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NAME:         Akuma (Gouki)

NATION:            Japanese

RACE:                 Demon

DOB:                Unknown

HEIGHT:                5'11

WEIGHT:             177 lbs

BLOOD TYPE:         Unknown

DISCIPLINE:       Ansatsuken 
 (Dark Hadou/Dark Shotokan)

Introduction
Akuma was first introduced as a video game character in Capcom’s Super Street Figher II Turbo. Akuma (demon in Japanese) goes by the name of Gouki in Japan (meaning powerful spirit). He has red hair and wears a dark blue gai with the Japanese character ‘ten’ on his back. His hair colour changes when he transforms into Super Akuma. Akuma is the supreme master of the Dark Shotokan.

Akuma's Story
Little is actually known about this fierce warrior but what is accounted for is that he is the toughest fighter to have been actually introduced into the Street Fighter legend. Akuma and his brother Gouken (the master of Ryu and Ken) were students of Goutetsu. Goutetsu taught the martial arts of Shotokan Karate. This fighting technique incorporated karate, judo, taekwando and koppo. Shotokan used 'chi power', that could be used as physical energy to kill another person. An even more deeper measure of the Shotokan style was Ansatsuken. Ansatsuken (The Dark Hadou or Dark Shotokan) and its methods were sealed away centuries ago, but were not forgotten through stories and legends of its power. Goutetsu was the first to unlock the Dark Shotokan techniques after Sheng Long sealed it away thousands of years ago. As Gouken abandoned the violent nature of Dark Shotokan, Akuma vowed to master every technique in it’s book and to use it, as it was intended. The most powerful technique was the Shun Goku Satsu (Instant Hell Murder aka The Raging Demon), a technique that places the user’s life on jeopardy, though it can kill its opponent instantly. While Akuma sought to master the Shun Goku Satsu, he eventually increased his power by embracing a principle called Satsui No Hadou (The Surge of the Intent to Murder). In embracing this principle, Akuma lost his humanity when a demon claimed his soul. Akuma left Goutetsu's guidance behind him and began to train alone. Akuma only cared about being the greatest Dark Shotokan fighter of them all.

Akuma demonstrated his power when he used the Shun Goku Satsu on Goutetsu, eliminating him instantly. Akuma walked over to his master’s crumpled body and removed the beaded necklace from around Goutetsu's neck and placed it on his own. The next day he went to his brother’s dojo to challenge him in a battle to the death. Akuma and Gouken fought viciously but Akuma was eventually knocked down. Gouken claimed he could never murder his own flesh and blood, whilst giving Akuma the upper hand to use the Shun Goku Satsu. The dojo was filled with a burst of bright light from the energy. Ken witnessed this light when walking home, afterwards running towards the dojo to find his master’s (Goutetsu) body motionless. Enraged, Ken headed towards the forest to encounter Akuma. Ken attacked Akuma, but was easily defeated. While Akuma was insanely strong, Ken survived the battle. It is most likely that Akuma held back as he saw it as dishonorable to use his full strength on someone who was still a pupil of the style (not worthy of defeat). Ken and Ryu vowed that they will someday avenge their master's death.

Akuma wanders the world searching for worthy fighters to challenge, gradually increasing his strength with each victory. Secluding himself in the shadows, he watched small tournaments and street fights, desperately seeking someone who might be able to match his strength. His latest incarnation, Super Akuma (Shin Gouki, which translates to 'True Demon') is a truly an unstoppable force. Super Akuma is able to perform his Hell -Demon attack at blazing speeds across long distances. It is considered an honour to suffer defeat at the hands of Akuma's Shun Goku Satsu, because that would mean the opponent challenged was ‘worthy’ enough to force Akuma to use such a powerful move. His only real threat lies in the form of Ryu's untapped potential (Evil Ryu), and he eagerly awaits that fateful battle. On that day, one of these two warriors will die.

Akuma's Symbol

Akuma wears a symbol on his back, this symbol comes from the Japanese kanji meaning, 'ten'. The symbol itself comes from the Chinese language, and it was later adapted by the Japanese. It means several things as Japanese words often do, including: 'day', 'sky', 'heaven', 'beyond human', 'invincible', 'more than man' and 'ten'. It is synonymous with 'Immortal'. It basically means what Capcom has always conveyed, that Akuma is no longer human. In folklore, whenever the character 'ten' appears on a person's forehead, it means that that person is immortal. Capcom, for clarities sake, placed the symbol on the back of his gai.