HWA RANG DO

5 points

Hwa Rang Do (HRD) is a Korean art with ties to the
fighting and healing techniques of the Hwarang (p. 14). It’s
said to have originated from um yang kwan (“hard and soft
together”), martial skills influenced by 1,500 years of
Korean history. The modern style known as Hwa Rang Do
was founded in Seoul in 1960, by Dr. Joo Bang Lee. It isn’t
simply a fighting style; black sash-ranked students learn
healing and philosophy, and study chi and meditation inten-
sively. HRD is most common in the U.S., South Korea, and
Europe, but there are schools worldwide.
Hwa Rang Do combines striking and grappling, and
mixes these unarmed techniques with weapons training.
Strikes are both linear and circular. Grappling includes
throws and submission holds, often in conjunction with
pressure-point activation.
Hwa Rang Do stylists prefer to open a fight with punches
and kicks in an attempt to disable or injure the foe. The spin-
ning kick is one of the style’s signature moves, and is per-
formed jumping, standing, kneeling, and as a leg sweep –
most often as a Committed Attack (Determined). After injur-
ing his opponent or successfully parrying an attack, the HRD
stylist closes in to grapple, seeking to finish the fight with an
Arm Lock, Judo Throw, takedown, or choke. Fighters train to
move smoothly into and out of grappling range, using strikes
and grapples interchangeably.
Even low-ranked students learn weapons; PCs who study
HRD should start buying weapon skills immediately.
Standard weapons are the sang-jyel-bong (nunchaku), staff,
spear, broadsword, knife, and short staff. Optional weapons
training is extensive, and includes the baton and bow. HRD
schools also encourage parallel training in Kumdo (Korean
Kendo – use the rules for Kendo, p. 175). At advanced levels,
weapons training mixes takedowns, sweeps, and strikes.
Hwa Rang Do has a large body of legendary abilities. The
extensive study of chi and practice of chi-based feats make it
especially powerful in a cinematic campaign. Legends attrib-
ute body- and mind-control powers, telepathy, and secret
pressure-point techniques to masters – and note that training
in such matters is part of the curriculum for high-level black
sashes even today.
Skills: Judo; Karate; Karate Sport; Savoir-Faire (Dojo).
Techniques:
Arm
Lock;
Back
Kick;
Breakfall;
Counterattack (Karate); Disarming (Judo); Exotic Hand
Strike; Head Lock; Jump Kick; Kicking; Spinning Kick;
Sweep (Karate).
Cinematic Skills: Body Control; Breaking Blow; Power
Blow; Pressure Points; Pressure Secrets.
Cinematic Techniques: Pressure-Point Strike.
Perks: Chi Resistance (Any); Spinning Kick takes no pos-
ture penalty; Unusual Training (Breaking Blow, Only vs. well-
braced objects out of combat).
Optional Traits
Advantages: Fit or Very Fit; Language (Korean); Telepathy
Talent.
Disadvantages: Overconfidence.
Skills:
Breath Control; Broadsword Art; Esoteric
Medicine; First Aid; Flail; Judo Art; Karate Art; Knife;
Meditation; Shortsword; Smallsword; Spear; Staff; Two-
Handed Sword Art.