Kenshi Takahashi

"Now I have but one goal: to slay the sorcerer who blinded me."

- Kenshi conversing with Shujinko

Kenshi Takahashi (高橋剣士) is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series, who made his debut in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance.

Appearance
In Deadly Alliance, Kenshi wears a black body suit with red accents. He wears a sash across his chest, depicting a dragon, and a black pauldron on his right shoulder. Attached to his belt is a small satchel. He wears red knee pads and black boots. His signature red bandana is worn across his eyes.

For his alternate costume, Kenshi sheds his tactical gear and red blindfold in favor of a traditional karate gi. His gi is white, with many tears and gashes. A black belt is worn across his waist, holding up a satchel. Kenshi is also barefoot.

In Deception and Armageddon, Kenshi wears a high-collared, grey rubber vest, with kanji on it, and armored pants. In addition, he wears white kneepads, red pointed boots, and long, armored gloves. His red blindfold is also worn.

Kenshi's Deception and Armageddon alternate costume is his Deadly Alliance primary. However, the back of his pants are now red instead of black.

In MK 2011, Kenshi dons a refined version of his original outfit, but now featuring glowing panels on the back of his hands and a sharper hair cut.

25 years after the events of MK 2011, in MK X, he now sports a new coat-like version of his outfit. He has also grown full facial hair with it graying in some areas.

Combat characteristics
Despite his blindness, Kenshi possesses senses that are heightened beyond their normal ability and can fight on par with any other kombatant. Kenshi wields an ancestral sword that contains the spirits of warrior kings from his line, and he is in turn guided by these spirits in combat. He can sense an opponent's presence by their energy or by hearing them and thus, can take opponents by surprise. Also due to his blindness, he is completely immune to attacks that would target one's sense of sight. Kenshi is well-trained in telekinetic attacks as well, and is capable of teleportation.

In MK 2011, Kenshi's fighting style has been expanded upon, extensively using his telekinesis to wield his sword, although he still uses his hands to hold it from time to time. He can also employ his telekinesis into a tangible, projection of himself to attack opponents from a distance, similar to Noob Saibot. His sword has the ability to reflect projectiles back to his opponents.

In MKX, one of Kenshi's variations, Possessed, features a shattered version of the Sento and through these cracks, he is able to summon forth a sickle-wielding demon to attack in his stead.

Signature moves

 * Telekinetic Slam: Kenshi picks up the opponent via telekinesis and slams them against the ground. This move is taught by Ermac. In MKX, this is called Tele-Slam. (MK:DA, MK:D, MK:U, MK:A, MKX - Kenjutsu Variation)
 * The enhanced version is called Tele-Suspend and has armor. Instead of slamming the opponent, Kenshi will let them fall back unscathed (except for an almost insignificant damage from the lift), but in a dizzy state. Even though he will always drop them at about a jump distance from him, he still has time to walk up to them and attack before they can recover.
 * Telekinetic Toss: Kenshi telekinetically throws his opponent behind him. This move is also borrowed from Ermac. In MK 2011, this move has been downgraded into his grab. In MKX, this is called Tele-Toss and makes Kenshi telekinetically lift the opponent to move them over his head and slam them on the floor behind him. (MK:DA, MK:D, MK:U, MK:A, MKX - Kenjutsu Variation)
 * The enhanced version makes Kenshi telekinetically strike the opponent twice while they're still in the air. It also has armor.
 * Telekinetic Push: Kenshi holds his hand in front of his opponent and telekinetically pushes them backwards. In MKX, this is called Tele-Push. (MK:DA, MK:D, MK:U, MK:A, MKX - Kenjutsu Variation)
 * The enhanced version has increased damage and is armored.
 * Tele-Flurry: Kenshi performs two punches and a kick to his opponent from a far distance. In MKX, Kenshi summons his telekinetic projection to slice the opponent three times, with the third one knocking them back. (MK:D, MK:U, MK:A, MK 2011, MKX - Balanced Variation)
 * Both in MK 2011 and MKX, the enhanced version is called Tele-Beatdown. In MK 2011, it adds 2 extra punches. In MKX, it makes Kenshi's projection do an overhead slice to slam the opponent against the floor after the three first strikes.
 * Mind Warp: Kenshi teleports himself closer to his opponent. In MK 2011, he uses this move during his X-Ray Move (MK:D, MK:U, MK:A)
 * Telekinetic Slash: Kenshi telekinetically unsheathes his sword and slices the opponent upward. There are close, medium and far versions of this move. (MK 2011)
 * The enhanced versions are called Telekinetic Blade. They add an overhead slice before the upward one.
 * Rising Karma: Kenshi uppercuts his opponents in the air with his katana in the ethereal form and the opponent is vulnerable to successive attacks. In MKX, this move is performed by his telekinetic projection, and so is exclusive to his Balanced Variation. (MK 2011, MKX - Balanced Variation)
 * Both in MK 2011 and MKX, the enhanced version is called Karma Eruption. In MK 2011, it does more damage. In MKX, it's armored and makes Kenshi's projection perform a second blade uppercut to throw the opponent higher in the air, also causing more damage.
 * Blade Reflect: Kenshi unsheathes his sword and slashes projectiles, reflecting them. In MKX, it's present in every variation but Possessed, being his only special move that can be used in more than one variation. (MK 2011, MKX)
 * Both in MK 2011 and MKX, the enhanced version is Blade Absorb. Kenshi will absorb the projectile with Sento to regain some of his health instead of reflecting it.
 * Spirit Charge: Kenshi telekinetically shoulders the opponent, knocking them away. In MKX, this is called Spirit Push and has the projection punch the opponent to knock them away rather than striking them with the shoulder. (MK 2011, MKX - Balanced Variation)
 * In MK 2011, the enhanced version Spirit Vengeance adds a down slice.
 * In MKX, the enhanced version Spirit Charge adds a second punch.
 * Spinning Blade: Kenshi spins Sento in an arc to do an overhead slash on the opponent, knocking them to the ground. (MKX - Kenjutsu Variation)
 * The enhanced version Blade-Nado is armored and bounces the opponent on the ground, allowing for a juggle.
 * Rising Sword: Kenshi uppercuts the opponent with Sento. This also works as an anti-air and allows for a juggle. (MKX - Kenjutsu Variation)
 * The enhanced version is called Sword Dance, which is armored and makes Kenshi leap and strike the enemy in the air twice after the uppercut.
 * Sickle Lift: Kenshi summons Sento's demon to stab the opponent with its sickle and then uppercut them with it, knocking them in the air. It doesn't allow for a juggle, however. (MKX - Possessed Variation)
 * The enhanced version is called Sickle Strike. It has armor and makes the demon throw its sickle at the opponent after they've been thrown up, making the sickle spin at them and slash them multiple times.
 * Soul Push: Kenshi summons the demon to dash at the opponent with its sickle, knocking them back. (MKX - Possessed Variation)
 * The enhanced version is called Soul Charge. It's armored and makes the demon combo the dash with a downward sickle slice, slamming the opponent on the ground.
 * Demon Assault: Kenshi makes the demon appear right in front of his opponent to slash them and stab the back of their head twice with its sickle, knocking them down. (MKX - Possessed Variation)
 * The enhanced version makes the demon stab the opponent's abdomen after the combo and throw them away, making them land right behind Kenshi.
 * Demon Slam: Kenshi summons the demon to slam its fist on the ground, which trips the opponent. The default version hits at a jump distance from Kenshi, but can be directed either backward or forward for close and far versions respectively. (MKX - Possessed Variation)
 * The enhanced version Demon Drop launches the opponent in the air, allowing for a juggle.
 * Demonic Strike: Kenshi summons the demon to perform an overhead slice right in front of him, making the enemy stumble if it hits. (MKX - Possessed Variation)
 * The enhanced version is called Demonic Slice, which makes the demon perform a more damaging slice that also knocks the enemy to the ground.
 * Demon Beam: Much like Mind Warp, Kenshi teleports to get right in front of his opponent, but does this with a red demon energy that leaves him in the air. (MKX - Possessed Variation)
 * The enhanced version is called Demon Port, which has armor.
 * X-Ray Move - Soul Blade: Kenshi throws his sword into the opponent's stomach and Mind Warps in front of them. He then takes out his sword, turns it over, and hits the opponent in the face with the hilt, breaking the whole skull. He then turns it back over and slashes the foe upward, ripping their ribs open and further damaging the skull.
 * X-Ray Move - Way of the Blade: Kenshi uses telekinesis to lift both Sento and his opponent and pulls the opponent towards the sword, pushing it through their nose. He then uses his telekinesis to draw the opponent towards him and palms the hilt, crushing their skull and allowing the blade deeper through the nose before pulling it out. Finally, Kenshi stabs the opponent through the stomach, breaking the spine.

Fatalities

 * Telekinetic Contortion: Kenshi concentrates as he fires mental waves of energy at his opponent, paralyzing. First, the eyes are forcefully pushed out of the head as Kenshi promptly bends the opponent's body in unnatural directions, starting with the arms, legs, and then the head as the last crunch leaves them suspended in the air for a couple of seconds as they crumple onto the floor as a blind, scrambled mess. It should be noted that if a character is wearing something covering the eyes (such as sunglasses), they will not fall out. (MK:DA)
 * Telekinetic Stretch: Kenshi lifts the opponent into the air as his arms slowly spread out, with the victim following suit as their body begins to further stretch and expand outwards until the body snaps in two. (MK:D)
 * Katana Strike: Kenshi takes out his Katana and violently thrusts his katana through the chest/neck. He then waits a second before pulling it out and slicing his opponent twice in the upper torso region. He begins his victory pose as his fallen opponent falls in half behind him squirting massive amounts of blood. (MK:D)
 * Split Ends: Kenshi telekinetically picks up the opponent. He gets out Sento and throws it further down the stage, with it landing on its tip. Then, Kenshi pushes the opponent head first into the sword, slicing them vertically in half, the blade stopping at the chest. (MK 2011)
 * Scatterbrained: Kenshi slams the opponent a few times on the camera, a final smash removes the victim's eye from its socket and it slides down the screen. He then finishes it off with a clean slice across the chest diagonally with Sento. In the Playstation Vita version of the game, the cut is changed to a straight vertical down the middle.(MK 2011)
 * Tele - Copter: Kenshi uses his telekinesis to spin Sento in the air. He then uses his telekinesis to lift the opponent in the air, slowly through the spinning blade, slicing the face off before turning the whole body to mincemeat in a bloody, gory mess. (MKX)
 * My Puppet: Kenshi telekinetically pushes his opponent's ribcage out of the opponent's back. Then he telekinetically moves the ribcage upwards while the veins attached to it are ripped out of the opponent's arms and legs as the opponent is being held up by the veins like a marionette puppet as he/she screams in agony. Then Kenshi proceeds to throw Sento to cut the veins and the opponent falls dead. (MKX)

Other finishers

 * Hara-Kiri - Seppuku: Kenshi kneels down and uses his sword to cut half of his abdomen. Before falling down, he neatly puts the sword at his side. This is the only traditional Hara-Kiri. (MK:D)
 * Babality - Kenshi lifts Sento up into the air via telekinesis, but accidentally slams it against his head three times. Kenshi then begins crying. (MK:2011)
 * Brutality #1 - Used Up: Kenshi grabs his opponent and punches them several times before ending it with a kick that seperates them from their legs. (MKX)
 * Brutality #2 - Brutal Kick: Kenshi hits his opponent and kicks them in the abdomen hard enough to leave a gaping hole in their body. (MKX)
 * Brutality #3 - Leg Up: Kenshi does a Tele-Flurry, summoning his projection to slice his opponent three times, with the third one slicing off their shins. (MKX - Balanced Variation)
 * Brutality #4 - Demon Slice: Kenshi performs a Sickle Lift to summon the demon from Sento to slice his opponent upward with its scythe. The opponent looks at the camera before splitting in half, stopping at the abdomen. (MKX - Possessed Variation)
 * Brutality #5 - Instant Karma: Kenshi telekinetically pushes his opponent's skeleton out of their body with a Tele-Push, leaving the body to fall, followed by the skeleton. The boneless body soon slowly deflates until it's flat. (MKX - Kenjutsu Variation)
 * Brutality #6 - Return to Sender: Kenshi reflects any projectiles thrown at him with Sento using Blade Reflect. The projectile will then hit the opponent and mimic one of their brutalities. (For example: Cassie's "Between the Eyes" and Kung Jin's "A Little Heart") (MKX - Secret - Balanced Variation)

Mortal Kombat Legacy
Kenshi appears in season two of Mortal Kombat Legacy played by Dan Southworth.

Kenshi's history is mostly kept intact, but he no longer has a rivarly with the sorcerer Shang Tsung and was instead blinded by Ermac when he went to claim the Sento sword, which is also not an heirloom blade of his line in this series.

Kenshi was once a wandering ronin in ancient Japan when he came across three bandits robbing an old man. Kenshi calls their actions dishonorable, but the bandits only respond by cursing at him. When the bandits demand he pay a toll to keep his life, Kenshi throws a half-eaten apple at them, telling them that's their toll. Infuriated, the bandits charge at him with their swords drawn. With little effort, Kenshi responds with blinding speed in drawing his own sword, killing all three bandits with a single blow for each.

Later that night, Kenshi is eating dinner with the old man he saved, and offers to pay him in return for feeding him, but the old man insists that because Kenshi saved his life, he is indebted to him. The old man reveals he is a mystic and offers to tell Kenshi of something that may be of benefit to him. The old man tells Kenshi of the sword of Sento, a sword that is said to be able to cut down any enemy. Revealing the blade was created by Shao Kahn and sealed in a mountain cave to be guarded by the demon Ermac, who consumes the souls of any warrior who tries to claim the blade.

Kenshi is initially amused by the story, calling it a fairy tale like the ones his grandfather use to tell him, but when the old man reveals he knows Kenshi's name without the warrior ever having told him, Kenshi begins to believe him and asks the location of the sword.

The next morning, Kenshi travels to the mountain where the sword is said to be, and finds several long rotten skeletons outside the cave. Venturing into the cave, Kenshi finds more bodies but also sees the sword imbedded into a cave wall. As he approaches the sword, he hears a demonic voice call out to him, taunting him, declaring 'they' have been waiting for a worthy opponent and that no one has ever left the cave alive. The demon Ermac calls itself many while Kenshi is but one, Kenshi retorts, "But you are not me." He whirls around, sword drawn as Ermac attacks.

Though the battle is not seen, the cave explodes and as Kenshi staggers out, his eyes are shown to be filled with blood and the ronin is horrified to discover he has been blinded. Though he lost his sight, Kenshi claimed the Sento sword for himself that day.

Between the main events of the series, Kenshi is contacted by Raiden and agrees to fight for Earthrealm in the Mortal Kombat Tournament.

Several years later, Kenshi is summoned by Raiden to the island hosting the Mortal Kombat tournament, with Kenshi being the last to teleport onto the island.

That night, Kenshi notes the island "Sounds like death" and Raiden reveals that the island once hosted a long dead civilization and serves as a reminder of what is at stake. Raiden also reveals that whatever innate supernatural abilities each of them possess will be amplified on the island, and points out that Kenshi's honed senses will become superhuman.

When the tournament begins, Kenshi ventures further into the island, and after a brief meditation, arrives in a clearing. Ermac's voice once more calls out to him, proclaiming it will retake the Sento blade from Kenshi and taunts that it has learned much since 'they' took his eyes. Kenshi darkly growls that he has as well and engages Ermac in a fierce duel.

Kenshi and Ermac are roughly evenly matched throughout the battle, and though Kenshi loses the Sento, he is able to overpower Ermac with his hand-to-hand skills before discovering his telekinetic abilities similar to Ermac's. Ermac seemingly gains the upperhand when he telekinetically chokes Kenshi and then binds him with scaled tentacles, strangling him further, but Kenshi is able to draw Sento back to his hand with his telekinesis and frees himself, throwing the blade and impaling Ermac through his heart. With one final telekinetic pulse, Kenshi slays Ermac, claiming the first victory of the tournament for Earthrealm.

Mortal Kombat X

 * "The world has changed. For the worse if we do not expel Shinnok from Raiden's temple. He means to poison Earthrealm's life force, the Jinsei."
 * "We fared better than the men..." (to Johnny Cage)
 * "Nightwolf!?" (when he sees undead Nightwolf)
 * "Major Blade."
 * "Yes, the 'elevator'." (answering to Johnny Cage)
 * "Sento contains the souls of my ancestors. They guide me." (to Johnny Cage)
 * "Anata ga hirakimasu..." (creating the portal)
 * "Quan Chi and the others... They're gone. A surge of power within the chamber overwhelmed my senses--" (to Raiden)
 * "Shinnok's amulet... and within it..."
 * "The war is not over. Quan Chi has escaped. Why are you smiling?" (asking Johnny Cage)
 * "The portal opened by the docks a few hours ago. Nearly five-thousand in all. Refugees-- from the Outworld civil war." (to Johnny Cage)
 * "After you." (to Kung Jin)
 * "Do not dwell on your encounter with the Lin Kuei, son." (to Takeda with his mind)

Trivia

 * Kenshi (剣士) in Japanese also means "swordsman".
 * The Konquest mode of Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance mentioned that he is also referred to as "the Sword Saint". It is possible Kenshi's name is taken from the Japanese word "kensei" (剣聖), which means "sword saint" in English.
 * In early concepts, Kenshi's original name was "Blind Gi" and he was renamed "Blind Kenshi" as his character developed; the adjective was dropped for his final form.
 * His early weapon (before the Katana) in MK:DA was the Straight Sword.
 * During Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance's Konquest mode, Kenshi was revealed to be of Eurasian descent.
 * It also clearly states that Ermac had taught Kenshi the Telekinetic Slam, not the telekinesis itself.
 * Though Kenshi is officially 6'1" in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, a glitch in the game sometimes doubles the "1", making his listed height 6'11".
 * He is immune to Sonya's and Kira's Kiss of Death moves, which aim for the eyes. However, he is affected like every other combatant in MK 2011 by the move, as well as Stryker's Busted X-Ray Move and Kratos' Head of Helios; it is merely a gameplay mechanic.
 * Despite being blind, Kenshi still takes part in the "Test Your Sight" challenge in Deadly Alliance. He uses his hearing to determine his choice.
 * One of the game over messages in Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks says, "Who is Kenshi? Why is he blind?".
 * According to Mortal Kombat: Deception's Konquest Mode, Kenshi learned Tai Chi during his childhood and Judo when he was an adolescent.
 * Along with Frost, Quan Chi, and Kitana, he is one of the few characters in Deadly Alliance to be seen performing a kata. His kata can be seen during the end credits in Deadly Alliance. If you play as a character in their primary costume, Kenshi will do his kata in his primary costume. However, if you play as a character in their alternate costume, Kenshi will do his kata in his alternate costume.
 * When Kenshi performs his Telekinetic Contortion fatality in Deadly Alliance, the exact result depends on who his opponent is. Whilst he usually knocks out both the opponent's eyes, this will not happen if they are wearing something that prevents them coming out - for example, the sunglasses Jax and Johnny Cage wear. In Kano's case, only his real eye comes out. Interestingly, Drahmin, despite wearing a mask, loses both of his eyes.
 * In a Top 10 list hosted by Screwattack.com, this Fatality was listed as #7 for the Worst Fatalities due to its drawn out nature.
 * Kenshi was the first of the Armageddon characters to get his bio on the official Armageddon website.
 * Kenshi is the only character in Mortal Kombat: Deception who literally executes a Hara-Kiri, by slashing open his own abdomen.
 * In Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, his alternate costume does not have a blindfold. This is believed what Kenshi looked like before Shang Tsung blinded him.
 * In the opening movie of Armageddon, Ermac and Nightwolf were almost choked to death by Sheeva. Thanks to Kenshi, the choke was unsuccessful. He then plunged his sword into Sheeva's abdomen, and had a sword fight with Quan Chi, which almost killed him. Before Quan Chi could deliver the last stroke, Ermac (who is truly Shang Tsung) threw Quan Chi with telekinesis. Shang Tsung shapeshifts to his real appearance and kills Kenshi.
 * Kenshi can be seen fighting Daegon, Reiko, Sareena or Frost in the Pit II stage of MK 2011.
 * In the MK 2011 Story Mode, Shang Tsung mentions Kenshi as being the next to fight in the tournament after Sub-Zero is taken away to be automated, despite not being apart of the main cast of characters in the game, only coming into the game by DLC.
 * The name of Kenshi's katana is Sentō (戦闘), which literally translates into "battle."
 * In MK 2011, Kenshi's Scatterbrained Fatality is the only one that breaks the fourth wall.
 * Kenshi is, so far, the third character in the Mortal Kombat series that breaks the fourth wall during a finishing move, the first being Kabal in Mortal Kombat 3 with his Freaky Face fatality, the second being Havik in Deception with his Hara-Kiri, and the fourth being Freddy Krueger with his Babality.
 * However, if an opponent is defeated without a finishing move while playing as Cyrax, Mileena, Reptile or Sub-Zero, they will break the fourth wall. Cyrax's animation cracks the screen with his Bomb, Mileena will jump on and growl at the screen, Reptile will pull the camera towards himself with his tongue, and Sub-Zero freezes the screen with his Ice Beam.
 * And in Deadly Alliance, Deception and Armageddon, several characters interact with the camera in their winning poses.
 * When his Scatterbrained Fatality is performed on anybody whose eye can fall out, their eye color is always red, and not their correct eye color. This happens even with people with white eyes, like Raiden and Sindel
 * In previous games, Kenshi's katana briefly flashes red. However, in MK 2011, it flashes blue. In MKX, Kenshi's blade only flashes red when using his Possessed Character variation.
 * In MK 2011, if the Scatterbrained Fatality is performed on Sektor, Cyrax, Cyber Sub-Zero, Kano, Ermac, Johnny Cage, and Kenshi himself, no eyeball appears. However, if performed on Kano on the right side of the screen, an eyeball will appear.
 * In his MK 2011 ending, there is an ironic twist where Kenshi leaves Shang Tsung to die.
 * In Mortal Kombat Armageddon, Kenshi's pre-fight screen (versus screen) shows him in his alternate costume rather than his primary costume.
 * In Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, Kenshi is involved with a humorous ad for the Kenshi Signature Glass Eyes.
 * In accordance to his ancestry consisting of warrior kings from Asia and Europe, it would technically make Kenshi Eurasian.
 * Kenshi, along with all other DLC characters did not have an alternate costume.
 * However, in Mortal Kombat Vita, he has an alternate costume without his blindfold.
 * In both timelines, Kenshi has freed a ninja character from evil and gained them as an ally for Earthrealm's forces (Ermac in the original and Scorpion in the alternate one).
 * In one of his pre-fight interactions with Cassie Cage, he is referred to as Keanu, a direct reference to his close resemblance to real-life actor Keanu Reeves who portrayed Neo in the Matrix movie trilogy, specifically his appearance in the third movie, where Neo dons a blindfold.