ROMAN
(Roman) Pugilism: Simple, effective. Concentrates on knocking out the opponent. Basic form of unarmed combat in arena, this sport is easy to learn and yet effective in its simplicity. As in many simpler fighting arts it will yield high gains in short term practicing, but gains will rapidly lower with proper training. Many advanced students of other fighting forms call this “hand-to-face fighting”. Punches, targeted attacks.
Acentetus Victoria: Style combining techniques from all other styles. Style developed in Primo Victoria itself. Master of this style is the head trainer of the Ludus. Most important teaching of this school is “if it works, use it”. Teachings are easy to use with other styles of fighting. Punches, throws.
Art of defence: Defensive style. Many Roman people learn this style to defend themselves against ruffians and thugs. It concentrates on parrying the attack and then counterattacking. Ideology of counterattack is easy to transfer to other fighting styles. It is legal to carry weapons in Rome, but by doing so you will make yourself a target to wandering bravos who are trying to make a name for themselves by duelling. Carrying a weapon will also easily bring some extra attention from the guard and is quite uncomfortable to drag around. So many people decide instead to learn defend themselves without weapons. Punches, kicks.
Art of offence: Aggressive style. Way of fighting of Roman underworld. They emphasize quick attacks that are difficult to counter. Has response to almost all attacks of Art of Defence. Carrying weapon in Rome is legal, but will bring some extra attention from the guard and can slow you down when you are running away. Roman underworld developed a style for their own purposes to ambush unwary travelles and be gone before guard can arrive. Punches, kicks.
(Roman) Arena fighting: Good all-around style. Some non slave gladiators dedicate their lives to pugilism in the arena and they used multi faceted style that makes you ready for all situations that might rise in unarmed combat. Learning this style is a long process, but arguably masters of this style are the best unarmed fighters in the world. Punches, kicks, throws, locks, ground fighting.
(Roman) Wrestling: Ground style. Developed to compete with the popularity of Pugilism. Easy to learn ground style that has all the necessary parts. This style is recommended to gladiators who do not have time or patience to study more complicated styles, but want some ability to fight in the ground. Often referred as “twist and shout” Throws, locks, chokes, ground fighting.
(Roman) Armored wrestling: Aggressive style. Roman soldiers were impressed when they saw western soldier fight with their bare hands and developed their own form of armored wrestling. Much more multi faceted than its western counterpart and developed for footmen instead of cavalrymen. Roman warriors tend to face barbarians as often as not and so the style has strikes incorporated to it to make quick work of unarmored opponents and throws and disarms to make slower work on armoured opponents. Punches, Kicks, Throws, Disarm.
Slave fighting: This style is prohibited to teach in Rome, it was developed by the slaves for the slaves. It teaches basics of striking, grappling, ground fighting and defending as fast as possible. It is meant to teach during the night when guards can’t see and continue working during the day. Second Roman slave revolt was mostly because of this style. Many gladiator schools still teach this style to gladiators.
WESTERN
Western pressure secrets: Scientific grappling. Concentrates on few key moves. The most pure of western hand-to-hand combat forms. In this form there is no wasted techniques, no wasted movement. You grab your opponent, twist his arm and press your thumb into a “pressure point”. Practitioners claim that after this the opponent will not want to fight you anymore, ever. Throws, locks, chokes, pressure points.
Western wrestling: Very specialized ground fighting style, strongest in its in department. Most of the fights end up in ground sooner or later, approach of this style is to make it sooner and be the best at it. Practitioners often go for a takedown right from the get go and wont stop trying, some even will jump to ground hoping for opponent to follow. There are other styles that teach ground fighting also, but western version has developed some techniques that are unique to it and almost impossible to transfer to other styles. Throws, trips, locks, chokes, ground fighting.
Western pugilism: Defensive style. Much like roman pugilism this concentrates on knocking the opponent out. Unlike roman version it has incorporated kicks. This is probably oldest of the western unarmed styles, and has suffered greatly after death of the king and birth of the new styles. In a way it is the least western of western styles because it is not as specialized as others. On the other hand it is quite specialized in knocking opponent out, so it can still be counted as a western style. Punches, kicks, targeted attacks.
Power striking: Defensive style. Style concentrates on waiting to see opening and drop opponent with one fatal blow. Attacks target opponents vitals. Practitioners usually toughen their hands to prevent damage to themselves from their powerful strikes. Like all the western arts, this one too concentrates on a single aspect of unarmed fighting and it is power of the strike. Original idea was to develop art so far that one can punch through armor and still kill man inside it. Gladly they are not there yet, but strikes from the master of this art are truly formidable and can easily kill unarmored man. Punches, Kicks, targeted attacks.
Secrets of kicking: Aggressive style. Teaches all kicks known to man. Style was developed to counter the reach of armed opponent or to keep unarmed opponent far away. Kicks are of course not enough to do this, but when kicks are added to end of leaps, spins and whatnots they become a versatile weapon that can be used on many different ranges. Practitioners often attack first and attack second keeping opponent off balance and unable to counter their kicks or grab their legs. Also teaches the use of improvised weapons. Kicks, reverse wrestling.
Western Armored wrestling: Defensive style. Developed for western knights. Emphasizes surviving the fall from horseback, getting up from ground alive and stealing weapons from your attacker. Like the name says all training is done with heavy armor, so that practitioner will be able to move as well in armor as without. This style does not have much except the components mentioned earlier, but it is very effective in its own area. Throws, locks, trips, ground fighting and disarm.
Western Arena fighting: Brutal and effective. Western way of thinking analytically turned into a form of hurting your opponent as bad as you can. There is nothing nice or pretty about this. It is complicated, brutal and fast. Your opponent wont probably be able to fight for awhile with all those broken limbs, tore ears and gouged eyes. Practitioners usually attack single opponents with standing grapple and gouge their eyes (or ears, cheeks, nose) out, throw them to ground and stomp their brains out. For multiple opponents they try to keep moving and kicking legs and groin waiting for an opportunity to land something decisive. Works best against single opponent. Throws, locks, chokes, disarm, dirty fighting, trips, targeted attacks.
SOUTHERN
Southern Animal Styles: Very aggressive and brutal style imitating animal movements. This style is one of the few examples of southern warrior’s off time. It is believed that warriors who were in prolonged break from fighting got bored and started to imitate movements of their favourite animals and being warriors soon they turned it to a fighting game. Hardens the legs of practitioner. Punches, kicks, eye gouging, biting, ground fighting, chokes.
Trial ritual fighting: Very pragmatic and multifaceted style. Used in south to prove you innocence in trial by combat. Practise is very hard and considerably toughens practitioners. Arguments inside of the tribe are often settled with unarmed combat to make sure that at least winner survives the fight. Fights are often to death, so style may seem brutal to some, but it just serves its purpose and saves the trouble of execution while sending the losing warrior to special heaven reserved for those who died in combat. Punches, kicks, throws, locks.
Warrior training: Fast and brutal. This style is taught in south to children and youngsters before real warrior skills. It is easy to learn and practitioners are able to defend themselves against unarmed or armed assailants. This is very simple, very basic style, but has all necessary things for gladiator to survive without his weapons. He might not do as well against trained unarmed combatants. Style also teaches the use of improvised weapons. Strikes, throws, disarm.
EASTERN
Wardancing: Acrobatic style fight dirty fighting. Teaches practitioners to use razors with their feet. Style resembles modern ballet with razor kicks. Style is quite new compared to other eastern styles and has met quite much opposition even with other dance artists because of its uncontrollable speed and aggression. Practitioners tend to move first and think later hoping for good result and that their chaotic movement and speed will confuse opponent. More traditional eastern dances are slower and movements very controlled. Kicks and acrobatics, counter wrestling
Dance of the four elements: Aggressive style. Teaches practitioner to stand his ground and counter every attack. Teaches you to be one of the four elements and changing the element when necessary. When you attack you are like the wind, when you hit you burn like fire, when you are attacked you are like water and when you are hit you stand like a rock. Style has leg movement, but it tends to be small steps that will take you back to the place you started seeming that you have not moved at all. Teachings are easily adopted to other styles of fighting. Throws, strikes.
Tiger-Crane philosophy: Defensive style. More than just a fighting style, it’s a way of life. Practitioners usually harden their hands and legs. This philosophy teaches you to consider differences of the tiger and crane. Tiger attacks its pray lightning fast and rips it apart with force. Crane only defends itself with grace striking only to vital spots to force opponent retreat. Many novices use these ways to attack and defence, but true master learn to defend like a tiger and attack like the crane. Punches and kicks.
Eastern Pugilism: Much like its roman counterpart it is used to entertain people in competitions and shows. It differs from Roman pugilism by having incorporated brutal kicks and clinch techniques. Practitioners usually toughen their legs to with stand strong kicks and some go even farther to make their shins hard as rock. In the east this sport is used for show purposes. Two fighters will engage each other and keep kicking, punching and kneeing until one is unconscious, much like Roman pugilism. It is not considered as fighting art in the east, but many Roman gladiators adopt it because of its effectiveness. Punches and kicks.
Still pond philosophy: Defensive style. Sister style of Dance of the four elements. It is said that if used in conjunction they will make user invincible. Style teaches you to be like water and let opponents attacks flow around you. It is rumours that there are four sister styles (or mother styles) to Dance of the four elements, one for each element. Three other are not known. This style focuses on defensive techniques of the Dance and the general philosophy of being like water. This philosophy reaches all aspects of the life of practitioner. Punches and throws.
Philosophy of four arms: Defensive style. Teaches practitioner to use his legs as well as his arms. They can strike and parry as well with their legs as their arms. This philosophy bases its ideas on a strange notion of that humans once were actually monkeys and so have innate ability to use their feet as hands. During practice practitioners often use feet to do mundane tasks that are usually reserved for hands like eating and washing dishes. Philosophy has also other rather strange advice about monkeying around. Punches and kicks.
Crane dance: High flying style that emphasizes kicks, real contender to western art of kicking. It also teaches to rapidly retract your kick so it cannot be grabbed. A slow, high flying dance imitating cranes movements while fighting a snake. Watching a master of this art to fight is truly a spectacle and will make other fighters look like brutes. Kicks.
The Slow Dance: Defensive style. Practitioners look more like they would be waltzing than fighting. They move with slow grace while opponents seem to fall to their faces around them. This is the most common dance in the east. It does not require strong physique and moves are easy to learn. One can see hundreds of practitioners going through their practise motion every morning in the streets of eastern world. Strikes, throws, trips.
Ninjitsu: Acrobatic and deadly. Eastern style for professional unarmed gladiators. Unlike in Rome these warriors tend to fight multiple opponents, armed opponents or even both! Their special fighting method involves arena full of walls and corridors where they can stalk their prey and attack without warning. Style is very slow to learn, but very deadly when mastered. It also teaches the use of improvised weapons. Kicks, targeted attacks, dirty fighting, throws.
Dance of the soldier: Fancy style, but yet effective. Style that was developed for soldier to be able to disarm his opponent and hurt him regardless of armor. Since eastern troops do not always wear armor style also has fast attacks to disable unarmored opponents. Kicks, locks, disarm.
Dance of falling hammers: Unarmed style meant for quick handling of multiple enemies. Concentrates on crippling strikes and fast locks. Practitioners try to bring opponents to ground or cripple some extremity fast and move on to next opponent. When multiple opponents are present it is common to use judo parries and continue with counterattack throws or use sweeps and stamp kick grounded opponent. With single opponent grappling is more common with finger locks and knee strikes to groin.
NORTHERN
Northern wrestling: Aggressive strength based style. Training includes different kinds of feats of strength. This “style” makes use of practitioners strength and is quite useless if opponent is stronger than you. It consists of bear hugs, limb wrenches and slow, but brutal strikes. Usually practitioner needs only one hit to finish the fight and is willing to take quite much punishment himself in order to achieve it. Strikes, Locks.
Berserker: Very much power based. Practitioners usually don’t care so much about protecting themselves as to slamming their opponents to ground and running them over. Training involves immense amounts of eating high protein foods that will sooner or later cause significant increase in practitioners mass. This combined with rigorous training makes practitioners able to withstand insane amounts of injury. They say that it is not required to be insane to fight like this, but it surely helps. You are almost certain to take large amounts of damage and win only by being able to withstand more than your opponent. Style is hugely popular among the fans. Slams, trips.
Hogwash: Grinding style. Used in the north to show your skill and strength by wrestling a hog to the river. Sometimes might be also used against other wrestlers to force them eat dung. Concentrates on control, ground fighting and ability to keep on going and going and going and going and going. This style is not fast, it is not popular and it sure as hell is not spectacular, but it will get things done. Practitioners often use their endurance to push the fight with extra effort and force opponent to step out from their comfort zone. It is easy to finish fight when opponent is so tired that he can barely crawl. Throws, ground fighting.
Bone crushing: Grappling art with few strikes. Probably only northern style that requires more skill than strength. Few serious warriors in north train this as do many of the northern gladiators. This is what happens when smart barbarians get beaten and live to think about it. Northern warriors or gladiators saw that with pure strength you can’t beat skill and developed their own strength based grappling form that has all the makings of an civilized style, but the rough northern feel and power. Throws, locks, chokes, ground fighting, disarm.
NOMAD
River folk fighting arts: Defensive style. Teaches practitioners to use opponents power against themselves. River folk travel with boats around the world offering services to villages and making tricks and shows. Many claim that they are also thieves and rapists. Their fighting styles are based on defending the boat against attackers, so many of the maneuvers are aimed at moving the opponent over the railing to the river. Their unarmed style is practised more than their armed one since weapons tend to be expensive, take room to wield and might not be at hand in boat. Kicks, throws, locks
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