Which martial arts are great for speedsters?

[Ragitsu]

If you were choosing a martial arts style from Martial Arts for a speedster, which one(s) would it/they be and why?

[Celjabba]

capoeira, an 'always in motion' style, is my first idea.

otherwise...
few or little impaling weapon, that may get stuck.
No grappling/wrestling.
a good ranged skill
are, in my opinion, primary.

perhaps a mounted skill favoring cutting curved weapon and bow ?
(replacing the riding skill with extra move).

Furusiyya, possibly.
naginatajutsu could be deadly, with some shurikenjutsu on the side

Force-swordmanship, obviously.

Hope this help

Celjabba

[jeff_wilson]

Originally Posted by Ragitsu

If you were choosing a martial arts style from Martial Arts for a speedster, which one(s) would it/they be and why?

It would depend heavily on how the speeding was built in order to avoid duplication of abilities. Quarterstaff or spear dueling may be the best defensive option as it makes it harder for the speedster to be grappled and nullify their huge movement advantage.

If you're shopping for cinematic powers, arts with lightwalk will effectively muffle the tell-tale footpatter below the speed of sound giving you the element of surprise, and Zen forms may enhance your awareness the better to detect wire traps and other special hazards of high speed running.

[vitruvian]

A speedster-specific art with a Running Attack technique (Flying Attack minus the jump) so you can do full Move in combat without the skill cap.

[arnej]

Originally Posted by Ragitsu

If you were choosing a martial arts style from Martial Arts for a speedster, which one(s) would it/they be and why?

Just my personal imaginings, but when I picture a speedster in a fight, I see him zipping around, foes flying head-over-heels. He's always on the move. So, a style that doesn't focus on grappling or holds (keeps him in one place) and includes the Sweep or Trip maneuvers. Looking in MA, I looked first at Aikido/Aikijitsu, which, based on my experience, should have Sweep. They don't. Odd, I remember lots of clotheslining-style moves from my classes. Oh well. Moving on, searching for Sweep and strikes, I see:

• Capoeira (already mentioned)
• Hapkido
• Hsing I Chuan
• Hwa Rang Do (I like this because it includes Disarm - imagine Speedy zooming through the mooks and emerging with all their weapons!)
• Te (Kinda the kitchen sink approach)
• Muay Thai (for the finishing moves)
• Kumango Silat
• Quarterstaff (For Sweep and Disarm)
• Shaolin Kung Fu (another kitchen sink)
• Wushu

Of these, I kinda liked the Hwa Rang Do.

Reading the MA descriptions, Taijutsu uses "speed, flexibility, and quick movements to defend themselves and defeat their opponents." It doesn't fit my criteria (no Sweep), but it sounds like what you are looking for.

My $.04,

arnej

[David Johnston2]

What kind of speedster? The "run around at silly speeds" speedster or the "Have an insane number of combat actions" speedster?

[Gold & Appel Inc]

The Speedster in our Supers game is a master Sumo Wrestler, and it seems to work for him. He can Slam people through walls with his high HP and ridiculous Move, and gets the full range of sweeps, trips, basic grappling (Not optimal for his powers as mentioned above, but it's not worthless for a big guy either), etc.

[SonofJohn]

Wing Chun s Chainfiststrike anyone?

Jumpkick or Smash are as sayed above good techniques for a speedster, they are generating damage out of speed. You may should also get some grabling art to break free if grabed... may be some thing like Chin Na....

Well historically spoken the Flash tends to do some kind of Boxing and Dove from Hawk and Dove to some kind of Aikido.

[vicky_molokh]

Why is grappling so bad for speedsters? Grapple-Armlock-Throw is pretty nasty.

[Ragitsu]

Also, vibrating so fast as to cause burns to anyone in the grapple.