Fighting style

Monks adopt many different fighting styles.

Urgathoa's Hunger is a divine fighting technique.

Many fighting styles and martial arts are taught and performed on Golarion. Many reflect their cultures in their forms and incorporate aspects of philosophy or are philosophies in their own right. The following lists some of these, grouped by their geographic association.

Avistan

Fighting styles of Avistan include:

Adder's strike

a Taldan sword strike used, for instance, in fencing

Aldori defender

a defensively focused fighting style that uses the Aldori dueling sword

Aldori school of sword fighting

perfect for duels or flashy combat, but can also be used for practical fighting

Andoren defense

originates in Andoran, it involves a two-handed grasp of one's sword

Elliendo defense

a defensive style for sword fighting

Hamatulatsu

an exotic but deadly fighting form inspired by the varying attacks of the barbed devil

Melekatha

an exotic fighting technique designed by the vanished-archon Melek Taus

Order of the Stalwart Fist

a combination of Tian and Qadiran combat techniques taught at the Taldan Monastery of the Seven Forms

Rondelero

a Taldan style using a falcata and buckler

Thunder and Fang

a Shoanti combat style using an earth breaker and klar

The Vessel Between

practiced by the Daggermark Assassins' Guild, relying on stealth, agility, and secrecy

Whirling dervish

a Sarenrae-inspired style employs agile footwork to confound and evade enemies

Garund

A Pahmet monk wields his people's signature hammers.

The diverse and ancient cultures of Garund developed many unique fighting styles of their own:

Pahmet

the sand dwarves of Osirion modeled their signature hammer-based fighting style around the resilient, immovable traits of sphinxes, creatures they particularly respect

Ouat

monks of the Ouat adapted their unarmed style from the Pahmet's hammer mastery

Stick fighting

Song'o halflings wield fighting sticks the length of longswords to stinging effect, in both combat and competition

Tian Xia

Sajan assumes a crane style stance.

A fan dancer's performance can become a martial art when incorporating fighting fans.

Martial arts in Tian Xia often rise from fighting styles, combat techniques, and self-defense methods employed across classes since the dawn of civilization on the continent. The rich histories of its martial arts lend them to many uses beyond fighting, such as self-expression, competition, cultural heritage, spirituality, and philosophy. These myriad styles are innumerable; in Quain alone, a popular saying suggests "there are more martial techniques than stars in the sky—and they all think they shine the brightest.

Among the fighting styles and martial arts of Tian Xia are:

Adamantine Body

Originated by the dwarven master Shan Gang, this martial art philosophy hardens its practitioners' bodies into unbreakable toughness believed to make them impervious to blades.

Condor Fist Style

associated with the Condor Fist Society in Lingshen

Crane Steps Forth

Cyclone's Path

Practitioners of qinggong among the remote peaks of the Wall of Heaven master leaping and flying fighting techniques through a spiritual lightness that translates to physical lightness.

Flowing Strikes

Forest Storm

Gathered the Sun

Horse Stance

Lazy Serpent

Monkey Plucks the Peaches

Phoenix Dance

This performative martial art that combines dance, dramatic theater, and elaborate weaponry is often employed by traveling troupes of the Feng Wu Ke.

Quivering Palm

a unarmed strike to the chest that incapacitates the victim

Scorpion Pincer

Tiger Prowl, Crane Dive

Tip the Leaf

Titanic Embodiment

Favored among the largest and strongest combatants, this style leverages their weight and power to wield massive weapons and engage in inescapable grappling.

Twin White Palms

the only unarmed blow capable of slaying an immortal

Ular Tangan

a serpentine fighting style

References

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.