Equestrian martial arts

[Erlenmeyer]

Now before everyone gets up in arms (see what I did there?), I know that people don't usually like to mix violence/weaponry with their ponies. However, I think that this will be an interesting topic to discuss, personally.

Obviously Equestria is quite peaceful, given the occasional vengeful/escaped deity or invasion. Also fighting, self defense, and weaponry has been seen the show. Though it seems that most if it is defensive. Rainbow Dash did have a black belt in karate. Pipsqueak had a toy sword, obviously based on the real thing. Also the fact that the Princesses have royal guards indicates that they have some method of defense. Magic is also seen as a defense and a weapon. So I wonder how hoof to hoof combat would work. How would a pony wield a sword or any weapon for that matter? Basically the overall question is what kind of techniques do ponies use to fight or defend themselves? DISCUSS!

[WhiteSlash]

It is quite interesting! I imagine that if weapons had to be made for use in Equestria, whoever makes them would take into account the easiest way to use them. This seems to be by designing weapons to be wielding using their mouth but I still think some weapons could be made to work with hooves. Perhaps like the guard you would see on a cutlass but used as a grip around a hoof, maybe tightens by way of a strap or something...If that makes sense :L As for hoof to hoof combat you actually get to see a little bit of that in the big fight with changelings! Rainbow Dash totally uppercuts one I think.

[Snowshoe]

I've seen weapon-based combat work in several ways.

Fallout: Equestria runs with the whole "Weapon in the mouth" thing. Melee weapons are gripped tight between the teeth, and are used that way. The same works for firearms in that 'verse: there are bits that are held between the teeth, with a lever and other controls operated by the tongue.

This picture here has it working much like an Indian Pata sword, where the entire blade straps around the hoof.

Both are interesting ways of doing it, but I could see ponies probably doing more of the first one for long weapons like swords, and the second for smaller ones, like daggers and the like, that wouldn't get in the way when walking (or were spring-loaded, Assassin's Creed style). As for how it would work, jousting style. The ponies would face each other, blades at the ready, and go at each other, the intent being to block the opponent's sword and knock it away without losing yours, so you can get an attack in. All combat with mouth-held weapons would probably be that fast, hit-and-run style of combat. For a hoof mounted one you could take a stand and actually get a bit more creative with your combat.

I even came up with a system to allow ponies to fire crossbows for my upcoming ponified Cold War fic. The bow is strapped to the hoof, right around the fetlock (their "wrist"), so that when they want to fire, they flex the wrist to hit a little switch and fire the bolt. Loading is done via teeth.

As for hoof to hoof combat, like WhiteSlash said, we've seen examples of it. Bucks and swings, just your standard kinda fighting. Though again, given how ponies don't usually stand on two legs, and thus can't do a lot of fancy stuff like hold a block for too long, I figure the combat here would also be quick. Run at the opponent, quickly pivot and buck them in the chest, etc.

[tacobob]

The mouth thing to me always seems to be rather awkward. How can you tell your opponent that he or she 'Fights Like A Cow' or that, "I've got a long, sharp lesson for you you to learn today!" if you got something in your mouth. I do like punch daggers...

[TotalEcplise]

That picture is godlike.

[Bellosh]

I for one also think it's silly for ponies to normally wield weapons with their teeth. I assume that ponies either strap swords onto their hooves or simply enchant weapons to stick to hooves better. Additionally, I don't think ponies would bother with bows for warfare when unicorn magic is more convenient to use as a ranged weapon.

[tacobob]

That picture is godlike.

If you're talking about the one I posted..Here's a link to the artist and his pics..

http://equestria-prevails.deviantart.com/

[Tenkan]

Reading the title, I instantly pictured this.

[Bijlmuts]

I personally am a fan of them somehow wielding weapons on their hooves, either just some how sticking or being grafted on somehow. I also recently imagined that someponies might of fashioned some sort of helm with a Unicorn-like sharpened horn which could be worn by any of the three species. It makes sense to me since not only would it not obscure their hooves or mouths but will also offer head protection while giving them a weapon.

[abc]

Maybe unicorns have some different more"deadly" spells if the need were to arise.

Also I like the idea of a weapon maybe strapped to the arm or hoof like a dagger or something....

This is a very good topic, its something I've really never thought about actually.

[kunio18]

i love that round house kick rarity does to AJ, looks like that hurt alot

[Dunder]

I always loved the idea of Equestrian martial arts. My ponysona is a master martial artist, and I study Renaissance European Martial arts.

Pretty much, I can see ponies using people weapons with people methods of using them. We've seen in the show that ponies can move like people, and the best example being pinkie pie and even Rarity kicking Applejack in that gif.

Also, in the show the royal guardsponies had spears, a weapon designed from people. It would be safe to guess that if they can grip a spear, they can grip a sword in their hooves.

gripping a sword anywhere else would be kind of ridiculous. Neck movements aren't varied enough to have good defense or offense. Even attaching it to the hoof by some method could be somewhat harmful, as letting go of a sword and still being able to grip it tightly is important. Half-swording, or hammer gripping ( http://www.thearma.org/essays/Talhoffer/HT-Web_files/image014.jpg ) is important for blocking and getting through armor.

Basically, I can see ponies gripping swords and spears and whatever other weapons in their hooves. Maybe some of the martial arts could be underdeveloped because of possible lack of war, but maybe search for knowledge and better understanding of how to use a sword has stopped it. I like to think that Equestrian martial arts are like European martial arts, just translated for ponies.

[Erlenmeyer]

I can imagine a specialized kind of art where the pony utilizes his/her mouth and tail to wield a short sword or a largish knife. I got the idea from Applejack using her tail for lassos and stuff. It could be a a very agility based art where coordination is key if you don't want to cut yourself. I could involve tossing the blade in the air to switch between mouth and tail. Probably, if they're fast enough, they could work in some strikes between switching. This kind of combat would be used by Earth ponies and Pegasi. I think that when the blade is in the mouth it would be more for closer combat like lunging, stabs, and short slashes and swings. It could be used for blocks as well. When its on the tail, it would involve large slashes and using it kind of like a whip. If you want to get fancy, the pony can do flips and other acrobatics to use the momentum to slash at their opponents.

As for pegasi, I like the idea of wing blades. Fast areal combat where the pegasi dive or fly past their opponent with their wings extended. The problem is that ramming your wing at high speeds into something wouldn't be a very good idea, regardless of what's on it.

[Lerian]

Some ideas.

If ponies fight like humans, as has been shown then a lot of human fighting techniques are directly transferrable with greater or lesser emphasis on gripping. (Throws and holds as well as human-like weapon use)

Jousting is good for a single charge but less so for sustained combat so it may not be a focus of training unless you have enough of a species/tribe advantage to charge & retreat.

If ponies tend to fight four-legged, as implied any time that the guards are shown, then you have to think about fighting like a four-legged (prey) animal. The ideal strike an unarmed pony could perform would be a double back legged kick but this may be difficult to pull off in a fight or large battle. You would have to surprise your opponent, have them distracted or perhaps have methods for getting them into correct position relative to yourself (e.g. Footwork training to confuse and step-around your opponent, acrobatics* or actions used in styles like Aikido** allowing opponents force/body to be re-directed so you can then double kick them?)

Horses (and ponies?) also fight each other by rearing up and using their forelegs and biting. This strikes me as the position many fights would end up in, both single and group combat. So you have two combatants, constantly rearing up and battering at each other with forelegs and biting and shying their head away, how would weapons and armour factor into this? Would a 'sticking hands hooves' method evolve or do ponies have to drop down on their four legs too often to make this viable?

Any hoof based weapon is likely to be strapped to the foreleg rather than 'held' due to the fact that you are constantly dropping onto your front legs, additionally any such weapon is not going to be long enough to pass your hoof lest it strikes the ground (getting stuck, blunting it, striking a stone).

I propose a form of slightly flared foreleg blades that are used to slash at an opponent instead of merely attacking them with your hooves. They are attached, separately or on armour, mid foreleg and below the knee/elbow. They strike forward and downwards as you naturally travel with your existing 'rear and strike' combat method. The focus is likely to be on the cutting edge rather than penetration which could stick in your opponent and tie up that leg. You may also choose to put slight serrations on the edge to increase damage, again not too large or flamboyant to prevent catching.+

Pegasi are likely to have their own fighting style as they can demonstrably use six limbs to fight instead of just four, they also have the ability, and mindset, to fight three-dimensionally. They will certainly train to fight any ground based opponents from above, whether using ranged weapons, increased desire to drop and pin (be careful of spears!) or just the increased mobility and option to attack using all four legs at once against an opponent that is used to fighting somepony at the same level. Pegasi always have the high ground!

Unicorns are an odd one. TK is obviously a massive game changer, let alone the (Twilight/specialist level?) ability to fire magic bolts. Would they use their horn in combat, as a charge method or a 'get below them and stab' method?++

Is the horn a moot point in combat at is too valuable to risk losing or damaging and they fight in the same way as earth ponies using TK as and when?

*Lovely in films, I'm not sure how viable in actual combat...

** and myriad similar styles

+

Focusing on the edges alone, note the option to use 'easy in-tear out' (1&3) or 'tear in-easy out' (2&4) serrations/jaggy bits. Perhaps a favour on the latter as you are using your bodyweight and gravity to increase force?

++ Picturing a scene of an earth pony squaring off in a rearing 'high' stance against a unicorn in a 'low' horn up stance...

[MyLittlePonyTales]

Unicorn Death Match?

[Lerian]

Unicorn Death Match?

Pick yourself up Twilight! Get back in the ring! You're not gunna take that guff from some prissy fahionista are you?

[Ciraxis]

Unicorns are an odd one. TK is obviously a massive game changer, let alone the (Twilight/specialist level?) ability to fire magic bolts.

One can wonder why nopony uses crossbows funnel style, it shouldn't be hard with some training, Rarity herself showed to be capeable with levitating numerous stuff. Also we have a teleportation, probably second most broken magic there is. However we have no data about limitations of teleportation. Spike's breathing shows that items can be teleported, this however can be limited to dragon breath. If it is not, one can imagine teleporting projectiles mid-flight or teleporting something (presumebly, very sharp or pointy) into someone. Not counting the fact that we could teleport someone veeeery high to make them splat on the ground. Or heck, into the ground, burying them alive.

There is no need for fancy fireball stuff, just some imagination.

[Lerian]

Also we have a teleportation, probably second most broken magic there is. However we have no data about limitations of teleportation.

This is part of the 'specialist' problem. We just don't know how many ponies can use teleportation. If there is only one per generation/century or whatever then a martial art using teleportation, or a martial art factoring a response to teleportation, simply won't come into being. Obviously if it turns out that 1 in 10 can teleport then there could be enough for their use in the military and then a fighting style to come out of it. (Unless they are all kept behind lines for logistic purposes)

[Bellosh]

If there is only one per generation/century or whatever then a martial art using teleportation, or a martial art factoring a response to teleportation, simply won't come into being. Obviously if it turns out that 1 in 10 can teleport then there could be enough for their use in the military and then a fighting style to come out of it. (Unless they are all kept behind lines for logistic purposes)

I don't think teleportation itself would be used as an actual weapon, as TK most likely could accomplish basically the same thing but with less potential magic energy used up. Rather, I see teleportation used as a way for elite unicorn soldiers to breach castles and such; anywhere where pegasi couldn't reach.

[Erlenmeyer]

I think that the limits of unicorn magic might be revealed somewhat in season 3. If you remember, Twilight sang that pass/fail song. Perhaps there will be test having to do with "combat" magic, maybe targets and such, along with other kinds of magic. they'll either show the test or maybe a studying montage.

[Motion Paradox]

Actually, one thing everyone is forgetting is that we've seen a few Ponies with Archery cutie marks....

On that note I have another possible explanation for how they could hold items: magnets, if they wear horse shoes they could be made of a magnetic material, or they could have some sort of glove that attaches to the hoof and has a magnet that lets you hold items which would also have magnets on them

As for martial arts like Rarity's flying kick in Return of Harmony or the fighting stance from Dragon Quest, it seems to mostly be done on the hind legs so in all likelihood an important part of it is to keep moving so you don't fall over

[MechaTwilight]

Another factor to think of, in Mmmystery on the Friendship express it was demonstrated that Swords could be held by hooves. Unless, of course that was simply Pinkie's insane imagination. Considering all the other things that we've seen as hoof-held, I don't think it's too far of a stretch for a sword. Also this:

The frog is similar in shape and consistency. Some biological adaptation using that method is the most plausible explanation for hoof-grip.

[aFlatmajor]

Karate Apple Bloom...Based on the fact this is awesome, I rest my case.