JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Loves Stands, But It Forced the Anime to Abandon Another Power System

Since it is primarily a fighting anime, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure features a lot of helpful, detailed exposition regarding its power systems and fighting styles that the characters utilize in battles. When most people think of JoJo's, Stands come to mind first, since these exciting manifestations of a user's powers are as unique and diverse as the users themselves.

Although Stands did help the popularity of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure skyrocket to new heights, they are actually not the only form of power that the series has ever featured. One early fighting style was the foundation of the first two seasons of the series, and despite being fascinating, it was too rapidly abandoned in favor of Stands at the beginning of Stardust Crusaders.

Hamon Was Left Behind by JoJo’s Far Too Quickly

Hamon Is a Rare, Difficult to Learn Fighting Style That Utilizes Light and Breathing To Pull Off Powerful Attacks

Jonathan Joestar and Dio Brando confront each other in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

The Hamon fighting style was introduced in the first part of JoJo’sand blended energy, breathing, light, and martial arts to create a unique combat style. In English, the combat method translates to "ripple," which refers to how the Hamon manifests when a user wields it. For example, when Will Anthonio Zeppeli demonstrated the technique, he stood in shallow water and concentrated his breathing, allowing the Hamon energy to emit from his body and produce "ripples" across the water. Jonathan Joestar was the first to learn this method in Part One of the series, and it was his most effective technique.

Hamon is not an easy skill to learn because it takes years of practice and remarkable discipline, as well as the luck of being born as one of the destined few who are able to develop the ability. Jonathan Joestar was one of these lucky individuals, and used Hamon powerfully against Dio, even once Dio had transformed into his villain vampire form. Joseph Joestar was also a dedicated Hamon user, although he did later develop a Stand by Part Three of JoJo's. During his youth in Part Two, he exclusively used Hamon energy to battle Kars and the Pillar Men.

Hamon Was Fundamental for JoJo's First Two Seasons

Joseph and Jonathan Were Proficient Hamon Users, and the Power Helped Them Develop as Characters

Close-up of Joseph Joestar in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 3 Stardust Crusaders.

The first two seasons of JoJo's, Phantom Blood and Battle Tendency, prioritized Hamon as the only fighting style, because the protagonists, Jonathan Joestar and Joseph Joestar, did not have Stands or any other fighting techniques in their repertoire. A large chunk of JoJo's Part One is dedicated to William Anthonio Zeppeli teaching Jonathan Hamon techniques, and then later, Jonathan wielding these skills against his adopted brother who turned evil, Dio Brando. The final showdown between Jonathan and Dio features extensive Hamon use, as that was how Jonathan was able to defeat the villain, although he unfortunately lost his life as well.

In Battle Tendency, Lisa Lisa was Joseph's mother, a fellow Joestar, and his helpful Hamon teacher, and she equipped him well to fight Kars and the Pillar Men. Kars, the main villain of this arc, had a trick up his sleeve though: he also knewn Hamon. Eventually, Joseph outsmarted the evildoer, and the season featured many impressive instances of the protagonist creatively harnessing his Hamon against various enemies. What both of these arcs have in common is that Hamon was absolutely integral to Jonathan and Joseph’s character development, but after these first two seasons, it was pretty much discarded.

Hamon Could Have Added an Interesting Alternative to Stands in Later Arcs

Including Both Power Systems at the Same Time Would Offer Opponents the Option To Choose either Technique

Bruno Bucciarati with his Stand Sticky Fingers Jojo's Bizarre Adventure

Stands were introduced in Part Three and became the primary battle method, and there is no denying that they are one of the coolest, most distinct methods of fighting in any anime. A Stand is a manifestation of its users' powers, and often contains elements that make it clear that it belongs to a particular user. For example, Bruno Bucciarati's Stand, Sticky Fingers, which can place working zippers on any surface, is covered in zipper details to represent its technique and remind onlookers which user it belongs to. In Part Three, Stardust Crusaders, the first Stand appears, wielded by Jotaro Kujo.

Jotaro Kujo was deeply confused when Star Platinum, his mighty, muscular Stand manifested suddenly, and he had trouble controlling it at first. Throughout Stardust Crusaders, he learned to wield the being properly and exert its powers, such as its strong punches, in the best way possible. Stands opened the door for so many intriguing new characters to join JoJo's cast, as virtually everyone from this point on had their own compelling Stand with a one of a kind set of powers. Although Stands definitely improved the series, Hamon could have stuck around too, and the two power systems could both have been used.

Hamon and Stands Used in Tandem Would Have Created Riveting Fights

JoJo’s Battles Are Already Incredible and Hamon Could Have Added an Exciting Addition

Rather than having Stands completely replace Hamon as the series' only fighting style, Stands could have augmented Hamon and added yet another technique to fighters' skills. Seasons one and two spent so much time and effort explaining and developing the Hamon system, so it definitely deserved to continue being used by future Joestars. Had Hamon stuck around, it would have been compelling to see how the fighting style developed over time and was used by other characters in the series. Since Hamon is a form of energy, it could have been fascinating to see Stands using the skill themselves as well.

Hamon could have produced supercharged Stands, making battles even more impressive and dramatic than they already are. JoJo's would not be the same without Stands, and they are certainly a necessary part of the series. However, Hamon could fit in well too, offering fighters another method to use. Hamon vs. Stand battles could have been explored, pitting the two fighting styles against one another to see which one works best in different scenarios and against different adversaries. Stands are undoubtedly amazing, but adding Hamon to them would have created an unexplored new world of possibilities for JoJo's fighters.