Gold Medal Match: Gustavo Marzi vs. Joseph Levis Individual Foil 1932 Los Angeles Olympics
When martial arts are discussed in the modern world, the fighting styles of the East are what usually comes to mind. This is partially because they were–and still are–practiced when recording for others to know about them through various media was possible with some ease. We know about karate because we can call up a video of people doing karate.
Europe once had its own styles of martial arts as well, but the age of mass armies mostly erased them from memory (though groups such as the Association for Renaissance Martial Arts do their best to recreate them). The Aztec had their fighting arts taught within the warrior societies of the Eagle and Jaguar Knights, whose secrets and traditions died out with their Empire.
These examples imply that wherever you have a class of professional warriors, martial styles–official or practical–will emerge. This idea started me thinking about what sort of martial arts might emerge in a traditional fantasy world
So, Jonathan Jacobs suggested that I take that idea and run with it to create a short PDF discussing, and providing statistics for, such things. But I would like to hear what other people think about the idea as well.
To start this off, here are my thoughts on Elven martial arts styles:
The Elven styles are linked to Elven philosophy in their harnessing of grace to power, and make each of the forms and movements a work of art in and of themselves. These styles are expressions of long debates on martial philosophy and require that their practitioners understand and embrace those philosophies.
Because of this concentration on ensuring that the philosophical aspects that underlay the style are understood, and the required perfection of form and movement, the Elven styles take at least years and often decades to learn. Many Elven masters focus on perfection of the underlying form, expecting their students to master each step and move before permitting advancement to the more powerful techniques. Few non-Elves have the patience, or time, to learn more than the basics of these styles.
As work progresses on this project, I will continue to post thoughts on the various martial traditions and how they fit in with the various standard fantasy races.
What are your thoughts on the martial traditions of the Elves? How do you see martial arts developing in a fantasy world?
Edited by Cassey Toi
This is a fantastic idea. After elves, I thought of the dwarves. More direct. More power-centric. Fists, knees, and lots of grappling. This is something I may have to explore with my kids. (I GM for them.)
In the movie “The One” with Jet Li, he plays two characters. During one sequence, each person is gearing up for the upcoming showdown. One moves in straight lines. Attack! Attack! Attack! The other moves in circles. Move to the side, attack from outside.
I can see elves and dwarves in this scene. One moves with nature, bending like trees in the wind, while the other forges ahead, attacking whatever stands in front of it.
yea I agree with Richard about the elves for sure, but for some reason I also get a very Grecko-Roman/Sumo Wrestling vibe for the Dwarves. Orc Martial in my head would scream something along the lines of brutal Thai Boxing, like Richard brings up, with knees and plunging ever forward.
Having the elves focus on the elegant – thoughtful combat _arts_ is excellent. Seems appropriate for the iconic fantasy version of “elves” most people are expecting.
Will you tying this to a specific game system? For example – if you are planning a 4E version or a Pathfinder version then you’ll be sure to do some research: this may have been (probably has been) done before. Perhaps not though. Or perhaps there’s an angle here for further development not seen before.
For elves – just some random thoughts here – things that come to mind are repostes, two-weapon fencing (ooohhh….), expert knife throwing, archery (obviously), arrow catching (like monks), calligraphy, diplomacy, etiquette (the last two play into the formal training angle).
What game system will you be using Sean?
Richard & Shinbocow, it seems we are thinking along similar lines.
Jonathan, the plan is to do the styles just in a general descriptive way, like the above, as well as a separate section tying them into the Pathfinder rule set mixing feats and alternate class options to represent both dabblers and those who seek to master the styles involved.
Excellent idea, I’m a practitioner of European and medieval martial arts, as well as being an avid gamer. I would agree with the comments made so far, and would add that in regards to goblins, they would use simple systems, such as Cornish wrestling for grappling techniques. Which uses 12 throws, and would be simple enough for the average goblin to learn and use.
I suspect that if Dwarves were to use grappling techniques then they’d probably utilise something along the lines of Fiore Dei Liberi.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiore_dei_Liberi
In the final battle scene of Tad Williams’ “Memory, Sorrow, Thorn” trilogy, there was a description of elves fighting that’s always stuck with me. To paraphrase, “When two of them would square off, they would stand still, moving in subtle shifts of weight and then one would lash out, almost always landing a single killing blow.”
Sean, excellent idea.
I agree so far with most everything said above.
Elves- Traditional fantasy Elves would rely more on grace, speed and accuracy than brute force or armor. I would suggest, for inspiration, Savate the French kickboxing style with the addition of cane/sword forms. For Close Quarters, I would also suggest Escrima, Arnis, Kali or Penjat Silat for is speed and accuracy. For grappling Evlish style there are a few Malaysian styles (often under Silat as well) that might actually work for their fluidity and crazy flipping around the ground. As an aside I know VERY little about this art. Just a few moves, though I have seen much. For longer weapons styles, I might take some inspiration from Kung Fu’s “Silk and Steel” techniques. This philosophy employs the concept of the ability to change the body through fluidity and rigidity as if the body changed from water to stone and back. Something Elves might be into for its fluid, organic elegance.
Dwarves- I agree above. Dwarf on Dwarf combat would, I think, be like American kickbocking and Muay Thai without the jumping. However, due to relative size, and even within their own cultures, grappling would be a Dwarf’s greatest weapon. However, the style would likely take the form of Japanese Jiu Jitsu, or Pankration. American wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu rely too much on flexibility on the ground and shorter arms and legs would be a disadvantage. However, take downs and armlock/breaks would be fantastic. In addition, the shorter stature, greater relative body strength and mass would make Dwarves ideal in take down techniques. Again, close quarter would be powerful punches and kicks, but I think focusing on bone breaking as their bones are, traditionally, denser giving the advantage. For armed combat, I can see Dwarves using the Medieval heavy armored armed combat. Not as much finesse, but combined with the bone breaking snap kicks and punches and the take down style (which can be used armed and with heavy armor) the style is perfect.
Half-Orc/Orc- Close quarters would be a great deal of Russian Sambo and Muay Thai influence combat focusing on single powerful blows and the ability to absorb damage. It would be an orcish machismo thing (speaking to the culture). Grappling would actually take on some American Indian styles, I think. Like some Apache grappling and take downs. These styles resemble American wrestling but are FAR more aggressive (and you thought MMA was brutal). Weapon styles I think would vary, though focusing on longer blades, axes and clubs. Hell, I almost think of pirates or vikings. They would used anything from broadswords to rapiers, blunderbusses to grenades. I kind of see Orcs and Half-Orcs just grabbing something sharp, heavy or spiky and going to town.
Humans- And and all of the above, depending on setting. Though, American kickbocking, Karate, American Wrestling for close, Short and long sword forms of the Middle ages and Krav maga for unarmed vs armed. Though, for monastic orders, Kung Fu influence might appropriate.
Those are the basic thoughts for the most common species. I have some thoughts for halfling type characters. Also, most of the styles I have mentioned are easily searched and Youtubed.
Hope this helps.
It would be interesting to also give thought to the physical surroundings in which each art would develop. I could see Elven martial arts integrating use of their environment – running up and flipping off of trees, ducking behind bits of cover, leaping down out of hiding – thinking along the lines of it having developed over hundreds of years as elven groups fought each other in forests.
For Dwarves, it would make sense that they would focus on straight-forward, compact, hard movements. I picture Dwarf wars involving lots of fighting in cramped tunnels and a fighting style that depended on attrition and damaging armor to get at the body.
In the case of Orcs, depending on the physical surroundings, they might prefer martial arts based on single combat between champions – like ancient Greeks or even New Guinean tribes – and an Orc tribe would foster in-fighting so that the strongest champion would emerge, one who could best other tribes’ champions. The Muay Thai philosophy of ‘take damage to deal more damage’ would fit very well here, as well as the Kung Fu styles like Iron Fist that focus on hardening parts of the body.