History Main / FightingFingerprint

* ''Videogame/WingCommanderIVThePriceOfFreedom'': A particular technique, practiced only by the most reckless of fighter pilots, involves dropping a mine and waiting until the last possible second before engaging the engines, and using the shockwave from the mine's explosion to propel the fighter away. [[spoiler: It's eventually used to connect the AcePilot [[SociopathicSoldier "Seether"]] with a series of atrocities against civilians.]]

* ''Videogame/WingCommanderIVThePriceOfFreedom'': A particular technique, practised only by the most reckless of fighter pilots, involves dropping a mine and waiting until the last possible second before engaging the engines, and using the shockwave from the mine's explosion to propel the fighter away. [[spoiler: It's eventually used to connect the AcePilot [[SociopathicSoldier "Seether"]] with a series of atrocities against civilians.]]

* In [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0852.html this]] ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' strip, Roy correctly guesses that the warrior the Order is fighting is ''not'' Thog, but is actually an imposter, by observing his fighting style. Amongst other things, the imposter relies on defence and counter-attack in contrast to Thog's offensive fighting style, and he also leads with his other foot.

* ''Videogame/WingCommanderIVThePriceOfFreedom'': A particular technique, practised only by the most reckless of
fighter pilots, involves dropping a mine and waiting until the last possible second before engaging the engines, and using the shockwave from the mine's explosion to propel the fighter away. [[spoiler: It's eventually used to connect the AcePilot [[SociopathicSoldier "Seether"]] with a series of civilian massacres.]]

** Referenced in ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers''. Faced with Trini and the MonsterOfTheWeek shapeshifted into her, Jason suggests they both attack him, as he knows the real Trini's fighting style. The monster actually gives himself away by being way too eager.

* ''Series/LukeCage2016'': Luke panics at the prospect of Shades (who was also a Seagate inmate and is now in Harlem working for Cottonmouth) recognizing Luke and revealing his true identity as Carl Lucas, escaped prisoner. For his part, Shades doesn't recognize Luke when they casually interact... until he witnesses Luke fight a bunch of Cottonmouth's men, and recognizes Luke's particular fighting style.

** As a former member of the League of Assassins, Damien Darhk recognizes that Thea has the same training after watching her fight, and even jokingly asks how the current Ra's al Ghul is doing, unaware that he's talking to his daughter.

** Early on, Naoto/Tiger Mask tells the tale of a Tiger's Cave wrestler who had decided not to pay half his wages to the organization and [[CharlieBrownFromOuttaTown changed mask and gymmick to not be recognized]]: [[RealityEnsues Tiger's Cave recognized him immediately anyway from his body build and fighting style]], and sent their wrestlers to hit him in the head until he went crazy.

* In ''Comicbook/FiftyTwo'', Renee Montoya realizes that Batwoman is her ex-girlfriend Kate Kane because she uses the exact same punching technique (in addition to the other clues.)
* In ''Comicbook/ThePunisher2099'', Jake is fighting a supervillain villain named Hot Wire, who can digitize himself to interact with electronic systems. Jake performs a PunchCatch on him, which he counters by turning his arm and ramming his elbow into Jake's face. Jake is shocked because it's a move he made up himself and there's only one other person he taught it to--his son, Dean Gallows.

* ''Series/{{Arrow}}''

* A mild example in ''Series/{{Warehouse 13}}'', where Helena explains how she figured out that TimeTravel was possible. The night her daughter was killed in a home invasion, her maid tried to fight off the burglars. When questioning one of the burglars, she realized that the maid was using Kempo, Helena's favored fighting style, which the maid didn't know. Thus, she knew that she would one day build a time machine and use MentalTimeTravel to possess her maid.

* In ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles'', [[spoiler:Metal Face]] attacks Dunban with a move only used by [[spoiler:his old comrade Mumkhar]]. In fact, the disguised character did this deliberately for the express purpose of taunting Dunban.
* ''VideoGame/AceCombat''

[[folder:Web Comics]]

[[folder:Fan Fiction]]

** This case is less egregious than most, as a Kata is a VERY formalized training set of moves. While Shredder only sees the tail end...you actually COULD recognize a school by the kata.

* When ComicBook/{{Taskmaster}} tried fighting Finesse (who might be his daughter) so that he'll remember her (the modifications to his brain that let him memorize and copy skills instantly also prevent him from forming long-term memories meaning he'll forget her soon after their meeting), he realizes it won't work. Finesse's fighting style is a mix of copied fighting styles like his own because she has similar abilities to his (which is why she thinks she could be his daughter), meaning she effectively has ''no'' Fighting Fingerprint.

* When ComicBook/Taskmaster tries fighting Finesse (who might be his daughter) so that he'll remember her (the modifications to his brain that let him memorize and copy skills instantly also prevent him from forming long-term memories meaning he'll forget her soon after their meeting), he realizes it won't work. Finesse's fighting style is a mix of copied fighting styles like his own because she has similar abilities to his (which is why she thinks she could be his daughter), meaning she effectively has ''no'' Fighting Fingerprint.

** During the wedding fight in the ''Series/CrisisOnEarthX'' crossover, Oliver ends up fighting a masked man, wielding a bow and matching him blow for blow. Oliver has his suspicions about the identity of the attacker, which are proven right, when Oliver-X unmasks himself during their next encounter. It's a little strange that their fighting styles are identical, since Oliver's is based on a mix of what he learned on Lian Yu and from TheMafiya.

* Helena Bertinelli identifies Oliver Queen as the Hood on ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' after fighting the Hood in one scene and watching Oliver fight in another.

*** Zuko was also forced to [[CoverBlowingSuperpower out himself as a firebender]] while defending an Earth Kingdom village he was staying in from some Earth Kingdom soldiers who were abusing their authority. He was doing fine with just his swords until the leader of the group proved to be a strong enough earthbender that Zuko had to go all-out in order to win. Afterward he had to flee [[UngratefulTownsfolk the village he'd just saved]].

** [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized Jet]] tries at one point forcing Zuko to use his [[PlayingWithFire firebending]] so the people of Earth Kingdom would realise he's a citizen of the Fire Nation hiding in their country. The reason why he knew Zuko to be a firebender in the first place is because his uncle used firebending to ''[[MundaneUtility warm up his tea]]''.
*** Zuko was also forced to out himself as a firebender while defending an Earth Kingdom village he was staying in from some Earth Kingdom soldiers who were abusing their authority. He was doing fine with just his swords until the leader of the group proved to be a strong enough earthbender that Zuko had to go all-out in order to win. Afterward he had to flee the village he'd just saved.

* ''Series/{{Treadstone}}''. A CIA agent is shown security video of some psycho who killed everyone in a 7/11 store. On further study however, he notes the smooth one-handed draw, his quick and accurate shooting, and rather than just shooting from right-to-left like most right-shooters would, he selected his targets on the basis of threat level--from the physically fit to the oldest--showing calm thinking under pressure. All of which fit a Treadstone SuperSoldier.

->The weapons might have been different, and the security camera footage was hardly the best, but Kagami knew the nuances of a person’s fighting style; knew how they expressed themselves through combat. Every fencer had a hallmark; a signature they affixed to every battle with the tip of their blade. No two fencers fought the same; Kagami’s ripostes were second to none, her mother’s strikes were more Flemish than Italian, and her grandfather’s kendo lessons shone through every thrust of her father’s foil.

* Inverted in ''{{Manga/Naruto}}''. When Jiraiya goes to fight Pain, he assumes that it's his former student Nagato because they both possess the [[MagicalEye Rinnegan]]. However, when they start fighting, Jiraiya notices that Pain only uses Summoning Techniques, which wouldn't make sense, because Nagato has mastered every ninja technique known to man. It's the first of many hints that he's got the wrong guy [[spoiler:or more accurately, it's not the ''real'' Nagato fighting him personally]].

** Less Egregious then most, as a Kata is a VERY formalized training set of moves. While Shredder only sees the tail end...you actually COULD recognize a school by the kata.

* ''Series/KamenRiderGaim'': Used as a plot point. Oren Pierre Alfonso (Armored Rider Bravo) interferes in a bout between Gaim and Zangetsu, claiming the latter completely lacked the elegance he had in prior fights. [[spoiler: He's right. Mitsuzane had been impersonating his older brother, Takatora, the latter of whom Oren had a mancrush on.]]