Reverse Grip: Difference between revisions

In the TV Land, the [[Rule of Cool]] usually is the reason why the reverse grip is used, rather than practical considerations. First, that's how [[Ninja|ninjasninja]]s hold their katanas in Japanese movies. Not cool enough? Well, that's how the Semper-Fi marines do it with their knives, too. In short, [['''Reverse Grip]]''' indicates a major [[Badass]].

While rare for full-length blades, [['''Reverse Grip]]''' is still common in [[Real Life]] knife fighting (essentially giving the user more leverage/power and making it easier to parry, at the cost of range). See [http://www.jayfisher.com/Knife_Grip_Styles_Hand_Sizing.htm this link] for more details. It also provides a better way to block than standard grip. In fiction, [['''Reverse Grip]]''' is used to show that a character is an experienced street fighter or hardened killer (indeed the grips are sometimes known as the "murderer's grip" or "[[Slasher MoviesMovie|slasher's]] grip" because of this). So if you see a [[Knife Nut]] face off against another and one of them holds the blade backwards, you know who's gonna win.

With full-length swords, [['''Reverse Grip]]''' is most likely to be used while [[Dual-Wielding]], and demonstrates that the character is really proficient with two blades. If the primary sword is held this way, it may also indicate the unwillingness of the wielder to hurt the opponent, since [['''Reverse Grip]]''' is rather a defensive position more suited to block than to attack since it reduces the range of the weapon. On the other hand, it is also somewhat suited for slashing the enemy, especially, at stomach or throat level. This is often used on unaware targets or [[Offhand Backhand|in passing]]. In that case, the message is clear: [[Technical Pacifist|the guy doesn't want to fight you but push him too far and you'll be sorry]]. On the real-life side of the fence, it is occasionally taught in the form of kata for full-length swords and some schools teach it as a last ditch technique if one is surprised while sheathing the sword; in actual practice, however, this grip is very rare and not particularly effective.

See also [[Gangsta Style]], this trope's equivalent with regards to guns.<ref>with the difference that reverse grip can actually be a useful technique</ref>.

* Kaku occasionally uses [[Reverse Grip]] [[Dual-Wielding]] on a pair of katana in ''[[One Piece]]''. Also "Bohemian Knight" Doma who reverse-grips a saber in each hand. His fighting style seems to center around defeating opponents from behind him.

* This is the usual grip for ''[[Lupin the ThirdIII]]'''s Ishikawa Goemon.

* Shiki of ''[[KaranoKara no Kyoukai:]]'' often switches her grip several times over the course of a fight, and at one point even throws her knife from a reverse grip.

* The ninjas from ''[[Empowered (Comic Book)|Empowered]]'' also do it this way.

* John Preston absolutely ''owns'' everyone when he switches his katana(s) to [[Reverse Grip]] in ''[[Equilibrium]]''.

* Per the below example,. [[Reverse Grip]] [[Dual-Wielding]] ''[[Rule of Cool|of lightsabers]]'' is actually seen briefly in the background in ''[[Attack of the Clones]]''.

* In [[H. Beam Piper]]'s ''[[Last Enemy]],'' Verkan Vall picks a knife duel and blinks in astonishment when he notices his opponent using this style. After killing the fellow -- "Only eight seconds from the time you closed with him" -- Vall—Vall, who learned knife-fighting from pirates, remarks that he feels like a murderer of children; evidently Piper didn't think much of the Reverse Grip.

{{quote| "Having seen too many Jim Bowies slash their way through walls of human flesh, they persist in carrying on this inane tradition. Overhead and uppercut slashes are a waste of energy and blade power. The correct method is to hold the knife in a natural, firm grip and jab straight ahead at waist level with the arm extending full length each time. This fencing style allows for the maximum reach of arm and blade. By concentrating the point of the knife directly at the target, you make defense against such an attack difficult."}}

* The Red Mantis Assassins in [[Pathfinder]] are noted as [[Dual-Wielding]] _both_ their serrated sabers in [[Reverse Grip]], in emulation of mantis claws.

** Snakes (as in Solid (Old) and Naked (Big Boss)) hold their CQC blades this way, but that makes sense as it's in their off hand and it's basically dual-wielding, but with a firearm in the strong hand. Big Boss actually talks about it in ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater]]'' when he's whittling the grip on his shiny new 1911.

* Baiken in ''[[Guilty Gear]]'' does this with her katana (which is her main weapon -- sheweapon—she doesn't have an offhand weapon because she only has one arm, but she stuffs a lot of weapons in her other sleeve [[Inspector Gadget]] style). In her case, however, it's partly out of practicality and partly out of habit - she lost her right arm, which was most likely her dominant arm. Considering the weapons crammed into her right sleeve, a sheath there might get in the way, and so she wears it on the left, usually drawing it in a reverse grip because that would be the easiest way to draw it when the arm and sheath are on the same side. Of course, some of her fancier [[Rule of Cool]] steps in.

** Or [[Blaz BlueBlazBlue|Ragna's]].

* The Dragon dagger is the only weapon to be wielded that way in ''[[RunescapeRuneScape]]'', all other daggers are wielded normally.

* In ''[[Diablo II]]'', all dagger-class weapons are wielded in [[Reverse Grip]], thus distinguishing them from swords.

** And Rikku from ''[[Final Fantasy X 2|Final Fantasy X-2]]''.

* Jyuji Kabane from ''[[Gungrave]]: Overdose'' deserves a special mention as he '''[[Dual-Wielding|dual-wields]] [[Cool Guns|gun]]-[[Katanas Are Just Better|katanas]] in [[Reverse Grip]]''', thereby making him an automatic [[Badass]]. He also happens to be an undead, blind swordsman with a penchant for fire, but [[Ninja Pirate Zombie Robot|that's....]]

* In ''[[Super Smash Bros.]] Brawl'', Pit can split his bow into two swords. He holds one normally, while the other is held like this in order to speed the reattaching process.

* In ''[[Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep]]'' Ven wields his Keyblade like this, while his starting blade is designed with this in mind, with the grip on the side, all of his other blades are standard, straight Keyblades.

* The Spy from ''[[Team Fortress 2]]'' uses standard grip when attacking normally, but switches to Reverse Grip when [[Back Stab|Back Stabbing]]bing.

* The Bard from ''[[The BardsBard's Tale]]'' can learn to dual wield a sword with a dagger, holding the latter backwards.

* Parrying daggers are often used in this way. As the name suggests they're mostly for blocking the other guy's sword. And they often are more useful when held in a [[Reverse Grip]] because doing so decreases the strain on wrists (as the parrying weapon is supported with the entire arm this way), thus allowing for a firmer hold on the weapon when blocking.