Martial arts

Martial arts is, formally, any of the traditional forms of self-defense or combat that utilize physical skill and coordination without weapons, as karate, aikido, judo, or kung fu, often practiced as sport. Generally, it is the practice and toning of functional combat ability. Virtually every species in the galaxy has their own personalized form of one kind or another.

Andorian Forms

• Alnaav

Like any other people who survive under harsh conditions, the Andorians have a certain streak of mysticism and superstition in their culture (which the presence of psionic powers only feeds and enhances). Some warriors long ago came to believe that they could train themselves to tap into a "mystic fighting potential," or shonalnov, which would make them matchless opponents. The martial art they developed which helps them exploit this potential is called alnaav.

Alnaav is a rare style. It requires a level of discipline and dedication rare even among Andorians. Students must practice a cruel asceticism, drilling themselves for hours on end in the worst conditions with little to eat or drink, to develop their shonalnov. However, once they learn how to tap their shonalnov - which usually happens in a brilliant flash of insight and inspiration known as shena - their fighting skills, already highly developed due to training, become markedly better overnight. Only then do they truly begin to practice alnaav.

• Hleshvalath

Most Andorian fighting styles employ direct force. Hleshvalath, or "Andorian wrestling," follows this model in an indirect fashion. Like most wrestling types of arts, it emphasizes grappling and restraint of the opponent. Unlike such styles, which are relatively nonviolent and slow-paced, Hreshvalath is quick, harsh, and brutal. Combatants try their best to injure each other with slams, joint-breaks, and bear hugs, and often throw basic punches and similar maneuvers into the mix to keep their opponents off-balance.

• Kharakom

Often described to humans as "Andorian boxing," Kharakom is actually a somewhat more complex fighting style. At its most basic level, it does concentrate almost exclusively on punches, ranging from short, straight jabs to the infamous "hookhammer" roundhouses which can supposedly drop an Andorian bull. Students who master those maneuvers can, however, go on to expand the breadth of their fighting skill, learning a grab maneuver and footsweep maneuver.

Cardassian Forms

• Adalarek

Gul Adal created this style in 2298. It is the most recent addition to the list of Cardassian fighting styles. Even so, it is the most popular amongst the Cardassian youth, and it sports the boast of being the Third Order's official style.

The style is primarily defensive in nature, as most of its forms involve deflecting or redirecting incoming attacks. Most techniques used by this style result in a pin or lock against the opponent. Each pin or lock effectively immobilies the target, as well as causing significant pain while the target is so trapped. The closest human equivalent would be aikido.

• Caramarek

This fighting style originated with the Second Hebitians. It was originally passed down through a religious sect called the Followers of Caram. When the military ascended to power, the sect was eliminated, and their followers imprisoned, exiled or killed. However, the Obsidian Order seized their scrolls and tablets. The Obsidian Order now guards these texts with zeal, and teaches the Caramarek fighting style only to its own operatives. Cardassians outside this Order fear the style, sometimes calling it the "Black Death." Since the all-but-total destruction of the Obsidian Order during the Omarian Incident, those members who survived taught this style to the groups they have affiliated themselves with since that fateful ambush and it has since spread.

The style is centered on stealth, and emphasizes attacking from shadows. Its closest Earth counterpart would be ninjitsu. The earliest stages of this style teach stealth, then forms of evasion are taught, and then finally striking and assassination techniques are taught.

• Dararek

This fighting style is possibly the oldest on record, and continues to be quite popular amongst the Military Orders. It is a quick, forceful style, created with the intention of ending a fight as quickly as possible. This style is also known amongst non-military groups - although it is not openly advertised by the non-military that they know it. The closest Terran equivalent would be karate.

• Talarek

This style was "developed" by a commoner named Tal many ages ago - no one really is sure when. The style was developed during the times when the military was on its rise to power. The style itself is a fast and dirty one - a human watching the style being used would recognize elements of both wrestling and boxing in use. The style would also, on appearances, to have some ties to the Rigellian style of Tatharoc - however, the Cardassians who utilize this style would proudly boast of Talarek's purity as a Cardassian style.

Human Forms

• Aikido

Created over 300 years ago by Morihei Ueshiba of Earth over 400 years ago in the 20th century, aikido focuses on redirection and manipulation of an opponent's energy. Instead of lashing out at an enemy with strikes and kicks, the aikidoka (aikido practicioner) waits for his adversary to attack, then disables him with throws, takedowns, and similar maneuvers which use the attacker's energy against him. Aikidoka try to remain balanced, focused, and calm at all times, reacting to violence not with more violence. It remains very popular in some parts of the Federation, where peaceful solutions to violent problems have always been valued. More violent or passionate Federation members, such as the Andorians or Tellarites, tend to scorn it.

• Boxing

This fighting style represents a wide variety of styles developed independently all over the galaxy, from the namesake sport of Earth, to the kharakom of the Andorian clans, to the indrial of Alpha Centauri, to the Klingon qEl'qrA (sometimes called "Smash-Fist" by other species). All of them are minimalistic styles which rely on punching and blocking; they contain no kicks, grabs, joint-locks, nerve strikes, or other maneuvers. A boxer simply trades powerful blows with his opponent until one of them falls. Needless to say, big, strong people who can take a lot of punishment tend to excel at this style when compared to smaller folk.

• Jeet Kune Do

Developed by a man from Earth during the 20th Century named Bruce Lee, the name literally means "Way of Intercepting Fist." It's followers were numerous during the 20th and into the 21st Century on Earth. The system involves 6 main principles: Be like water; Economy of motion; The four ranges of combat; Five ways of attack; Combat realism; Centerline.

• Karate

This style, perhaps the most common of the Asian martial arts of Earth, originated centuries ago on the island of Okinawa. A straightforward style which uses direct punches, kicks, and other attacks, karate is well suited for use in starship corridors or other cramped quarters.

More so than perhaps any other Earth fighting style, karate has proven popular with other species. Many Vulcans, Bolians, Betazoids, and Zakdorn, among others, have learned it. Klingons and Andorians often scorn it as being "too fancy."

• Kung Fu

Kung fu, a broad and eclectic fighting style, began over two thousand years ago in the area of Earth now called China. Originally a primitive martial art, it grew and diversified over the centuries, until literally hundreds of substyles covering virtually every possible method of fighting had evolved.

When mankind went into space, he took kung fu with him; since then many nonhumans have learned one substyle or another. Some of the most prominent forms of kung fu include Chin Na, Drunken style, Monkey, Praying Mantis, the Shaolin animal styles (Crane, Dragon, Leopard, Snake, and the like) and Wing Chun.

A great deal of mysticism surrounds much of kung fu. According to old legends, kung fu masters could walk without leaving tracks, break heavy objects with a mere slap of their hands, resist blows from weapons without harm, strike foes at a distance, and even kill an enemy with a single touch. Today, some scientists attempt to prove that such abilities could, and did, exist.

• Starfleet Martial Arts

Knowing its officers often get into situations where hand-to-hand combat is unavoidable, Starfleet scoured the galaxy looking for the best fighting maneuvers to teach its members. It combined those maneuvers into an eclectic style known simply as Starfleet Martial Arts. Portraying the influence of dozens of worlds, and having been carried to hundreds more by the intrepid officers of Starfleet, it has proven itself as one of the most effective defensive arts known today.

• Wing Chun

Developed in China during a time of turmoil and war by a nun, Wing Chun is considered one of the more serious and straight-forward martial arts to have developed from China. Some of it's more famous followers include the Old Earth star Bruce Lee, who later went on to develop his own style of Kung Fu as a variation of Wing Chun known as Jeet Kune Do. Wing Chun is most commonly known for it's straight punch, bong sau and sticking hands technique.

• Wrestling

A thousand different cultures on a thousand different worlds have developed fighting styles which can broadly be described using the human term "wrestling." These styles have in common the use of grappling, throwing, and pinning techniques as opposed to punches or kicks. The goal in wrestling is to immobilize the opponent, not to injure him.

Many forms of wrestling, such as Greco-Roman (from Earth) or Galeo-Manada (from Alpha Centauri) have degenerated to the point where they are solely athletic activities.

Klingon Forms

• Calisthenics

• Mok'bara

Romulan Forms

• Ch'Vashrek

Although not as old as Kormerek or N'delrek, Ch'Vashrek has still been around for a long time - well over a thousand years. Modern-day masters trace its origins to an ancient temple of warrior-priests, the Ch'Vash. The leaders of the temple developed a series of exercises to keep the monks in fighting trim. Gradually, over the course of a century or so, these exercises merged with certain weapon techniques to create an unarmed fighting style. The monks of Ch'Vash became feared throughout the land for their prowess, and kings and generals sought their services as mercenaries.

Over time, the monks taught outsiders their techniques, and the number of instructors claiming to teach "true" Ch'Vashrek proliferated. With this proliferation, the style began to diverge, as these outsiders developed their own techniques. Eventually there were many different fighting styles all lumped together under the name of Ch'Vashrek. Some were hard, fast, direct styles; others were sinuous and graceful and emphasized reacting to attack rather than initiating it. Many other variations developed. Today there are hundreds of different Ch'Vashrek "schools" on Romulus, each teaching its own blend of the various techniques.

• Kormerek

The precise origins of this martial arts style are lost in the mists of time, but none can deny its roots are quite ancient. Some scholars believe it derives from fighting techniques learned by the proto-Romulans before they fled Vulcan, perhaps from one of the ancient religious orders. Others claim it was developed by Romulans to help them fight the Zelvorians. The truth will probably never be known.

Kormerek is a swift, brutal fighting style. It concentrates on nerve strikes, bone- and joint-breaking, and similar techniques. When two Kormerek practitioners meet on the field, one of them, at least, is going to leave it bloody (if he leaves at all) - and it's not uncommon for both fighters to be covered in their own blood by the end of a match. Although blocking attacks are allowed under the conventions governing the style, Kormerek practitioners consider dodging to be cowardly and do not engage in such practices.

Kormerek practitioners are sometimes looked at askance by "respectable" Romulans. The style is know for its viciousness, and many believe that anyone who practices it is a violent, ruthless thug and leg-breaker.

• N'delrek

N'delrek, thought to be nearly as old as Komerek, is also considered much more "respectable" than the bone-breaking art. Comparable in some ways to Earth styles such as jujitsu and wrestling, N'delrek's techniques concentrate on obtaining a hold on the target and then immobilizing him or forcing him to the ground. Once a target is vulnerable, he can be rendered unconscious - or even dead - with attacks and nerve strikes.

• Romulan Navy Martial Arts

This style could be considered the equivalent of the Starfleet Martial Arts techniques taught at Starfleet Academy. Every Romulan who goes through the Serona learns a few basic maneuvers from this style; Romulans who attend the Romulan War College learn the entire package of maneuvers.

Naval Martial Arts represent a basic conglomeration of other styles. The result is a fairly simple and straightforward meta-style which avoids fancy or flowery maneuvers, and instead concentrates on direct attacks and defenses. The purpose of the style is to knock an opponent out or kill him as quickly as possible, not to defeat him using esoteric techniques.

• Tenalri

If humans knew about this martial art, they'd probably call it "Romulan kickboing." Tenalri was developed several hundred years ago by street toughs who haunted the alleys of some of the larger Romulan cities, fighting with each other and committing petty crimes. Eventually they concentrated solely on fighting among themselves; skill in combat was seen as a sign of superiority and power, and brought profit and prestige.

Eventually the art became legitimate and gradually moved from the streets and into the mainstream. Today, it is best known to most Romulan citizens as a sport on which they bet. Broadcast Tenalri matches are one of the most popular forms of entertainment on modern Romulus, and rivalries among fans of the most popular fighters can become intense.

Vulcan Forms

• Kareel-ifla

Known to some wags in Starfleet as "Vulcan karate," kareel-ifla is almost the opposite of ponn-ifla. Created millennia ago during one of the most violent periods in Vulcan's early history, it stresses the quick, direct application of force to end a fight as rapidly as possible. In ancient times practitioners of kareel-ifla were often considered to be ruthless, savage brutes, and in many Vulcan eyes the style as an unsavory reputation even today. However, it's impossible to deny its effectiveness; Vulcans trained in kareel-ifla are able to face the likes of Klingons and Nausicaans in unarmed combat and leave them broken on the floor.

• Ponn-ifla

Although it is one of the youngest Vulcan martial arts, having been created by the warrior-poet Ladok a mere seven hundred years ago, ponn-ifla is also one of the most popular on modern-day Vulcan. Even though it is quite effective in actual combat conditions, ponn-ifla's philosophy is one of nonviolence and peaceful reaction to aggression. The style concentrates on dodging, blocking, joint-locks, throws, and similar maneuvers instead of strikes.

A practitioner is expected to respond to force with a minimum of effort and movement, turning the attacker's blows back on him rather than initiating attacks of his own. A ponn-ifla master can take on a dozen attackers and incapacitate them all without moving more than a foot or two from his starting position. Indeed, the style's very name derives from an ancient Vulcan saying regarding the calmness in the eye of a storm; a practitioner is expected to be an eye of peacefulness amid a storm of violence.

• Taroon-ifla

This martial arts style is known by the vast majority of Vulcans. Most Vulcan children are trained in it from a very early age. It is perhaps the only single-maneuver martial art in the Federation. The entire style consists of a single attack - a "pinch," or form of pressure, applied to certain nerve clusters in the opponent's body. However, that one maneuver requires so much training and skill that it is as difficult to learn as many entire martial arts styles. First, a student has to learn where the vulnerable nerve clusters are in the target's body. This requires a focused familiarity with the anatomy of dozens of species. For most humanoid races the best location at which to apply the pinch is where the neck and shoulder join, but in some races the lower back, side, or side of the head, for example, is the appropriate target. Second, the student must learn how to apply the pressure to create the desired effect. Anyone with hands can grab someone's neck and squeeze, but he won't accomplish anything. It requires precise knowledge of where the nerve clusters are located and how to apply the pressure to use the Vulcan nerve pinch.

Other Forms

• Nausicaan Pitfighting

This loathsome and vicious form of combat was developed by the Nausicaans, that bullying, often murderous, species whose members are so often found in the ranks of pirates, mercenaries, and other nefarious sorts. It started as a way for brutal Nausicaan pitfighters to get the upper hand over their opponents during fights staged for gambling or punitive purposes. Although it works best for large, strong persons like the typical Nausicaan, some members of other species have learned it.

• Tatharoc

Tathoroc (or, as it is more commonly known, "Rigellian karate") was developed by the Orions of Rigel VII at some unknown point in their checkered past; few records regarding the style's early practitioners remain, and most of them contradict each other. According to Federation scholars' best guess, Tatharoc, which uses rapid kicks, claw-like "rake-punches," and vicious headbutts, was developed by normal Orions in an effort to compete with, or contain, the animalistic sub-caste of their race. Many people can learn tatharoc fairly easily, so the art long ago passed beyond the confines of the Rigel System and its peoples.