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Description:
Broken Gate is one of the most widespread and common standing combat forms in the Galaxy. Taught on hundreds of planets from the Core Worlds to the far reaches of the Outer Rim, the simple and efficient form is popular with those looking for a well rounded form rooted in physical fitness training.
Conditioning is key to Broken Gate, with adherents training rigorously to harden their bodies against strikes. As a stand-up fighting style, it employs little to no ground-fighting techniques but is entirely focused on upright combat. Using powerful blocks, kicks and strikes in conjunction with simple body control, it is a balanced martial art that can take hits but dish them out just as readily.
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Stance and Striking:
A Broken Gate stance places the practitioner's hands out in front of their chest, front fist angled towards the opponent's face while the back hand lowers to protect the stomach. Elbows tuck in tight to the ribs as the hips twist off at an angle to present a smaller target. The lead foot is the foot opposite the main hand, with the other foot a shoulder width apart and then behind the other. Both knees are bent and weight is kept off the heels to allow for faster movement. From this stance, a practitioner can transition between deep and wide stances while moving in order to maintain balance while putting them in a position to lunging into an attack.
Practitioners will take advantage of the torque and power behind roundhouse kicks, uppercuts, and other chambered strikes. Counters are rudimentary but effective with the intent to safely absorb an incoming attack rather than to try and deflect it. Hand techniques vary from open handed chops and grabs to closed hand hammer fists and knuckle-jabs while utilizing the meatier parts of the wrists and arms to absorb impact. While it lacks many ground combat techniques, this form has more than a few a techniques designed around escaping quickly from grapples or any other maneuver that would take them off their feet and down to the ground.
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