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| One Puch Man by Yusuke Murata, ONE - Seinen Manga |
Perhaps the original fighting technique in Fantasy Fiction, and human history, is the unarmed. Used for offence and defence, this is a melee style that sports the punch, kick, head-butt, or similar forceful blow. Not as elegant as the sword, ranged weapon or magic, it can be quite effective, in the right hands. :)
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Contemporary martial arts also have unarmed attacks at their core. For example, Karate, originating in Okinawa, teaches students to use their hands and feet to deliver blocks and strikes against an attacker.
But what about the pure power of a punch or kick? Is it enough?
Bruce Lee himself said Muhammad Ali would kill him in a fight. Bruce also said, Take any professional boxer against a black belt of any traditional martial art and the boxer would win.
But in Fantasy Fiction, that might be a different story.
“Never throw the first punch. If you have to throw the second, try to make sure they don't get up for a third.”― Brandon Sanderson, Steelheart
This reminds me of Lee Child's Jack Reacher character who makes up for the lack of Fantasy with an extra scoop of BRAWL power! His basic philosophy is to "Hit them fast. Hit them hard, and hit them often."
But does one have to be a giant man to win a fistfight?
No, not at all.
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| Denice Zamboanga: Filipina bantamweight Champion |
Take Ava Sykes in The Blood in the Beginning.
Undergraduate by day, bouncer by night, Ava Sykes works hard to build her life in New LA, a city experiencing the Aftermath of a seismic disaster. Her prospects improve until she stumbles upon an evil no sane person would want to confront.
Suddenly, her life, her city and everyone she cares about is in danger. Pushed to the edge, Ava taps a power she never knew she had . . . and uses it.
...I clocked him in the head with a roundhouse kick, my steel-toed boots hitting home. He staggered, weaving from side to side before he toppled over backward, crashing onto the ground. I wiped sweat from my forehead as, incredibly, he stood back up and came at me like a wrecking ball. What’s this guy made of? I dropped to a crouch and swept my right leg around to trip him up. He leapt over it and landed, fists swinging, pounding me into the ground. As my head found the pavement, I rolled onto my back and caught him with a kick to the crotch. He fell forward. I followed with a punch to the throat. It choked him back for a second, long enough for me to squirm away, find my feet and run... - Falconer, Kim. The Blood In The Beginning. Mira. Kindle Edition.
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Do you have a favourite fantasy fiction, fist-fighting character or series? I'd love to hear about it in the comments.
Choose Your Weapon Series 2024
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About Kim Falconer
Kim Falconer, currently writing as AK Wilder, has released Crown of Bones, a YA Epic Fantasy with Curse of Shadows as book 2 in the series. Currently, she is working on the third book, out in 2024.
Kim can be found on AKWilder Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Throw the bones, read your horoscopes or Raise Your Phantom on the AKWilder.com site
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