File:Force Wars-TEA.jpgBroken Gate originated from the ancient Jedi
Broken Gate is an ancient martial art first formulated by the Jedi in the era before the Republic and is currently practiced by members of the Dark Brotherhood. The style focuses on strong upper-body strikes powered by both muscle and body movement, as well as powerful knee strikes and stomping kicks. Defense relies primarily on avoiding or withstanding attacks.
Before the Republic was formed, the Jedi were required to be a primarily martial order. Their training was intended to both develop their self-discipline and make them effective fighting tools to guard the nascent galactic government. Like all of their training, the Jedi taught Broken Gate between one master and one student, although masters would take as many as two or three students if instruction was hard to come by.
The beginnings of Broken Gate training are characterized by long, deep stances designed to develop strength in the martial artist's legs. Then, repetitive basic punches and kicks are added to improve muscle memory and develop upper-body strength and overall flexibility. Broken Gate schools were famous for their day-long training sessions where students would stay in a prescribed stance for upwards of ten hours, constantly punching and kicking. As training progressed, students were required to learn how to take blows from each other – as the student climbed in rank, the blows would become more forceful.
Broken Gate is characterized by hard upper-body strikes and stomping kicks. The attacks are designed to penetrate an opponent's guard through the sheer level of damage inflicted; the art's name was taken from a story of the first Master, Jae Dal, who reputedly smashed open a meter-thick wooden gate with one blow of his fist. Because of the nature of the strikes, Broken Gate practitioners tend to avoid secondary blocks, and train themselves to dodge or simply absorb attacks. Lower-level students tend to dodge more, while more experienced fighters could shrug off most strikes. Masters of Broken Gate were legendary for their resilience, able to brush away even the fiercest of unarmed blows.
Details
Stance
After developing leg strength and proper stance, Broken Gate fighters can stand as if “rooted” to the ground. While this stance is difficult to move from, it makes the Broken Gate fighter very difficult to push, unbalance or throw.
Striking
Striking uses some hip rotation to achieve its power, though kicks rely more on the strength of the leg muscles. Some hip motion is included, typically thrusting the hips in the direction of the blow as the attack is launched. Strikes are performed with the heel of the foot or closed fist to maximize damage and prevent injury to the attacker.
Defense
Broken Gate tends to use static blocks, absorbing the blow on harder surfaces like the shin and forearm rather than take the blow on a soft target like the stomach or face. The art does teach some evasion techniques, but the Average Broken Gate stylist will more frequently use a block.
Training
Taught in specialized schools across most planets with major cities, Broken Gate is relatively easy to seek training in, but in order to achieve true mastery, one almost always finds themselves seeking the elusive 'masters', which typically live off the grid.
Weapons
Broken Gate adherents typically eschew weapons, saying that nature gave them all the weapons that they will need. Many non-Human adherents have found techniques particularly effective when used with specific traits of their physiology, such as claws, horns, etc.
Summary
- Style: Hard
- Weapons: Empty hand
- • Kick, Punch, Sidestep
- •• Joint Break, Rooted Stance, Elbow Strike
- ••• Angle Step, Knee Strike, Stomping Kick, Bash
- •••• Earthquake Kick, Iron Body, Close Distance, Paralyzing Strike
- ••••• Speed Break, Flying Kick, Iron Mountain, Leg Take-down, Catapult Strike
Brotherhood Practitioners