Barehanded Blade Block/Headscratchers

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


  • I find the very idea of the trope so ridiculous that I can't believe that anyone actually made this trope, other than in fantastic setting where it is used to show how powerful characters are. I mean, seriously, as mentioned in the page, why fucking grab the sword when you can use that reflex to dodge the damn thing?
    • Rule of Cool. Next?
      • Oi, oi, it's not cool if it's that kind of stupid.
      • I...I don't see the issue here. Isn't the whole point of this website to catalogue recurring elements in fiction? Of course no one's going to be stuid enough to actually try this.
      • And if you want a badass justification, grabbing the blade means you can disarm him.
    • Dodging puts you at a severe defensive disadvantage against follow-up attacks, and grants the initiative to your foe. If you dodge a blade (or any other attack), they still have their momentum and control over their weapon... furthermore, you grant them control over your movement and position options. Dodging is submitting to the enemy's attack and position: Two objects cannot occupy the same space. If you dodge, you are letting them control where you will by by not being where their sword is. On the other hand, blocking an attack asserts the combat advantage of the defender: he keeps his position and stance defense, as well as eliminating his foe's momentum. I've not seen the Mythbuster's show, but... How doesn't it work, if no part of the hand gets in the cutting path of the blade?