Martial Arts Styles

If there is one constant in the universe it is conflict, and conflict can strike at any time and for any reason. Unarmed combat never really goes out of style, but some of the old schools have long since faded to little more than stories, their popularity slowly eroded away by time and practicality. Nobody wants to be an expert in an esoteric kind of kung fu when they can be blasted away by an EIPP blast from fifty klicks away. The surviving styles tend to be practical, deadly, and easy for most to learn- usually basic self-defense.
The rise of GLAs and Hybrids further eroded away the sway of the dedicated martial art style. Uplifts are far from unintelligent, and it may be somewhat of a stereotype that they are unduly influenced by millennia of hard-coded instinct, but human martial arts simply don't work for or against them. The "jump, leap, bite, shred, and flank" maneuvers are pretty standard repertoires for quadrupeds that certainly don't need codified schools or even instruction. Nevertheless some dedicated schools exist, although they are rare. As a result most scholars divide the existing martial arts into two major forms, Bipedal and Quadrupedal.
The following is a list of five extant martial arts styles per form. In-game, these are specialties of the Unarmed Skill. These specialties may be used when the player is in a certain Combat State- specific actions taken within the round (or a later round per the GM's approval or savvy PP use) to gain their relevant Unarmed specialty. A special maneuver is given for each style- a slight adjustment to the way the style interacts with the system.
A table of martial arts is given below. Martial Art is the name of the style. Form describes if the style is made for bipedal or quadrupedal characters. Description gives information on how the style operates. Combat State provides the situations where an Unarmed Specialty bonus may be applied. Special Maneuver provides the unique style bonus.

Martial Art	Form	Description	Combat State	Special Maneuver
Boxing	Bipedal	Balanced and powerful, boxing has a rich and storied history, along with centuries of refinement. The Sweet Science has only improved over the last two hundred years and is in heavy use by Pureline NEB fighters- but also has serious trouble with delivering attacks to the lower extremities, making it weak to the quadrupedal forms.	Strikes aimed at the chest and face height. Boxers only grapple and pin out of desperation.	Liver Blow: This body shot is as per a Called Shot to a Vital Area, except it only inflicts a -1 step penalty to the roll.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu	Bipedal	A famous self-defense system that grew from judo, jiu-jitsu, and a dozen other sources over the centuries, designed for grappling and ground fighting. The popularity of the style has not gone down over the centuries, and is extremely popular for a reason.	Clinches and grapples. Practitioners should prioritize the Melee (Grapple) actions and Melee (Disarm) actions to make use of their specialty.	Choke Slam. An unarmed attack to a target caught in a Grapple also knocks the target prone.
Savate	Bipedal	Once the martial art of old Terran sailors, this kickboxing technique seemed doomed to obsolescence with the advent of a style called muy thai. Uplifts saved it from obscurity. This high-energy kickboxing style was heartily embraced by kangaroo uplifts, who found it much better suited to their anatomy than the elbow and knee striking styles. This is a favored martial art in the Jewels of De Mairan.	Combinations. Savate thrives on high-energy combos, so multiple attacks should be made to stay within the style.	High-Low Combo: Multiple unarmed attacks add a +1 step bonus to their damage.
Bulatti	Bipedal	Named after the famous Neo-Human explorer Alexio Bulatti, a hybrid of the Orion Reconnaissance Fleet. Bulatti developed this martial art to deal with the close-quarters cramped fighting that could occasionally spectacularly erupt in ships and space stations. Unlike most of these other styles it assumes the user will always have a weapon in one hand. Bulatti teaches that "A weapon in hand is worth two fists", so techniques are usually used to generate enough space or time to draw, acquire, or use a weapon. Especially popular amongst freelancers.	Unarmed strikes and disengages. A one-handed, short-ranged weapon, such as a melee weapon, short-ranged pistol, or other weapon in the other hand should be used within a round of the strike.	Disengage. A successful Unarmed Strike allows the character to move away from the opponent as if they had successfully Dodged an attack (move 5 ft).
TEKNAT-3	Bipedal	Another modern style, TEKNAT-3 is a modern version of styles such as Aikido and other defensive techniques. Designed by a particularly obsessive AI, TEKNAT-3 takes into account a wide variety of opponents: from uplifted tigers to the scurrying of pest control drones. TEKNAT-3 focuses on staying alive above all else, assuming that landing a blow isn't worth your life. TEKNAT-3's focus on defense is a bit of a turnoff to the more aggressive, and there's an awful lot to learn, making it a less popular style. It does, however, lend itself extremely well to ACE programming or skillsofts. One popular way to use TEKNAT-3 is to install it on several ACEs and let a few use TEKNAT-3 to draw and deflect enemy attacks.	Ultradefensive. All-Out Defenses should be prioritized to stay in TEKNAT-3; if a character must attack, it is suggested to wait for very specific opportunities.	Biding Time: An All-Out Defense doubles as an Aim action.
Ripclaw	Quadrupedal	Invented by General Scorsby the White, Ripclaw is one of the more traditional quadrupedal martial arts, and can be mistaken for natural uplift fighting styles by the more prejudiced. Ripclaw is about using natural weapons alongside quick aggression, initiative, and overwhelming force. There are some untoward rumors that Ripclaw teachers discriminate against feline uplifts, but this is a stereotype: feline uplifts much prefer Zero Coil if they can find a teacher. This style is very popular in the Sun Dynasty.	Carpe jugulum. While Ripclaw is not a berserker style, it puts heavy emphasis on action- users should not hold actions, instead attacking as quickly and ferociously as possible.	Go For the Throat: An unarmed attack made before an opponent's action gains a +1 step bonus to damage.
Moerukaze	Quadrupedal	A famous uplift named Shiv invented three quadrupedal styles during the Exodus. Only two remain. The first, Moerukaze, is by far his easiest. Favored by quadrupedal uplifts of all stripes, Moerukaze believes that the best way to avoid getting hit is to not be there in the first place. Rather than placing themselves in close proximity to an angry enemy, Moerukaze users charge their opponents, rip at a vital area, and then blow past them in an effort to avoid retaliation or to reach cover. This requires a lot more practice than most would expect, so new users usually practice with blades mounted to their shoulders or back.	Movement. Moerukaze users should always combine an attack with a Movement action.	Drive-By: The penalty for making a Hustle action alongside an unarmed attack is reduced by 1 step.
Zero Coil	Quadrupedal	The third of the quadrupedal styles invented by Shiv during the Exodus, Zero Coil is also one of the hardest quadrupedal styles to learn. Zero Coil requires specialized equipment, a grappling-line set to a harness that lets the user rapidly change direction and attack from parabolic trajectories users call 'curves'. Zero Coil is a subtle and some would say overly cerebral style, requiring a patient and fearless mind to overcome the odd directions required to attack. For that reason it is particularly popular with feline uplifts.	Zero-G. Zero Coil fighters almost exclusively use this style in microgravity, as their unique 'curved' style of fighting can't fucntion otherwise.	Feinting Approach: Your (Melee) Feint actions ignore an opponent's Cover bonus.
Core Axis	Quadrupedal	The newest quadrupedal style, Core Axis is best described as a counter-Uplift school. There is emphasis on sudden counterattacks- such as paw strikes to the face and sudden dodge-and-bites. It's a more reactive style than the in-your-face aggression usually attributed to uplifts. Core Axis is described as horrifically infuriating to fight against, as while the techniques may not always do the most damage they can be almost seen as insulting. It has been derided as 'boxing for boxers' by some particularly militant uplifts. Often found within the Ballard Constitution.	Close quarters countering. Core Axis values defense and offense equally. Core Axis prefers to use Block for a defense and will prefer for their opponents to attack first.	Counterblow: After a successful Block defense, add 1/2 of the resulting margin of defense (rounded up) as a step bonus to the next Unarmed attack.
Keinleben	Quadrupedal	Only usable by the largest, heaviest, and most durable quadrupeds, Keinleben believes in ending fights quickly. It eschews defense as pointless; the best defense in a world of guns and hideously effective weaponry is to not have an opponent at all. Observers might be forgiven for thinking this is a brainless style, but it's not. Keinleben users are taught to always consider when is the best time to unload on their opponent, carefully scrutinizing them for the moment of weakness that will mean their doom; when they do attack, their attacks are practiced and finely developed to shred their opponents to pieces.	Ultraoffensive. Keinleben users should prefer All-Out Attacks, trusting in their natural bulk and resilience to protect them as they turn the enemy into chunky salsa.	Rip and Tear. Add 1 to the step bonus for making a (Melee) All-Out Attack.