I know how Dracule Mihawk deserves his title over characters with monstrous Haki like Shanks. To understand why Mihawk is the World's Greatest Swordsman, we can look at a famous concept from Jin Yong’s classic wuxia novel, The Smiling, Proud Wanderer (Xiao Ao Jiang Hu).

The Great Divide: Qi vs. Sword Play

In the novel, the protagonist's sect, the Mount Hua Sect, is bitterly divided into two rival factions:

• The Qi Faction: Believes that internal energy (Qi) is everything. They argue that pure technical skill is useless without raw power.
• The Sword Faction: Believes that mastery of sword techniques, speed, and precision can overcome any level of raw energy.

In One Piece terms, Qi is Haki, and Sword Play is Swordsmanship. Many powerful characters rely almost entirely on "Qi Faction" logic—using massive Conqueror's Haki to blast through opponents, treating the sword merely as a medium for their raw energy.

The Nine Swords of Dugu: Technique Defeats Power

The protagonist of the novel, Linghu Chong, learns a legendary martial art called the Nine Swords of Dugu. This style is pure "Sword Faction" mastery. It teaches no internal Qi concepts at all. Instead, it relies on absolute technical perfection, speed, and finding the structural flaw in any attack.

With the Nine Swords of Dugu, Linghu Chong defeats master martial artists who possess overwhelmingly superior internal Qi. He does this not by overpowering their energy, but by exploiting the physical blind spots of their movements.

What if Mihawk' skill is so special like:

• Kin'emon’s Fox-Fire Style: Can physically cut and extinguish fire.
• Rocks D. Xebec's Era (and Roger/Garling): Possessed devastating, chaotic slashing styles.
• Zoro’s Styles: Utilize spatial distortion and illusions (Ashura).

Like the Nine Swords of Dugu, Mihawk’s supreme technical skill allows him to dissect and overpower opponents who might possess equal or even stronger raw Haki. He does not just blast his opponents with raw willpower; he cuts through the structural weakness of their Haki attacks using flawless, peerless blade technique. That is why he stands at the top, alone.

something like Pitbull, David Guetta,..

How do you guys learn new stuffs ? Do you hire a consultant or research them on the internet on your own ? Please share your story.

Hi all! I'm a CS-background entrepreneur building a tool for analysts, and I'm finding it challenging to keep improving. When I was an employee, I could ask my tech lead for solutions and learn about new tech or coding techniques just by talking with my coworkers. Now that I’m on my own, it’s tougher to stay current with tech and to know where to turn for guidance.

Any advice on finding mentors who can help when I have questions or on ways to keep my technical skills sharp (like learning new technologies or coding techniques)? Thanks in advance!