Clinch

Simple Action A Clinch is a grappling position in a stand-up fight, where the opponent’s effective Reach has been neutralized. A Clinch is included in several martial arts and can be used as a medium to move from a stand-up fight to a ground fight through throws and knock down actions. With a successful opposed Gymnastics + Agility [Physical] vs. Reaction + Intuition Test, the character has clinched their opponent. This means that the character has a hold of the opponent (and possibly visa versa), so they can’t move away from each other. The difference between a Clinch and a Grapple action is that a Grapple involves a lock or choke hold on the opponent to immobilize him, while a Clinch doesn’t immobilize an opponent and allows both the character and opponent to make actions other than those involving the Clinch.

The character who initiated the Clinch gets the Superior Position bonus modifier to actions while maintaining control of the Clinch. Both the character and opponent’s Reach bonus are negated, and attacks with melee weapons receive a penalty equal to their Reach bonus. Firearm use by both the character and opponent are penalized by the net successes of the Clinch. Unless the opponent escapes from the Clinch, neither opponent nor character can move away from each other. They can, however, move up to 2 meters on each of their actions together. A character in the inferior position can attempt to use an Escape Action (see below) to break the Clinch. A character in the Superior Position can let go of the Clinch as a Free Action; at this point the character in an inferior position can choose to use an Interrupt Action (–5 Initiative Score) to attempt to maintain the Clinch and gain Superior Position. This requires a new Gymnastics + Agility [Physical] by the player in the inferior position, and they receive a +1 dice pool bonus thanks to the fact that they are already in contact with the other character; the character in the Superior Position does not get the Superior Position bonus in this instance.

A successful Clinch Action can lead to a Subdual, Called Shot: Knockdown, or Throw.
Note that use of this action requires Martial Art training.