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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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

75 replies

Nuie · 14/12/2020 11:18

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.

OP posts:

Gardeniaofdelights · 14/12/2020 16:46

This is my favourite AIBU

EurosprogBauble · 14/12/2020 17:10

Chickens are what you need

CigarsofthePharoahs · 14/12/2020 17:20

Yeah, but don't forget that if you have the high ground, you're guaranteed a win. Also, how did Palpatine get there so fast?
I used to do karate. There was someone who could do a really cool head kick. Unfortunately you could always see it coming. Looked fancy, but couldn't score a point unless their opponent had their eyes shut.
Did you know in all the Star Wars back story that Darth Maul is supposed to survive? He was the best thing in that film.

Laiste · 14/12/2020 17:32

Hang on ...
Going back to Yoda boinging around the room when he's fighting ... why, please, does he shuffle about with a walking stick under normal circs.? He's clearly NOT incapacitated ...

Blibbyblobby · 14/12/2020 17:33

YANBU. But assuming the top half of the body weighs more than the bottom, and your head is way heavier than your feet, I think it's maybe more efficient get your head just high enough to clear the enemy then fling your legs over your head than to jump up straight and lift your head all the way.

That said, high jumpers don't somersault over the bar so I'm clearly taking bollocks.

The question now is why isn't Yoga doing a Fosbury flop over his opponent ?

OfaFrenchmind2 · 14/12/2020 17:42

This is why Obi Wan switched to Soresu. Ataru is flashy showy osik that got old Qui Gon killed.

Original poster

Nuie · 14/12/2020 17:43

@Laiste

Hang on ... Going back to Yoda boinging around the room when he's fighting ... why, please, does he shuffle about with a walking stick under normal circs.? He's clearly NOT incapacitated ...

Benefits.

He’s getting a supplementary wizened Jedi benefit. The big-hairy-eared fraudster.

OP posts:

Original poster

Nuie · 14/12/2020 17:46

@Blibbyblobby

That said, high jumpers don't somersault over the bar so I'm clearly taking bollocks.

The question now is why isn't Yoga doing a Fosbury flop over his opponent ?

You could just tuck jump over and save yourself all the unnecessary peril of being upside down?

Very underrated the tuck jump.

OP posts:

CaraDuneRedux · 14/12/2020 18:01

I have a secret hobby of writing (bad) fantasy, so I follow a lot of you-tubers on historical weapons, fighting techniques and movie sword fights (both good and bad). I bring you:

Laiste · 14/12/2020 18:10

He’s getting a supplementary wizened Jedi benefit. The big-hairy-eared fraudster.

I knew it!

MrsTerryPratchett · 14/12/2020 18:22

Today is doing Rule One.

Any Pratchett fans?

MrsTerryPratchett · 14/12/2020 18:22

Yoda not today.

FFS.

VicMackey · 14/12/2020 18:25

@FawnDrench

I blame Chuck Norris - he started it.

😂😂😂 (off to hunt for Walker Texas Ranger Box Set)

Blibbyblobby · 14/12/2020 19:28

@CaraDuneRedux

I have a secret hobby of writing (bad) fantasy, so I follow a lot of you-tubers on historical weapons, fighting techniques and movie sword fights (both good and bad). I bring you:

Have you read the Greatcoats series? Top swashbuckling fantasy!

Blibbyblobby · 14/12/2020 19:29

Hmmm, ignore the video, it got picked up when I quoted CaraDuneRedux

RustyBear · 14/12/2020 21:39

"Do not act incautiously when confronting a little bald wrinkly smiling man"

nocoolnamesleft · 14/12/2020 21:48

@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.

Well, Buffy did already get cited, but I do recall Ethan Rayne saying something along the lines of "It's the extended gloat that gets me every time!"

Popcorninmymouth · 14/12/2020 22:12

Well if I was in a big fight I'd like to think I would pull some showboating somersault type moves. I would probably fight with style.

ErrolTheDragon · 14/12/2020 22:23

@Popcorninmymouth

Well if I was in a big fight I'd like to think I would pull some showboating somersault type moves. I would probably fight with style.

Your NN hints more at the 'gormless bystander' role tbh.

I bet SomersaultingStoat is up for grabs ....

TheSunIsStillShining · 14/12/2020 22:28

@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.

This made me smile :) thx!

AradiaGC · 14/12/2020 22:34

If you roll a natural 20, that kick will land.

Very true. And obviously all the gloaty monologues are because talking is a free action.

MrsTerryPratchett · 14/12/2020 23:12

So happy all the nerds are out in force on this thread.

Nerd Power Engage

BadLad · 15/12/2020 04:24

@CigarsofthePharoahs

Yeah, but don't forget that if you have the high ground, you're guaranteed a win. Also, how did Palpatine get there so fast? I used to do karate. There was someone who could do a really cool head kick. Unfortunately you could always see it coming. Looked fancy, but couldn't score a point unless their opponent had their eyes shut. Did you know in all the Star Wars back story that Darth Maul is supposed to survive? He was the best thing in that film.

This high ground tactic obviously became known during Anakin's teen years, because when Darth Maul had the high ground against Obi Wan, he just stood there gormlessly as Obi Wan vaulted over his head and then stabbed him.

Mind you, that fight was so dull, long and devoid of any emotion that any ending was a blessing. Much more exciting is the final clash between Luke and Vader, when a clearly tormented Luke just pounds Vader to the ground.

MissJeanLouise · 15/12/2020 04:48

I’d also query the Power Rangers (Mystic Force were the rangers of choice when mine were little) - waving their arms and morphers around for 5 minutes while they ‘ranger up’ one by one. Koragg always just waits around watching them get ready to fight instead of just taking them out.

yetanothernamitynamechange · 15/12/2020 08:22

@MissJeanLouise Power Rangers are one of the worst offenders at this. But what is really ridiculaous about them is why they dont just save a load of time and mighty morph in the first place. We all know that the monster is going to supersize itself at a mid-way point in the fight, and that the power rangers will then (very slowly) assemble into a single fighting machine in retaliation so why not just do that in the first place! Not to mention that in the time it takes for them to do their mighty morphing thing the monster cpuld have destroyed half the city!

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