DefenseCombat is always dangerous, even in a friendly brawl there’s the potential for a deadly injury.The chief principle of Kisat Dur is to end fights and disable opponents as quickly as possible. Remember: You probably have to live with being injured longer than they will. To that end defense is mostly focused on crippling or killing the enemy before they have a chance to hurt you. There are really only two keys to defense in Kisat Dur, Dodging and Sodel Ar. Both of these techniques should be used to set up attacks.
DodgeDodging serves two purposes, not only does it get you out of the way of attacks it also allows you to outmaneuver your enemy. Dodging can create the distance you need to catch your breath in a long engagement or just frustrate the hell out of the enemy. If you’re faster than your opponent or opponents you can dodge around the battlefield staying one step ahead of them and driving them to exhaustion. When the enemy is tired they slow down and may collapse or even black out. A well timed dodge can also be used to gain a better attack position.
Zimeshabod (Phantom Strike)This technique is all about using dodging to put yourself in a more advantageous position.
Here the practitioner is attacked by an unarmed elf. The dwarf faces north and the elf faces south.
The dwarf dodges a clumsy punch and moves to the northwest.
The elf is still facing south but the dwarf isn’t there anymore.
By the time the elf sees the fist coming his nose has been shortened. This punch to the nose could have been any attack, an enemy can’t block an attack they didn’t see.
Sodel Ar (Shield of Flesh)Sodel Ar is the shield of flesh, it’s using a grapple (usually with an open hand) to catch an incoming blow. Sodel Ar is popular in tavern brawls but it is incredibly versatile. Sodel Ar CANNOT stop a bite, scratch, or a grapple but that’s the extent of its limitations. Armed enemies, wild animals, beasts, anything that makes a basic attack can have Sodel Ar used against them.
Here the practitioner is attacked by a giant. Our practitioner weighs 85 Urists, the Giant tips the scales at 12,621 almost 150 times heavier. You’d have to very confident or very foolish to wrestle this creature. Threatened with a fist twice his size the most obvious thing to do is dodge.
The practitioner doesn't do the most obvious thing. With a mix of technique, a mastery of basic physics, and sheer dwarven willpower he tries to grab the incoming fist with his own much smaller hand.
It works. The giant was not ready for that, it spends a moment recovering from throwing the punch and from the shock of what it's just witnessed. This is Sodel Ar.
Stotabod (Surprise Strike, or Sucker-Punch)A practitioner should never rest on simple defense. With the Giant recovering from it's failed attack the time is ripe to inflict as much damage as possible. The Stotabod is a technique that employs a simple strike against an enemy that's been thrown off balance by Sodel Ar.
The giant was definitely not ready for that. He easily breaks the practitioner's grip but the blow rocks him and now that he's stunned he's ripe for a followup.
Here as in
any fight the difference between life and death is one good punch. A chokehold can finish of the unconscious brute and our practitioner can drink for free anywhere in the world with the story of how he killed a giant with his bare hands.