Best/Most Interesting Fictional Martial Arts

[Holy Spirit]

In the West, I guess. Among actual martial artists and out East, not so much.

I'm not disagreeing.... just giving ideas as to the confusion.

Melee weapons.

Yes, but some definitions contradict each other.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/martial+arts
martial arts
noun
any of the traditional forms of Oriental self-defense or combat that utilize physical skill and coordination without weapons, as karate, aikido, judo, or kung fu, often practiced as sport.



http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/martial%20art
martial art
noun (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any of several arts of combat and self-defense that are widely practiced as sport. There are armed and unarmed varieties, most based on traditional fighting methods used in East Asia. In modern times, derivatives of armed martial arts include kendo (fencing with wooden swords) and kyudo (archery). Unarmed varieties include aikido, judo, karate, kung fu, and tae kwon do.


It's funny, if archery counts as a martial art... then maybe firearms should count as well.

[priunicron]

Mishima Style Karate from Tekken series is interesting too. Combination of electricity and ground crashing hits.

[Wjowski]

Whatever the hell the Harpists were doing in Kung Fu Hustle.

[Eternal Torment]

Flexible weapons are bad enough on their own. I like my brains unscrambled... :)

I've seen your anecdotes. Good gravy, flexible weapons are dangerous.

At least it isn't trying to dual wield rope darts or meteor hammers.

[G. Wayne]

I'll add in another vote for Bending.

Also, Gun Kata

[Sharpandpointies]

Yes, but some definitions contradict each other.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/martial+arts
martial arts
noun
any of the traditional forms of Oriental self-defense or combat that utilize physical skill and coordination without weapons, as karate, aikido, judo, or kung fu, often practiced as sport.

Given that nearly all styles of Kung Fu contain weapons, as do many styles of Karate, I'm chaulking that one up to 'these guys doing this definition really didn't poll the people who actually practice martial arts'. As in, they didn't actually go to the places where martial arts are done and say 'what do you guys consider to be martial arts?'

Hilariously, Dictionary.com also notes in their definition of 'martial art' that they must originate in the Far East. This is such a dated defintion, it's insane. :) I'm sure that the people who don't live in the Far East who have developed martial arts would find this somewhat shocking.

Worse yet, they note the term springs from the japanese Bujutsu. 'Bujutsu' also encompasses weapons work. :)

I wouldn't put any credence into that definition. ^_^

[nervmeister]

Anyone remember Jet Li's "acupuncture style" from Kiss of The Dragon? Now that was pretty neat.

[Sharpandpointies]

The idea of using acupuncture needles in fights and hitting specific points to do specific things is pretty common in Eastern fiction. I've seen it in Japanese movies and video games, Chinese movies and comics, etc. All to varying degrees of capability/craziness.

[Shellhead]

The most interesting fictional martial art incorporating a weapon would have to be the technique incorporating the flying guillotine.

The overall most interesting fictional martial that I can recall is Kallindo. It's a martial art designed to be used by shapeshifters, and some of the moves require shapeshifting during the move.

[Chou Blaster]

The idea of using acupuncture needles in fights and hitting specific points to do specific things is pretty common in Eastern fiction. I've seen it in Japanese movies and video games, Chinese movies and comics, etc. All to varying degrees of capability/craziness.

I personally like Persona two, Bofu, who uses Devi Card/Fusions (I think)

Anyway his fighing style?

He kills demons, by throwing COINS at time. bull's Eye fu!

And Kallindo sounds interesting.

[Sharpandpointies]

Kailindo heralds from Werewolf the Apocalpse (OWoD), and is a martial art created by the Stargazer Tribe of Garou. Back in the day, White Wolf figured it would be cool to cover ALL their bases when it came to Werewolves, so having a tribe comprised of Zen-types who did a Garou martial art didn't seem out of the question. :)

[Chou Blaster]

Kailindo heralds from Werewolf the Apocalpse (OWoD), and is a martial art created by the Stargazer Tribe of Garou. Back in the day, White Wolf figured it would be cool to cover ALL their bases when it came to Werewolves, so having a tribe comprised of Zen-types who did a Garou martial art didn't seem out of the question. :)

Nice. Really nice.

BTW: I did osme research on were wolves and well found htis out (THanks mainly to TV Troeps and Idoms..)

In Baltic Religions, Were Wolves were "Good Guys", Hounds of God! Who served God in destroying evil spirits and stuff.

I think that may have inspired the Garou to a degree.

[Eternal Torment]

Anyone remember Jet Li's "acupuncture style" from Kiss of The Dragon? Now that was pretty neat.

I also remember his performance as Danny the Dog.

Now that was some aggressive fighting.