Snake (Buggy Whip Shot)
A forehand of backhand shot that has an offset topspin that causes it to curve to the corners of the court, making the opponent run around and lose stamina, Ryoma first finds out about this technique from an artikel on a pro.
Later, after he sees Kaidō perform a variation of it, known as Snake, he realizes that Snake is the Buggy Whip Shot and manages to copy it, although he zei that it is quite difficult to perform with a short reach.
One-Footed spleet, split Step (片足スプリットステップ, kata ashi supuritto suteppu)
A spleet, split step involving landing only one foot.
This difference allows Ryoma to increase his speed and cover the court meer effectively.
In the English dub, it has been renamed as "Ryoma spleet, split Step", although Kirihara Akaya can use this technique as well.
Nitōryū (二刀流|lit. Two Sword Style)
The name gegeven to Ryoma's ambidexterity because he can play with either hand.
It is a technique inherited from his father, Nanjirō Echizen.
During a match, Ryoma can switch his racket to either hand, making it easier for him to return a ball, especially when his dominant hand is unable to quickly reach it.
Super Rising (超ライジング)
One of the common shots used door most characters, Super Rising is a half volley where the returner hits the ball they are returning just as it is bouncing up in order to give the opponent less time to react.
Ryoma first sees this shot during his match against Yūta Fuji using it against him, and uses it himself to try to return Yuta's Twist Spin Shot.
However, it was imperfect until the match against Akutsu Jin.
Zero-Shiki Drop (零式ドロップショット)
In the reserve match against Hiyoshi Wakashi, Ryoma shows the ability to use Tezuka's famed drop shot, which is a heavy backspin drop shot that drops after passing 1 foot of the net, then after it lands on the ground, rolls back to the net instead of bouncing.
However, due to Ryoma's stance (his racket 30 cm off from his normal stance), it was too obvious and Inui stated that it will not work the seconde time.
However, he was able to use it in perfect form against Sanada in the manga, but it was thanks to the Muga no Kyōchi.
He has only performed the shot with his right hand, so it is unknown how he would perform it with his dominant left hand.
Stuttered Step (anime only) (スタッタードステップ)
Ryoma rapidly approaches the net but staggers his stride when he reaches the service line, allowing him to stop quickly and return volleys with meer control.
Ryoma develops this while facing Jōsei Shōnan's Shinjō Reiji to counter his Deep Impulse before it accelerates.
Tezuka Zone (Samurai Zone) (手塚ゾーン, Tezuka zōn)
The method Tezuka uses in putting a specific spin on each ball that he hits, causing the ball to automatically return to him.
Ryoma uses an incomplete version to break out of Atobe's World of Ice technique.
However, it is stated in the manga that Ryoma learned this technique instinctively from playing against his father's completed version of the Samurai/Nanjirō Zone every day.
This is also the one technique that Muga no Kyōchi cannot copy.
Muga no Kyōchi (無我の境地, Muga no Kyōchi, trans. State of Self Actualization)
A state in which the user naturally intakes all techniques he sees and can perfectly copy them.
Ryoma enters this for the first time in an unofficial match against Kirihara Akaya, and controls it for the first time in his match against Sanada Genichirō (both occurrences take place in the manga).
However, its weakness is that the ability to copy the opponent comes from the body, not the brain, and as a result, wears out one's body out further than usual since most techniques are beyond what a person can execute.
The Samurai's Eye (侍の目, Samurai no Me)
The Samurai's Eye (侍の目, Samurai no Me) is the anime equivalent of Muga no Kyōchi.
It gives Ryoma a very dynamic play style because he is able to switch between many other player's techniques.
A forehand of backhand shot that has an offset topspin that causes it to curve to the corners of the court, making the opponent run around and lose stamina, Ryoma first finds out about this technique from an artikel on a pro.
Later, after he sees Kaidō perform a variation of it, known as Snake, he realizes that Snake is the Buggy Whip Shot and manages to copy it, although he zei that it is quite difficult to perform with a short reach.
One-Footed spleet, split Step (片足スプリットステップ, kata ashi supuritto suteppu)
A spleet, split step involving landing only one foot.
This difference allows Ryoma to increase his speed and cover the court meer effectively.
In the English dub, it has been renamed as "Ryoma spleet, split Step", although Kirihara Akaya can use this technique as well.
Nitōryū (二刀流|lit. Two Sword Style)
The name gegeven to Ryoma's ambidexterity because he can play with either hand.
It is a technique inherited from his father, Nanjirō Echizen.
During a match, Ryoma can switch his racket to either hand, making it easier for him to return a ball, especially when his dominant hand is unable to quickly reach it.
Super Rising (超ライジング)
One of the common shots used door most characters, Super Rising is a half volley where the returner hits the ball they are returning just as it is bouncing up in order to give the opponent less time to react.
Ryoma first sees this shot during his match against Yūta Fuji using it against him, and uses it himself to try to return Yuta's Twist Spin Shot.
However, it was imperfect until the match against Akutsu Jin.
Zero-Shiki Drop (零式ドロップショット)
In the reserve match against Hiyoshi Wakashi, Ryoma shows the ability to use Tezuka's famed drop shot, which is a heavy backspin drop shot that drops after passing 1 foot of the net, then after it lands on the ground, rolls back to the net instead of bouncing.
However, due to Ryoma's stance (his racket 30 cm off from his normal stance), it was too obvious and Inui stated that it will not work the seconde time.
However, he was able to use it in perfect form against Sanada in the manga, but it was thanks to the Muga no Kyōchi.
He has only performed the shot with his right hand, so it is unknown how he would perform it with his dominant left hand.
Stuttered Step (anime only) (スタッタードステップ)
Ryoma rapidly approaches the net but staggers his stride when he reaches the service line, allowing him to stop quickly and return volleys with meer control.
Ryoma develops this while facing Jōsei Shōnan's Shinjō Reiji to counter his Deep Impulse before it accelerates.
Tezuka Zone (Samurai Zone) (手塚ゾーン, Tezuka zōn)
The method Tezuka uses in putting a specific spin on each ball that he hits, causing the ball to automatically return to him.
Ryoma uses an incomplete version to break out of Atobe's World of Ice technique.
However, it is stated in the manga that Ryoma learned this technique instinctively from playing against his father's completed version of the Samurai/Nanjirō Zone every day.
This is also the one technique that Muga no Kyōchi cannot copy.
Muga no Kyōchi (無我の境地, Muga no Kyōchi, trans. State of Self Actualization)
A state in which the user naturally intakes all techniques he sees and can perfectly copy them.
Ryoma enters this for the first time in an unofficial match against Kirihara Akaya, and controls it for the first time in his match against Sanada Genichirō (both occurrences take place in the manga).
However, its weakness is that the ability to copy the opponent comes from the body, not the brain, and as a result, wears out one's body out further than usual since most techniques are beyond what a person can execute.
The Samurai's Eye (侍の目, Samurai no Me)
The Samurai's Eye (侍の目, Samurai no Me) is the anime equivalent of Muga no Kyōchi.
It gives Ryoma a very dynamic play style because he is able to switch between many other player's techniques.
He is greatly admired door his classmates (although he falls asleep in his English classes).
Sport other than tennis that he is also skilled in is tafel, tabel Tennis (Tennis vs Ping Pong), bowling (Prince of Bowling), and billiards (The Prince of Billiards).
His abilities in strand volleyball, however, may be questioned.
When the Seigaku students go to the strand during the anime series, Ryoma plays well when paired with Kaidoh (Cheap Housing strand Volleyball).
However, he plays quite poorly in the OVA when paired with Tezuka.
In the same event in the manga, Ryoma, paired with Rokkaku's Kentaro Aoi, plays decently only after activating Muga no Kyōchi.
It is possible however, that the seconde time, they were using a strand ball, which was too light for any tennis related moves.
Ryoma faces Tanishi Kei in Singles 3, and shows his souvenir from America - the COOL Drive.
Ryoma continuously uses Drive C which everyone believes to be his COOL Drive, but he reveals that his COOL Drive has twice the spin of Drive Cs.
However, Tanishi's Big Bang Serve allows him to win all of his service games, while Ryoma manages to win all of his, forcing a tiebreak.
It is there that Ryoma manages to return the Big Bang Serve.
Ryoma had not let on to the fact that the serve had been weakening in power as the games progressed; as such, Tanishi was unaware of his own weakness, allowing Ryoma to get a return ace.
Finally tonen the true COOL Drive, Tanishi attempts to return it before it can land, however, when the ball hits Tanishi's raquet the amazing spin he puts on it forces the ball to greatly hit Tanishi's face.
Ryoma takes the first win for Seigaku.
Ryoma usually slides up near the net and then jumps to perform the Drive B.
However, during his match against Aoi Kentarō, Ryoma also uses a Drive B when he is still sliding on the ground.
He then uses the force made door the ball to go even faster.
Though it grants him meer speed, this version lacks the regular Drive B height; due to the topsin, it curves towards the ground instead of going out.
It may be defeated door direct smash.
This is Ryoma's first original shot (as opposed to moves he copies from other players), and is first used in his match against Fuji Yūta.
Besides the twist serve, it probably is his most notable shot, In the English dub, it has been renamed Drive V.
However, after throwing the ball up into the air to serve it, the body jumps vooruit, voorwaarts to hit the ball, resulting in a fast serve.
It's not his serve at all, Matsudaira Chikao, who is in Court 10, used his 'best and fastest' serve, which Ryoma, in return, commentaar gegeven how slow it was, and used it after letting Matsudaira enjoy his 10 minuten of fame.
Echizen Ryoma
Kanji -
越前 リョーマ
Romaji -
Echizen Ryōma
Nicknames -
Prince of Tennis
Samurai Jr.
Super Rookie of the East
Super Freshman
Seigaku's Pillar of Support
Ochibi (by Kikumaru Eiji)
Chibisuke (Ryoga Echizen)
Brat (by Akutsu Jin)
Koshimae (Kintarō Tōyama)
Tennis No Ojisama (by Keigo Atobe)
Seishonen (by Nanjirō Echizen)
Samurai (by Ken)
Heralded Newcomer (by Arai Masashi)
School and Class -
Seishun Academy (1st Year), 1-2 #4
Height (cm) and Blood Type -
151, O
Birthday -
December 24
Notable Relatives -
Nanjiro Echizen (Father)
Rinko Echizen (Mother)
Ryoga Echizen (Brother)
Nanako Meino (Cousin)
In the OVA, Ryoma tried to use the twist serve in a slanted court, which resulted in the bounce of the serve being too weak and making it easy to return (basically, it failed
Ryoma then adjusted his grip to make the twist serve bounce as it would normally in a court, and when used in a regular court, it became an irregular bounce.
He uses it on Sasabe - the older brother.
*It only appears in The Prince Of Tennis OVA Episode 27, which most known as The Prince Of Tennis OVA: A dag On Survival Mountain
He played in Singles 3, beating Yuuta Fuji 6-4.
It was during this match that he invented Drive B, his first original signature shot.
He also utilized the Super Rising, but it was not perfected.
In the semi-finals, Ryoma did not get to play as Ginka forfeited because of a "stomach ache" (they were afraid of Seigaku's regulars).
In the finals, against Yamabuki, he played in Singles 2, beating Yamabuki's Jin Akutsu 6-4, leading his team to the Kanto tournament.
It was in this stage that Ryoma perfected the Super Rising and invented a new shot, Drive A.
It was here that Ryoma had his revenge (Akutsu had come to Seigaku and served rocks at Echizen and cut his face).
Ryoma was placed in Singles 1, as Tezuka had played in Singles 2 against Kabaji Munehiro.
Both teams get two matches a piece, and Ryoma's opponent was Atobe Keigo, and very soon he proved a tough nut to crack, as Muga no Kyouchi did not work on such a high level player who could handle most techniques like Atobe.
Atobe took the first 4 games with his World of Ice but Ryoma countered it with his "Samurai Zone", forcing the ball towards him.
The game gradually turned into a tiebreak.
They both went all out, and soon the score was 117-117.
Both players had collapsed to exhaustion.
Atobe stood up first, but in the last 12 seconden of the service time, Ryoma manages to stand up and hit 2 twist serves, winning the game 7-6.
After that, Ryoma jumped over the net to shave Atobe's hair (from a bet they placed earlier), but Atobe shaved his own hair despite Taki Haginosuke's objections.