[Approved] Menochoros (Unarmed Combat - Martial Art)

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Menochoros (Unarmed Combat - Martial Art)

Menochoros


"It's only when you can harness the abilities of your mind that you will be able to fulfil the true potential of your body" - Haasha Ulyne, Enlightened


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Literally meaning control over mind and strength, Menochoros is a martial art that places particular emphasis on harnessing the power of the mind in order to unleash full physical potential. It is viewed less as a form of combat and more as a state of mind, which allows the practitioner to strengthen their body, build endurance and form an intimate knowledge of their mental capacities. While techniques are utilised that enable a practitioner to defend themselves or even go on the offensive, the traditional martial artists based in Viden disapprove of its potential for violence unless strictly necessary.

Sometimes simply referred to as the "Way of the Mind."
History
Founded by: Haasha Ulyne (3 Ashan 454 - 30 Vhalar 589)

Menochoros was developed by Haasha Ulyne in the early 500s. Ulyne had an interest in different cultures and travelled extensively as a result, finding it necessary to learn a number of different fighting styles in order to protect herself in sometimes hostile environments. Never fond of confrontation, the woman thought that many modes of fighting seemed to involve the active pursuit of violence and its practitioners seemed to relish it. What was more, there tended to be a great deal of focus on the physical body, which wasn't favourable to the cerebral-focused Eídisi. As a result, she set about developing a new martial arts discipline, largely influenced by many of the things she'd picked up through her study of other cultures.

Although Ulyne pursued a study of medicine in order to have a better understanding of how the body worked, early versions of Menochoros involved a great deal of introspection and there was very little focusing on actual fighting techniques at all. Instead, she was largely focused on the understanding of one's own limitations and being able to endure hardships. Meditation proved to be very beneficial in accomplishing this, a practice that she'd picked up from her time among the Sev'ryn and which proved to be vital to the level of physical and mental harmony that Ulyne wanted to achieve. As such when she finally returned to her native city of Viden, Ulyne managed to bring a number of Sev'ryn companions with her who were far better at teaching Meditation that she was.

Menochoros became more highly developed in the city, leading to the establishment of the different Orders to mark the level of enlightenment that the practitioner had received. By the 520s, Ulyne had begun to actively teach students in the art and continued to gather knowledge to improve the discipline. Her dedication and intense interest in what was effectively a form of mental expansion led to her receiving the attention of Yvithia. The Immortal marked Ulyne and has followed the progress of the various practitioners over the arcs, sometimes taking them into the FRA to examine them or to use them for various covert purposes.

Menochoros gained a reasonable following in Viden during Ulyne's life and while it has had some success spreading to other areas, Viden has always been its main base.
Central Philosophies
"Those who possess great power have a responsibility to learn how not to use it" - Haasha Ulyne, Enlightened
The basic tenets of Menochoros can be summed up in a simple acronym that is hammered into practitioners from the moment they begin training: A.D.E.P.T. It's particularly fitting given that the ultimate expected goal for an initiate is for them to progress through the various Orders to reach a high level of expertise in the martial art. The acronym can be broken down like this:
  • A - Adaptability: Rather than being taught any rigid style, Menochoros encourages an ability to adapt depending on the situation that the practitioner finds themselves in. They are encouraged to use what seems most comfortable and natural to them, playing to their best strengths. However, it is also suggested that they work with other martial artists and unarmed combatants with different styles to best learn how to counter them. It is common for practitioners to be told to imagine themselves as having the mutability of water, which changes shape according to its container, can wear things down in subtle ways or harden to ice in the right circumstances. Thus, they are told to be as changeable as the liquid, which is one of the reasons that there is an emphasis on constant movement of the martial artist.
  • D - Discipline: Menochoros holds that true enlightenment can only be attained by learning to block out distractions and attain a certain level of focus. Strongly connected with endurance, the martial art's discipline includes the practice of eliminating bodily discomfort, such as pain or cold, which is considered to require a great deal of control for the mind to disregard powerful signals from the body. The martial artist must learn to place such sensations into a compartment of their mind so that they can be temporarily dismissed; thus, they do not impinge on their activities, a valuable ability if they find themselves in uncomfortable or dangerous circumstances.
  • E - Endurance: Considered to be a willingness to carry on in spite of adverse factors, endurance is viewed as being linked to discipline but also knowing the boundaries of both the body and the mind, and a readiness to stretch them. While there is an obvious need to endure a physical toll on the body when exercising or actually fighting, the mind's ability to endure is considered equally important, if not more so. Those who find themselves having to use Menochoros may have to endure adversity or deal with situations that involved things that cause them terror. As such, those who practice the art are often forced to tackle phobias head-on, as well as deal with some verbal, emotional or psychological abuse to build a tolerance. Those who follow the Way of the Mind do not think that true enlightenment is possible unless such mental endurance can be built and consider it more vital than physical endurance.
  • P - Personal Understanding: Perhaps the most important aspect of the martial art, having knowledge and understanding of one's self is considered vital if one is to succeed at Menochoros. If the practitioner doesn't understand themselves then it is believed to be impossible to harness one's full potential, either mentally or physically. In order to build up appropriate endurance, it is vital that a martial artist have a deep enough understanding of themselves to be able to determine what to work on. Finding one's strengths, weaknesses and limitations is a central part of this and if a practitioner does end up in a combat situation, they can't be expected to understand their enemy if they cannot understand themselves. It is also considered vitally important that they learn their emotional and psychological triggers, and discover how best to balance them so that they do not become overwhelmed. This can be linked in with Discipline as they can ensure that they do not freeze up or break down when they require considerable self-control.
  • T - Training: If one is to succeed, one must remain suitably tuned like an instrument or kept sharp like a weapon. If one's body or mind is allowed to dull then it can't be expected to implement the martial art correctly. As such, training is required to keep mind and body fit, and keep the mind suitably pliant. It is considered that laxity breeds inflexibility and so regular training is considered paramount.
Mind Over Matter
"The mind is not in thrall to the body; the body is under the control of the mind" - Haasha Ulyne, Enlightened
A deep understanding of the mind and being able to utilise it to truly control and harness the power of the body is a large part of Menochoros. An integral part to the martial art is the ability to meditate as it allows the practitioner to learn their strengths and weaknesses, centre and calm themselves in stressful situations, and eliminate many distractions and stresses. Many different forms of meditation are taught in relation to the martial art but it's up to the individual how much they want to embrace those techniques.

The basic idea is for the martial artist to enter a state of introspection in order to organise the mind and establish a state of calm that with practice can be easily drawn upon at will. Such a condition is useful for unfettering the mind and if the practitioner finds themselves in a situation where they have to defend themselves, it can allow them to handle it optimally without undue panic.

Those who are taught meditation practices in relation to this combat style are given an idea of how to meditate while sitting quietly alone, often with a focus on breathing, but there is a greater emphasis on what is known as moving meditation. For those who find their days full of activity, it may be difficult to find the time for sitting meditation. Furthermore, in a stressful situation, it is unlikely that one will be able to sit calmly to enter a meditative state but instead, would likely have to meditate on their feet. It is often necessary to attend a dedicated class or find a willing meditation teacher to truly master it, but Menochoros martial artists may well pick up methods that work for them. The general advice is to pay great attention to the body, particularly on things that one would do automatically with little or no thought such as placing one foot in front of the other while walking. It is also common for practitioners to engage in a slow, regimented form of movement akin to striking an opponent but practised on empty air in order to become used to the movements of their bodies while simultaneously focusing the mind.

Those who meditate are expected to examine their thoughts as they drift into their mind and discard those that are unimportant. Such things are beneficial for those who want to build discipline by avoiding distractions and temptations.
Fighting Techniques
"Causing pain can remove the necessity for greater violence" - Haasha Ulyne, Enlightened
Given that Menochoros does not tend to be focused on extreme violence or prolonged combat, it is characterised by blows that will cause enough pain or damage to incapacitate an enemy and end a fight before it can truly begin. Shock and awe are considered quite acceptable as they can be very effective. While a number of specific techniques are taught, it is considered more useful to instil some rules or general advice about how to go about fighting while allowing each practitioner to develop a style that works best according to their strengths and weaknesses.
Use of the hands:
  • Open palm strikes - more accurately striking with the heel of the hand. It doesn't cause as much damage to the practitioner or the victim as striking with knuckles but it can results in very focused strikes than can be used to cause confusion or pain. For instance, a heel strike under an opponent's chin causes the brain to shift in the skull, resulting in disorientation, loss of balance and potential nausea. Additionally, it is relatively easy to break an adversary's nose with such a heel strike.
  • Don't use knuckles or a closed fist - while throwing a punch might occasionally be useful, it often causes a great deal of pain to the person who throws it as they can severely bruise their knuckles and cause swelling. While the pain of such a thing is something that a practitioner would be expected to overcome, that sort of damage could make the use of the hands more difficult and place a limitation on movement, speed and flexibility. Utilising a closed fist is hence seen as more of a hindrance and less of a help although practitioners are taught how to correctly throw a punch in order to cause the least amount of damage to themselves and are also encouraged to strike with the side of the hand if they do make use of a closed fist.
  • Side hand strikes - striking with the side of the hand is considered a versatile strike and is usually done with fingers together and straight, turning the hand into something like a blade. It allows 'chopping' motions often directed at places like the throat or neck, the arms in sensitive areas like the inside of the wrist or elbow, and the sides of the torso.
  • Pull or push - to use an opponent's momentum against them by redirecting them or adding greater momentum so that they overshoot their intended goal or overbalance.
  • Blocking - taking physical blows at the side of the wrist or catching them against the forearm, depending on what circumstances require. It can also be used as a means of deflection

    Target areas:
    • Face
    • Neck/Throat
    • Torso
    • Wrists
    • Inner elbow
Use of the legs and feet:
  • Kicking/stamping - use of the feet for strikes below knee height as to extend the leg higher can upset balance, especially if one's opponent manages to grab it as it gives them the opportunity to overbalance the practitioner. It is considered best to utilise the bottom or sides of the feet for the most part, not the toes, which are sensitive to self-inflicted damage by kicking another. Furthermore, the side or bottom of the foot involves causing damage or pain over a larger area.
  • Hooking - catching at the back of an opponent's heel or knee with the foot, usually with the intention of causing the targeted leg to buckle
  • Kneeing - driving the knee into sensitive areas like the groin, or stomach if the opponent is bent, often causes a great deal of pain and has the advantage of requiring little extension of the leg. By kneeing someone, it isn't as easy to lose balance or be overthrown. The groin is considered the most common target and while a man is particularly prone to extreme pain from this sort of assault, it can also be incredibly painful for a woman
  • Constant movement - remaining on the move is considered highly important as a still target is an easy one. It doesn't require the martial artist to make any large movements but it does enable them to dodge or move into new offensive positions more quickly. Furthermore, a focus on one's own movement can be valuable in entering a meditative state

    Target Areas:
    • Instep
    • Back of the heel
    • Shin
    • Knee and back of the knee
    • Groin
Other means:
While Menochoros is a relatively peaceful martial art with prime objectives of self-discovery and self-defence, peace is not always the answer. In the face of serious aggression, it is encouraged that a practitioner not shy away from the potential necessity of maiming or even killing their opponent. Certain aggressors will not be driven back by painful blows but will continue to attack as long as they are capable. As such, more lethal blows may be utilised or those that have the potential to cause serious damage like headbutting, headlocks, eye gouging and similar blows. If an opponent has to be made to stay down then kicking them while they are down is not out of the question.

Additionally, while Menochoros is a form of unarmed combat, it is possible to adapt its techniques to allow the use of a variety of weapons from blunt ones to blades.
***
Note: There is no real honour code in Menochoros. While other martial arts or forms of unarmed combat have certain etiquette and rules to follow, this is not the case here. Typically, these other styles involve frequent sparring with partners and competition where so-called 'low' blows and penalties limit their fighting style. Those who practice Menochoros might train with a partner and will establish their own rules for the matter but breaking bones or dealing particularly agonising blows is considered good for building endurance. Each sparring partner is expected to decide what is impolite but obviously in a real combat situation, anything goes, there is no fighting dirty only fighting to win.
Ranks
"Every Order carries honour as any practitioner is automatically superior to those uninitiated in the Way of the Mind" -
Ilani Toren, Great Teacher, Aurelian Order
OOC ranking requirements
  • Novum Order:
    • At least one knowledge about Unarmed Combat (Menochoros), even if this is just a general overview of what the martial art entails as well as an intention to pursue study of the discipline
  • Aes Order:
    • Competent Unarmed Combat (Menochoros)
    • Competent Meditation
    • Competent Endurance
    • Novice Strength
    • Novice Discipline
    • Approval from an Ordained (PC or NPC)
  • Argent Order:
    • Expert Unarmed Combat (Menochoros)
    • Expert Meditation
    • Expert Endurance
    • Competent Strength
    • Competent Discipline
    • Approval from an Ordained (PC or NPC)
  • Electrum Order:
    • Master Unarmed Combat (Menochoros)
    • Master Meditation
    • Master Endurance
    • Expert Strength
    • Expert Discipline
    • Approval from an Ordained (PC or NPC)
  • Aurelian Order:
    • Master Unarmed Combat (Menochoros)
    • Master Meditation
    • Master Strength
    • Master Discipline
    • Master Endurance
    • Approval from an Ordained (PC or NPC) AND the Learned One or Great Teacher
  • Learned One: Those PCs who want to be seen as one of the very best practitioners must be:
    • Grandmaster in Unarmed Combat (Menochoros)
    • Must be named as rightful successor to the title of Great Teacher by the current Great Teacher. This would definitely require moderation, even if the current Great Teacher was a PC.


*Note* A Prophet may choose to bend the rules a little for the Aurelian Order, or the positions of Learned One or Great Teacher if they deem it a PC worthy of it. This can either be offered or requested. There's never any harm in asking, and your local Prophet won't eat you!


Novum Order: The Novum Order is the first rank within the discipline and one which all new practitioners find themselves in once initiated. It isn't necessary to be officially acknowledged by an Ordained to be in this rank and there isn't any real prestige in it beyond the fact that the practitioner managed to recognise and chosen to pursue a wise path. Those at this level begin to gain an understanding of the combat style as well as the rudiments of meditation and endurance. Those of this rank may be encouraged to face their fears to build their endurance.

Aes Order: The first rank of any really worth, one must prove themselves to be beyond the average Novum. Having some competency in the combat style is a must, as is having a good grasp of meditation and an ability to endure uncomfortable circumstances on some level. A practitioner might still be struggling with their discipline but it's considered that they are coming to terms with it and they will have built up some strength by dint of their training. They have gained at least some understanding of themselves and what their limitations are but it's considered that they still have a great way to travel along the path of self-discovery.

Argent Order: At this point, a practitioner may begin to feel that they are coming to a decent understanding of themselves. They've become experts at utilising the fighting style of Menochoros and reaching a meditative state. They can endure quite a bit and have grown far stronger and more disciplined, which has aided them in their journey of self-discovery. Many at this level are considered to be reasonably qualified to teach - provided that they have some talent in that area.

Electrum Order: Those of the Electrum Order have gained fair mastery of many of the tenets of Menochoros. They may still have some issue with some of them and have a slight deficit in certain areas but they are considered to be quite a balanced person with excellent harmony between both mind and body. They're strong, disciplined and able to endure a great deal.

Aurelian Order: Considered the very embodiment of what Menochoros is supposed to achieve, those of this rank are some of the best of the best, often having reached a level of physical and mental fitness that is to be envied by all, even those who follow the Way of the Mind. They tend to be very level-headed individuals although their level of endurance and discipline can be a little frightening at times. Those in Viden can be found wandering in the cold in wholly inadequate clothing to show how well they're able to handle their natural environment although it's more to do with a tendency to forget about such things rather than a means of showing off.


Additional Titles
  • Enlightened: A title bestowed on Haasha Ulyne that denotes respect for the woman who created Menochoros. Referred to as 'Enlightened Ulyne' or simply the 'Enlightened'.
  • Great Teacher: The highest ranked practitioner of Menochoros who actively teaches the Way of the Mind. The current Great Teacher is an Eídisi woman called Ilani Toren who is based in Viden. It is likely that she will retire within the next few arcs.
  • Learned One: Usually the next highest ranked practitioner after the Great Teacher, the Learned One is groomed as their successor
  • Ordained: One who has the right to say when a practitioner has progressed to a new Order within the discipline.
Related Skills
  • Discipline: Considered central to the philosophies of the martial art, discipline isn't actually compulsory for practising Menochoros but it can certainly be helpful for things like meditation, maintaining training and so on. Additionally, it's integral to someone who wants to progress through the Orders.
  • Endurance: Similar to Discipline, Endurance is a central part to the mentality behind the martial art. In a practical sense, it is a fighting style designed to be used in combat and thus, the ability to put up with pain, injury and maintain energy levels is quite important if it's to be employed effectively.
  • Medicine: Having a knowledge of medicine allows a Menochoros practitioner to take better care of their own body but in a fight, it also helps them to know how best to take their opponent apart. It allows them to work out which areas might be particularly vulnerable and enables them to cause greater pain without causing a great deal of damage. Those who have some understanding of medicine will find this combat style easier to utilise and without it, they're left to some trial and error.
  • Meditation: While it isn't a vital skill to succeed in this martial arts discipline, it's considered highly complementary to it, particularly if one wants to fully embrace the philosophies of Menochoros. It can be very beneficial to be able to clear the mind for the purpose of fighting and training
  • Strength: If one knows how to fight but doesn't have a great deal of strength then they might not be as effective if it becomes necessary to use a great deal of force to fight off an attacker. Strength isn't necessary but it is certainly a complementary skill
  • Unarmed Combat (other forms): While Menochoros is designed to be used as a standalone combat style, it can also be used alongside other combat styles that allow for interesting hybridisation. Those who know other forms of unarmed combat might find that they can augment their Menochoros fighting.
  • Weapon Skills: Menochoros is primarily a form of unarmed combat but those who have weapon skills can adapt the style to the use of their weapon of choice. Additionally, those who have these sorts of skills may already have a good understanding of their body and its limitations which can make Menochoros easier to learn.
Last edited by Maebella on Sun Mar 25, 2018 12:42 am, edited 3 times in total. word count: 3974
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Approved by me, as well! :D I'll upload this into the Lore Book shortly. Thanks, Mae!
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