Sainika

Sainika was a martial art originated in the Ivory Kingdoms.

Creation
Guru, men were equal part mystic and teacher, practiced the arts of focusing and channeling spiritual power through their bodies, which were the base of the Sainika.

Art stolen
The Cult of Ruhmal felt that the gurus were a challenge to their religious practices and wiped out the guru almost to a man, stealing their secrets for their own use, to train their assassins.

Survivors
A few gurus survived, and stepped forward to confront the ruhmalist each time they became a threat. They also passed their fighting arts on to the Kshatriya, an order of warriors sworn to protect the Kingdoms.

New techniques
The ruhmalists and the Kshatriya developed new and unique techniques, the first to kill and the last to defend. This art reached Rokugan through the Mantis Clan.

Style
Sainika taught a number of strikes and kicks that could be used from different poses, teaching multiple approaches to any given situation. It was a highly athletic art, with jumping and movement emphasised in most poses. Those who mastered the art taught an awakening of the senses in maintain a perfect awareness of the area around the artist during combat.

Purpose
Its maneuvers were sometimes referred to as "the Destroyer's dance", a reference to Kali-Ma the Destroyer. Those who master the an are considered avatars of the Destroyer in the mortal world.

Training
The ruhmalist students were selected for their ruthless attitude. Practitioners were living weapons, honed from young age to be a perfect killing machine. The Kshatriya selected their students in a similar manner, from those about seven years of age.