ZULU STICK FIGHTING
By Kuseru
Entrance Requirements: Any alignments admitted but Dishonorably aligned characters will tend to avoid Zulu Stick Fighting. There are no Attribute requirements.
Skill Cost: 14 Years (12 Years as a Secondary Martial Art Style)
Zulu Stick Fighting is believed to have originated with Amalandela, sone of Gumede, in the Umhlatuze valley around 1670. During the reign of Shaka (Zulu king who lived from 1787-1828, a proficient stick fighter by the age of 11), Zulu stick fighting was used to train for self-defense and war as part of his great armies with their emphasis on stabbing spears and phalanxes. Cetshwayo's reign (1836-1884) saw stick fighting as a means of resolving disputes, in which the shaft of the spear was used instead of the blade, causing stick fighting to develop a code of conduct. Modern Zulu stick fighting still retains this code of conduct.
In addition to various stick fighting competitions, there are two types of professional stick fighters: the amashinga, who fights for prizes or money; and the ishinga, or wandering stick fighter, who travels the land looking for fights to test his mettle. Stick fighting training generally takes place around the time a Zulu boy turns 16 and his father takes him to cut his own izinduku (fighting sticks), typically made from trees such as the ibelendlovu, umazwenda, umphahla, umqambathi, umthathe, and umunquma. There are several types of izinduku including the Induku, Ubhoko, and Umsila. The Induku (offensive stick), held in the right hand, is a strong stick, generally 34.6 inches (88cm) long without a knob and carved smooth where the circumference increases from top to bottom, a piece of cowhide is often tied to one end to help the fighter's grip and a cow's tail may be tied to the bottom to hide the sharp point. The Ubhoko (blocking stick, also known as ukuvika or ukuzihlaba), held in the left hand, is a 65 inches (165cm) long smooth stick which tapers down to a sharp point and is used to protect the body from incoming strikes. Last of the Izinduku is the Umsila (short stick), also held in the left hand with the Ubhoko, this stick is used to hold the oval-shaped, cow hide Ihawu (small shield) which ranges from 21.7-24.8 inches (55-63cm) long and 12.2-13 inches (31-33cm) wide and uses igusha (sheepskin) or isibhusha (sponge) as interior cushioning to protect the left hand, is often also decorated with strings of antelope skin or colored to indicate battlefield rank. In war, several other weapons are also used including the Iklwa (short stabbing spear), Isijula (long spear), Isisila Senkonjane (swallow-tail axe), Isizenze Axe (commoner's axe), and Iwisa/Isagila (knobkerri).
Intelezi (traditional Zulu medicine) also plays an important role in Zulu stick fighting. Zulu stick fighters prepare themselves for combat by availing themselves of the services of an Inyanga (herbalist) or Isangoma (diviner) who prepares a variety of medicinal plants as counter-spells. These charms act to counter various evil, such as weakness, magical attacks on the fighting sticks, dizziness, distracting flashes of light, strokes, impaired vision, or exposure to menstrual blood or snake venom.
Costume: None! However, stick fighters engaged in an inter-district umgangela (contest) may wear costume pieces, such as sashes or hairstyles, which identify them as being from a certain region.
Stance: A wide sideways stance with legs almost twice shoulder-width apart. The hands are held high, shoulder level, with the right hand holding the primary weapon and the other hand holding both the secondary weapon and shield.
CHARACTER BONUSES
Add +1 to P.S.
Add +1 to P.P.
Add +2 to P.E.
COMBAT SKILLS
Attacks per Melee: 5
Escape Moves: Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact.
Attack Moves: None.
Basic Defense Moves: Automatic Parry, Dodge, Entangle, Parry.
Advanced Defense Moves: Disarm, Multiple Dodge, Power Block/Parry.
Hand Attacks: Punch (Human Fist).
Basic Foot Attacks: Kick Attack.
Jumping Foot Attacks: None.
Special Attacks: Combination Strike/Parry, Spit (NEW! Some stick fighters place the bark of the uphindamshaye under their tongues, chew on it, and then spit it onto the opponents during a fight in an attempt to curse them. A successful hit effectively acts as a stun, causing the opponent to be dazed for 1D6 melee rounds where the opponent can not attack and has a penalty of -4 to dodge and parry.)
Holds/Locks: None.
Weapon Kata: W.P. Staff, W.P. Blunt, W.P. Shield, W.P. Spear, W.P. Axe.
Modifiers to Attacks: Critical Strike, Knockout/Stun, Pull Punch.
SKILLS INCLUDED IN TRAINING
Martial Art Powers: None.
Languages: Zulu
Cultural: Brewing, Cattle Herding
Weapon Proficiencies: W.P. Staff, W.P. Blunt, W.P. Shield, W.P. Spear, W.P. Axe.
Philosophical Training: Zulu Stick Fighting Code. Generally a series of gentleman's rules governing the stick fighting competitions. Stabbing attacks, tripping, war weapons, hitting with a shield, disarming, entangling, and locking shields are all prohibited in competitions.
If this is your Primary Martial Art then the following other styles can be learned in a shorter time: Massai (6 Years), Peul (6 Years).
LEVEL ADVANCEMENT BONUSES
1st: +1 to Strike, +1 to Pull Punch, +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact
2nd: +1 to Parry/Dodge
3rd: +1 to Damage, +1 to Disarm, +1 to Entangle
4th: +1 to Strike, +1 to Pull Punch, +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact
5th: +1 Attack per Melee
6th: +1 to Parry/Dodge
7th: Knockout/Stun on a Natural 20
8th: +1 to Damage, +1 to Disarm, +1 to Entangle
9th: +1 to Strike, +1 to Pull Punch, +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact
10th: +1 Attack per Melee
11th: +1 to Parry/Dodge
12th: Critical Strike on a Natural 19 or 20
13th: Knockout/Stun on a Natural 19 or 20
14th: +1 Attack per Melee
15th: +1 to Damage, +1 to Disarm, +1 to Entangle
Why Study Zulu Stick Fighting?
With the long reach and power of a weapon, this style allows a student to take on multiple attackers as easily as single ones and dispatch them quickly. It's very impressive, it's highly effective and it also has a strong moral background. Relatively few special skills. Best used on non-martial artists.