Takuma Sakazaki

Takuma Sakazaki (タクマ・サカザキ, Takuma Sakazaki; also written as 坂崎 拓馬, Sakazaki Takuma) is a character from both the Art of Fighting and King of Fighters fighting game series. His distinguishing feature is an X-shaped scar on his right pectoral. He is also somewhat eccentric, donning his tengu mask and insisting he's Mr. Karate, and delivering speeches that are supposed to rally morale, but often make him look silly. Takuma is the most established known Kyokugenryu Karate practitioner, and he is the only one in the discipline who can make full use of the discipline's most difficult moves (namely the Shoran Kyaku), available only in the Shoran principle of Kyokugenryu Karate.

He is voiced by Eiji Tsuda in the games and Hōchū Ōtsuka for The King of Fighters '94 Dengeki Bunko drama CD.

Story
Takuma learned Kyokugen from his father. Upon being named the heir of Kyokugen, Takuma married an American woman named Ronnet, and they moved to the then-peaceful Southtown to raise a family. Both Takuma and Ronnet became parents of Ryo and Yuri, who were born respectively four years apart.

Takuma trained Ryo exclusively at the beginning, as he felt Yuri was too young and that Ryo was to be the heir to the title of Kyokugenryu Master. He accepted Robert into the dojo after seeing his earnest interest in the style. When Ryo was 10, Ronnet was killed in a car accident. Sensing that she was most likely targeted by someone, Takuma leaves his home to investigate the manner and leaves Ryo to take care of Yuri.

Art of Fighting
In the midst of Takuma's aim to spread the Kyokugenryu discipline, crime started infesting Southtown, and Geese Howard made himself the de facto boss of the city. Unwilling to live with it, Takuma fought his way through lackeys and stooges and confronted Geese himself, demanding that he put an end to the tyranny. Geese replied with threats against Takuma's children, knowing that they meant the world to him. Now with Takuma dancing at his fingertips, Geese forced him to work for him. In order to preserve his honor, Takuma donned a tengu mask and formed another persona: "Mr. Karate."

While Geese was out on business, Mr. Big was in charge. In order to keep Takuma firmly under his control, Mr. Big had Yuri kidnapped. Unfortunately, that move caused Ryo and Robert to tear up Southtown in search of her and Takuma. When Robert got to Mr. Big and defeated him, Big called for Mr. Karate, and he came out to battle Ryo by Robert's favor because he was already exhausted. Although Ryo won, he threatened to kill Mr. Karate if he didn't tell him where Takuma and Yuri were. Yuri stopped Ryo from killing their father, and they had a joyous reunion.

In his ending for the second Art of Fighting, Takuma's injuries from fighting takes its toll and he hands responsibility of the dojo to his children. He implies that he'll probably have to retire from the fighting circuit for awhile.

The King of Fighters
Takuma led Ryo and Robert as a team in the new King of Fighters for two years, until he retired and brought in Yuri as a replacement. He remained on the sideline until 1999, when he rejoined the team as their fourth man. In 2000, Takuma welcomed King onto the team, knowing that she and Ryo have a "special something" together. He couldn't use the Garcia fortune to rebuild with, as a world financial crisis had virtually wiped it out. He entered the team into the 2001 tournament to win the prize money. At the end of King of Fighters 2003 he is attacked by an unseen assilant. He apparently recognizes him but passes out before he telling anyone. It is rumored that his assailant may either be Yamazaki or Eiji Kisaragi, however, according to the official KOF XI story, it is stated that Takuma collapsed due to malnutrition, liver problems, and other health issues. He uses his "weak state" as an excuse to once again enforce his wishes for a grandchild, requesting that King enter the tournament in his stead.

Personality
Takuma is rather serious when he's relating to evil people. But when relating to his students, Takuma starts saying things that many people find silly. He is a traditionalist and a fighter to the core, making it sometimes impossible for him to relate with the modern day youth. His inability to change his strict training regime unintentionally drives newer students away from the dojo. He constantly makes wheat noodles to the point where it's almost sickening for his students. He desperately wants his son to wed and grant them the "third successor" of the family.

Powers

 * Gather chi: Takuma can gather ki from Gaia, the mother-earth.
 * Energy Projectile: Takuma can fire the Kouken, Haoh Shou Kouken and Haoh Shi-Kouken blast normally.
 * Multiple Attacks: Takuma can channel his ki energy into his arms to deliver multiple punches at high speed.

Fighting Style
Takuma uses the Shoran principle of Kyokugenryu Karate. He is the grandmaster (red belt) in this martial art.

Music

 * Shihan ver.2 - Art of Fighting 2
 * Ryuuko no Ken - The King of Fighters 94
 * Ryuuko and Ken - The King of Fighters 95
 * In spite of one's age - The King of Fighters 98
 * Ryu-Ko - The King of Fighters 99
 * The Beauty and the Beast - The King of Fighters 2000, 2002
 * Fight to the Limit - The King of Fighters 2001
 * In Spite of One’s Age ~Ver.Immortal~ - The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match

Game Appearances



 * Art of Fighting 2
 * The King of Fighters 94
 * The King of Fighters 95
 * The King of Fighters 98
 * The King of Fighters 99
 * The King of Fighters 2000
 * The King of Fighters 2001
 * The King of Fighters 2002
 * The King of Fighters 98: Ultimate Match
 * The King of Fighters Neowave
 * The King of Fighters EX2
 * The King of Fighters: Kyo
 * Quiz King of Fighters

Mobile Appearances

 * Athena On Stage - quiz show contestant
 * The King of Fighters Mobile
 * The King of Fighters Mobile R-2

Cameo Appearances

 * The King of Fighters '97 - during the Art of Fighting team's ending
 * The King of Fighters 2003 - during the Art of Fighting team's ending
 * The King of Fighters XI - during the Art of Fighting team's ending
 * Capcom vs SNK - background cameo in the Kyokugenryu dojo stage
 * Days of Memories (first and fourth titles) - in text cameo
 * The King of Fighters (pachinko)
 * KOF: Maximum Impact 2 - Kyokugen Dojo

Similar Characters

 * Mr. Karate
 * Honki ni Natta Mr. Karate