Kiho

Kiho were abilities possessed by the more learned members of the Brotherhood of Shinsei. They could manifest themselves as advanced martial arts techniques, near-superhuman feats of athleticism or even spell-like elemental spirits. Kiho were similar to spells in that they were all aligned with one of the five elements, and by aligning their inner chi to one of those elements inside their body the monks were capable of inexplicable feats. When a kiho was performed they could sometimes be indistinguishible from spells. In addition to being kiho of elemental properties they could also be broken down into categories of martial/mushin, internal/aiki, Kharmic and mystical/zanshin kiho. Those developed by corrupted monks were categorized as Dark kiho.

Martial Kiho
Mushin kiho mostly took the form of precise strikes against a targets nerve centers. The strikes were called atemi, and while they rarely inflicted much damage to their target, they could render their target completely immobile. The non-nerve strikes were just normal jiujutsu attacks.

Internal Kiho
Aiki kiho were defensive kiho that drew upon the lifeforce of the monk to enchance their physical or mental capabilities. The monk bind their chi to the particular element and channeled their energy. While granting great powers the internal kiho also often came with drawbacks, and monks rarely utilized internal kiho unless in the direst circumstances.

Kharmic Kiho
Kharmic kiho were perhaps the most powerful of the kiho. Shintao postulated the existance of a great Kharmic Wheel, distributing every mortal soul the punishment or reward it is due. Kharmic kiho tapped into the vast resevoir of energy within the monk to achieve minor effects in the minor world. Each kiho had a specific trigger for it to occur, and if the trigger did not happen the kiho eventually dissipated.

Mystical Kiho
Zanshin kiho were the least understood kiho. They often defied explanation and verged from being merely incredible to supernatural. Only a soul on the path to Enlightenment could truly master a mystical kiho, and even then they would rarely have a true understanding of the mechanisms of the kiho.

Dark Kiho
The Shadowlands Taint disrupted and altered the balance of elements within all who became infected by it. An individual who possessed the ability to perform kiho and who became Tainted could keep some of his previous abilities, and might develop new, horrific kiho based on the Taint element.

Non-Monks and Kiho
Kiho were a representation of a persons ability to understand their place in the universe, and the monks of the Brotherhood were unparalleled masters of this art. They were not the only ones who were capable of accessing this hidden power however, as some people were capable of performing kiho instinctively. Any such feat always impressed the Brotherhood, and these people would invariably reach high positions within the Brotherhood when they retired. Shugenja were the most likely to possess such knowledge due to their training as priests of the kami giving them a familiarity with both the elements and Shintao. There were rarely any non-monk, non-shugenja who learned kiho, but those few who were invariably study at a school with spiritual teachings.

Air Kiho

 * Air Fist (martial)
 * Be the Breeze (martial)
 * Breath of the Kumo (dark)
 * Flee the Darkness (kharmic)
 * Fortune's Breath (internal)
 * The Great Silence (mystical)
 * Harmony of the Mind (mystical)
 * Kawaru Focus (mystical)
 * Seven Storms' Fist (martial)
 * Stain Upon the Soul (martial, atemi)
 * Steal the Air Dragon (internal)
 * Soul of the Four Winds (internal)
 * The Thunder's Clap (martial, atemi)
 * Thunderstroke (mystical)
 * Way of the Willow (kharmic)
 * Wind's Truth (internal)

Earth Kiho

 * The Calm of Shinsei (internal)
 * Cleansing Spirit (internal)
 * Earth Fist (internal)
 * Embrace the Stone (internal)
 * Essence of Corruption (dark)
 * Grasp the Earth Dragon (internal)
 * Harmony of the Body (kharmic)
 * Heart of Stone (kharmic)
 * Purity of Spirit (martial, atemi)
 * Remember the Mountain
 * Rest, My Brother (martial)
 * Root the Mountain (mystical)
 * Tsuchi-do (martial)
 * Walk Through the Mountains (mystical)
 * Way of the Earth (martial)

Fire Kiho

 * Ai Uchi (kharmic)
 * Beginning and End (internal)
 * Breaking Blow (martial)
 * Channel the Fire Dragon (internal)
 * Dance of the Flames (martial)
 * Falling Star Strike (martial, atemi)
 * Flame Fist (martial)
 * Hitsu-do (internal)
 * Kharmic Strike (kharmic)
 * Kuzushi (martial)
 * Fire's Fleeting Speed (kharmic)
 * Palm of Fire (mystical)
 * Purity of Shinsei (mystical)
 * Shatter the Elements (martial)
 * Unbalance the Mind (Kuzushi) (mystical)
 * Way of Flame (internal)

Void Kiho

 * Ancestral Guidance (mystical)
 * Death Touch (Dim Mak Technique) (martial, atemi)
 * Eight Directions Awareness (Happo Zanshin) (mystical)
 * The Endless Well (mystical)
 * Kharmic Vision (kharmic)
 * Kukan-do (zanshin)
 * One with All (kharmic)
 * Overwhelm the Spirit (martial)
 * The Power of Nothing (mystical)
 * Ryoku (martial)
 * Self, No Self (internal)
 * Touch the Void Dragon (internal)
 * Unattunement (kharmic)
 * Void Fist (mystical)
 * Way of Void (Kukan-do) (mystical)
 * Will of Destiny (kharmic)

Water Kiho

 * Across the Orochi's Back (internal)
 * Boundless Depths of Water (kharmic)
 * Chi Protection (martial, atemi)
 * Ebb and Flow (kharmic)
 * Fate's Merciful Hand (kharmic)
 * Freezing the Lifeblood (martial, atemi)
 * Gift of the Water Dragon
 * Musubi (kharmic)
 * Parting the Waves (internal)
 * Ride the Water Dragon (internal)
 * Slap the Wave (martial)
 * Speak to the Soul (mystical)
 * Speed of the Waterfall (internal)
 * Spirit of Water (mystical)
 * Venom's Touch (dark)
 * Water Fist (martial)

Taint Kiho

 * Child of the Corrupted Dragon (dark)
 * Corrupted Touch (dark)