Zi Ran Men (Nature Gate)
By Hibik
Entrance Requirements: M.E. and P.P. of 12 or higher. No alignment restriction.
Skill Cost: 14 Years (7 Years as a Secondary Martial Art Style).
'There is no beginning or end of movement, there is no beginning or end of stillness, there is no beginning or end of change. Actual attack is hidden within fake attack, movements are within stillness'
-The Theory of Zi Ran Men.
Zi Ran Men, or Nature Gate, was created in the midst of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 A.D.) in China's Sichuan Province. Its founding is accredited to Xu Ai Zhai, an expert in many forms of Daoist Kung Fu, who also went by the name "Dwarf Xu". Zi Ran Men's influences probably came primarily from the various arts that Dwarf Xu had learned that had developed around Emei Shan, one of China's three holy mountains and the home of many renowned fighting arts. Sichuan, being relatively isolated from the rest of China due to vast mountain ranges, eventually came to develop its own martial tradition, and many often made a dangerous trek through the mountains just to receive skills in one of Sichuan's almost legendary arts.
Dwarf Xu would eventually start a one-disciple lineage to avoid vast spreading of Zi Ran Men, making sure there would only be one master and one student per generation. This would continue until the 20th century, when Zi Ran Men started to be openly taught to the public.
Zi Ran Men, like many Sichuan (and Emei) arts, is a combination of Hard and Soft, Internal and External fighting methods, consisting of physical training, qi gong, and traditional Chinese medicine. Zi Ran Men training begins with the internal and soft, consisting of various forms of Qi Gong designed to increase and cultivate chi flow, and then a series of physical conditioning exercises designed to increase muscle and harden the body in a non stressful way. Iron hand training methods are used to harden the hands, and basket-walking exercises are used to increase balance and make the body light and agile. Qin Na (Chin Na) training is also prominent within the system.
Zi Ran Men is a light, quick art that ideally flows like water. When attacked, evasion is said to be "like being blown by a gust of wind". Offense and Defense are one and the same, so even while avoiding the enemy's attack, there is reaction as the enemy's attack force is it is being expended. The artist is often low to the ground, and movements are light and fast, with attacks consisting of punches, palm strikes, and kicks that consist of relaxed, soft movement, but turn to hard, powerful strikes, like a transition from cotton to iron. The artist must remain light and nimble, able to make transitions at a moment's notice and flow with any situation.
Zi Ran Men training is available in a few schools within the United States and China. Although not widespread, its popularity continues to increase.
Costume: Silk Kung Fu Uniform.
Stance: The Bao Be Shou (Tablet Holding General) stance, which is an erect stance with feet close together, positioned to form a 'T' formation. Hands remain held up and relaxed.
CHARACTER BONUSES
Add +1 to M.E.
Add +2 to P.P.
Add +1 to P.S.
Add 10 to Chi.
COMBAT SKILLS
Attacks per Melee: 2
Escape Moves: Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, and Breakfall.
Attack Moves: Leap.
Basic Defense Moves: Dodge, Parry, and Automatic Parry.
Advanced Defensive Moves: Automatic Dodge, Multiple Dodge, and Combination Dodge/Attack ((From the Palladium Martial Arts Net Book)) Against one opponent, once per melee round, the character can simultaneously dodge and attack. First the character must roll a successful dodge. If the dodge works, then the character rolls to strike using either a Backhand, Elbow, Hammer Fist, Knee, Knife Hand, Palm Strike, Spear Hand, Thumb Drive Fist, or a melee weapon. No Strike or Damage bonuses allowed. The victim of Combination Dodge/Attack must use a melee round attack/action to defend against it (Automatic defenses won't work). Uses up one melee attack/action.).
Hand Attacks: Strike (Punch), Palm Strike, Chop, Spear Hand, and Claw Hand.
Basic Foot Attacks: Kick, Snap Kick, Backward Sweep, and Leg Trip/Hook.
Jumping Foot Attacks: None.
Special Attacks: Forearm, Elbow, Paralysis Attack (Vital Points), and Death Blow.
Holds/Locks: Wrist Lock, Elbow Lock.
Weapon Kata (Select One): W.P. Dao (Broadsword/Saber), W.P. Gun (Staff), W.P. Jian (Straight Sword), or W.P. Qiang (Spear).
Modifiers to Attacks: Knockout/Stun, Critical Strike, and Critical Strike from Rear.
SKILLS INCLUDED IN TRAINING
Martial Art Powers: Automatically receives the Iron Hand Body Hardening Exercise. Select a total of TWO (2) from Chi Mastery, Martial Art Techniques, or Specialty Kata (including Chi Kata).
Languages: Chinese (choose one dialect).
Medical: Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Acupressure, Qi Gong, and Chinese Holistic Medicine.
Philosophical Training: Buddhism or Daoism (choose one).
If this is your Primary Martial Art then the following other styles can be learned in a shorter time: Mian Quan (6 Years), and Taiji Quan (5 Years).
LEVEL ADVANCEMENT BONUSES
1st: +2 to Dodge, +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, and Critical Strike From Behind.
2nd: +2 to Strike, +1 to Breakfall.
3rd: +1 Attacks per Melee, +1 to Parry.
4th: Select one from Chi Mastery, Martial Art Techniques, or Specialty Kata, +1 to Damage.
5th: Add 10 to Chi, +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact.
6th: Automatically receives the Karumi-Jutsu Zenjorike.
7th: Critical Strike on Natural 19-20, +1 to Dodge.
8th: Select one from Chi Mastery (including Advanced), Martial Art Techniques, or Specialty Kata (including Advanced), +1 to Strike.
9th: +1 Attacks, +1 to Parry.
10th: Double Existing Chi.
11th: +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, +1 to Breakfall.
12th: Select One from Chi Mastery (including Advanced), Martial Art Techniques, or Specialty Kata (including Chi Kata).
13th: +1 to Strike and Dodge.
14th: +1 Attacks per Melee, +1 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact.
15th: Deathblow on a Natural 20.
Why Study Zi Ran Men?
A wonderful blend of physical external training and intensive internal training, as well as education in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zi Ran Men is an overall well balanced martial art, using quickness, and natural flowing movement to react and defend against almost any danger.