How is Haki achieved?

[Future Warrior]

I know they have to train for it but they never showed us how accessed.

 

[SSJ2]

Idk if it was ever adequately explained. I always assumed it was the concentration of spirit and being able to apply it to one of the 3 types of Haki. It was said that every living being has Haki, so it's just a matter of channeling it.

 

[Future Warrior]

Right but how come we see characters naturally use Haki like that Shandia girl and the Mermaid Queen yet Luffy in theory should have more spirit than them.

 

[SSJ2]

Well, I think Observation Haki just requires a different focusing of the spirit. It might not be about how powerful the spirit is, but how you are able to harness it. You'll see an example in Dressrosa of someone getting Observation but lacking all other types of Haki. I'm not sure if you've gotten to that point yet. I'd assume that it requires more finesse and control, as opposed to Armament being more about brute force and willpower.

 

[Future Warrior]

But isn't all applications of Haki tied to willpower?

 

[SSJ2]

Sure, but willpower manifests in different ways. It's why only certain people have Conqueror's Haki. There are some people who are extremely powerful but aren't indicated to have that type - like Marco. He has Haki that puts him at a level where he can briefly fight a Yonko head to head. Yet simply having that willpower doesn't give him Conqueror's Haki. Some people's willpower allows them to use Observation, but they either haven't trained or learned how to use the other types yet.

 

[Future Warrior]

Ok I get it. So how does one increase his Haki?

 

[SSJ2]

It's kind of like in DB how Saiyans become stronger after fighting strong opponents. That seems to be the key to increasing Haki.

 

[Future Warrior]

So your willpower grows after fighting?

 

[SSJ2]

It's more-so that it grows when in the face of near death experiences. It probably explains why the crew naturally gets stronger after their most difficult fights.

 

[Captain Cadaver]

As SSJ has said, it's the combination of the right environment and experiences to hone one's willpower. Kenbunshoku Haki seems to unlock mainly through either severe experiences (eg. Koby and Usopp) or through being naturally attuned to things such as nature and surroundings (Aisa and Otohime) in a manner that would help one feel things better. Busoshoku seems to fully require specific training for unlocking it, and Haoshoku is a bit of both for those 1 in a million special prodigies.