@RM I$AAC
Lifting Knee is a universal normal. All variations change his B2, it always remains a great footsie tool.
He gains multiple new strings, one takes a step back to slash at where he currently was, another is a string you can hitconfirm into a 3 hit launcher which at 2 hits is -5. That's very unusual being 99% of strings I've seen have a very tight window to input another move, leading to very hard or impossible hit confirms.
He gains a blade slice special that's +10 on hit for continued pressure and will launch on EX.
He has a damage buff which inflicts 10% DOT on Kano for 10 seconds, ex version enlarges the damage buff without any damage to himself whatsoever.