What type of martial art would suit him?

[tekande]

Wow. I didn’t think anyone would respond, so thanks for all the suggestions. As you can probably tell, I know nothing about martial arts, so this is just me doing research for my book.

So far I like Wing Chun the most, because I have settled on China. But you don’t have to be concerned with what was popular at the time, because that doesn’t add into it at all.

It sounds to me like it is of some importance what gender his teacher/lover was, so yes, it was indeed a man. I was just being vague about the gender because I didn’t want people to go, “Ewww! Gay! I’m not touching that question!”
He himself is of course also very vague about his past relationships, so he is not “faggy” with limp wrists and a lisp. He does however have a feminine quality to him, that makes women flock around him because he comes off a sensitive and romantic gentleman. He is a bit of a James Bond parody in that if he wanted he could sleep with a new woman every nigh.

But I would prefer for the martial art style to be for both men and women, because he mentions that his lover had a daughter who was way more skilled at fighting than him, because she obviously trained for a longer time, and while she doesn’t show up in this story, I would like for her to make an appearance later.

[Guest]

I pretty much had a feeling that the character was gay from your outline, and also that I noted you didn't explicitly state his lover was a woman. Guess my "gaydar" is working I don't think you'll find anyone here has a problem with that, and if they do then just ignore them cos they're a moron anyway.

I do think Wing Chun would be a good option for the character, especially given the introduction of his daughter. There are some guys on here who have good knowledge of Wing Chun, so if you wanted more technical advice I'm sure they could be called upon.

This sounds like a really interesting piece of work. Out of curiosity, any chance we will be able to get to see the finished product?

[phatbeard]

Being a late 19th century dandy, the guy will carry a sword, probably hidden, like a cane sword/walking stick sword. Everybody carried weapons it will have to be a weapons based art, and the 8 chop knives of chun won't cut it for a dandy, too heavy to brutal (if im getting the persona right).

I would go with a wu-dang/tang sword style, hsing i/bagua type stuff, something with elegance thats going to reinforce his personality, as far as I know (which aint alot) chun would have been very much for street thugs, the same with southern mantis and other hakka arts, and the long sword stuff of wu-dang would (probably or could be) a asset/compliment to his western rapier type fencing style, that he would probably have studied at some point. Or check out a few arts and create your own "passed down my lovers family deadly secret art that no-body lived to tell of, because anyone who has seen it has been an enermy and killed by it, untill the dude learns off whoever kung fu"

[tekande]

Sounds to me like you get the character perfectly.
Hmm, I quite like the cane idea. I never thought of him walking with ine, but it would be of great use. Besides the sword, it could be used for poking and hitting things with. Me like!

This sounds like a really interesting piece of work. Out of curiosity, any chance we will be able to get to see the finished product?

Hopefully! But these kind of things take a long time, so you've probably forgotten all about it when it finally happens

[phatbeard]

I spent some time a few years back (alot of years back, it was school, but have a very keen interest to this day) studying victorian england and it's influence on the world, and it was very violent and everyone carried weapons, the "dandy's" carried elegant weapons that matched their dress sense, eleborat walking canes/sticks, some where lead filled and used like a stick/cudgel, others elegant slender swords and daggers, all beautifully crafted and engraved, all very deadly.

And don't forget firearms, small handcrafted derenger type weapons, elegant easily concealed where a dandies favorite.

Empty hand stuff was the stuff of the common people and pretty rare when everyone carried weapons, so cudgels, sticks etc were the ruffians choice as thats all they could afford. But he may of had rudimentary boxing skills from school (like the fencing) but not enough to ruin his looks so to speak.

[phatbeard]

Also, people used the canes/sticks as a way of carrying concealed weapons at the time, they where weapons to match the look/fashion but without looking like a sword etc.

Nearly everyone carried a cane/stick/hidden dagger/pocket gun if they was rich, weapons where illigal to carry (it's a very grey area to be honest)but it was so dangerous a world, everyone did but with the rich/dandies it had to be with style, look at some images from the time and think of the look of english gentlemen since, riding crops, seated walking sticks, long umbrellas all replaced but show the influence of the walking stick/cane swords that their turn of the century victorian/edwardian forebear carried.

So to cap, he wouldn't need the cane/stick but you can bet he had one.

[Guest]

Thats good stuff D, great contribution to the thread.

[Hardball]

british boxing was around at the time. do boxing, but dont compete in any matches. only light sparring so your pretty face doesnt get messed up. if thats too much for you, theres always cardio kickboxing.

Funny Dick, why didn't you say Tae Bo? LOL

[tekande]

Woha, phatbeard! That was a lot of information. The story is very lighthearted despite the gruesome things that happens in it, but I would like to at least get it historically correct, so thanks!

[jubaji]

I'm telling you - Bartitsu!

[Liberty]

Some possible samples. This first one, check out the seemingly effeminate Savate which folows the Fencing and the Staff stuff:

[YOUTUBE]http://youtube.com/watch?v=IKDkBlKEY1g[/YOUTUBE]

How about his one - Jeremy Bretts' seemingly pansy boxing footwork in a scene from that period:

[YOUTUBE]http://youtube.com/watch?v=N-pUc49fV4A[/YOUTUBE]

This guy (gotta see his martial moves) culd probably play your subject:

[YOUTUBE]http://youtube.com/watch?v=tW5alGRaKqU[/YOUTUBE]

Of course, if Wing Chun is the way to go, then perhaps this guy was the guy he learned some of the art from:

[YOUTUBE]http://youtube.com/watch?v=fWus2Cx8aDI[/YOUTUBE]

[Hardball]

I'm telling you - Bartitsu!

Is that the same as Bart Fu?

[jubaji]

Index


Not advocating as a MA but it fits the story

[GQchris]

"effeminate Savate" LMAO

[tekande]

This guy (gotta see his martial moves) culd probably play your subject

His movements were actually surprisingly accurate...

Of course, if Wing Chun is the way to go, then perhaps this guy was the guy he learned some of the art from

Hehe, he doesn't even come close (waaaaay too feminine), but it was "cute" non the less.