Line #49 Main/DaintyCombat


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4	[[quoteright:219:[[ComicBook/BlackWidow https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/black_widow_vs_winter_soldier_1.jpg]]]]
5	[[caption-width-right:219:Pretty as that might be, that kick ''hurt''.]]
6
7	->''"Let's get beautiful!"''
8	-->-- '''Emile "Lili" Rochefort,''' ''Videogame/StreetFighterXTekken''
9
10	In most forms of fiction, MenAreStrongWomenArePretty, and this is so woven into the human consciousness that altering those points too much can alienate your target audiences. An overly-aggressive female character can seem less relatable to a feminine audience, although it's hard to have a likable character in an action show that doesn't do any fighting at all. You can hopscotch around this issue with SwordAndSorcerer, MaleMightFemaleFinesse or GuysSmashGirlsShoot, but what do you do when martial arts or physical combat is the entire focus of the series?
11
12	You compromise with Dainty Combat. In this trope, a character (usually small and/or female) uses a more graceful, beautiful and possibly gentle fighting style in order to combat her opponents. Attacks typically focus on [[KickChick kicks]], holds, {{Pressure Point}}s, flourishes, joint locks, swift tosses and open-hand strikes (such as palm strikes or slaps) rather than heavy blows, grappling and wrestling. Rather than blocking, defense is focused on dodging, invoking [[SheFu acrobatics, gymnastics]], and possibly [[DanceBattler dance moves]] to avoid taking a direct hit.
13
14	When Dainty Combat includes weapons, it's usually some form of GunKata, swordplay with flourish, or a whip.
15
16	Not all characters that use Dainty Combat [[AgentPeacock are women]] and not all are small or frail, but they are by far the most common practitioners. It thus overlaps a lot with WaifFu, although in this case, the woman need not be a "waif" (small or smaller than her opponents). WaifFu is about the contrast between a small woman and her larger opposition; this trope is about the fighting style she uses to beat them.
17
18	This also typically overlaps with SheFu, although acrobatics are a small component and need not be required.
19
20	!!{{Sub Trope}}s and characters likely to use this include:
21	[[index]]
22	* ActionGirl: A female character who's a badass.
23	** FauxActionGirl: A female character is initially presented as a badass, but every time it counts she's a DamselInDistress instead.
24	* AgentPeacock: A feminine PrettyBoy who is actually pretty badass.
25	* CampyCombat
26	* DanceBattler
27	* DesignatedGirlFight
28	* TheFightingNarcissist
29	* FragileSpeedster: Agile, but fragile.
30	* GirlyBruiser: A girly, feminine character who can kick some serious ass.
31	* GunKata
32	* GuysSmashGirlsShoot: Male characters tend to be melee/close-range fighters, while female ones are more often ranged warriors.
33	* KickChick: A female character who fights almost entirely with kicks for the purpose of showing off her legs.
34	* KickingAssInAllHerFinery
35	* LadyOfWar
36	* TheLightfooted
37	* LittleGirlsKickShins
38	* LittleMissBadass: This girl-child can end you.
39	* MagicIsFeminine: Magic is primarily associated with women, or feminine men.
40	* MaleMightFemaleFinesse
41	* NaginatasAreFeminine
42	* ParasolOfPain
43	* PrettyPrincessPowerhouse
44	* SheFu
45	* SilkHidingSteel
46	* StanceSystem
47	* {{Swashbuckler}}
48	* WaifFu: Tiny girl delivers titanic ass-kicking with power that she presumably shouldn't possess.
49	[[/index]]
50
51	!Please do not add examples to work pages, this merely [[Administrivia/DefinitionOnlyPages defines the term]].

Context Main / DaintyCombat