Signature move
Encyclopedia
A signature move is a move or ability that is almost analogous to the person or character that uses it. This may infer that the move is usually a staple of the user's repertoire, and on most occasions was invented by the performer.
, boxing
and professional wrestling
. A prominent example of the phenomenon of signature moves is Michael Jackson
and moonwalk
; The two topics have become inextricably linked with each other.
Since the original Street Fighter
, Ryu
and Ken have three special techniques that serve as their signature moves: the Hadouken (the Fireball or "Surge Fist"), Shoryuken (the Rising Dragon Punch), and the Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku (Hurricane Whirlwind Kick). As the Street Fighter series progressed, more powerful versions and variations of these techniques were introduced as Ryus and Kens respective fighting styles began to diverge from each other, while new characters such as Akuma
, Dan
, and Sakura
were introduced who used their personal versions of these techniques.
has the roundhouse kick
as a signature move. In professional wrestling
, a signature move is often used to finish the opponent or increase tension in the performance: for example, WWE wrestler Triple H
uses The Pedigree.
Occasionally, sportsmen refine a technique, or create an entirely new one, which becomes a signature move. In track and field
athletics, Dick Fosbury
was the first to jump backwards and head-first in the high jump
—the Fosbury Flop
—, which has become the standard for the sport. Similarly, Cricket
er Kevin Pietersen
invented the switch hit technique, which has been accepted as a legal technique by cricketing governing bodies.
Former basketball player Michael Jordan
is known for a one-handed dunk in which he opens his mouth.
The late musician Michael Jackson
was known for doing the moonwalk
.
Guitarist Pete Townshend
of The Who
is known for the windmill strum.
has two signature moves; Shadow Clone, and the Rasengan.
In the Harry Potter series, the Expelliarmus Charm becomes Harry's signature move as referred to by Lupin. He uses it so often the Death Eaters are able to recognize him by it as he used it to hold off Voldemort in his duel with him in the graveyard.
In the Kamen Rider
franchise, the Rider Kick
has become synonymous with the titular Riders.
Usage
The term "signature move" applies to a range of physical activities like dancing, gymnasticsGymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
, boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
and professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
. A prominent example of the phenomenon of signature moves is Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
and moonwalk
Moonwalk (dance)
The moonwalk or backslide is a dance technique that presents the illusion of the dancer being pulled backwards while attempting to walk forward. A popping move, it became most popular around the world after Michael Jackson executed the dance move during a performance of "Billie Jean" on Motown 25:...
; The two topics have become inextricably linked with each other.
In video games
The term is also used in reference to fighting games, although it can also be applied to recurring characters in platformers or adventure games. Certain moves such as the Kamehameha are quite powerful. Sometimes these moves are used as a last resort or finishing move, while other characters have a weak signature move that they retain from game to game in addition to new abilities.Since the original Street Fighter
Street Fighter (video game)
is a 1987 arcade game developed by Capcom. It is the first competitive fighting game produced by the company and the inaugural game in the Street Fighter series...
, Ryu
Ryu (Street Fighter)
is a video game player character created by Capcom, the main protagonist of the Street Fighter series. Having premiered in the first Street Fighter in 1987, Ryu appears as the lead character from the game along with his best friend Ken Masters participating in the Street Fighter tournament...
and Ken have three special techniques that serve as their signature moves: the Hadouken (the Fireball or "Surge Fist"), Shoryuken (the Rising Dragon Punch), and the Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku (Hurricane Whirlwind Kick). As the Street Fighter series progressed, more powerful versions and variations of these techniques were introduced as Ryus and Kens respective fighting styles began to diverge from each other, while new characters such as Akuma
Akuma (Street Fighter)
Akuma known in Japan as , is a video game character from the Street Fighter series of fighting games. Akuma made his debut in Super Street Fighter II Turbo as a secret character and hidden boss. In the storyline of the Street Fighter video games, he is the younger brother of Gouken, Ryu and Ken's...
, Dan
Dan Hibiki
is a video game character from Capcom's Street Fighter series of fighting games. Introduced in Street Fighter Alpha, Dan is consistently portrayed as an arrogant, overconfident, yet utterly feeble character.-Concept and creation:...
, and Sakura
Sakura Kasugano
is a player character in the Street Fighter series of fighting games. Sakura is portrayed in the series as a young Japanese schoolgirl who idolizes Ryu, whom she wants to be trained by.-In video games:...
were introduced who used their personal versions of these techniques.
Examples in other fields
Actor and martial arts expert Chuck NorrisChuck Norris
Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris is an American martial artist and actor. After serving in the United States Air Force, he began his rise to fame as a martial artist and has since founded his own school, Chun Kuk Do...
has the roundhouse kick
Roundhouse kick
A roundhouse kick is a kick in which the attacker swings his leg around in a semicircular motion, striking with the front of the leg or foot. This type of kick is utilized in many different martial arts and is popular in both non-contact and full-contact martial arts competitions...
as a signature move. In professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
, a signature move is often used to finish the opponent or increase tension in the performance: for example, WWE wrestler Triple H
Triple H
Paul Michael Levesque is an American professional wrestler, professional wrestling authority figure, WWE Executive Vice President of Talent and actor, better known by his ring name Triple H, an abbreviation of the ring name, Hunter Hearst Helmsley...
uses The Pedigree.
Occasionally, sportsmen refine a technique, or create an entirely new one, which becomes a signature move. In track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
athletics, Dick Fosbury
Dick Fosbury
Richard Douglas "Dick" Fosbury is one of the most influential athletes in the history of track and field. He completely revolutionized the high jump event, inventing a unique "back-first" technique, now known as the Fosbury Flop, adopted by almost all high jumpers today. His method was to sprint...
was the first to jump backwards and head-first in the high jump
High jump
The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
—the Fosbury Flop
Fosbury Flop
The Fosbury Flop is a style used in the athletics event of high jump. It was popularized and perfected by American athlete Dick Fosbury, whose gold medal in the 1968 Summer Olympics brought it to the world's attention...
—, which has become the standard for the sport. Similarly, Cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Peter Pietersen, MBE is a South African-born English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and occasional off spin bowler who plays for England and Surrey...
invented the switch hit technique, which has been accepted as a legal technique by cricketing governing bodies.
Former basketball player Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
is known for a one-handed dunk in which he opens his mouth.
The late musician Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
was known for doing the moonwalk
Moonwalk (dance)
The moonwalk or backslide is a dance technique that presents the illusion of the dancer being pulled backwards while attempting to walk forward. A popping move, it became most popular around the world after Michael Jackson executed the dance move during a performance of "Billie Jean" on Motown 25:...
.
Guitarist Pete Townshend
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
of The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
is known for the windmill strum.
Examples in other media
In Dragonball, Goku's signature move is Kamehameha. NarutoNaruto
is an ongoing Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto. The plot tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki, an adolescent ninja who constantly searches for recognition and aspires to become the Hokage, the ninja in his village who is acknowledged as the leader and the strongest of...
has two signature moves; Shadow Clone, and the Rasengan.
In the Harry Potter series, the Expelliarmus Charm becomes Harry's signature move as referred to by Lupin. He uses it so often the Death Eaters are able to recognize him by it as he used it to hold off Voldemort in his duel with him in the graveyard.
In the Kamen Rider
Kamen Rider (franchise)
The is a metaseries of manga and tokusatsu television programs and films created by manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori. The various Kamen Rider media generally feature a motorcycle-riding superhero with an insect motif who fights supervillains often referred to as...
franchise, the Rider Kick
Rider Kick
The is the finishing move from the Kamen Rider Series. It has traditionally consisted of a flying side kick and is used against the monster/kaijin after it has been weakened from fighting with the Rider. Throughout the various Kamen Rider series, it has taken many different forms and has become...
has become synonymous with the titular Riders.
See also
- Combo (video games)
- Desperation Attack
- Finishing move
- Limit Break
- Super (fighting games)