[MA] Southern Kung Fu, the Common Folk and Tong Hatchetmen - Page 2

Icelander · 10-02-2012, 12:34 AM

GURPS Martial Arts does a splendid job of presenting a variety of styles from around the world and from different periods. Inevitably, however, the time must come when one desires a style not detailed there.

A preference for verifiable sources in MA leads to a preponderance of published styles presented in a late form. Among the Southern Chinese styles, there is a bit of a dearth when one looks for styles that could have been in southern China during the Song and early Ming dynasty. Generally, the Southern Fist styles that appear in MA date no earlier later than 16th century and the versions of Hung Gar and Wing Chun in the book are presented in their fairly modern and formalised form.

The 19th-century fusion-style Choy Li Fut doesn't appear in MA and apart from Hung Gar, the Southern older styles that found their way into it mostly don't either. So if I want to stat a 13th-16th martial artist using a Southern Kung Fu style, I'm in a bit of a bind.

I'm mostly wondering about write-ups for styles that would be popular among river pirates, urban criminals and other common people. It would be these styles that would be most likely to become the roots of the martial systems among early triad and tong hatchet-men. And thus, of course, make their way into innumerable martial art themed games, set in a variety of settings and time periods.

I'm thinking that modifications of Wing Chun, maybe adding a few easily concealable weapon skills, would be a good start for some of them. Add Axe/Mace and Knife to Wing Chun and you have a fine hatchet-man style. The same would apply to Hung Gar, I guess, except that realistic hatchet-men might focus rather less on Breath-Control and Philosophy than weapons.

I'd like to know more about the methods of use for knives and hatchets in these styles, though. And if any particular Techniques belong there. And if forumites had any suggestions for other styles that I should consider.

Edit: Oh! And should I use Shield skill for a bench used as an improvised weapon? Or Axe/Mace (one- or two-handed as appropriate)?

10-02-2012, 12:34 AM	#1
Icelander Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Iceland*	[MA] Southern Kung Fu, the Common Folk and Tong Hatchetmen GURPS Martial Arts does a splendid job of presenting a variety of styles from around the world and from different periods. Inevitably, however, the time must come when one desires a style not detailed there. A preference for verifiable sources in MA leads to a preponderance of published styles presented in a late form. Among the Southern Chinese styles, there is a bit of a dearth when one looks for styles that could have been in southern China during the Song and early Ming dynasty. Generally, the Southern Fist styles that appear in MA date no earlier later than 16th century and the versions of Hung Gar and Wing Chun in the book are presented in their fairly modern and formalised form. The 19th-century fusion-style Choy Li Fut doesn't appear in MA and apart from Hung Gar, the Southern older styles that found their way into it mostly don't either. So if I want to stat a 13th-16th martial artist using a Southern Kung Fu style, I'm in a bit of a bind. I'm mostly wondering about write-ups for styles that would be popular among river pirates, urban criminals and other common people. It would be these styles that would be most likely to become the roots of the martial systems among early triad and tong hatchet-men. And thus, of course, make their way into innumerable martial art themed games, set in a variety of settings and time periods. I'm thinking that modifications of Wing Chun, maybe adding a few easily concealable weapon skills, would be a good start for some of them. Add Axe/Mace and Knife to Wing Chun and you have a fine hatchet-man style. The same would apply to Hung Gar, I guess, except that realistic hatchet-men might focus rather less on Breath-Control and Philosophy than weapons. I'd like to know more about the methods of use for knives and hatchets in these styles, though. And if any particular Techniques belong there. And if forumites had any suggestions for other styles that I should consider. Edit: Oh! And should I use Shield skill for a bench used as an improvised weapon? Or Axe/Mace (one- or two-handed as appropriate)? __________________ Za uspiekh nashevo beznadiozhnovo diela! Last edited by Icelander; 10-02-2012 at 12:38 AM.