Martial arts
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
- "I studied martial arts for several years. It was required by ONI for anyone engaging in frontline diplomacy with the Sangheili."
- — Olympia Vale[1]
Martial arts are fighting systems devised and employed for combat, self-defense, or sport. A practitioner of martial arts is referred to as a martial artist.
Overview[edit]
Unarmed martial arts teach striking or grappling techniques for hand-to-hand combat, whereas weapon-based martial arts employ the use of various hand-held objects such as swords, staffs, clubs, or knives. Many cultures practice different styles of combat based around unarmed and armed fighting.
Many United Nations Space Command inter-species delegates were required to learn martial arts as a prerequisite for serving as a frontline diplomat for the Office of Naval Intelligence with the Sangheili. Olympia Vale studied martial arts for several years at the Green Cloud institute in order to fulfill that requirement.[1] The Spartan supersoldiers were exceptionally well-versed in martial arts. The Spartan-II soldiers had spent years training on Reach with martial arts specialists provided by their drill instructor Franklin Mendez.[2] Li-008 was considered one of the best martial artists among the Spartan-II supersoldiers.[3] In addition to their War Games training aboard the UNSC Infinity, Spartan-IV soldiers practice multiple different forms of unarmed martial arts.[4] The Infinity also hosts fighting events where its crew members and Spartans can showcase their pugilistic skills in "cage matches".[5]
The Shadow Master of Buwan, an Unggoy Heavy warrior serving under Yapyap the Destroyer, is a martial artist and taught his disciples ancient Balaho martial arts and a number of useful rope knot tricks.[6]
Fighting arts[edit]
Forerunner[edit]
- Pan guth – Pan guth was an early fighting art practiced by some Forerunner Warrior-Servants.[7] One of the Ur-Didact's mentors, Silence-in-the-End, was a skilled master of pan guth. During the Didact's early training lessons on Nomdagro, Silence wielded a Xanxa staff and wore a traditional Warrior-Servant training robe over a black form-fitting protective skin that monitored his body.[8]
Human[edit]
- Aikido – Japanese martial art focused on the defense and also protecting their attackers from injury. The Spartan-IVs recommend this martial art against the Jiralhanae.[9]
- Boxing – Boxing is a combat sport in which two contenders fight with their fists in an attempt to knock out the opposing fighter. The martial art had been outlawed on the human Outer Colony of Eridanus II by the turn of the 26th century.[10]
- Jiu-jitsu – Also known as Jujutsu, this Japanese martial arts/system of close combat (unarmed or with small weapons) can be used in a defensive or offensive manner to kill or subdue one or more weaponless or armed opponents. The Spartan-IVs recommend this fighting system against the Insurrectionists.[9]
- Krav magá – Military self-defense and fighting system developed for the Israel Defense Forces and Israeli security forces derived from a combination of techniques sourced from aikido, boxing, wrestling, judo, and karate, and focused on a simultaneous, aggressive attack and defense combat. The Spartan-IVs recommend this fighting system against the Sangheili.[9]
- Wrestling – Wrestling is a combat sport involving grappling techniques such as throws, takedowns, pins and other grappling holds. During their years of military training, the Spartan-IIs spent endless hours on wrestling mats sparing with their teammates and handlers.[2] In 2520, Spartan trainee Carris-137 inadvertently killed a handler during a wrestling routine. She had reversed her handler's pin and thrown him away, causing the man to die instantly when his fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae were severed in the fall.[11]
Sangheili[edit]
- Stick-fighting – Stick-fighting is a generic term for martial arts which use simple slender wooden 'sticks' for fighting; such as a pugil stick, staff, cane, baton or similar. The Sangheili train extensively with sticks from youth, learning combat skills and the basics of the art of swordsmanship.[12][13]
- Swordsmanship – Sword fighting is the art and skill of combating with a sword weapon. The Sangheili have a long history of using bladed weapons, like the curveblade, burnblade, twin scythe, and the favored energy sword. A Sangheili warrior who became a master swordsman would ordinarily be referred to by the suffix -ai. In Sangheili culture, a Sangheili-ai's great prowness would attain them the social status of Aristocrat or the title of Blademaster.[14] Some Covenant vessels were fully fitted with dedicated training rooms which allowed Sangheili warriors to spar and hone their dueling skills in friendly combat.[15][16]
- Swordsmen train in various fighting forms and master numerous dueling techniques, many of which that are unfamiliar to Humans.[17] One technique, known as the 'Anyame technique, is taught by Xaebho 'Anyame in the fortress of Deithvo. The warriors of Sumai keep are well familiar with the 'Anyame technique and were taught to counter it by feigning incompetence in a duel.[18] Some skilled swordfighters, most notably Arbiters Fal 'Chavamee and Ripa 'Moramee, utilized the blade form known as Pzish'zawk, in which they dual wielded two plasma blades in battle.[19]
Gallery[edit]
Rtas 'Vadumee engages Bero 'Kusovai in a training duel.
John-117 fighting several ODSTs in a boxing ring.
John-117 locked in a sword duel with Thel 'Lodamee.
Arbiter Fal 'Chavamee, a skilled swordfighter, dual wielding energy swords.
Fal 'Chavamee preparing to duel against Haka 'Suukaree.
The future commander of the Fleet of Righteous Vigilance stick-fighting over a lake.
The future fleet master excelled in his martial training.
A young Thel 'Vadam trains with a wooden staff.
Spartan-G059 killing 'Telcam's Guards in close quarters combat.
Spartan Sarah Palmer engaging Spartan Vladimir Scruggs in hand to hand combat after his defection.
John-117 and Jameson Locke engaged in hand to hand combat.
Concept art of a ship's Sangheili training room.
A Sangheili training room inside the Triumph of Tolerance.
A Sangheili training dummy.
Sources[edit]
- ^ a b Halo: Hunters in the Dark, chapter 8
- ^ a b Halo: First Strike, chapter 34
- ^ Halo: First Strike, chapter 24
- ^ Halo: Escalation, issue 4
- ^ Halo 4, UNSC Infinity Briefing Packet
- ^ Halo Waypoint, Haze of Glory (Retrieved on May 13, 2021) [archive]
- ^ Halo: Cryptum, chapter 9
- ^ Halo: Epitaph, chapter 13
- ^ a b c Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual, page 40
- ^ HUNTtheTRUTH, episode Episode 03: Critical Condition
- ^ Dr. Halsey's personal journal: September 27, 2520
- ^ Halo: Evolutions – Motion Comics - Halo: The Return
- ^ Halo: Glasslands, chapter 2
- ^ Halo: Shadow of Intent
- ^ Halo Graphic Novel - The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor
- ^ Halo: Campaign Evolved, campaign level Boarding Action
- ^ Halo: Hunters in the Dark, chapter 6
- ^ Halo: Hunters in the Dark, chapter 3
- ^ Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - High Value Histories (Retrieved on Sep 8, 2022) [archive]
