A while ago in Sun County i read a description of a character who fought unarmed in the classical style of Peloria (which is to say, naked), having also encountered the martial art skill that is prevalent in the development of Kralorelans, I have speculated on the many styles of unarmed fighting that might exist in Genertela.
The fighting style of Peloria I have envisioned as being something akin to the Pankration art of ancient Greece. This was a fast-paced and brutal art involving wrestling as well punching and kicking. Essentially, anything was permissible in a bout. It is pankration fighters that we see in statuary like the Boxers. One feature of Pankration is the wearing cesti, leather wrappings for the hands that were enhanced with balls or strips of bronze or lead.
In Kralorela I have considered the fighting arts to be similar to those of China, even though the attire of those portryed in the Genertela book is more Japanese, their stances suggested Kung Fu rather than Karate. THerefore, given the very diverse nature of animal life in the area, i have assumed that unarmed fighting would follow similar forms to those of China. That is to say, developments based in the movement of animals and a knowledge of the bodies weak points.
Given the look and feel of the Dragonewt form of combat (and certain references in the Elder Secrets Newtling character development) i believe that they also would have developed a distinct and systematic style of unarmed combat. This is likely to be the oldest form of this type of fighting art and may well have influenced all others.
Another interesting cultural group to develop a complex unarmed martial art is the Morokanth. Why, you might ask? Well, given that they are not normally capable of manipulating weapons easily, but do have a healthy set of claws, i think that they would have thought about the use of those claws considerably and determined how to best use them.
Differences in physiology would necessitate considerably different approaches to this aspect of fighting. It is much easier to perform a kick when one has a tail, for instance, because one can maintain a greater degree of balance. I have only speculatede as to the form of unarmed fighting that might be found in the west. The Safelstan states might well have something akin to Savate (lots of kicking and baton fighting) perhaps.
please tell me what you might think, I would be interested to hear
Anthony
End of Glorantha Digest V3 #231
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