Sport in Hestrova

A long and rich history of sport lies within Hestrova and has always been divided between three types: Combat sports, Field/Court Sports and Competitive Displays.

## Combat Spots/Martial Arts

### **Martial Arts**

#### **Haldu**

Various styles of martial arts exist within Hestrova. Within the first Rambrak's, or martial arts schools, students would pay to learn whatever fighting styles and weapons the school provided lessons in, much like how there existed martial arts schools, or *koryu*, in medieval Japan.

These schools and styles first gained prominence within Haldu in the years following the Hestrovan Uniting Campaign, in which the attempt to unify Hestrova was achieved, albeit in a somewhat quasi-like way. Many of the school founders were former soldiers and military personnel. At first many of these schools taught lessons centered around weapons that were commonly used by the Haldunese. Eventually however, a number of schools began creating their own weapons (often based off of already existing weapons) and proceeded to instruct their students on their customized weapons. The same thing also happened with hand to hand combat, as a number of unarmed combat schools began creating their own fighting styles.

In terms of competitions and tournaments, these at first were common amongst students of the same or perhaps similar disciplines and were often organised by the schools teachers. It wasn't until 1720 that Hestrovan King ? ? ? organised the first tournament amongst the various Rambrak's of Ress. Each school, put forth a single competitor and in an elimination style tournament, the competitors fought one another until there was only one person remaining. It was not uncommon for unarmed and armed competitors to face one another and every year multiple deaths occurred, though precautions were implemented to reduce the yearly death toll.

These tournaments, which were referred to as the Ress Rambrak Tournaments, eventually expanded and schools from the four major cities and the smaller communities also participated. Even the other three non-capital cities started their own yearly tournaments amongst their own rambraks.

These yearly tournaments existed up until 1873, when they fell out of public favour for the various hand to hand combat sports that hand begun to emerge and gain popularity in the 1800's. By the beginning of the 1900's, these tournaments had been pushed out of popularity by the multiple modern unarmed combat sports. This also resulted in many older rambrak's closing down due to a lack of interest by the public.

In the 1930's an interest in many of the older rambrak arts was reignited. New schools opened and in a number of cases old schools reopened, which resulted in numerous tournaments and competitions being organised. These tournaments/competitions featured competitors wielding weapons that were made of either wood or bamboo, or blunted metal weapons were used.

* **Grankada** (New-Style) - Grankada is a martial art/combat sport created in Haldu, Hestrova. The art is a modern version of the older, more violent martial art known as Slegkin (Blood-Ring), and is often considered to be the creation of ? ? ?, who created the first Grankada *rambrak* in Ress in 1836.

* **Tunmull** (Reach-Strike)- Tunmull is a martial art/combat sport created in ?. The art is the creation of ? ? ?, who created it in 1862. The art allows striking with the arms, legs and head.

* **Gosdrag** (Red-Arm) - Only attacks with arms allowed

* **Nukruga** (Iron-Leg) - Only attacks with legs allowed

* **Konsis** (Dead-Tree) - Wrestling

#### **Romoss**

Martial arts and combat sports are popular in Romoss and they have enjoyed a long and dedicated history. However, competitions and tournaments are rare, as the Romossi have a strong belief within their culture that an individual should only use their skills, whether armed or unarmed, for self defense. Also, lessons in traditional armed and unarmed combat are taught differently in Romoss than in Haldu. In Romossi communities/villages, there generally exists a training hall in which all members of the settlement learn traditional fighting styles under the tutelage of at least one master, sometimes several. It is also common for parents to teach their children the fighting styles at a young age.

* Single sword
	+ Straight, Curved
* Sword and shield
* Two handed sword
* Spear
	+ Short, Standard, Long
* Axe
	+ One Handed, Two Handed
* Bow
* Curved Polearm
* Club
	+ One Handed, Two Handed
* Barehanded
* Staff
	+ Short, Standard, Long

* Voulge
	+ Short, Standard, Long

### **Krunet Archipelago**

Martial arts and combat sports within Krunet are viewed very much in the same way as how the Romossi view them; for defence. The Kruneti however do hold tournaments and competitions each year. These tournaments can range in size from single settlement tournaments to multiple island tournaments. Though unarmed and armed martial arts are taught, the Kruneti favour the styles centered around weapons, so much so that they are considered by Hestrovan's, even the Haldunese, to be the most capable weapon wielding combatants.

* Curved sword
	+ One Handed, Two Handed
* Curved sword & shield

* Spear
* Warclub
	+ One Handed, Two Handed
* Axe
	+ One Handed, Two Handed

### **Yarabok**

Martial arts and combat sports within Yarabok are viewed very much in the same way as how the Romossi and Kruneti view them; for defence. The Yaraboki however, like the Kruneti, do believe in tournaments and competitions; though their circumstances are different.

Every year a single elimination tournament featuring a representative from each of the regions 32 clans takes place. The Yarabok Clan Tournament has occurred in its current form every year since 734.

## Field/Court Sports

Professional field/court sports are very popular in Hestrova, though generally only within Haldu. Championship games of various sports garner stadium attendances of 100,000 and more and games leading towards the championships can be just as well received. Even many off season games garner healthy crowds.

As children, Hestrovan's of both genders play sports. In fact, in the youngest age groups, men and women often play against one another and even on the same team. However, after a certain age, boys stop playing these sports as all attention is geared towards the girls. This is because unlike many major/professional sports in other countries, professional sports in Hestrova is dominated by women, with practically no leagues of sport for men. In fact, it is often said by Hestrovans that "Men dominate the arena, women dominate the field", in reference to men in combat sports and women in field/court sports.

The most popular field/court sport in Hestrova is ?, a ball game that has been played in Hestrova for centuries. To non-Hestrovans, ? is best described as a hybrid form of handball and gaelic football.

## Gender In Sport

Gender in Hestrovan sports is rather unique when compared to most other countries. Hestrovan sports are traditionally divided into three groups mentioned previously:

* Combat Sports
* Field/Court Sports
* Competitive Displays

When it comes to combat sports, the vast majority of fighters/competitors are men. Particularly within the upper 3/4 of the recognized weight classes. However, the overwhelming majority of tournaments and competitions are not gender exclusive. These competitions/tournaments are open to men, women, and people who identify as whatever else. Weight classes, as well as a fighters willingness to fight whoever is chosen/dealt as their opponent, are believed to matter more than gender.

In gender exclusive competitions/tournaments, a competitor is required to be a biological member of the promoted gender.

Field/Court Sports are played professionally by women, not men. It is often said by Hestrovans that "Men dominate the arena, women dominate the field". The biggest and most popular sports are played by both genders when the players are young and often some competitions, in primary and secondary year levels, allow mixed gender teams.

Competitive displays are treated very much the same as combat sports, in which men, women, and people who identify as something else, compete against one another.

## MMA Origins

The origins of modern day mixed martial arts style of fighting can be traced back to the Talkarugu tournament and the fighting style utilized. Following both the **Night of Fighting** and the **Battle in Hestrova**, many non-Hestrovans borrowed from the style and used what they took within various fight promotions around the world. This led many MMA promotions to verge away from pitting different styles against one another and instead began holding fights between fighters with the same if not similar kind/s of training.