hamon

Hamon, also known as Ripple, is a fictional energy technique from Hirohiko Araki’s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. It describes life energy that can be harnessed through disciplined breathing and physical conditioning to become a tangible, sun-like force. The energy is said to circulate through the body along internal channels and can be projected from the user’s hands or other body parts to strike, defend, or augment physical abilities.

Mechanically, Hamon enhances strength, speed, stamina, and healing while enabling practitioners to manipulate energy in ways that mimic solar phenomena. A core practical use is against vampires and other undead, whose biology is vulnerable to the Ripple’s sun-like properties; Hamon can harm them or even destroy them when deployed with sufficient control and precision. In some arcs, the energy is also depicted as capable of accelerating healing or restoring damaged tissue.

In the JoJo canon, Hamon is a central power in the early parts. Jonathan Joestar, Caesar Zeppeli, and Joseph Joestar are among the most prominent practitioners, with Lisa Lisa serving as a master who trains Joseph and Caesar. Over time, the series introduces Stands in Part 3, and while Hamon remains part of the lore, it becomes less central to the overarching battles, though it is still used by various characters for specific purposes.

Etymology-wise, the term Hamon is the English rendering of the in-universe concept; in translations it is sometimes referred to as Ripple. The Ripple remains a notable element of JoJo’s early mythos and a foil to the later Stand-based power system.