The ability to somersault over someone’s head during hand to hand combat is just showboating and of limited tactical benefit.

[Nuie]

Pondering this after watching episodes I-III of Star Wars movies this weekend.

There’s an awful lot of somersaulting going on, Yoda being the very worst, the little green show-off. Can’t see any purpose to it though. If you’ve got enough power in your legs to jump over someone then why not just jump over them? Where the added value in a somersault?
Now a half twist I could understand because you’d be on the other side of your opponent but facing toward them, ready to stick your knife in or whatever. But gymnastics when you are fighting for your life is just silly and unnecessary and I think should be stopped or at the very least rationed.

This is also the kind of stupid crap I think about on a regular basis!

If you've got enough power to flip over people it would probably be better used by jumping directly onto their head. Or just kicking them really really hard.

It looks really cool though.

Buffy is particularly guilty of this. So much flipping, spinning on metal bars and jumping over stuff. Just punch them then shove a stake through their heart already.

Yup, Apocalypse, why waste the momentum. I also wonder why more over head somersaultees don't just hold the lightsabre up and chop the gymnastics assailant in half as they sail over them.

@IDontLikeZombies

Yup, Apocalypse, why waste the momentum. I also wonder why more over head somersaultees don't just hold the lightsabre up and chop the gymnastics assailant in half as they sail over them.

Ah... now there's an explanation for the somersault. It's a genital protection strategy.

But yeah, I really want to see yoda jumping on someone's head now.

@ApocalypseNowt

If you've got enough power to flip over people it would probably be better used by jumping directly onto their head. Or just kicking them really really hard.

I concur.

I'm afraid YABU. Surely it's to mesmerise and befuddle the opponent? Like stoats and weasels do

Totes unreasonable.
Oh Little Bore speaks the truth.
Also are you really criticising Yoda? Scandalous.

I blame Chuck Norris - he started it.

Yes, and all of that cartwheeling/flipping across the floor rather than just running looks more and more daft the more you think about it.

See also: gratuitous pirouettes during sword fights. Still, I suppose it gives your opponent a sporting chance to stab you in the kidneys.

Baddies always know they have to 1. Let the protagonist show off and 2. Take their turn to attack. Can't be a good baddy if you don't wait your turn to fight, even if the entire gang could overpower the good guy if they all attacked at once.

I will make an exception for stoats c/o OhLittleBore. That is acceptable (and awesome! Who knew?!) but they are hunting rabbits who are thick and easily distracted by such business.

Humans no. You’d just walk swiftly or run away if someone came closer and closer to you doing all that. Unless they were a street performer.

Yoda should be conserving his energy, not pissing about up in the air.

What they never show is the denouement, with Yoda (or Chuck, Buffy etc) suddely sinking his teeth into the opponent's neck and then dragging him away.

The movie makers have sanitised the whole thing, which is why people like OP are confused. It is disinformation and FAKE NEWS!

Don’t see Anakin Skywalker having a good old chew on Count Dooku’s arms in a burrow with Padme do we?

Well this thread got weird and dark really quickly.

Nuie

I have not read anything that made me laugh so much in a very long time. Please write a book and I will buy it (the hardback kind, which I never do).

On the matter at hand, I can't see why they don't plunge the weapon in immediately. You are completely right to point out the difference between gymnastics and slaying someone.

To be fair, the thread started off immensely weird.

Yanbu, OP. Bring back Xena, I say. She generally managed to get in a few good kicks when somersaulting over people.

In every fight scene ever, the loser will pause to gloat instead of finishing off their opponent while they are on the ground and, basically, an open goal. The other person then recovers and TA-DA gets the gloater^^ right where it hurts.
Every. Sodding. Time.
You'd think they'd learn, I have. If I'm ever in a fight and they drop their sword, imma gonna cut them in half quick sharp, I know how it works see.

Its very silly. Watched the UFC at the weekend and there was none of that flouncy nonsense. Just lots of very ouchy looking punching and kicking until one went unconscious. Not a twirl in sight which is how fighting should be.

I used to teach groups of eight year olds fencing, most of my time was spent stopping them swinging their swords about like Errol Flynn 🙄