Can Animals Be Taught Martial Arts?

[scc]

OK, I'm working on a HellBeast template and one thing I'm wondering is if domesticated ones could be taught skills like Karate if trained as attack dogs and the like

[mr beer]

I think Brawling and a Technique or two is about what's reasonable for a trained fighting animal.

You could certainly train a dog to attack particular locations (Neck and Groin spring to mind) so points in Targeted Attack are not silly IMO.

This depends somewhat on the animal's IQ I think, are HellBeasts as smart as dogs, chimps, people? You could train a dim person in Karate I imagine.

[Dalillama]

I saw a news story a while back about a fellow who taught some monkeys kung fu for a street show. He treated them badly and wound up getting beaten up by a band of kung fu monkeys. That said, most animals are going to be looking at Brawling, because 1) Brawiling covers natural weapons by default, unlike Karate, and 2) they haven't got the body layout to use Karate anyway. It would certainly be plausible for sapient quadrupeds to develop an equivalent scientific fighting style(s), (Bun Fu, anyone?) but I don't know that humans could do it on their behalf.

[mr beer]

Originally Posted by Dalillama

I saw a news story a while back about a fellow who taught some monkeys kung fu for a street show. He treated them badly and wound up getting beaten up by a band of kung fu monkeys.

I should be working but now I'm laughing at my desk. I'm imagining the monkeys beating him while wearing those little monkey fez hats, set to Yakkety Sax.

[doulos05]

Originally Posted by Dalillama

I saw a news story a while back about a fellow who taught some monkeys kung fu for a street show. He treated them badly and wound up getting beaten up by a band of kung fu monkeys.

Thank you, that just became the best query in my Google search results to date. The only bummer is that there's no video, only a picture. But the picture is pretty awesome.

That said, most animals are going to be looking at Brawling, because 1) Brawiling covers natural weapons by default, unlike Karate, and 2) they haven't got the body layout to use Karate anyway. It would certainly be plausible for sapient quadrupeds to develop an equivalent scientific fighting style(s), (Bun Fu, anyone?) but I don't know that humans could do it on their behalf.

I think this makes sense. Wasn't there something in a Pyramid about fighting styles for aliens with different limb configurations than humans?

[whswhs]

In Transhuman Mysteries I wrote up a martial art for uplifted dogs. But THS uplifted dogs have IQ something like 6-8. I wouldn't figure you could teach such a thing to a nonsapient being.

[chandley]

Arguably, Police dogs get either Sumo Wrestling or Wrestling. And even use one or both of Sweep or Takedown. They are definitely trained to do it better than raw ST or a straight DX roll might suggest, anyway. And I dont think you can use either with Brawling.

Striking skills though, might need some sapience.

[Culture20]

Originally Posted by Dalillama

they haven't got the body layout to use Karate anyway. It would certainly be plausible for sapient quadrupeds to develop an equivalent scientific fighting style(s), (Bun Fu, anyone?) but I don't know that humans could do it on their behalf.

GURPS Karate is a generic skill that just means more effective fighting than Brawling. If a dog learns how to apply its body weight and biting grip to flip an opponent, then it might know GURPS Judo, but not actual judo.

[scc]

Originally Posted by mr beer

I think Brawling and a Technique or two is about what's reasonable for a trained fighting animal.

You could certainly train a dog to attack particular locations (Neck and Groin spring to mind) so points in Targeted Attack are not silly IMO.

This depends somewhat on the animal's IQ I think, are HellBeasts as smart as dogs, chimps, people? You could train a dim person in Karate I imagine.

Hellbeast is an Infectious Meta-Trait

EDIT: Sorry, let me elaborate on that,it's a template applied to a normal animal to make them into a demonic version

[Kalzazz]

I would think if you have domestic Hellbeasts I wouldn't blink at teaching them Karate