Him being a specialist doesn't really mean he was better than Kakashi in that aspect. He improved through experience and practice. He even developed a way to fight the sharingan through his rivalry with Kakashi showing that he improved and practiced overtime. As of now, Gai is on a different league from that time. He was considered a bit of a loser. Kakashi became a chuunin at age 6 after defeating Gai(they were around the same age group). Gai was horning his skills and gradually improving so I doubt he was even better than Kakashi at that time who was naturally gifted in all areas. Now they're both 30-31 or so. Gai is a skilled master in taijutsu now as he focused on it. There should be a difference between now and then. I know you're not saying he loses in a taijutsu fight. I'm just saying Gai was most likely not as good as Kakashi in certain departments like speed and taijutsu which involve reflexes as well.Not a master, still a specialist, so he still should have been better than Kakashi, who isn't a specialist, yet he still lost. And I never said that Gai loses in a Taijutsu fight, I said that he lost that match despite being the superior one in Taijutsu.
AgreedLol. There is no distance that would prevent Kakashi from taking out a weapon. If its short, and Gai tries to engage him in hand to hand, Kakashi jumps back and pulls out a Kunai. Not that hard.
Makes a lot of sense. Though i'm thinking of a situation where Gai is cautious and rather on the defense because of knowledge on his raiton. That way Kakashi would just waste a lot of chakra and would have to stop using it. Since Gai would be dodging till Kakashi is done wasting chakra and runs out of stamina since Gai can fight longer than Kakashi can.I said parry. Not dodge. Parry is when you clash. If Gai attacks and Kakashi manages to parry with his Raikiri, then Gai loses a hand.
AgreedWell of course, he'd win in a Taijutsu fight, but what I'm describing uses Weapons and Ninjutsu. Its not just a Taijutsu fight.
This is wrong. 5 is the highest score the DB can give. That's why Kimmi is skilled in taijutsu but is obviously below Gai in that aspect and yet he had a 5 as well. Rock Lee isn't as good as Gai yet and they both have a 5. Gai knows and taught Lee how to use the front lotus. He obviously knows how to counter such a taijutsu move since he's a master and knows how it works. Kakashi isn't faster than Gai and he doesn't have better taijutsu than Gai, so Gai can still react to him. The first gate doesn't really give a significant boost. Kakashi is even below Kimmi in taijutsu. The first gate only allows him to use Front lotus. Something Gai can easily react to. It's not like it's something that gives him far more strength. Part 1 base Lee is on the same level as Kakashi in terms of strength while base Gai is stronger than the 2 easily. Part 1 base Lee is on the same level or 0.5 below Kakashi in terms of speed while base Gai is easily above both. That would come to play in a taijutsu fight as well. Let's talk about skill as well. Base Gai wins even if Kakashi opens the first.Kakashi is only 0.5 below Gai in taijutsu. I think the opening of the first gate for the front lotus can easily make up for it and considering the move is a strong and fast taijutsu move, it can actually even transcend a non-gated Gai. In the databook, it only count base stats without gate opening. It's for that reason Lee only had 3.5 in taijutsu in the first databook, 4 in the second despite being capable to open 5 gates and 5 gated Lee would easily defeat a non-gated Gai
Actually, yes it most likely does. They were the same age, on the same tier. So strength or experience can't be used to try and put Gai below Kakashi in Taijutsu back then. Gai improving doesn't mean he wasn't better than Kakashi in that aspect. Kakashi beating Gai only means that he was stronger overall and not just in Taijutsu.Him being a specialist doesn't really mean he was better than Kakashi in that aspect. He improved through experience and practice. He even developed a way to fight the sharingan through his rivalry with Kakashi showing that he improved and practiced overtime. As of now, Gai is on a different league from that time. He was considered a bit of a loser. Kakashi became a chuunin at age 6 after defeating Gai(they were around the same age group). Gai was horning his skills and gradually improving so I doubt he was even better than Kakashi at that time who was naturally gifted in all areas. Now they're both 30-31 or so. Gai is a skilled master in taijutsu now as he focused on it. There should be a difference between now and then. I know you're not saying he loses in a taijutsu fight. I'm just saying Gai was most likely not as good as Kakashi in certain departments like speed and taijutsu which involve reflexes as well.
Gai isn't fast enough to evade every single attack Kakashi throws at him, not happening. Especially when with his skillfull clone feints. Lol @ the idea that Kakashi will just keep attacking Gai with jutsu while the latter evades, and he'll keep on doing so till he runs out of chakra....come on now.Makes a lot of sense. Though i'm thinking of a situation where Gai is cautious and rather on the defense because of knowledge on his raiton. That way Kakashi would just waste a lot of chakra and would have to stop using it. Since Gai would be dodging till Kakashi is done wasting chakra and runs out of stamina since Gai can fight longer than Kakashi can.
Fair point. I'll agree with you then.Actually, yes it most likely does. They were the same age, on the same tier. So strength or experience can't be used to try and put Gai below Kakashi in Taijutsu back then. Gai improving doesn't mean he wasn't better than Kakashi in that aspect. Kakashi beating Gai only means that he was stronger overall and not just in Taijutsu.
Gai isn't fast enough to evade every single attack Kakashi throws at him, not happening. Especially when with his skillfull clone feints. Lol @ the idea that Kakashi will just keep attacking Gai with jutsu while the latter evades, and he'll keep on doing so till he runs out of chakra....come on now.