History Main / KiManipulation

* ''Manga/OnePiece'' has slowly but surely inched its way towards this with "Haki" (also known as "Ambition"). While hints of its use abounded from the Skypeia arc onward, the Amazon Lily arc gave the clearest and most specific examples of it before it was fully explained. When we finally got in-depth information on Haki, it was revealed that it came in three general forms. The most common two are: [[SuperToughness Busoshoku/Armament Haki]] the ability to be able to not only defend against strong attacks, cause considerably more damage using an attack but also to ignore special Devil Fruit-borne defenses, such as a rubber or intangible body; and [[CombatClairvoyance Kenbunshoku/Observation Haki]] the ability to predict the conscious actions of the combatant's opponent. These two forms can be further enhanced through training, allowing the Haki-wielder to [[KamehameHadoken emit a blast]] from their body and destroy things internally with Armament and look into the foreseeable future with Observation. The final form, the [[KillingIntent Haoshoku/Conqueror's Haki]], is only rarely possessed by a given Haki-wielder (as in "one in a million" rare -- you literally have to be born with it to use it). Its use will knock out [[WeakWilled weaker people]], and will fatigue stronger people and upon being trained further allows the user to infuse their attacks with power. The series also makes it a point that a person's Haki in general blossoms greatly in real fights rather than in training. Rayleigh trained Luffy for two years to teach him the basics, but the advanced techniques cannot be taught that easily and Luffy has to mimic them from very strong opponents such as Katakuri and later Kaido.

** Rokushiki the six styles, which [[SecretPolice CP9]] and other Marines utilize although it predates Haki, has many elements of Ki Manipulation being based off Chinese martial arts and can only be learned through training. The styles include: [[DoubleJump Geppo]] (jumping off the air itself), [[SuperToughness Tekkai]] (hardening one's body against attacks), [[FingerPokeOfDoom Shigan]] (boosts the power of the user's finger to lethal effect), [[RazorWind Rankyaku]] (sending out a sharp compressed air blade with the user's kicks), [[FlashStep Soru]] (moving at high speeds with the blink of an eye), [[SuperReflexes Kami-e]] (dodging and avoiding attacks with flexibility), and [[KamehameHadoken Rokuogan]] (unleashing a shockwave from the user's fists). As impressive as Rokushiki is however, it's strongly implied Haki [[MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours is superior]] e.g in ''Anime/OnePieceFilmZ'' Busoshoku Haki decisively beat Tekkai.

* In ''Anime/ChromeShelledRegios'', Ki like ability of the Regios world called Kei. Without Kei Vein no one can use Kei. Compared to Ki, Kei is more energy like and part of the Military Artist's body as much as the air they inhale or the blood flowing in their veins. Because it's a natural part of a Military Artist's body, the Kei can be restored faster than other energy sources such as Ki, making it more efficient. There are two variations of Kei techniques: External and Internal Kei. Internal Kei used to reinforce the body and enhance the physical abilities. External Kei is released outside and takes form as various energy blasts or other techniques. If the Military Artist sustains serious injury or otherwise in unhealthy condition; that impacts his/her performance with Kei.

* All of Creator/{{SNK}}'s fighting game series feature casts of characters capable of weaponizing Ki, elemental powers, and even PsychicPowers. Most notably: ''VideoGame/FatalFury'', ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting'', and ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'' which are their three most successful franchises.
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'': Sometimes called Chaos Energy, the energy provided by the [[MineralMacGuffin Chaos Emeralds]] works as this, allowing characters to shoot energy blasts, teleport, manipulate time, and transform into [[SuperMode their Super forms]], among other things.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' surprisingly only a handful of fighters can use Ki InUniverse. All characters including robots have supercharge called “Ki Charge” but it’s more of a game mechanic, the main power in TheVerse is the Devil Gene which is demonic energy. Heihachi, Jun, Xiaoyu, Asuka, Lei and Hwoarang use ki with their attacks, Heihachi’s Ki in particular is strong enough to match his son and grandson’s demonic powers. In the finale of ''VideoGame/Tekken7'' Heihachi forms a blue BattleAura of ki around himself while fighting Kazuya.

* Xing (Yue) Bairong from ''Manhwa/WitchHunter'' uses Ki/Chi to perform the ability Speed Fist (or Shinsok/Shinchuk.)

* ''Manhua/HitoriNoShitaTheOutcast'' is centred around ki users known as Outsiders.

* There is a martial art used by the protagonists in the first two parts of ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' (and a single character in Part 3) called "Hamon" or "the Ripple." It doesn't have any energy blasts, but can be channeled through organic/liquid materials to give them different properties or attack indirectly. Also has elements of ThePowerOfTheSun (since the sun is the source of life), being particularly harmful to vampires. Various other powers granted by the Ripple include curing poison, HealingHands, [[WalkOnWater walking on water]], resistance to the absorption abilities of the [[FoodChainOfEvil Pillar Men]], and [[SwissArmySuperpower whatever creative uses the user can think of]].
** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureSteelBallRun Steel Ball Run]]'' introduces "Spin" which is essentially the AlternateUniverse counterpart to Hamon and is used by multiple characters in the new timeline. Spin is a state of near perfect rotation which produces a unique form of energy from the user's body, which can be used for offensive, defensive and medical purposes depending on the available mediums, such as water and hair exactly like the Ripple. Johnny Joestar combines Spin with his [[GuardianEntity Stand]] like Joseph Joestar does in ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Stardust Crusaders]]''.

[[folder:Real Life]]
* Martial arts like Tai Chi Chuan and Aikijutsu are heavily based on the concept of ki/chi/qi, but in those instances, it's more like a case of creation and conservation of momentum and leveraging physics (something like 90% of what you do in aikido is based in forcing your opponent to continue their motion, throwing them off balance, and then reversing their direction just as they start to regain their balance, throwing them to the ground).
* [[https://web.archive.org/web/20161021131447/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kizeme Wikipedia]] on Kizeme goes on about Ki projection and such. While video shows a fairly primitive, yet well-executed feint, which requires no supernatural abilities to perform and is known, in one form or another, in most martial arts, with weapons or without them.
* The Eastern belief and practice of "ki breathing" which is fundamental to martial arts as well as excerise in general, can pratically give you superhuman abilites in real life to a degree. Take for example Dutch adventurer and Guinness World Record winner [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wim_Hof Wim Hof]], who can survive being [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUQwFZ_xFdM nearly totally submerged in ice water]] for almost ''two hours'' as through forced exhalation Hof like some anime protagionist drops his oxygen levels in order to supercharge his body's thermal regulation and release euphoric chemicals to numb the pain. Though given four practitioners have died trying to imitate him, really DontTryThisAtHome.
[[/folder]]

* ''The Furious Buddha's Palm'' (195): Possibly the UrExample, There was a [[Film/BuddhasPalm remake in 1982]]. [[https://streetwriterpodcast.blogspot.com/2015/08/how-fight-culture-became-fighting-game.html This blog]] has a very extensive article on the subject.

* It is to be noted that various Ki based feats have perfectly mundane explanations, but there are [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEenxIWs28E some]] [[https://www.buzzworthy.com/monks-raise-body-temperature/ cases]] that can let your jaw hanging, even with the proposed explanations. Calling them all just magic tricks would be very closed minded to what one can really do with their minds.
** When it comes to actual mind tricks though see also Derren Brown.

* Some people actually believe they can do this.
** Actual real world evidence of Ki Attacks is, of course, slim and misleading, but proper training, coupled with concentration and sufficient strength, can enable someone to perform seemingly superhuman acts, such as the famous brick smash. Not exactly a Ki Attack, but it is functionally the real life equivalent to many people.
*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEDaCIDvj6I Here]] is an example of someone who believes that they can use ki attacks. See the second part of the video to see whether or not he actually does.
** Related: martial arts like Tai Chi Chuan and Aikijutsu are heavily based on the concept of ki/chi/qi, but in those instances, it's more like a case of creation and conservation of momentum and leveraging physics (something like 90% of what you do in aikido is based in forcing your opponent to continue their motion, throwing them off balance, and then reversing their direction just as they start to regain their balance, throwing them to the ground).

* As [[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq1aPOunsFA detailed]] by [[WebVideo/GameTheory MatPat]], Ki Manipulation has one RealLife equivalent in [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_(physics) plasma]] the fourth state of matter after gas. Like ki, plasma has strong electric potential and similar to a super heated gas can charged up and become electricity and in anime like ''[[Anime/DragonBallZ DBZ]]'' or ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' [[ShockAndAwe electricity]] forms [[BattleAura around]] the user much like how electricity radiates around plasmas balls. Also to covert any gas to plasma much like ki requires a lot of energy but once the plasma arc has been created, it stays that way with only a 10th of that energy and by same token the plasma arc needs to be started near its power source, but once there it can be drawn out to ten times the distance like a KamehameHadoken. Plasma beams like ki beams are also more powerful [[CombinedEnergyAttack combined together]] and have a point to focus on and the more heated up plasma gets the ticker and more vicious it becomes, to the point where it can be physically pushed, like the ki [[BeamOWar beam battles]] in anime. Plasma balls in real life can even have beam struggles before breaking apart and suns (which are mostly ionised plasma) can collide and fuse together like ki energy before splashing outwards (albeit at the cost of making a black hole).
** Unfortunately for those of you wanting to shoot energy from your hands, the “plasma” insides our bodies is not related to the aforementioned high energy state of matter, instead it's a yellow liquid that comprises the majority of your blood. You definitely don't want them swapped.
* Electric eels and other [[ShockAndAwe bioelectric creatures]] on the other hand, could be said to really do this.
* This trope is indeed a RealLife one according to '''[[https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00792r000300400002-9 the bloody CIA]]'''.

[[folder:Fanworks]]

* ''The Journeyverse'': Xander Harris, in addition to his [[MasterOfYourDomain body mastery]] training, starts learning to manipulate his chi in a number of ways (like [[AuraVision seeing auras]] well enough to gun down his foes through walls, dusting vampires with a single palm strike or healing the magical and physical wounds of others [[HealingHands by laying of hands]])

* ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'':
** In the climactic battle between Shifu and Tai Lung, Master Shifu manages to split apart a gigantic boulder the snow leopard kicks at him with a dazzling display of blue light (in BulletTime no less!). Later in the fight, although it originally comes from a brazier he knocks over, Tai Lung is able to wield fire in his paws, apparently without even being singed by it.

* Uncle from ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'' is a big fan of chi. His battles against Dalong Wong (anti-Uncle) probably constitutes as a battle between good and bad chi, as these two were chi wizards. Then in one episode they found a ChineseVampire, which drains victims of chi. Once a person is sucked of chi they need a chi transplant to survive. The person takes on the personality of the chi donor. For example, when Jade got drained, Uncle donated some chi, and she began sprouting Uncle's [[CatchPhrase catch phrases]] and had a hankering for mung beans. She did not, however, gain any of Uncle's knowledge of chi but still volunteered researching ways to kill the vampire. [[ResetButton Everything went back to the way it was]] [[NoOntologicalInertia when the vampire was killed]].

* In ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' surprisingly only a handful of fighters can use Ki InUniverse. All characters including robots have supercharge called “Ki Charge” but it’s more of a game mechanic, the main power in TheVerse is the Devil Gene which is demonic energy. Heihatchi, Jun, Xiaoyu, Asuka, Lei and Hwoarang use ki with their attacks, Heihatchi’s Ki in particular is strong enough to match his son and grandson’s demonic powers. In the finale of ''VideoGame/Tekken7'' Heihatchi forms a blue BattleAura of ki around himself while fighting Kazuya.

* In ''Fanfic/VoyagesofTheWildSeaHorse'', Ranma Saotome and Ryoga Hibiki retain their ki manipulating abilities from canon, but Ranma in particular is shown to be exploring further ways of manipulating his ki. In a battle with a mad giant, he manages to replicate Happosais "use BattleAura to become a giant" trick (although it turns out he got lucky and trying this untrained [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique could have killed him]]). Later, in a battle with a [[BizarroElements Candy Syrup]] [[ElementalShapeshifter Logia]], he learns that he can use the icy ki created by the Soul of Ice technique to deliver blows that freeze his [[NighInvulnerability Nigh-Invulnerable]] foe, and ultimately wins by combining that same icy ki with the projection technique of the Moko Takabisha to create a move that launches a freezing KamehameHadoken.

* ''The Journeyverse'': Xander Harris, in addition to his [MasterOfYourDomain body mastery] training, starts learning to manipulate his chi in a number of ways (like [AuraVision seeing auras] well enough to gun down his foes through walls, dusting vampires with a single palm strike or healing the magical and physical wounds of others [HealingHands by laying of hands])

** Rokushiki the six styles, which [[SecretPolice CP9]] and other Marines utilize although it predates Haki, has many elements of KiManipulation being based off Chinese martial arts and can only be learned through training. The styles include: [[DoubleJump Geppo]] (jumping off the air itself), [[SuperToughness Tekkai]] (hardening one's body against attacks), [[FingerPokeOfDoom Shigan]] (boosts the power of the user's finger to lethal effect), [[RazorWind Rankyaku]] (sending out a sharp compressed air blade with the user's kicks), [[FlashStep Soru]] (moving at high speeds with the blink of an eye), [[SuperReflexes Kami-e]] (dodging and avoiding attacks with flexibility), and [[KamehameHadoken Rokuogan]] (unleashing a shockwave from the user's fists). As impressive as Rokushiki is however, it's strongly implied Haki [[MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours is superior]] e.g in ''Anime/OnePieceFilmZ'' Busoshoku Haki decisively beat Tekkai.

* ComicBook/ShangChi, long time friend and fellow MA adjacent to Iron Fist, has shown a slew of enhanced chi manipulation and projection abilities time and time again. Capable of fighting and besting opponents several leagues above his weight class [[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Etpj5vuVoAIwBpX.jpg and winning.]] He's also demonstrated the ability to sense people by their chi, such as the time he found out Comicbook/JeanGrey was watching him despite her having telepathically masked her presence.

* In ''Fanfic/VoyagesofTheWildSeaHorse'', Ranma Saotome and Ryoga Hibiki retain their ki manipulating abilities from canon, but Ranma in particular is shown to be exploring further ways of manipulating his ki. In a battle with a mad giant, he manages to replicate Happosais "use BattleAura to become a giant" trick (although it turns out he got lucky and trying this untrained [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique could have killed him]]). Later, in a battle with a [[BizarroElements Candy Syrup]] [[ElementalShapeshifter Logia]], he learns that he can use the icy ki created by the Soul of Ice technique to deliver blows that freeze his NighInvulnerable foe, and ultimately wins by combining that same icy ki with the projection technique of the Moko Takabisha to create a move that launches a freezing KamehameHadoken.

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''The Furious Buddha's Palm'' (195): Possibly the UrExample, There was a [[Film/BuddhasPalm remake in 1982]]. [[https://streetwriterpodcast.blogspot.com/2015/08/how-fight-culture-became-fighting-game.html This blog]] has a very extensive article on the subject.
* ''FiveFingersOfDeath'': The film is notorious for being one of Creator/RoyThomas' inspirations in creating ComicBook/IronFist.
[[/folder]]

* Asura from ''VideoGame/AsurasWrath'' uses these. They can be fired out rapidly and resemble his fists. He's essentially making Ki Attacks by PUNCHING! The energy itself is called Mantra. Played around with later, in that there is an entity that is the personification of Mantra known as [[spoiler: Chakravartin, who imbued Mantra upon Asura and the other deities that appear throughout the game's ancestors.]]

* As [[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq1aPOunsFA detailed]] by [[WebVideo/GameTheory MatPat]], KiManipulation has one RealLife equivalent in [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_(physics) plasma]] the fourth state of matter after gas. Like ki, plasma has strong electric potential and similar to a super heated gas can charged up and become electricity and in anime like ''[[Anime/DragonBallZ DBZ]]'' or ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' [[ShockAndAwe electricity]] forms [[BattleAura around]] the user much like how electricity radiates around plasmas balls. Also to covert any gas to plasma much like ki requires a lot of energy but once the plasma arc has been created, it stays that way with only a 10th of that energy and by same token the plasma arc needs to be started near its power source, but once there it can be drawn out to ten times the distance like a KamehameHadoken. Plasma beams like ki beams are also more powerful [[CombinedEnergyAttack combined together]] and have a point to focus on and the more heated up plasma gets the ticker and more vicious it becomes, to the point where it can be physically pushed, like the ki [[BeamOWar beam battles]] in anime. Plasma balls in real life can even have beam struggles before breaking apart and suns (which are mostly ionised plasma) can collide and fuse together like ki energy before splashing outwards (albeit at the cost of making a black hole).

* At the ''LARP/OtakonLARP'', characters that have Magic or Chi manipulation abilities (which run the entire gamut of options) generally have an ability called “Sense Magic” that allows them to determine when a strong use of power is used nearby. It isn't quite TheForceIsStrongWithThisOne, because the sense is "a burst of power over there".

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}''. All living things generate Aura. Huntsmen are trained to manipulate and amplify their Aura, giving them a HealingFactor and an invisible, defensive forcefield that prevents injury. With mastery, a Semblance can be unlocked, which gives each individual a [[OnePersonOnePower single superpower]] such as SuperSenses, SuperStrength, [[BarrierWarrior area-effect barriers]], [[MindOverMatter telekinesis]], and so on. Aura is finite and depletes with active use until it breaks, leaving a person vulnerable and unable to use Semblance. Certain Semblances are centred on Aura manipulation, such as the ability to [[PowerParasite steal other Semblances]] or [[SuperEmpowering amplify other Auras]]. [[spoiler:In Volume 5, Jaune unlocks his Semblance, allowing him to amplify the critically-injured Weiss's HealingFactor to save her, and then further amplifying her Aura to super-charge her Semblance; this produces a visible wind of power around Weiss for a short period of time. The creators have confirmed he subconsciously used his Semblance in Volume 2 to amplify his own Aura when blocking Cardin's punch.]]

* Akatsuki from ''LightNovel/AestheticaOfARogueHero'' is a ki adept surrounded by magic users and is arguably the strongest fighter in the setting.

** [[OldMaster Cologne]] is plenty skilled as it is with just her technique and agility, and doesn't ''explicitly'' use ki beyond one instance, where she was sufficiently pissed off that she let out a fireball hot enough to melt through metal. But it [[{{Fanon}} has been theorized by fans]] that attacks like the [[MakingASplash Shark Fist]] or her ability to create massive waterspouts just from touching water, involve some degree of ki manipulation. And of course, she taught Ranma the Hiryuu Shoten Ha...

* ComicBook/ShangChi, long time friend and fellow MA adjacent to Iron Fist, has shown a slew of enhanced chi manipulation and projection abilities time and time again. Capable of fighting and besting opponents several leagues above his weight class [[http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11/113509/2762398-shang.png and winning.]] He's also demonstrated the ability to sense people by their chi, such as the time he found out Comicbook/JeanGrey was watching him despite her having telepathically masked her presence.

* ''Manga/OnePiece'' has slowly but surely inched its way towards this with "Haki" (also known as "Ambition"). While hints of its use abounded from the Skypeia arc onward, the Amazon Lily arc gave the clearest and most specific examples of it before it was fully explained. When we finally got in-depth information on Haki, it was revealed that it came in three general forms. The most common two are: [[SuperToughness Busoshoku/Armament Haki]] the ability to be able to not only defend against strong attacks, cause considerably more damage using an attack but also to ignore special Devil Fruit-borne defenses, such as a rubber or intangible body; and [[CombatClairvoyance Kenbunshoku/Observation Haki]] the ability to predict the conscious actions of the combatant's opponent. These two forms can be further [[UpToEleven enhanced]] through training, allowing the Haki-wielder to [[KamehameHadoken emit a blast]] from their body and destroy things internally with Armament and look into the foreseeable future with Observation. The final form, the [[KillingIntent Haoshoku/Conqueror's Haki]], is only rarely possessed by a given Haki-wielder (as in "one in a million" rare — you literally have to be born with it to use it). Its use will knock out [[WeakWilled weaker people]], and will fatigue stronger people and upon being trained further allows the user to infuse their attacks with power. The series also makes it a point that a person's Haki in general blossoms greatly in real fights rather than in training. Rayleigh trained Luffy for two years to teach him the basics, but the advanced techniques cannot be taught that easily and Luffy has to mimic them from very strong opponents such as Katakuri and later Kaido.