Wrruushi was a brutal and lethal form of martial art developed by the Wookiees. Wookiees were more often known for their exertion of brute force, but Wrruushi was surprisingly widely known, due to the natural violence of Wookiee society and rites. Together with the natural strength of a two-meter tall walking carpet, it made a fearsome weapon. This martial art focused on using the immense upper body strength of the species, with an emphasis on punches, jabs and throws, and usually only a few strikes at a time. The series of strikes known as the return to the shadowland was the exception to this as it consisted of no less than thirty strikes designed to disorient and kill an opponent before they could formulate a response. Also surprising were the nonlethal options available to the wookiee using the art, practicioners were often capable of disabling an opponent with a single blow.
Wrruushi was originally developed as a means of self defense by the wookie people during their more primitive and war like stage of evolution. When the clans would wage war it was not uncommon for the wrruushi champions of the oposing clans to enter into a ritual circle and battle for the honor of their clan and their own glory. It was also not uncommon for other warriors to enter wagers on these sacred matches. In modern times wrruushi has developed into a national art for the wookies and a means of sports entertainment. But woe to the observer who tries to challenge a wrruushi master for they are not mere atheletes but deadly warriors capable of unleashing furious misery upon their opponents.
While Wookies have claws as Arboreal creatures, they take great pains to not use them in combat, as to do so would be considered feral and uncouth. As such, Wrruushi remains a fiercely unarmed combat style.
Stance
Facing forward the practitioner places their feet a little less than shoulder width apart. The torso is bent slightly forward, and the feet are placed at a forty-five degree angle allowing for a firm base. The arms are relaxed, but ready at the side to either strike, deflect or throw. This stance gives the appearance of relaxation while disguising the preparedness of the practitioner. It is easily entered into from any standing position thus allowing the practitioner to rapidly attack or defend.
Strikes
Wrruushi strikes are most often aimed at vital areas of the body such as extremities, energy points, and joints. This maximizes the amount of damage caused by the already powerful strikes and can sometimes end an engagement before it has really begun.
Defense
While being an aggressive martial art wrruushi does not ignore the practical need for defensive maneuvering. The wrruushi practitioner will often use the momentum of his opponent to lock him up or throw him. There are almost no blocking techniques in wrruushi, however there are a multitude of devastating joint locks (think of a wookie holding you by a pressure point) and throws (imagine being sent into a worshyyr tree by an angry two meter tall carpet with twice your strength).
Movement
The wrruushi practitioner often moves in shifting circular patterns to keep their opponent guessing as to which direction they will strike from. The feet constantly shift giving no clear indication of the intent of the practitioner. Weight is usually balanced between the two feet which further confounds enemies as one cannot tell if the practitioner is defending or entering an aggressive stance. The only time weight shifts is just prior to a strike or when the practitioner is dodging.
Training
Wrruushi is often taught from parent to child with augmented training coming from clan run schools. Each clan has its own variations on the basic wrruushi techniques and many families have taken to further developing more refined techniques. In some instances families have been known to open small schools for the instruction of students in their immediate area. Wrruushi is an exclusively wookie martial art, but some of its techniques have been taught to outsiders. It is rumored that there are a few human wrruushi masters, but these are mostly discounted as lies as the amount of time it takes to become a true master is not achievable within the normal human lifespan.
Weapons
Wrruushi does not utilize any external weapons, as the practitioner is taught that once he masters wrruushi he will become a weapon.
Level: Elite
Prerequisites: K'tara 4/5, STR 20
Style: Hard
Weapons: Empty hand
• Basic Strike, Basic Throw, Power Strike
•• Grapple, Feign, Wind Strike
••• Bone Break, Joint Lock, Unbalancing Strike
•••• Rapid Strike Combination, Broken Heart Strike, Fallen Tree Kick
••••• Return to the Shadowland, Rage of the Elder, Howl of the Shadowland, Unroot Spirit