[@Zero Hex] I think you should take yoshua's ideas and run with them. The problem is, not only did you have abilities there that despite not wanting to have your own fighting style limited and put at a disadvantage you wanted to limit other's fighting style and put them at a disadvantage. Granted this is the true nature of combat but it's a different case when it's "this ability creates an obstacle that you may or may not be able to overcome" vs "nope it just doesn't affect me GG NOOB". Besides that the other stuff, while I think it is just stuff that results from extensive training and commitment, you don't give any sort of limitations to his combat capabilities. Yes you've mentioned all the stuff about him being average everywhere besides his swordsmanship, but with how you've described his incredible perception, reflexes, timing etc, it just sounds like he counter anything and everything. You use words like "incredible" and "tremendously" but that doesn't give a sense of what that means. Give an example of what that means like, "he can keep up with the movements (not physically, perceptually) of a Captain who is an expert in Hoho but a Captaion who is a master in Hoho is beyond his scope". Without that context it just seems like your saying there are no limits and with no limits to perception, reflexes and timing he's basically untouchable. I don't usually jump in on conversations like this but when it goes on long enough I have give my view point. Hope my explanation helps shed some light on things.