[Dungeon Fantasy] Non-East Asian inspirations for Martial Artists (and Ninja)

[Dalillama]

Originally Posted by jason taylor

European martial arts might include quarterstaff. Also that Irish walking stick with the cute name.

Originally Posted by jacobmuller

And don't forget the Irish Monks - after all those viking raids they added Anàil Beatha to their resumé. We all know how powerful Uisce Beatha is - just imagine Anàil...
Chi is cheesy, give me Anàil of Eireann!
Of course, a lot depends on how you pronounce it - might get a bit NSFW if your garlic is as bad as mine.
PS given that Uisce Beatha is pronounced whiskey baha; Samhain is sowain; ¿Anàil ≈ Ownail? (of iren). Maybe too drole...

Anaìl is pronounced roughly (and depending on regional dialect) "Ah-nole", and for a mystical tradition probably Anaìl Beatha, "Ah-nole beha". There is an extensive tradition of stick and unarmed fighting in Ireland that could translate well to the Martial Artist template, variously called Coraíocht, Shillelagh, Collar-and-elbow, and Irish Shin-kicking, and Irish mythology offers plenty of legendary warriors who could run fast, jump around like fleas, dual wield, wrestle monsters, etc.

[Michael Thayne]

Originally Posted by Dalillama

Anaìl is pronounced roughly (and depending on regional dialect) "Ah-nole", and for a mystical tradition probably Anaìl Beatha, "Ah-nole beha". There is an extensive tradition of stick and unarmed fighting in Ireland that could translate well to the Martial Artist template, variously called Coraíocht, Shillelagh, Collar-and-elbow, and Irish Shin-kicking, and Irish mythology offers plenty of legendary warriors who could run fast, jump around like fleas, dual wield, wrestle monsters, etc.

Interesting. This crossed my mind but a quick scan of GURPS Classic Myth didn't turn up anything. On a closer read, there's a fair discussion of superhuman abilities, but exclusively in the context of sidhe and part-sidhe characters. Furthermore the book explicitly says sidhe abilities require no training (CM75). I don't know if there are exceptions to that rule to be found in Celtic myth or not—certainly, the feats of heroes in other traditions seem to be a combination of blood and training. Though the real jackpot would be non-Asian traditions that take the stand anyone can be super through training.

[sir_pudding]

Cú Chulainn was trained by Scáthach.

[Michael Thayne]

Another option I can't believe I didn't think of earlier is the possibility that martial arts might be associated with non-humans—anything from elves, to half-celestials, to an ancient dwarven civilization with many long-lost secrets.

[Dalillama]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Cú Chulainn was trained by Scáthach.

Fionn Mac Cumhàil trained with the famous warriors Bodhmall and Liath Luachra.