Line #13 Main/SwordLimbo


1	[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sword_limbo.jpg]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Everybody limbo!]]
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4	A common maneuver in a SwordFight: one character will dodge a horizontal sword cut aimed at their head by bending over backward as the opponent's blade passes over their body. This may involve bending both knees in order to drop the body lower while using the arms for balance.
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6	Often filmed from above and in SlowMotion to boot, a la BulletTime. Sometimes the shot will also employ an extreme zoom to show the sword [[CloseCallHaircut cutting through a loose strand of hair]]. Ooh, that CouldHaveBeenMessy.
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8	In real life this move is less than ideal. You could defend against such a cut more quickly and safely by parrying with your sword, which would also let you immediately counterattack. On the other hand, if you were so good that you could definitely predict the height and angle of his cut, you could dive really low on one knee—either forwards or to the side instead of backwards—and nail him with your sword while his cut passed over you. Doing the limbo implies that his cut caught you flat-footed and you didn’t have your sword ready to defend: in other words, you already goofed and this is your desperate reflex. Bending backwards is problematic because it only works if his cut is quite high, and it’s obvious enough that he could see what you’re doing and correct his aim unless you waited till the last possible moment and [[{{Pun}} cut it]] ''really'' close. Then, even if it works, your recovery time is too long and he’ll probably hit you with a follow-up strike before you’re ready to defend again. That it works in movies is thanks to {{Flynning}} and RuleOfCool. On the other hand, if you avoid a high attack with a retreating step you could add to your margin of safety by leaning slightly backwards as you step.
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10	[[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not at all about]] swords that [[HammerSpace disappear into nowhere]].
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12	----
13	!!Examples:
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15	[[foldercontrol]]
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17	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
18	* Revy from ''Manga/BlackLagoon'' does this to duck Shenhua's throwing knives so that they can [[DeadlyDodging kill the bad guys they were meant for instead of her]].
19	* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'': Although the manga itself never uses this trope, the anime does when creating {{filler}}. One of the classic examples is during the penultimate fight [[spoiler:between Byakuya and Kouga]] during the Zanpakutou Unknown Tales filler arc. Both fighters force their opponent to undergo minor versions of this trope at various times, all done in slow motion and shown from very artistic angles.
20	* Hei of ''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'' dodges a stream of blood (that {{Portal Cut}}s on contact) in this manner.
21	* ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'': During the Tournament of Power Goku pulls this off ''while falling'', planting his feet into a broken piece of the arena floor so he can dodge [[spoiler:Kefla]]'s homing energy blast.
22	* Rock Lee pulls this off while drunk during his fight with Kimimaro in ''Manga/{{Naruto}}''.
23	* ''Manga/OnePiece'':
24	** [[spoiler:Kaku]] does this during his fight with Zoro.
25	** And Brook in his fight with Ryuuma, complete with the CloseCallHaircut (kind of inevitable given the size of Brook's FunnyAfro).
26	* [[spoiler:Fakir]] pulls one off during the finale of the first chapter of ''Anime/PrincessTutu'' when attacked by sword-wielding ravens.
27	* The title character of ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' does this several times, absentmindedly (he was more interested in looking at some photos), during his first real duel with the bokuto-wielding [[KidSamurai Tatewaki Kuno]]. The latter is extremely irked at Ranma's nonchalant dodging, claiming Ranma isn't taking him seriously (which is absolutely right).
28	* ''Anime/SamuraiChamploo''
29	** Mugen during his fight with Sara.
30	** Mugen also pulls this off in his first fight with Ukon/Shoryuu--on that occasion however we see an OhCrap ReactionShot from Mugen, showing he barely escaped with his life rather than a NonchalantDodge. Ukon on the other hand is pleased to encounter a WorthyOpponent.
31	[[/folder]]
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33	[[folder:Comic Books]]
34	* ComicBook/RedRobin dodges a strike from Vitoria, who can kill someone in less than a minute with a partial second of [[TouchOfDeath skin-to-skin contact]], by quickly leaning backwards. He gets kicked for his trouble but in his clothed and armored torso rather than the sliver of exposed skin on his face that she was initially aiming for.
35	[[/folder]]
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37	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
38	* In ''Film/{{Apocalypto}}'', Jaguar Paw slides on his knees while bending his upper body backwards to avoid his Mayan pursuer's sword. The sword does manage to slice a chunk of skin off his forehead, but he survives.
39	* ''Film/TheAvengers2012'': During the fight between Thor and the Hulk aboard the Helicarrier, the Hulk rips a wing off a fighter jet and throws it frisbee-style at Thor. Thor goes to his knees and bends backwards almost double to let the flying wing pass over him.
40	* In ''Film/{{Daredevil}}'', during their first encounter, Daredevil is able to successfully dodge razors thrown by Bullseye with this, which naturally pisses the hell out of him.
41	* The Bride in ''Film/KillBill vol. 1'', in her fight with Gogo and later the Crazy 88.
42	* The FilmOfTheBook ''Film/TheLionTheWitchAndTheWardrobe'': Peter dodged a stab from the White Witch in this way.
43	* ''Franchise/TheMatrix'' series:
44	** Popularized by Neo's bullet dodging sequence in ''Film/TheMatrix''. The sheer number of times this particular variation has been parodied itself is enough to warrant its own article. Why this trope wasn't titled "Neo Limbo" is a mystery in itself.
45	** Two melee examples occur in ''Film/TheMatrixReloaded''. The first, more a matter of dodging fists, occurs during the "Burly Brawl" battle where a ring of Smiths all bend out of the way when Neo swings at them (From the Knox voiceover: "Limbo!"). The second more appropriate example is seen in the Chateau fight, where several enemies use kamas, swords and maces all at once against The One. Neo ducks under every swing.
46	** It's also in ''Anime/TheAnimatrix''.
47	* In the first ''Film/SpiderMan1'' film, Peter Parker dodges a punch in this manner. He later avoids Green Goblin's razor blades with it.
48	* Luke Skywalker does this in his duel with Kylo Ren during the climax of ''Film/StarWarsTheLastJedi''. [[spoiler:Of course, since Ren was only fighting an AstralProjection, Luke was never in any real danger.]]
49	* Loki does a variation in ''Film/ThorRagnarok'', combined with a pirouette, as he [[spoiler:dodges a Berserker's sword during the final fight.]]
50	[[/folder]]
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52	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
53	* Not a sword, but in the first episode of ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'', Phil Coulson leans backward to avoid being hit by the flying door of van propelled at high speed by a metahuman with SuperStrength.
54	* ''Series/LegendOfTheSeeker'':
55	** Kahlan and Cara do this ''all the goddamn time''. It turns out that when you have magic and you're fighting mooks with swords and all you're armed with is daggers or an Agiel, this is the proper way to not be exsanguinated. For those who don't know, an Agiel is a torture device that looks like a cheap dildo. We have no idea either, but it certainly doesn't have reach on [[VisualInnuendo swords]] or [[HurricaneOfPuns polearms]].
56	** Sisters of the Light and Sisters of the Dark occasionally do this, often against Richard.
57	* Happens with Samantha Carter in the "Emancipation" episode of ''Series/StargateSG1'', albeit with a knife.
58	[[/folder]]
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60	[[folder:Music Videos]]
61	* OK GO's "A Million Ways" throws one of these into its choreography, complete with impersonated bullet time.
62	[[/folder]]
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64	[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
65	* Though they're dodging fists instead of swords, WWE Divas Wrestling/TrishStratus and Wrestling/{{Melina}} both use this style of dodge frequently, and a few male superstars (Wrestling/ReyMysterioJr and Wrestling/JeffHardy most notably) have used versions of it once in a while.
66	* In limbo, Wrestling/BlackRose would have been disqualified for touching the ground with her hand but she used it to push back up and elbow La Amazona after dodging a sidekick in an IWA Puerto Rico women's title match.
67	* In Wrestling/ProWrestlingZero1, Wrestling/LowKi and Toshie Uematsu have been known for doing this.
68	* Mixed martial artist Ta'Darius Thomas, perhaps best known as a wrestler for his run in Wrestling/RingOfHonor, will use matrix evasions to transition into moves.
69	[[/folder]]
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71	[[folder:Sports]]
72	* Lerdsila is a multiple-time Muay Thai world champion who’s known as the [[RedBaron Eel on a Skateboard]] for how slippery and good at dodging he is, including crazy head movement to avoid strikes which sometimes has his torso leaning back almost parallel to the ground. His skill, athleticism, and reflexes are so good that he can use what would normally be an impractical move as an effective tactic.
73	[[/folder]]
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75	[[folder:Video Games]]
76	* Pulled of by [[Videogame/MassEffect3 Thane]] if he's still alive to fight [[SwordAndGun Kai]] [[ArrogantKungFuGuy Leng]], in a particularly awesome confrontation between two assassins. [[spoiler: Thane can't pull it off the second time, however.]]
77	* In [[http://youtu.be/IzMnCv_lPxI?t=1m29s this trailer]] for ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'', Katarina and Master Yi engage in one, {{undercrank}} and all.
78	** In the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF5Ddo9JdpY 'Awaken']] music video, Draven does this while ''sliding'' under Riven's runeblade. Justified by him being [[AttentionWhore a massive show-off]].
79	* ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar 2'' opening. Performed by an Eldar Banshee to evade a fuckhueg chainsword.
80	* The introduction of Chen Lian-Jiou in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfTianding'' have him sending his spear on the titular hero. Cue Tian-ding performing a ''spear'' limbo and throwing his head backwards while the spear misses his chin by an inch.
81	* This is a standard dodge animation of trolls in ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights'', both more justified than normal in that they can bend much farther backwards than humans, and less justified in that they may do this even if you're using a downwards slash that you can clearly see going right through them.
82	* Sam Gideon does this in ''VideoGame/{{Vanquish}}'' when Robert Burns slices at him at the start of the game, Sam successfully limbo dodges thanks to his PoweredArmour but also gets his cigarette cut in half in SlowMotion.
83	* Performed by [[MasterSwordsman Geralt of Rivia]] when he's fighting with [[AntiVillain Letho]] in ''VideoGame/TheWitcher2AssassinsOfKings''.
84	[[/folder]]
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86	[[folder:Web Animation]]
87	* ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'' has [[ActionGirl Carolina]] dodging a combat knife by performing a back handspring.
88	[[/folder]]
89
90	[[folder:Western Animation]]
91	* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' has done this three times.
92	** Aang in the "Blue Spirit" when two Fire Nation soldiers slice at him with polearms.
93	** Zuko to Jet in "City of Walls and Secrets" -- in a "Making Of" special, Bryan Konietzko and Sifu Kisu were doing a motion-reference for the Sword Fight between Jet and Zuko (Bryan was Jet, Kisu was Zuko) and they did this part in slow-mo (as in they physically did it very slow to show of the rate of time; Bryan even had a blade of grass in his mouth).
94	** In season 3 episode 4, "Sokka's Master", Sokka is trying to run away from Master Piandao, but doesn’t notice when Piandao manages to get in front of him until it’s almost too late to react. Piandao sticks his sword out at the level of Sokka's face so that he’ll run right into it, and since it's too late for Sokka to stop his own momentum he bends over backwards and falls on his knees into a Music/TenaciousD-style powerslide under Piandao's blade. We’re treated to a slow-motion shot from above as the blade passes right over Sokka's terrified face.
95	* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}: Bender's Big Score!'', Hermes shows off his skills by literally limbo dancing under a sword. It's subverted when he [[spoiler:gets his head severed by the ''other'' sword that was mounted on one of those sword/shield/wall mount thingies]].
96	* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'', having [[LaserBlade Laser Blades]] as the main characters' primary weapons, indulges in this trope pretty much every time there's a lightsaber duel.
97	[[/folder]]
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Context Main / SwordLimbo