Kenshi

Infobox VG character
name = Kenshi


series = "Mortal Kombat" series
firstgame = "" (2002)

Kenshi is a fictional character in the "Mortal Kombat" fighting game series.

About Kenshi

Kenshi is a rogue swordsman of Eurasian heritage. He is a blind, gruff man who has mastered the arts of Tai Chi, San Shou and Judo. Kenshi is also psychokinetic, able to throw opponents off-balance or across the room when necessary. He nurses a bitter hatred for the sorcerer Shang Tsung, whose trickery had blinded him. He is currently allied with Sonya Blade and Jax Briggs, and has also found a friend in Sub-Zero as well as Ermac.

toryline

As a born fighter, Kenshi wandered Earthrealm in search of worthy competition. He would find an opponent and defeat them just to boost his pride. One day Kenshi encountered a man named Song, who convinced Kenshi that a great warrior needed a great sword; Song then led Kenshi to the location of an ancient, powerful sword Song claimed would befit Kenshi's power. As Kenshi unsealed the well wherein the sword supposedly lay, he was overwhelmed by souls trapped within and permanently blinded. Song revealed himself to be Shang Tsung and proceeded to absorb the released souls and left Kenshi to die within the tomb. However, the sword, which actually did exist, attracted Kenshi and spoke to him, leading him from the tomb and revealing its origin. The sword originally belonged to a long line of great swordsmen from whom Kenshi descended; the well where the sword lay was also the sacred resting place of the souls of Kenshi's ancestors, souls that were stolen by Shang Tsung. Kenshi spent the next decade or so retraining his senses, all while searching for his betrayer and the defiler of his ancestry.

Kenshi's special abilities eventually caught the attention of Jax and Sonya who were looking for members with special talents to join their side and venture into Outworld; Kenshi jumped at the chance to pursue the man who had deceived him. After going through many tests and examinations, he was accepted to join the Outer World Investigation Agency.

His chance at enacting his revenge came when he was assigned to find the lost Cyrax, another agent of the Special Forces, in Outworld. In his travels across Outworld, Kenshi encountered the enigmatic Ermac, and, in a moment of pity, broke the mind control that Shao Kahn had over him. In gratitude, Ermac awakened Kenshi's latent telekinetic power, and taught him not only how to use it effectively in combat, but how to 'sense' the presence of people and objects around him. Kenshi soon discovered the Deadly Alliance and their plans, but was unable to contact the OWIA (which had been bombed by Hsu Hao). Unknown to Kenshi, the Deadly Alliance knew of his presence and sent Mavado to eliminate him. Mavado confronted Kenshi, defeated the swordsman, and left him to die.

Sub-Zero found the dying Kenshi and nursed him back to health. Because of Sub-Zero's sympathy and kindness, Kenshi forged a temporary alliance with Sub-Zero to find a portal that would take them back home, though this temporary alliance soon became a long-lasting friendship. After Shang Tsung's death upon Onaga's return, Kenshi sensed the souls of his ancestors return to his sword, indicating the end of his quest for vengeance. Despite being an ally of both, he relinquished his position in the Special Forces and chose to remain unaligned from Sub-Zero's Lin Kuei clan, preferring to be a lone warrior.

Kenshi then returned to Earthrealm where, under the guidance of his ancestors' sword, he would hunt down the corrupt. Attacking only during the night, using the darkness as a cover to strike unseen, Kenshi was able to overthrow several criminal organizations. He eventually intercepts a coded message sent to Mavado and learns of the Red Dragon's plans to capture the Edenian half-god Taven. Before he could find out the location of their secret base, Kenshi encounters Johnny Cage who is gathering warriors to fight for the Forces of Light against Shinnok. However, Kenshi declines this offer, considering this another pointless struggle between good and evil.

While embarking on his mission to destroy the Red Dragon and exact revenge on Mavado, he receives a psychic premonition, becoming fully aware of Taven and Daegon's quest to defeat the fire elemental Blaze. His sword also urges him to side with the forces of good in the forthcoming conflict. Taking heed of this insight, Kenshi decides that he will be the one to lead the Forces of Light into battle. [http://mkarmageddon.com/assets/bios/bio_kenshi.html Kenshi's "Armageddon" bio] . [http://www.mkarmageddon.com/ Official "Mortal Kombat Armageddon" website] . Retrieved on 2007-01-23.]

In Kenshi's "" ending, he defeats Blaze, allowing him to regain his sight while his other senses are greatly increased. Unable to endure this new sensory overload, Kenshi withdraws to a remote mountain cavern when he would remain isolated in a darkened, soundless chamber. [http://mortalkombatwarehouse.com/mka/kenshi/ Kenshi's "Armageddon" info] at [http://www.mortalkombatwarehouse.com/ Mortal Kombat Warehouse] ]

Combat characteristics

ignature moves

*Telekinetic Slam: Kenshi picks up the opponent via telekinesis and slams them against the ground. This move is borrowed from Ermac. ("MK:DA", "MK:D", "MK:U", "MK:A")
*Telekinetic Toss: Kenshi telekinetically throws his opponent behind him. ("MK:DA", "MK:D", "MK:U", "MK:A")
*Telekinetic Push: Kenshi simply holds his hand in front of him and telekinetically pushes his opponent backwards. ("MK:DA", "MK:D", "MK:U", "MK:A")
*Tele-Flurry: Kenshi performs two punches and a kick to his opponent from a far distance. ("MK:D", "MK:U", "MK:A")
*Mind Warp: Kenshi teleports himself closer to his opponent. ("MK:Deception", "MK:U", "MK:A")

Trivia

*Kenshi's original name was "Blind Gi". As his character developed, he was renamed 'Blind Kenshi', and the adjective was dropped for his final form. The name Blind Kenshi still appears on the back of the UK PS2 cover.
*The word kenshi (剣士), means "swordsaint" in Japanese.
*Being blind, he is immune to Sonya's and Kira's Kiss of Death moves, which aim for the enemy's eyes.
*Despite being blind, Kenshi still takes part in the "Test Your Sight" challenge in "Deadly Alliance". He uses his hearing to determine his choice.
*Kenshi is the only character in "Mortal Kombat: Deception" who literally executes a Hara-Kiri, by slashing open his own abdomen.

References