Line #16 Main/ClothFu


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9	[[quoteright:350:[[Film/SherlockHolmes2009 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cloth_fu5.jpg]]]]
10	[[caption-width-right:350:"First, distract target..."]]
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12	An occurrence where a character uses a piece of stray cloth as a weapon. The cloth used can vary from blankets to bags with towels getting special mention, as they're a convenient illustration of CantBatheWithoutAWeapon. The cloth can be used in a number of ways. In the most benign uses, the cloth can be used to capture or blind an enemy. More agile characters may even use the cloth to capture a weapon and disarm their opponent. More sinister characters can use the cloth as a makeshift garrote or even a hangman's noose. More straightforwardly, sufficiently strong cloth could be used as a whip. A type of fighting style that is not seen often, but does show up in some movies or TV shows.
13
14	Overlaps with either ImprovisedWeapon or ImprobableWeaponUser.
15
16	A SisterTrope to ClothingCombat. The MasterOfThreads, who manipulates cloth or fabric as a superpower, is a few steps up from this.
17	----
18	!!Examples
19	[[foldercontrol]]
20
21	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
22	* In ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', during his fight with Coyote Stark, Kyoraku throws his captain's coat over his head. [[spoiler: This isn't just to blind him. His powers allow him to weaponize various children's games, including increasing his attack power depening on the color he is wearing, both dealing and taking more damage the more he is wearing of the specific color he calls out. Without his captain's haori, he is dressed all in black, allowing him to deal massive damage to Starrk, leading to the latter's death.]]
23	* ''Literature/BludgeoningAngelDokuroChan'': Zakuro Mitsukai uses a wet towel, named Eckelsax.
24	* In ''Literature/ACertainMagicalIndex'', during his TraintopBattle with Freyja, Touma takes off his jacket and lets the train's speed blow it straight into Freyja's face, blinding her.
25	* Taken to extremes by Master Asia of ''[[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam G Gundam]]'' fame. Not only does he have a Gundam with a giant cloth (and a MidseasonUpgrade that uses one made out of magnetically contained plasma!) he also uses his sash belt to fight HumongousMecha with ''on foot''!
26	* In ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' Raoh defeats Rei's ultimate technique by throwing a cape over him, confusing him and leaving him open for a lethal strike.
27	* In ''Anime/HellGirl'', [[CreepyChild Kikuri]] can extend impossibly long ribbons from within her clothing to grab things with. She even uses one extended from one of her sleeves to swing across a suspension bridge at one point. The similarity to [[spoiler:a spider dangling by its webbing]] may or may not be coincidental.
28	* In ''Manga/HunterXHunter'', a Mafia hitman with the codename of "Owl" wields the Fun Fun Cloth, a large cloak that can [[ShrinkRay shrink]] anything and anyone it covers to a size small enough to be held in one's hand. [[spoiler:Later on, Chrollo steals the Fun Fun Cloth and uses it against Silva and Zeno Zoldyck, albeit unsuccessfully.]]
29	* In ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure'', Lisa Lisa has a scarf made from the silk of a particular type of scarab, which can conduct her [[KiManipulation Hamon]] energy; this later served as the inspiration for ''VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha''[='s=] Rose. In one battle, Joseph unravels his own scarf (made from the same silk) and lays it on the ground in order to form a "web" which he uses against one of the [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Pillar Men]].
30	* In ''Manga/KenichiTheMightiestDisciple'', [[LadyOfWar Shigure]] uses her hair ribbon to defend herself when she is attacked in a hot spring bath.
31	* One character in ''Manga/TheLawOfUeki'' has the power to turn towels into metal (and back again) and uses them in combat.
32	* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'': Class 1-A's homeroom teacher Shota Aizawa uses a long scarf as his weapon of choice to make up for having a quirk that while quite useful [[DePower (disabling the quirks of those he stares at)]], [[SimpleYetAwesome doesn't make him stronger]] than the average human. Later on, he teaches [[CompellingVoice Hitoshi Shinso]] of Class 1-C how to fight using an identical scarf in this manner.
33	* ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'': Ranma once used a tablecloth to block Shampoo's sight of her and escape; Pantyhose Taro used his own cloak to hide his kicks and punches until Ranma tore it away. In a more direct form of the trope, one of the deadliest attacks of the [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique Umisenken form]] of the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial arts uses a bath towel to completely cover the head and neck of the opponent, then simultaneously asphyxiate and strangle them with their own weight. That same school's final attack involves stuffing a gigantic bath towel with debris from the battlefield and burying the opponent with it.
34	** Kodachi ''routinely'' uses a cloth gymnastics ribbon as a whip powerful enough to split skin and bruise flesh.
35	* In ''Manga/{{Sekirei}}'', the Clothed Sekirei's fighting style is this.
36	[[/folder]]
37
38	[[folder:Fan Works]]
39	* Kodachi Kuno in ''Fanfic/VoyagesOfTheWildSeaHorse'' initially uses a cloth gymnastics ribbon as a whip-like weapon, as in ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf''. She then replaces it after it gets lost with first a whip proper, and then with a WhipSword.
40	[[/folder]]
41
42	[[folder:Comic Books]]
43	* ComicBook/{{Batwoman}} sometimes uses her cape to snare enemies and toss them around.
44	* ComicBook/DoctorStrange sometimes distracts/detains attackers with his cape. Of course he's a magician and the cape is also known as the Cloak of Levitation, but even when he's just using it as a piece of cloth he can be an effective fighter.
45	* Creator/MarvelComics character Gypsy Moth/Skein is telekinetic and prefers using her powers to manipulate cloth and other soft materials, preferring the way it feels over the sensation of manipulating harder materials like metal or stone.
46	* ComicBook/{{Robin}} (Tim Drake) used his cape to entangle enemies, and eventually modified and weaponized it to take full advantage of the defensive opportunities it posed.
47	* In a special issue of ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'' adapting ''VideoGame/Sonic3DFlickiesIsland'', Sonic pulls on Robotnik's cape after knocking him to the ground. Robotnik tells him that he made his cape out of a special material which wraps itself around Sonic. Sonic manages to break out of it by vibrating really fast.
48	[[/folder]]
49
50	[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
51	* At the climax of ''WesternAnimation/{{The Hunchback of Notre Dame\|Disney}}'', Frollo throws his cape over Quasimodo, and uses it to try to throw him off the cathedral.
52	* ''WesternAnimation/OliverAndCompany'': Georgette drops a blanket on top of Roscoe and Desoto, subduing them for a few seconds and allowing Dodger and the gang to infiltrate Sykes' hideout.
53	* Happens to Panchito Pistoles at the end of the title song of ''WesternAnimation/TheThreeCaballeros'' as a result of both Donald Duck and [[WesternAnimation/SaludosAmigos Jose Carioca]] becoming annoyed of his singing.
54	[[/folder]]
55
56	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
57	* Mu Wanqing from the kung-fu / {{Wuxia}} film ''Film/TheBattleWizard'' uses a long, black sash as her preferred weapon, which she uses to slap around enemy mooks, including wrapping a few in their place while she takes them down. It helps thatby using her ''chi'', she can make her sash impenetrable and capable of deflecting swords.
58	* ''Film/BeforeIHang'': When suffering from his murderous impulses, Dr. Garth uses cloth to strangle his victims. He uses a towel to strangle Dr. Howard, and a handkerchief to strangle Victor and George.
59	* ''Film/BlackWidow2021'': During the fight between Natasha and Yelena in the Budapest safehouse, a curtain gets ripped down and used as weapon. It ends up wrapped around both their necks with them choking each other before they call a truce.
60	* Jason Bourne grabs a nearby hand towel in ''Film/TheBourneIdentity'' when an assassin throws him into a bathroom, and proceeds to put him in a [[ChokeHolds choke hold]] with it.
61	* ''Film/DiamondsAreForever'' has the legendary scene where Bond strangles a female spy with her own bra? (To his excuse, they just offed the only real love of his life and he went berserk.)
62	* ''Film/DoctorStrange2016'' has a rather interesting example. The Cloak of Levitation is not just a cloak, but a fully sentient being capable of handling itself in a fight. It does this by wrapping itself around its enemy's head and slamming them into the ground.
63	* In ''Film/{{Elektra}}'', Elektra fights Kirigi in a room full of flying white sheets. The villain seems to be manipulating them somehow to distract Elektra and/or hide his movements. Though as described by Creator/RogerEbert, "we're expecting maybe an elegant Creator/ZhangYimou sequence, and it's more like they're fighting with the laundry."
64	* In ''Film/{{Goldeneye}}'', James Bond beats a {{Mook}} by tying his arm with a towel and throwing him down the stairs. He then casually towels himself off.
65	* ''Film/HighRisk'' have the display room fight when Kit (played by Creator/JetLi) fights TheDragon. Both men starts off unarmed, but Kit turns the situation around by whipping off his suit and using that as a weapon. He even uses his tie to bind his enemy's hand to the back!
66	* ''Film/TheHunt2020'': During their climactic battle, Crystal grabs a cloth from the back of the couch and uses it to block Athena's knife.
67	* In ''Film/ILoveYouBethCooper'', Rich fends off three musclebound {{Jerk Jock}}s with a wet towel. The jocks grab wet towels of their own and counterattack, but Rich ultimately forces them to retreat.
68	* Parodied in ''Film/TheNakedGun'', when Drebin gets a towel thrown in his face during a fight in a bathroom and he struggles with it as if it has come to life and is actively trying to smother him.
69	* In one of the ''Film/OnceUponATimeInChina'' movies, the lead character has to fight [[NeverMessWithGranny an awesome old lady]]. [[LadyOfWar She's]] wearing a dress with sort of petticoats, and she uses this as an advantage via [[KickChick kicking him]] and using said petticoats so he wouldn't be able to see where the kicks come from.
70	* The Hong Kong Martial arts flick, ''Film/ThePostmanFightsBack'' have the character Fu Jun (played by a young Creator/ChowYunFat) who uses his scarf as a weapon, notably using it to strangle an enemy thug. [[spoiler: He ends up getting [[HoistByHisOwnPetard tied by his own scarf in the end though]], allowing the BigBad to stab him in the back]].
71	* ''Film/ThePrinceOfThieves'': During the fight in the castle, Robin disables a group of Sir Fitz-Alwin's soldiers by ripping down a heavy tapestry and tossing it on top of them.
72	* In the ''Film/RichieRich'' film, Prof. Keenbean does this to Ferguson, using a towel with one side of it coated with his super sticky adhesive, in an attempt to save Richie and the others.
73	* In ''Film/{{Serenity}}'', Mal throws a curtain over The Operative's head and starts punching him while he is blinded, though The Operative quickly gets the upper hand.
74	* In ''Film/SherlockHolmes2009'', Holmes, during a pit-fighting match, throws a handkerchief in his opponent's face as a distraction before a planned attack sequence after the man [[SpitefulSpit spat at the back of his head]].
75	* In ''Film/TheSuicideSquad'', Harley Quinn tears off part of her dress during her escape, then uses it to choke and joint lock the soldiers she's fighting until she can get her hands on some guns.
76	* This is how Kristy joins the [[MemeticMutation Best fight scene of all time]] in ''Film/{{Undefeatable}}''.
77	* In ''Film/{{Zombieland}}'', Columbus uses a shower curtain to keep a zombie from biting him.
78	* A subtle example in ''Film/OutOfSight''. During the final confrontation, one of Snoopy's men was trying to rape Ripley's assistant when Jack comes in. The two men have an armed stand off for a moment, until the woman tosses a bedsheet over the would-be rapist. This blinds him for a critical split-second, which is all it takes.
79	[[/folder]]
80
81	[[folder:Literature]]
82	* ''Literature/ChroniclesOfAmber'':
83	** Near the end of Corwin's series of books Corwin is disorientated after traveling to the Courts of Chaos. One of the greatest knights of Chaos spots Corwin and challenges him to a formal duel. Corwin unceremoniously pulls his cape over the guy's head and stabs him while the guy is disentangling himself.
84	--->'''Lord of Chaos:''' Oh, basely done! I expected better of thee!
85	--->'''Corwin:''' This isn't the Olympic Games.
86	** Near the end of the first book, Corwin formed a partnership with his brother Bleys with the intent of overthrowing another brother of theirs, Eric. During the attempt to seize the capital, Bleys is mentioned to have given a masterful display of swordsman against hundreds of foes, using every possible trick imaginable, including using his cloak to distract them, parry blows, and entangle foes.
87	* In the ''Literature/CircleOfMagic'' series, Sandry's magic works through fiber, thread, or fabric. Thus, her usual approach to hostiles or criminals is to bind them in their own clothes.
88	* In ''Literature/TheDevilInIron'', Conan manages to stop his iron-bodied opponent by throwing a curtain on him. As noted, even if he's ludicrously strong he's still entangled by the whole damn cloth.
89	* ''Literature/FengshenYanyi'': one of Nezha's many (but less used) weapons is the Heavenly-Muddling Damask, a long red sash that he used to defeat Ao Bing. When cast in the air, it casts flames at the intended victim. Lady Shiji also has two cloth-based treasures, the Eight Trigrams Precious Cloud Sash she uses to subdue Li Jing and the Eight Trigrams Dragon Beard Sash which she tries to use against Taiyi Zhenren, failing in the attempt.
90	[[/folder]]
91
92	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
93	* ''Series/{{Bibleman}}'': Biblegirl, in her first appearance, and not in uniform, used a piece of yellow cloth (which glowed) to fight Luxor Spawndroth, the villain of this particular episode.
94	* A season four episode of ''Series/BurnNotice'' showed Michael Weston using a towel in a fight against a prisoner. He used it to quickly wrap his opponent's hands together before proceeding to kick his ass.
95	* In one episode of ''Series/MartialLaw'', Sammo uses a gang member's do-rag to handle him and his three buddies.
96	* ''Series/MidsomerMurders'': The first VictimOfTheWeek in "The Point of Balance" dies when their killer shoves a length of tulle in their mouth during a struggle: causing them to choke and [[AccidentalMurder triggering a fatal heart attack]].
97	* An episode of the ''Series/NinjaTurtlesTheNextMutation'' had Venus fight off a horde of [[{{Mooks}} dragons]] using a cape and a playground.
98	[[/folder]]
99
100	[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
101	* ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'' Garfield did this once, during an arc where he was pretending to be a sumo wrestler.
102	* ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'': Linus occasionally uses his security blanket like a whip.
103	[[/folder]]
104
105	[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
106	* Once in Wrestling/{{GLOW}}, T&A ([[Wrestling/{{Ivory}} Tina Ferrari]] and Ashley Cartier) had a "Texas Bar Room Brawl" with Hollywood And Vine. At one point in the match, T&A had some kind of large cloth and they wrapped their opponents up in it, forcing them to {{Catfight}} each other to get out.
107	[[/folder]]
108
109	[[folder:Radio]]
110	* Happens a few times in ''Franchise/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'' with towels. The notable example that springs to mind is when Ford is in freefall and manages to land on a giant talking bird. The bird is inclined to drop him, but Ford wraps his multipurpose towel around its head. The bird is now sightless, but Ford points out that he can still slowly fly down to the ground.
111	[[/folder]]
112
113	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
114	* ''[[Literature/TheChroniclesOfAmber Amber]] Diceless Role-Playing''. Throwing a [[ClothingCombat cloak]] or rug over someone's head is a specific form of attack listed under Weapons in the Other Factors in Combat section.
115	[[/folder]]
116
117	[[folder:Video Games]]
118	* In ''VideoGame/{{Deltarune}}'', Ralsei uses scarves as a weapon.
119	* Auriel from ''VideoGame/DiabloIII'' has in possession of the holy sash Al'maiesh, which she can use to either slap enemies around or restrain them. She didn't get to use it in that game, but in ''VideoGame/HeroesOfTheStorm'' she gets to use it a lot more.
120	* Fa Zheng of ''Videogame/DynastyWarriors'' uses a piece of cloth as his weapon.
121	* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics'', had certain female classes fight with Cloths, still wrapped around the rods. Very potent, as they're among the few weapons that reach two squares.
122	* {{Yokai}} [[CuteMonsterGirl Flying Darts (Ittanmomen)]] from ''VideoGame/{{Nioh}}'' are based on a yokai which is, essentially, a living roll of cloth. In game, they are scantly-clad, floating ghost women who can attack by whipping and restraining William with the cloth covering their bodies or even toss it as a twirling projectile to attack from afar.
123	* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfTianding'' have the titular protagonist using his long, red sash for entangling enemies and throwing them around with expert ease. Said sash is crucial in the boss fight against Kaguya, a kunoichi, since Tian's sash can interrupt her non-stop TeleportSpam allowing her to take damage.
124	* Koshosho of ''Videogame/SamuraiWarriors'' uses a single long scarf as her weapon, which she can either use as a whip or even swing around on.
125	* ''Franchise/StreetFighter'': Introduced in the ''Alpha'' games, Rose the fortune teller fights with a unique style of imbuing her scarf with "Soul Power" to whip it around from a distance. She can also wrap it around her foes and channel her energy through it, almost like a magic taser.
126	* Sanzang of ''Videogame/WarriorsOrochi'' slaps her enemies with oversized sleeves.
127	[[/folder]]
128
129	[[folder:Webcomics]]
130	* Forgath of ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}'' makes a habit of storing his mace in a cloth bag, even in dungeons. When an enemy attacked while Forgath was still trying to get the mace free, he first deflected the blow with the bag then wrapped the cloth around the weapon so he could control the blade.
131	* ''Webcomic/YetAnotherFantasyGamerComic'': Glon's wife Gaggia is able to fend off a colony of giant ants with her cape.
132	[[/folder]]
133
134	[[folder:Western Animation]]
135	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'': In "Reunion", during their sword fight, Sasha throws her cape over Anne's head and knocks her down while she is blinded.
136	** In "True Colors", the roles are reversed, and it's Anne who blinds Sasha with her own cape.
137	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In the Season 32 finale "The Last Barfighter", Moe manages to fight off nearly every other bartender in town using his bar rag, through both simple means such as using it as a towel whip, or more superhuman feats such as wrapping it around a utility pole and pulling it down.
138	[[/folder]]
139
140	[[folder:Real Life]]
141	* Towels can make a mean whip, especially if wet and/or rolled up. When asked on ''Series/TheHollywoodSquares'' what the most common injury was among amateur baseball players,
142	--> '''Creator/GilbertGottfried:''' Getting whacked in the ass with a wet towel
143	--> '''audience laughter, beat'''
144	--> '''Creator/WhoopiGoldberg:''' Annnd they're ''off!''
145	* There are also records of a 16th / 17th century fighting style, normally used with a cape, where the fighter used a rapier in his primary hand and some form of durable cloth in his off hand. Though the cape was considered the primary version, there is evidence of everything up to and including large floppy hats being used as such. As would be obvious, the fighter would use this 'soft parry' item to entangle his opponent's weapon as a defense. Depending on the type of cloth, you could even do a BareHandedBladeBlock relatively safely.
146	* Similarly, in Victorian times, it was common for men to know at least a bit of self defence using two items that any gentleman would have with him at all times in public: A coat and [[CaneFu a walking stick]]. A common move was to try and throw a coat over the opponent's head and either yank him to the ground or entangle him.
147	* RealLife Martial Arts have some examples:
148	** Hapkido includes, among its traditional weapons, belts.
149	** Chinese Wu Shu styles often included the use of "weighted sleeves", overlong sleeves with weights in them that could be used as flails. According to legend, during the Boxer Rebellion, one set of nuns was spared because they raised their arms to pray and the attackers mistook the prayerbooks in their sleeves for this weapon.
150	[[/folder]]

Context Main / ClothFu