Ultimate fleeing?

[taalismn]

Anyone ever devised a martial arts dedicated wholly to AVOIDING damage and bad situations, not so much for the Zen-calm pacifist, but for the preternaturally agile/lucky, unabashed coward?

Something ling Hau'Las, Flii'Flii'Flii, or the Art of Running Away?

[Tinker Dragoon]

There are a couple in the PMAN that come to mind, though perhaps not exactly what you're looking for:

Psu-Doe-Fu
Myo Na Kunren

[taalismn]

There are a couple in the PMAN that come to mind, though perhaps not exactly what you're looking for:

Psu-Doe-Fu
Myo Na Kunren

Close...but I take exception to the latter being created by a Librarian...most librarians are female, and I have NO intention of ever going into melee combat against them...one, because they're women(who will kick you in the fork), and two, because they're librarians...

But here's a Body Hardening Exercise for cowards---

Sip-Breathing----This exercise involves burying oneself under thick blankets with a minimum of open space between the cover and the ground to allow in air for breathing. Practitioners are taught how to breath quickly and quietly without stress-hyperventilating, regulating their breathing without giving their position away with panting or loud gasping, and while remaining perfectly alert. Extends breath-holding by 1d4 minutes, can operate at HALF normal oxygen consumption, +1 to P.E., and +1% to stealth from quiet breathing.

[Library Ogre]

Actually, in the Old Ones book for Palladium Fantasy, there is a Martial Art which has no offensive maneuvers at all.

[Nekira Sudacne]

Actually, in the Old Ones book for Palladium Fantasy, there is a Martial Art which has no offensive maneuvers at all.

and it's in mystic china too. just with a different name and some Chi abilities.

[Nekira Sudacne]

I assume we aren't talking about Lee Kwan Choo, which has lots of offensive maneuvers which don't connect or deal damage?

Nope. it dosn't even have KO moves.

[Regularguy]

Anyone ever devised a martial arts dedicated wholly to AVOIDING damage and bad situations, not so much for the Zen-calm pacifist, but for the preternaturally agile/lucky, unabashed coward?

Something ling Hau'Las, Flii'Flii'Flii, or the Art of Running Away?

I think the "wholly" part has already been addressed, but consider too something like Cotton Fist Kung Fu: sure, you could throw a punch or two if you wanted, but (a) the philosophy teaches one to "approach any combat encounter cautiously" while favoring a "constant sequence of Automatic Dodges and Circular Parries"; and so (b) it'd probably make more sense to pump Body Chi into MA for the "Unnerve At The Outset" Kata, into PP for all those Multiple Dodges and Automatic Parries -- and into Spd to just flee while that all-out defense is working.

Round out your options with the "Calm Minds" Zenjorike and I could see it.

(And you can also throw in the reverse, with Tai Chi; most of the aforementioned stuff would still be on the table, you can still couple Automatic and Multiple Dodges with Chi Mastery and Special Katas and Zenjorike -- but instead of running away at a mile a minute, you can push each assailant a mile away from you. Sure, that's an attack, but I can think of worse fits for an unabashed coward who genuinely wants to just put as much distance between himself and the other guy as possible.)

Otherwise, I guess there's always Drunken Style Kung Fu: you can model the "preternaturally agile/lucky" aspect of "avoiding damage and bad situations" by using its accidental-appearing somersault escape move to leave the combat area right before firing up the Arts Of Invisibility -- not to sneak back in for the Knockout/Stun from behind or anything, but simply to slink away. (I mean, a guy could get hurt otherwise, even while cowering behind that Chi Gung effect he's generating.)

[Guest]

Actually, in the Old Ones book for Palladium Fantasy, there is a Martial Art which has no offensive maneuvers at all.

and it's in mystic china too. just with a different name and some Chi abilities.

If you're thinking that Pao Chih is Evasive Combat with "a different name and some Chi abilities" you have no idea what you're talking about.

[Nekira Sudacne]

Actually, in the Old Ones book for Palladium Fantasy, there is a Martial Art which has no offensive maneuvers at all.

and it's in mystic china too. just with a different name and some Chi abilities.

If you're thinking that Pao Chih is Evasive Combat with "a different name and some Chi abilities" you have no idea what you're talking about.

huh? I wasn't talking about evasive combat. Just having no attacks.

[taalismn]

Running, athletics?

Leopard style perhaps, it has a nice speed bonus.

Ah, but the combat arts often require training in which one gets HIT---the true student(let's call them the Craven or the Self-Preservation Oriented) of a Evasive martial art doesn't even want to get hit in practice...in fact, any sort of physical contact that involves pain(unless it involves leather and/or lime jello) is considered a reason and opportunity to invoke mastery of an Evasive martial art.

[drewkitty ~..~]

Any convertion of the 'Sautome Anything Goes Martial Arts' should have their 'Ultimate Techique'.....ie run away

[taalismn]

Any convertion of the 'Sautome Anything Goes Martial Arts' should have their 'Ultimate Techique'.....ie run away

"Run Away and Re-Assess the Situation"---Though Genma never much did the latter half unless there was something left to eat or steal...

But a truly advanced Evasive style would sharpen Perception, to the point the practitioner could almost psychically pick up on a thrown knife, incoming bullet, or maybe even a laser sight and begin moving out of the way...THEN engage raw running speed...

[taalismn]

First, you face the opponent, to determine what his course of attack is most likely to be.

Then, lift your dominant foot, about knee height, swivel at the hip, and place it on the ground behind you, switch your weight to that foot, and repeat with the other.

Now, lift your knees up, then drive your feet down into the dirt rapidly...



...and run the hell away, if they really want to fight you, they will give chase.

Let them chase you for a mile or two, when they get really tired, turn around and kick their ass.

"Jack Rabbit kata become Vorpal Bunny kata!"