Warriors Wrestling, Scouts-a-Sprinting, Krav Maga for Rangers..FIVE STYLES FOR MOONKS

[Darclaine]

A Style for each Class:

So I believe that all adventurers should be able to handle/defend themselves in a pinch and so I figured I would try to connect martial arts to each of the classes based kinda on their style.*

*apologies to people who actually know about martial arts this is just for fun and any suggestions for marrying a more appropriate style to each class (with reasons) are very welcome

The Warrior - "You're not stronger than me"

First is the warrior and is perhaps the easiest and simplest to come up with warriors are built for no steroids strength and while strength can be an advantage in martial arts most martial arts make more of a focus on speed and timing than on brute strength. One art that really does require it though is wrestling.

You might think that boxing would be the art for warriors however again speed, timing and momentum is key in an art like boxing and even a lighter dude can do well in the discipline - but in wrestling brute strength and being able to take a hit mean that as soon as they grab you - you're not getting away. And with iron strength muscles - your first hit might not be a one shot knock out against on of these guys anyway. I'm no expert however I personally believe that most trained striking specialists will think twice before taking on a submission hold specialist.

The Scout - "You can't catch me"

Well honestly in a fight there is the you e of fight or flight. Walking away is better than getting hurt and running is better still! Whereas most people might be afraid of being caught up to and beaten up the scout has the stamina to keep running without tiring meaning that most pursuers will run out of breath long before the scout will. I know it sounds like a cop out but really self-defence classes really do offer running away as a valid defences and it suits the scouts very well.

(Failing that kick-boxing is one of the highest endurance training burns loads of calories - so even if they do catch you you'll still have the energy to fight while they will be out of breath)

The Ranger - "Ready any time"

The next is the ranger who is all about being ready for any situation. No specialist fist or leg fighters here. Rather than having a complex fighting style and spending years of preparation it seems more likely that the ranger wants to be able to defend themselves today! The fastest combat style to pick up I know is Krav Maga . It's a simple to learn combat system created to train Israeli troops how to fight. You are trained in 12 weeks - taught to identify agressors outside of the dojo where they don't wait for you to bow. They train you to fight disoriented and multiple opponents whilst exhausted, even how to disarm someone of their gun or knife.There is nothing fancy about Krav Maga it's not a style it's a combat system and it's not gentle on you opponents either. Perfect for the Ranger.

The Assassin - "Now you see me, now you don't"

Next up is the assassin from which the main thing I noticed was the focus on total dominance of environment. Which is why I did not pick capoeira which I think is the automatic choice for free - runners who want to do the fancy moves.

There is only one art that specialises in specifically using environment to you advantage and that is ninpo judo - what you or I would call ninjutsu.

Reading up on it I now know it is a bit of a mixed martial art. But these guys really are the parkour guys of the martial world. And Ninja/Assassin don't really seem dissimilar. Now it might be hard to find a class. They do exist! But because hey are not that common I'll write a bit more.

Failing that ninpo is made up of several Japanese combat arts.

Including aikijutsu, karate to name a couple. I think aikijutsu's modern day equivalent is aikido.

Aikido is all about flow and balance and i mean that physically not spiritually. you learn to tumble and fall just like any theown art and that's the basis for parkour (knowing about momentum and how to fall). iParkour is all about falling momentum and flow and being able to throw yourself around without getting hurt. So the extension is to be able to throw others around without them being hurt. They take a swing - they find the world spinning, they are un harmed but you're up a wall and gone (poof). Aikido is an effective combat art. (Just don't cushion their fall when you throw them or run them into a wall) capoeira is not. I've seen the YouTube videos and that stuff gets you owned!

Monk - "Let me show you how it's done"

If you want to be called a martial artist is say you've got to be trying to improve all your moves and that means going to an art that specialises in that move until you master it.

In short, if you want to be a martial artist you have to learn more than one style of martial art. By practicing many arts you'll eventually be able to notice how all punches and kicks work. When you understand the true mechanic you'll become a true martial artist.

Druid - "I don't want your aggression. Please, have it back"

Being one with the universe is about being in flow and this time I mean energy. And why waste energy and disrupt your inner flow when you can turn you opponents imbalance against them. Contrary to popular to popular belief Tai Chi is not for healing it is a combat art designed to turn an opponents strength against them. I believe it was developed by a woman and descends from Shaolin Kung Fu.

The movements might appear slow but that is because what we think of as tai chi is a kata - a slow shadow boxing session to practice moves over and over again.

Simply speed up the movements to fighting speed to see their effectiveness. If you can't find a tai chi class that shows you the self defends aspects then perhaps find a Kung fu class. These arts have the same origins so you should still be able to defend yourself whist still cultivating chi.

Practice pushing hands to deflect pull over and repel attacks.

Adventurer...any ideas?

So those are my thoughts for now. What do you think? Should I put this in the suggestions threads?

Anyways lets me know what you think!