THE TRUE REASON WHY SANJI ONLY USES HIS HANDS FOR COOKING

It has been mentioned in the past that Sanji refuses to fight with his hands because he needs them for cooking and does not want to risk damaging them. However, I believe that there is a much deeper reason for this than what Sanji makes it seem. In Sanji’s original backstory, it makes sense that Zeff would teach Sanji how to cook since Sanji said he wanted to help Zeff with his restaurant. What isn’t clear is why Zeff would teach a young child how to fight. The story just skips a huge chunk of time and I think it is finally time for Oda to reveal the missing parts of Sanji’s story.

While stranded on the island, Sanji sees a bag beside Zeff and thinks it is filled with food so he runs towards Zeff with a knife in order to kill him for the food. Isn’t it a bit odd how a young child, despite being desperate, would have such murderous intent? It was recently revealed in the manga, the Sanji’s family, the Vinsmoke, is a family of assassins. I believe that at this point in Sanji’s life he had already been influenced greatly by his family even if it’s just through observation. I think Sanji witnessed many people fall victim to the Vinsmoke assassins so he probably learned at a young age that you have to kill in order to get what you want. This is the reason why Sanji wanted to kill Zeff. I believe that Sanji, when he was even younger, was ordered by his father to kill someone as some sort of initiation into the family business, but Sanji wasn’t able to do it. I also believe that this person was Sanji’s own mother. Perhaps Sanji’s mother betrayed the Vinsmoke family by leaking information or maybe Sanji’s father felt that by killing someone so close to Sanji’s heart, Sanji would easily be able to kill anyone without hesitation. I think the trauma from this event is what led to Sanji vowing never to hurt a woman so that he would never have to remember the pain of this event. As a result of disobeying his father, Sanji was banished from his home in the North Blue and this is how he eventually ended up in the East Blue where he met Zeff.

I believe that Zeff taught Sanji how to cook, not only so that Sanji could help out with his restaurant, but also as an attempt to help Sanji get over his childhood trauma. By teaching Sanji how to cook, Zeff wanted to show Sanji, that his hands could be used to make people happy as opposed to being tools of murder. On the island, Sanji learned how important food was for life so being able to make delicious food for people is a way for Sanji to give life in a way instead of taking it away. I think this reinforces why Sanji cherishes his hands so much. Finally, I believe that Zeff taught Sanji to fight using only his legs in order to separate the idea of his hands being used for killing. It somewhat serves as a renewal for Sanji since his trauma is associated with his hands only, not his legs. Zeff probably also understood that there would come a time when Sanji would have to face his family again and he need to be able to defend himself. Furthermore, I also believe that Zeff cutting of his own leg symbolizes the idea of Zeff taking Sanji’s burdens onto himself. By sacrificing his leg, it balances out with the sacrifice that Sanji failed to make; killing his mother.

*Theory by GreenTea