Combat Wrestling

4 points

Combat Wrestling – sometimes known as “all-in fight-
ing” – was a pragmatic combat art. Knights, fencers, and
other professional armsmen routinely learned it to supple-
ment their armed skills. It had neither rules nor a sense of
fair play. All holds were “legal,” and any tactic that could
damage, dismay, or disable the enemy was considered good.
Combat Wrestling was common at least as far back as
the Middle Ages. It continued well into the Renaissance;
indeed, many fencing masters felt obliged to include a sec-
tion on wrestling techniques in their manuals to demon-
strate that their knowledge of fighting was complete. Many
such manuals survive today. Their depiction of fighters
armed with swords and fencing weapons choking, punch-
ing, and tripping one another puts the lie to the modern
ideal of the “gentlemanly” fencer.
Stylists learned to reach cautiously and wait for their
opponent to make a mistake. They used Wait and Evaluate
extensively. Attacks took the form of grapples and strikes
calculated to disable the foe quickly: standing grappling
techniques such as Arm Lock and Finger Lock; limb
wrenches; and incapacitating blows aimed at the eyes,
groin, jaw, nose, and neck. Most Combat Wrestling styles
assumed a battlefield or a street brawl as the setting, so
ground-fighting tactics were rare. The first priority of a
fighter on the ground was to get up!
The masters emphasized the importance of strength to
wrestling, but they also knew that muscle alone wasn’t
always enough to win a grappling contest. They taught
counters against armed assailants and expected students to
be able to fight both armed and unarmed. A few even taught
techniques for kicking weapons (especially knives) out of an
attacker’s hand.
Combat Wrestling assumed an armed and often armored
adversary, so it emphasized grapples and throws over
strikes. Thus, striking techniques weren’t as a rule especial-
ly advanced. Some masters were dangerous and notable
exceptions, however.
Cinematic wrestlers should be strong, although there are
period illustrations that show a wrinkled old man cheerful-
ly demolishing his strapping young opponent. Fighters
learned the body’s vital areas and strikes to target them,
which could justify the Pressure Points skill. Many other
cinematic feats fit the style. One manual even showed how
to parry weapon attacks while seated!
This style, with slight variations, works for no-holds-
barred wrestling worldwide – be it in China, the Caucasus,
the Middle East, or Sub-Saharan Africa. Historical heroes
should have no trouble finding a master in almost any place
or period.
Skills: Brawling; Judo; Wrestling.
Techniques: Arm Lock; Breakfall; Choke Hold; Disarming
(Brawling, Judo, or Wrestling); Elbow Strike; Eye-Gouging;
Eye-Rake; Finger Lock; Hammer Fist; Head Lock; Knee
Drop; Knee Strike; Neck Snap; Sweep (Judo); Targeted
Attack (Brawling Kick/Groin); Targeted Attack (Brawling
Punch/Face); Wrench (Limb); Wrench Spine.
Cinematic Skills: Immovable Stance; Mental Strength;
Pressure Points.
Cinematic Techniques: Backbreaker; Fighting While
Seated (Judo); Pressure-Point Strike.
Perks: Special Exercises (Lifting ST +1).
Optional Traits
Advantages: Combat Reflexes; Fit or Very Fit.
Disadvantages: Bloodlust; Bully; Overconfidence.
Skills: Karate.
Techniques: Elbow Drop; Ground Fighting (Judo or
Wrestling); Kicking; Stamp Kick.