GURPS Martial Arts - Home

Iaijutsu
5 points
Iaijutsu is the Japanese art of drawing a weapon and
striking or parrying with it in a single motion. It rose to
prominence during a period when samurai were routinely
armed but not typically in combat. (In battle, they’d ready
their weapons before engaging the enemy!) It fell into disfavor
after “crossroad cuttings” – practicing Iaijutsu skills on
convenient passersby – became common.
Swordsmen often studied Iaijutsu alongside
Kenjutsu (above) or Nito Ryu (below).
Iaijutsuka (Iaijutsu stylists) focus on two
sets of tactics. Defensively, they practice drawing
the sword to fend off blows – especially surprise
attacks. Offensively, they learn to draw
and strike before their victim can react.
The iaijutsuka doesn’t necessarily expect to
win the fight with his initial strike. He remains
poised to deliver second and later attacks
should his foe survive the first one. After dispatching
his enemy, he composes himself while
remaining wary; treat this as a Wait maneuver.
Once it’s clear that no further threat remains, the
iaijutsuka cleans his blade before sheathing it.
The motion used to clean blood from the blade is called
chiburi. This automatically follows many Iaijutsu moves,
whether or not the iaijutsuka plans to sheathe his weapon.
It can consist of a broad, swinging motion, a wrist snap, or
spinning the sword. Flicking the blood of a fallen enemy
from the blade used to cut him down can impress onlookers
and surviving foes – roll a free Intimidation attempt! In cinematic
and fantasy games, chiburi is also useful for removing
corrosive monster blood, incriminating poison, etc.
Skills: Broadsword; Broadsword Art; Fast-Draw (Sword);
Two-Handed Sword.
Techniques: Back Strike (Broadsword or Two-Handed
Sword); Low Fighting (Broadsword or Two-Handed
Sword); Targeted Attack (Broadsword or Two-Handed
Sword Swing/Arm); Targeted Attack (Broadsword or Two-
Handed Sword Swing/Neck); Targeted Attack (Broadsword
or Two-Handed Sword Swing/Skull); Targeted Attack
(Broadsword or Two-Handed Sword Thrust/Neck); Targeted
Attack (Broadsword or Two-Handed Sword Thrust/Vitals).
Cinematic Skills: Mental Strength; Precognitive Parry.
Cinematic Techniques: Springing Attack (Broadsword or
Two-Handed Sword); Timed Defense (Broadsword or Two-
Handed Sword).
Perks: Grip Mastery (Katana); Quick-Sheathe (Sword);
Shtick (Chiburi).
Optional Traits
Secondary Characteristics: Improved Basic Speed and
Per.
Advantages: Combat Reflexes; Danger Sense; Language
(Japanese).
Disadvantages: Reputation (For crossroad cutting).
Skills: Meditation; Observation; Savoir-Faire (Dojo);
Shortsword; Shortsword Art.
Perks: Weapon Bond.
Nito Ryu
3 points
Nito Ryu (“two swords school”) is a term used for Hyoho
Niten Ichi Ryu, the Kenjutsu style founded by Musashi
Miyamoto (pp. 21-22) in 17th-century Japan. Musashi felt
that holding a sword in two hands restricted the wielder’s
movements, limited his defensive and offensive options, and
was impossible on horseback or when carrying a second
weapon (such as a spear or bow) for battle.
He developed a style that used the
katana in one hand, freeing the other
to use the wakizashi (shortsword)
simultaneously or to hold another
weapon. Although heavily identified
with the sword, Musashi also learned
to use the jitte (p. 217) from his family’s
martial-arts training, and modern
schools teach this to advanced
students.
Nito Ryu can be very aggressive,
attacking with both blades at once or
using them alternately to rain down
blows. Stylists wield their weapons
forcefully, using Committed Attack or
even All-Out Attack (Double) to overwhelm their foe. When
armed with two swords, they favor Dual-Weapon Attack –
often using one blade to feint (or to Beat; see pp. 100-101)
and the other to attack. Nito Ryu makes regular use of both
weapons to fend off single-weapon attacks (see Cross Parry,
p. 121), followed by a Counterattack. Overall, it eschews
defensive tactics in favor of overpowering the foe.
Musashi was known for his aggressiveness and his disdain
for many of the trappings of the samurai. His impressive
success record in mortal duels also gave him a reputation
for bloodthirstiness. Nito Ryu stylists may choose to
duplicate their style founder’s less-praiseworthy traits as
well as his skills.
Skills: Broadsword; Shortsword.
Techniques: Counterattack (Broadsword or Shortsword);
Feint (Broadsword or Shortsword); Targeted Attack
(Broadsword or Shortsword Swing/Arm); Targeted Attack
(Broadsword or Shortsword Swing/Neck); Targeted Attack
(Broadsword or Shortsword Swing/Skull); Targeted Attack
(Broadsword or Shortsword Thrust/Neck); Targeted Attack
(Broadsword or Shortsword Thrust/Vitals).
Cinematic Skills: Mental Strength; Power Blow.
Cinematic Techniques: Dual-Weapon Attack (Broadsword
or Shortsword); Dual-Weapon Defense (Broadsword or
Shortsword); Timed Defense (Broadsword or Shortsword);
Whirlwind Attack (Broadsword or Shortsword).
Perks: Off-Hand Weapon Training (Shortsword);
Unusual Training (Dual-Weapon Attack, Both attacks must
target the same foe).
Gada
174 STYLES
Optional Traits
Advantages: Ambidexterity; Combat Reflexes; Language
(Japanese).