Szabla-Krev Martial Art

Origin: Eastern European / Russian orbital enclaves

Primary weapons:

• Shaska
• Straight space-cutter machetes
• Heavy “impact sabers” with thick spines
• One-handed parrying buckles (miniature shield-rings)

Philosophy

A brutal, sweeping style resurrected from old Cossack shaska schools and adapted for station corridors. The Szabla-Krev System uses large arcs and sudden reversals, intimidating opponents into missteps. Long slashes are used to herd foes into blind corners or sensor dead zones.

Combatants train to fight in artificial gravity fluctuations, adjusting footing instantly when gravity flickers up or down. Practitioners use powerful diagonal blows designed to cripple an enemy’s blade arm in one hit.

Key principles

• Krov-Zakryt (“Blood Closure”): If you draw blood first, you must end the fight cleanly and quickly.
• Station Sweep: A 180° horizontal slicing pattern used to clear narrow corridors.
• Deadman’s Hold: A grappling-sabering hybrid that traps the weapon arm and cuts the femoral line.

Reputation

Popular among gang enforcers on hull-older stations, where intimidation matters as much as victory. Often associated with loud aggression and ritualized bravado.