[Quokka]

Plenty of stories mix historical facts and fiction, including fighting styles. That in itself isn't an issue just keep it consistant for the character. You can use 'real' terminology or describe it more generically or action based rather than bring across terms and names that wont suit the world. How many times have you read a medieval fantasy where the assasin/thief character brings out the Bruce Lee moves?

Most martial arts involve some form of understanding the human body and how it works, pressure points, circulation, balance/centre of gravity, joints etc. So the same attack or move is often developed seperately in different sytems anyway, with variations.

So you might not say a character applied a rear naked choke but you could describe him creating an oppening, turning the opponent, snaking his arm over the shoulder etc.


Blunt weapons certainly can compete on an even footing with blades, many swords around at the time of armour and shields we're designed to crush the opponents armour and so were basically blunt weapons anyway. You could always incorporate it into the story, if he/she knows their weapons wont be effective it's up to them to find another means, running away, use the environment? Anyway I'd think that if the impact from a 6ft staff doesn't affect an opponent a blade wouldn't have much luck either.