- A measured powerful style designed to remove foes from battle and recover quickly.
A precursor to modern Aikido, exact records of Sagawa Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu, or sometimes Daito-Ryu or Aiki-Jujutsu, have been lost to antiquity. The accepted history places the styles originating with samurai from 11th century Japan. The legends of Daito-Ryu combines martial prowess with a forensic understanding of the body.
Using controlled movements, the martial artist is able to defend themselves, take down foes, and prepare for additional assailants. By focusing on natural, and unnatural motions of the body, the martial artist is able to manipulate opponents through pain compliance, or inflict grievous wounds. Sagawa Daito-Ryu is a style designed to focus one’s energy, contend with armored and often armed assailants, in short to win the battle, not just the fight.
Associated Weapons: Bayonet (jukendo), club (jo), sword (bokken, katana), knife (tanto)
Maintaining a neutral, almost unassuming posture, the martial artist keeps their hands at or above their thighs. Alternatively the martial artist may extend one arm as a more defensive posture. From here, the martial artist can react, defend, counter, and strike, return to their their natural posture.
Author’s Note: All builds presented in this series should not be taken as the only way to interpret a given style. Players and GMs are encouraged to treat these as a framework to build their own character’s style.
Fighting Style: Sagawa Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu
- Parent Attribute: Constitution or Mental
- Primary Role: Offense or Defense
- First Secondary Role: Defense or Offense
Common Specialties:
- Active Defense (or Counter Strike Combos)
- Grapple
- Power Strike
- Trip
Common Combos:
- Counter Lock Pressure Strike: Active Defense – Grapple – Power Strike
- Counter Pressure Strike: Active Defense – Power Strike
- Drop Prepare: Trip – Set Up
- Fell The Mob: Trip (Opponent One) – Trip (Opponent Two)
Key Talents:
- Discipline
- Defending Others
- Etiquette
- Escape Artist
- Fitness
- Intuition
- Long Shot
- Perception
Additional Boons
- Amazing
- Languages: French, German, Japanese, Russian
- Etiquette Supports Defense on the First Turn
- Perception Supports Power Strike
Super Style Sagawa Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu
To understand Sagawa Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu is to understand oneself and the power of a single breath. The martial artist is able to manipulate and control their foes in ways that are hard to comprehend. While disabling one foe, they are just as able to combat another. Layering body upon body of those unable to resist their strikes.
Example (Classic Power Level)
Sagawa Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu 12
- Mental/Offense
Devastating (Penetrating) MA2
Trapping (Variable Trap, Power Pass) MA 3
Secondary Role: Defense (Full Role) MA2
Locked Power: Penetrating may only be used with the Power Strike Combat Maneuver
Limited Power: Trapping requires contact with the foe
Secondary Role: Support: Outlast (Full Role) MA
(S) Counter Lock Pressure Strike 4
(S) Fighting While Exposed 4
(S) Trip 7
(S) Power Strike 10
The martial artist has learned to harness the Aiki, the pull when one is pushed. It is the mental discipline to defeat the foe before the battle has begun. How does the martial artist hold their foes powerless with a mere touch? Their will has dominated and the attacker can no longer resist. The martial artist strikes to end the battle, they cut through all defenses to remove the other’s ability to fight.
Cost 1 Power + 12 Selections + 11 AP
Boons
Amazing MA
Combo: Fell The Mob TY
Combo: Counter Lock Pressure Strike TY
Languages: German, Japanese, Russian TY
Etiquette Supports Defense on the First Turn MA
Perception Supports Power Strike MA
Cost 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 9 AP
Use In Conflict
Some styles concern themselves with the physical harm they can inflict, an expert in Aiki-Jujutsu concerns themselves with the mental harm of being unable to act. With any blow, the martial artist can Trap a foe rendering them unable to act while at your mercy. This is not a basic Grapple, Your strike has stilled their body so long as you can maintain pressure. Combined with a Counter Lock Pressure Strike an attacker can be subdued, or when on the offense, with Fell the Mob, stacking bodies of incapacitated foes. When facing off with a skilled Attacker, Amazing can help to offset penalties.
