DAGGER FIGHTING

3 points

This knife-fighting style is based on medieval and
Renaissance European martial arts but differs little from
Asian, African, and ancient Roman arts. It would fit into
almost any setting “as is.” Likewise, while “dagger” historical-
ly described a fairly specific weapon (see Chapter 6), Dagger
Fighting works with any of the fighting knives used worldwide
for streetfighting and personal defense, and as auxiliary
weapons in dueling and warfare – singly or in pairs.
Practitioners typically favor larger blades, however.
Most schools taught both the “sword” grip (the normal
grip) and the “ice pick” grip (see Reversed Grip, pp. 111-112).
Dagger fighters learned to switch rapidly between grips to take
full advantage of the fluid mix of knife work and grappling
that characterizes a knife fight. Tactics emphasized feints, dis-
arms (barehanded and by slashing hands and arms), and
direct attacks. “Spinning” techniques – for instance, turning
one’s back on an advancing enemy in order to drive one’s knife
backward and into him – weren’t unknown.
“Kung Fu”
“Kung fu” is a Chinese term for “hard work” or
“good effort.” Originally applied to any endeavor, it has
become synonymous with the martial arts. Kung fu
isn’t a specific style. It’s a blanket term for all Chinese
martial arts. The uninformed often misapply it to
other fighting arts, though – much as they do “karate.”
Many of the styles in this chapter are forms of kung
fu: Chin Na (p. 154), Hsing I Chuan (pp. 162-163),
Hung Gar (p. 163), Pa Kua Chuan (pp. 187-188), Pak
Hok (p. 188), Praying Mantis (pp. 191-192), Shaolin
Kung Fu (p. 194), T’ai Chi Chuan (pp. 200-201), Wing
Chun (pp. 203-204), and Wushu (pp. 206-207). Kuntao
(pp. 178-179) is a variety of kung fu taught in
Indonesia. Other styles drew heavily on kung fu during
their development, including Jeet Kune Do (pp. 164-
165), Kajukenbo (p. 168), and Kempo (pp. 172-173).
There are hundreds if not thousands of kung fu styles
and sub-styles!
The dagger fighter prefers to circle his foe, feinting, jab-
bing, and watching for any weakness or opportunity. This is a
series of Wait, Evaluate, Feint, and Defensive Attack maneu-
vers. He’ll move in for the kill only when his adversary is vul-
nerable – injured, feinted, etc. Multiple, darting attacks are
more likely than a single powerful blow, and the fighter might
deliver several potentially lethal blows to ensure that his
enemy dies quickly enough to be unable to return the favor.
Most attacks target the arm or hand to disarm, or the neck
or vitals to kill. Stylists do stab but often prefer the cut, simply
because a slash at arm’s length offers superior reach. Single-
knife schools also grapple using the empty hand (often known
as the “live hand”). Moves include grabbing the opponent’s
weapon and grappling his weapon arm in order to break it or
render his weapon harmless, usually after a parry.
As martial arts go, Dagger Fighting comes with few
improbable claims. A couple of cinematic skills fit the style,
work, while Power Blow would let low-damage knives deal
powerful blows that could instantly cripple limbs or kill.
Modern knife-fighting schools are remarkably similar to
historical ones but tend to replace the emphasis on parrying
larger weapons (such as swords) with gun-disarming tech-
niques. It’s difficult to find training in serious knife-fighting in
realistic conditions outside of military and covert-ops circles.
Moreover, it’s often illegal to carry a weapon-length knife, and
using even a legal one can mean trouble with the law! This last
matter isn’t a modern phenomenon. Even in historical settings
where everyone carried and used knives as tools, ordinary cit-
izens often regarded skilled knife-fighters as desperados or
criminals.
In any era, many knife-fighters learn another style as well
– either armed or unarmed.
Skills: Knife; Wrestling.
Techniques: Arm Lock (Knife or Wrestling); Armed Grapple
(Knife); Back Strike (Knife); Choke Hold (Knife); Feint
(Knife); Retain Weapon (Knife); Reverse Grip (Knife);
Spinning Strike (Knife).
Cinematic Skills: Hypnotic Hands; Power Blow.
Cinematic Techniques: Dual-Weapon Attack (Knife or
Wrestling); Fighting While Seated (Knife).
Perks: Off-Hand Weapon Training (Knife); Quick-Swap
(Knife).
Optional Traits
Advantages: Ambidexterity.
Disadvantages: Reputation (Thug).
Skills: Brawling; Fast-Draw (Knife); Main-Gauche; Thrown
Weapon (Knife).
Techniques: Disarming.