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.

You're not wrong. I loved how they quietly dropped Force jumping in the sequel trilogy.

Anyway if we're going to discuss Star Wars I-III, we need to focus on The Real Issues, like how Revenge of the Sith Anakin is just so damn hot and whether Obi riding round on a giant space lizard was a little OTT

@bluechameleon

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.

Definitely. You'd think she would have learned, after the first few. All the showboating just gives them time to hurt her, or someone else, or to escape.

Obi-Wan on the space lizard was hot, Sith Anakin needed a decent haircut. Both of them indulged themselves in unnecessary airborne theatrics.

Back in the Olden Days, I could do a very passable jump spinning kick a la Buffy.

I can testify it was never once used in the ring and was only ever used to drunkenly impress boys. If it helps, it probably did get me laid a couple of times. Maybe Buffy was trying to get in Angel's knickers.

Nothing to add but wonderful question to ponder. I salute your thinking

A very important thread, asking the important questions. I salute you, OP. There is a reason why real fighters do stuff like krav maga - maximum damage at minimum energy expenditure is surely the way you want to go. Any moves where you can see the opponent waiting for you to be done dancing to get a stab in is annoyingly fake.

I can do twirly kicks and all that (not flips and jumping over peoples heads!!). But if I got started on in the street, the highest I'd kick is the groin, but more than likely the shins or knees.

Be bloody cool to flip over their head and given them a slap on they way though!!!

I have some actor friends who have done a lot of fight choreographies, working with real swordplay experts. They tell me that all the best looking moves in a sword fight would get you killed in reality.

I'm seeing an ad for Toyota Yaris with a gymnast flipping their way to the car and driving off. The cookies are strong with this thread!

@Nuie

Obi-Wan on the space lizard was hot, Sith Anakin needed a decent haircut. Both of them indulged themselves in unnecessary airborne theatrics.

Noooo!!!! Personally I want to force jump Anakin & his lovely hair shame about those younglings though

That's true Phil.

TBF DH is a black belt and his signature is head kicks (in the ring, not street). Ends a fight pretty quickly but he's over 6 foot. I'd go for the groin every time (street, not ring ).

@MrsLebowski

I'm seeing an ad for Toyota Yaris with a gymnast flipping their way to the car and driving off. The cookies are strong with this thread!

I’ve got Redbull gives you wings.

@PrincessNutNutRoast

I have some actor friends who have done a lot of fight choreographies, working with real swordplay experts. They tell me that all the best looking moves in a sword fight would get you killed in reality.

Ha! I knew it!

I give you this actual movie:

His knowledge of Gymnastics AND karate make him the ultimate weapon.

@banivani I wasn’t really planning on moving forward with combat training in any capacity after the conclusion of this thread, what with having dexterity, strength and courage of 3 (D&D reference). But in an advisory capacity* I shall take on board your Krav Maga advice.

*giving my twopence worth in an argument with dh in the pub

@yetanothernamitynamechange that is tremendous
Particularly love the short shot of him climbing a flight of stairs on his hands. Useful.

If you roll a natural 20, that kick will land

On the matter at hand, I can't see why they don't plunge the weapon in immediately.

Because no one will ever do a scene like that which comes close to Indiana Jones shooting the sword-twirler when Harrison Ford was too tired to do the choreographed fight. (And definitely not in the Star Wars universe because frankly wtf is the point of the ones without Ford in them?)

I tend to do this during armed combat too. If I’m feeling particularly showboaty I replace one of my samurai swords with a Curly Wurly.

[quote Nuie]@yetanothernamitynamechange that is tremendous
Particularly love the short shot of him climbing a flight of stairs on his hands. Useful.[/quote]
Maybe if you needed to be stealthy but were wearing squeaky shoes?

I watched Ava with Jessica Chastain over the weekend and was
having similar thoughts. Her legs are obviously stronger than her arms so why was she wasting loads of energy leaping about instead of just kicking her opponent full force as often as she could?

@Plonque

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.

I quite enjoy the riff on this in The Incredibles. "You sly dog, you got me monologuing!"

OP, you have officially started my favourite thread of the week. Plus I learned about stoats, who knew.

Also being upside down, even fleetingly, surely just makes you more vulnerable. Gravity is against you, as well as your foe.

Fairly obviously, you'd never do stupid jumps or indeed even turn your back on your opponent in a real fight. You'd just aim to hit them really really hard so they don't get back up.

In films the emphasis is of course more on entertainment. Just a shame the prequels are all so fucking awful in that/all regards.

@SeasonallySnowyPeasant

It looks really cool though.

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