[Theory] Zoro used haki before we knew about it

[LuffyWantsMeat]

Back in the Alabastia arc when Zoro was fighting #1 it looks like he's using Haki

First it looks like he may be using Observation Haki

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Then he slashes the leafs, nothing happens to them, then his Sword gets dark sort of like Armament Haki and he is able to slice the rock in half

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In the middle of the fight Zoro has a flashback of his teacher who explains to him that there are some people who's swords can't cut through anything but can also cut through anything

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Notice that at the bottom of the first page Zoro's teachers blade was white But then at the top of the second page the teachers blade was dark, this could just be the lighting but i think it's Haki. At the time I couldn't understand what the swordsman's words meant, "The stongest sword can protect and destroy what it wants". But understanding what Haki is it makes perfect sense, with armament Haki you can protect something and at the same time make something strong enough to destroy anything. I think that Oda was giving us a little hint as to the future of One Piece.

So what are your thoughts do you think this was Haki or was is it just because Zoro is Crazy strong?

Ps. I don't know if another thread has been posted about this a long time ago (I'm sorry if one has) but it was a really cool thought I had so I decided to post something about it.

PSS. Thanks for reading

 

[Dr Strangelove]

Nice spot with the Zoros teachers sword thing
You may be on to something there.

 

[XR999]

I think ur theory is right

 

[The Sach]

Maybe you are right, despite of being such a big zoro fan myself, I never though about it.

 

[Mephew D Kensei]

(seems im gonna b the odd one out mhhhhhmm-srry in advance)

Wikia
In theOne PieceWorld, certain swordsmen possess thePower of Destruction(破壊力Hakairyoku?), a product of immense strength and skill.[4]Users of this power can channel their energy through their swords and bodies, with a number of applications:*.Lifting heavy objects or moving and reacting at incredible speeds.*.Cutting things that are usually harder than the sword itself, such as certain types of stone or even steel. The substance usually splits apart a few moments after being cut.*.Transferring the force of a cut over a distance by swinging the sword at high speed, creating a "vacuum blade" of compressed air; or by simply creating strong winds with sword blows. This is known as aFlying Slash Attack(飛ぶ斬撃Tobu Zangeki?).[5]*.Cutting objects that are thicker than the length of the sword, such as buildings or ships.

I think it isnt haki but rather the above mentioned technique which was introduced in those same chapters Zoro felt the breath of objects around him. I havent got the right terms to use to convey exactly my understanding of the tech but im summary i wld say if a swordsman can feel the breath of an object they can then channel their enegy in their sword and when stricking said object they can cut it even if its naturally not possible for the sword to cut said object or the sword can not cut it and actually push it as if the sword had no sharp edge.

Reason why i say its not CoO, besides it being called breath and not voice as is usually used with CoO its also objects that are being felt which for the most part dont have "will" rather i say intention which seems to b what CoO users feel from their opponents.
Why is the cutting power used then not haki to me, coz vs logia Shi shi son son(first hakairyoku tech) wld yes cut(in truth separate) the body of a logia but it wldnt negate the reforming.
What all that is is a swordsman tech that all pure swordsman who wanna roll with the big tiers in OPhave to have basically its the begining of Zoro's growth and the source of all his other upgrades after that incident that is flyblade attacks and I theorise even Asura.

 

[Frozenstein]

First of all, have you ever heard about shades and shading? What you mistook for armament haki is nothing more than just shading. All those pics are from different aspects, so of course there will be parts where there is shading. There's no need to think too much into things. Also how would you explain Zoro not being able to cut a mere leaf or his teacher cutting a piece of paper? Are they that lame so they can't cut anything without haki? That's pure bullshit. If we go along this train of toughts, all and every little swordsman in the OP world is using haki to cut things. Lol even housewifes are using haki to cut up their meals... =D Don't you think it's more than stupid? What is being explained in those chapters is nothing more than a swordsmanship technique. In short: if you wanna cut metal, first you have to understand it's properties. To understand it's properties, you have to first analyze it. To analyze it, you have to observe it. To observe it, you can use your sensory organs. Hearing, touching, seeing. Now look at Zoro. What is he doing? Standing still, "hearing" the "breathing" of those rocks, watching them, touching them with his sword. Is it observation haki? Doubtful. Why? Look at Koby in the war arc. When he awakened his haki, he couldn't control it at all. He could hear EVERYTHING around him. If Zoro would have awakened his haki, he would pretty much do the same. Hear EVERYTHING all around him. Not just the "breathing" of the rocks. Also to use haki the way you think he did, which is pretty questionable on it's own, first he needs a very hard and proper training. Look at Luffy's haki training. Don't you think it's impossible to use haki on that level instantly? Not even knowing he has it? Nah. What you saw there is just shading and a major/minor plot for Zoro's growth as a swordsman.

 

[Zorø]

It might be arnament haki we will never know.

 

[Fireplay]

Hard to tell. Imo it's Zoro just being the monster that he is. But considering that Luffy has unconciously used Haki plenty of times Pre-Skip i wouldn't rule out this theory. Also, i've seen theories claiming that Zoro's Asura and Sanji's elemental manipulation (fire) has something to do with their Haki.

 

[Frozenstein]

Hard to tell. Imo it's Zoro just being the monster that he is. But considering that Luffy has unconciously used Haki plenty of times Pre-Skip i wouldn't rule out this theory. Also, i've seen theories claiming that Zoro's Asura and Sanji's elemental manipulation (fire) has something to do with their Haki.

Luffy used conqueror's haki not observation or armament. They are different. If he were to use armament or observation, he would be more aware of his own abilities. Knocking out an opponent with conqueror's haki is less "noticable" than sensing everything around you or make your body invulnerable.

 

[Fireplay]

Luffy used conqueror's haki not observation or armament. They are different. If he were to use armament or observation, he would be more aware of his own abilities. Knocking out an opponent with conqueror's haki is less "noticable" than sensing everything around you or make your body invulnerable.

Oda stated in an SBS that Luffy specializes in CoC, Zoro in CoA and Sanji in CoO. All 3 of those are forms of Haki. If Luffy has unconsiously showcased the Haki he specializes in Pre-Skip (atleast 3 times) then Zoro and Sanji unconsiously showing their forms of Haki Pre-Skip isn't impossible.

Luffy showed CoC
Zoro might've showed CoA
Sanji might've showed CoO

Therefore i wont rule out this theory.

 

[ToshiZO]

Imo that was definitely a sign of Haki "the breath of all things". It is probably crucial to swordsman.

 

[LuffyWantsMeat]

(seems im gonna b the odd one out mhhhhhmm-srry in advance)



I think it isnt haki but rather the above mentioned technique which was introduced in those same chapters Zoro felt the breath of objects around him. I havent got the right terms to use to convey exactly my understanding of the tech but im summary i wld say if a swordsman can feel the breath of an object they can then channel their enegy in their sword and when stricking said object they can cut it even if its naturally not possible for the sword to cut said object or the sword can not cut it and actually push it as if the sword had no sharp edge.

Reason why i say its not CoO, besides it being called breath and not voice as is usually used with CoO its also objects that are being felt which for the most part dont have "will" rather i say intention which seems to b what CoO users feel from their opponents.
Why is the cutting power used then not haki to me, coz vs logia Shi shi son son(first hakairyoku tech) wld yes cut(in truth separate) the body of a logia but it wldnt negate the reforming.
What all that is is a swordsman tech that all pure swordsman who wanna roll with the big tiers in OPhave to have basically its the begining of Zoro's growth and the source of all his other upgrades after that incident that is flyblade attacks and I theorise even Asura.

Yeah I had completely forgotten about the power of destruction :O. And now that I read the description again itdefinately looks like he did use the power of destruction hut whose to say that in order to use P.o.D. you need haki, more specifiaclly observation haki. Btw you didn't have to appologise at the beggining i asked for your opinion. =D

First of all, have you ever heard about shades and shading? What you mistook for armament haki is nothing more than just shading. All those pics are from different aspects, so of course there will be parts where there is shading. There's no need to think too much into things. Also how would you explain Zoro not being able to cut a mere leaf or his teacher cutting a piece of paper? Are they that lame so they can't cut anything without haki? That's pure bullshit. If we go along this train of toughts, all and every little swordsman in the OP world is using haki to cut things. Lol even housewifes are using haki to cut up their meals... =D Don't you think it's more than stupid? What is being explained in those chapters is nothing more than a swordsmanship technique. In short: if you wanna cut metal, first you have to understand it's properties. To understand it's properties, you have to first analyze it. To analyze it, you have to observe it. To observe it, you can use your sensory organs. Hearing, touching, seeing. Now look at Zoro. What is he doing? Standing still, "hearing" the "breathing" of those rocks, watching them, touching them with his sword. Is it observation haki? Doubtful. Why? Look at Koby in the war arc. When he awakened his haki, he couldn't control it at all. He could hear EVERYTHING around him. If Zoro would have awakened his haki, he would pretty much do the same. Hear EVERYTHING all around him. Not just the "breathing" of the rocks. Also to use haki the way you think he did, which is pretty questionable on it's own, first he needs a very hard and proper training. Look at Luffy's haki training. Don't you think it's impossible to use haki on that level instantly? Not even knowing he has it? Nah. What you saw there is just shading and a major/minor plot for Zoro's growth as a swordsman.

Yes, I have heard of shades and shading thank you for asking, in my post I mentioned that it could have just been the veiw we had of the swords, i do think you are both right about that not being armament haki I can't really deny that. But even you said Zoro was analyzing the things around him by OBSERVING it. I get what your saying about koby not having that level of haki when his awakened but who said that everyone started at the same level? It's a known fact that everyone's haki is at different levels so it's not to a very big jump to say that Zoro was using Obs. Haki (Besides Zoro actually says that he knew that none of the rocks would fall on him and could even pinpoint his sword here

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witch is a clear sign of Obs. haki.)

 

[Mephew D Kensei]

@LuffyWantsMeat, it is tru that haki is more or less a broad term and it cld b & wld make sense for PoD to b a product of one's will power, then again haki on its own is a tad different from will power but does fuel on it. The terms make it quite cryptic if u ask me and u cant completly see the lines to read inbtwn them.