History Main / SwordLimbo

* The introduction of Chen Lian-Jiou in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfTianding'' have him sending his BladeOnAStick 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.

* Similarly 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.

* 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]].
* [[spoiler:Fakir]] pulls one off during the finale of the first chapter of ''Anime/PrincessTutu'' when attacked by sword-wielding ravens.
* ''Manga/OnePiece'':
** [[spoiler:Kaku]] does this during his fight with Zoro.
** And Brook in his fight with Ryuuma, complete with the CloseCallHaircut (kind of inevitable given the size of Brook's FunnyAfro).
* 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).
* ''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.
* ''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.

* Similarly 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.

* 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.

* Happens with Samantha Carter in the "Emancipation" episode of ''Series/StargateSG1'', albeit with a knife.

* 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.

* The introduction of Chen Lian-Jiou in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfTianding'' have him sending his BladeOnAStick 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar 2'' opening. Performed by an Eldar Banshee to evade a fuckhueg chainsword.

* Performed by [[MasterSwordsman Geralt of Rivia]] when he's fighting with [[AntiVillain Letho]] in ''VideoGame/TheWitcher2AssassinsOfKings''.

* 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]].

* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'' has [[ActionGirl Carolina]] dodging a combat knife by performing a back handspring.

* Lerdsila is a multiple-time Muay Thai world champion who’s known as the [[Red BaronEel 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.

* Lerdsila is a multiple-time Muay Thai world champion who’s known as the [[Red BaronEel 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 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.

* Lerdsila is a multiple-time Muay Thai world champion who’s known as the [[Red Baron 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 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.

* ''Anime/SamuraiChamploo'' Mugen during his fight with Sara. Mugen also pulls this off in his first fight with Ukon/Shoryuu.

** In the climactic swordfight of 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.

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 by stepping backwards you could add to your margin of safety by leaning slightly backwards as you step.

** Sokka in "Sokka's Master", as shown above.

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 by stepping backwards you could add to your margin of safety by leaning slightly backwards as you step.

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 relies on you knowing exactly how high he is aiming, and it’s obvious enough that he could see it 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 by stepping backwards you could add to your margin of safety by leaning slightly backwards as you step.

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 relies on your opponent aiming high, and it’s obvious enough that he could see it 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 by stepping backwards you could add to your margin of safety by leaning backwards slightly as you step.

A common maneuver in a SwordFight: one character will dodge a horizontal sword cut aimed at their head or upper torso by bending over backward as the opponent's blade passes over their body.

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 relies on your opponent aiming high, and it’s obvious enough that he could see it and correct his aim unless you waited till the last possible moment and 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.

A common maneuver in a SwordFight: one character will dodge a sword swipe by bending over backward as the opponent's blade whips horizontally over their body.

While this can be done in real fencing or other styles of sword combat, it's generally not advisable. This is because it pretty much involves leaving your entire upper body open to attack if it doesn't work, and takes too long to recover from even if it does. That, coupled with the fact that it's [[AwesomeButImpractical pretty easy to predict and thus compensate for]], gives you a move that rarely works and very inefficient... [[RuleOfCool but looks awesome.]]

While this can be done in real fencing or other styles of sword combat, it's generally not advisable. This is because it pretty much involves leaving your entire upper body open to attack if it doesn't work. That, coupled with the fact that it's [[AwesomeButImpractical pretty easy to predict and thus compensate for]], gives you a move that rarely works and very inefficient... [[RuleOfCool but looks awesome.]]

** 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 intentionally did it very slow to show of the rate of time; Bryan even had a blade of grass in his mouth).

* 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 and grabbing her arm. 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.

* 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 and grabbing her arm. He gets kicked for his trouble but in his clothed and armored chest rather than having her touch the sliver of exposed skin on his face that she was initially aiming for.