yadōmaru	Shunpo Expert
Ōko Yushima	Shunpo Expert

Shunpo PractitionersEdit

Practitioners of the technique can maintain fast movements for a short period of time, by seemingly taking only a few steps to bridge what would normally be a large distances. Those who are practitioners commonly use their knowledge of Hohō while engaging in combat to close the space between combatants. Those practitioners that maintain these high speeds for too long tend to become winded.
Name	Skill Level	User Picture
Yumichika Ayasegawa	Shunpo Practitioner
Momo Hinamori	Shunpo Practitioner
Tetsuzaemon Iba	Shunpo Practitioner
Ryūsei Kenzaki	Shunpo Practitioner
Izuru Kira	Shunpo Practitioner
Sajin Komamura	Shunpo Practitioner
Isane Kotetsu	Shunpo Practitioner
Ikkaku Madarame	Shunpo Practitioner
Rangiku Matsumoto	Shunpo Practitioner
Hachigen Ushōda	Shunpo Practitioner

Those Who Have Yet to Learn ShunpoEdit

Those in this category possesses no skill for Hohō and instead rely on walking to get where they need to be or have trained extensively to enhance their natural speed to a level allowing them move considerably fast though decidedly under that of Shunpo.
Name	Skill Level	User Picture
Hanatarō Yamada	No Skill

ReferencesEdit

1. ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 175, page 9
2. ↑ Bleach anime; Episode 61
3. ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 140, page 16
4. ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 55-56
5. ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 299, page 17-18
6. ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 391, page 10

NavigationEdit

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	Related Articles
Locations:	Soul Society · Seireitei · Central 46 Compound · Shinō Academy · Nest of Maggots · Sōkyoku Hill · Gin Tonbo · Kuchiki Family Manor
Miscellaneous:	List of Shinigami · Senkaimon · Reiryoku · Reiatsu · Reiraku