Pulling blows

Pulling blows means deliberately limiting the force of a strike in larp combat so that contact stays safe and within a game's weapon rules.

Pulling blows is the habit of stopping or softening a strike before it lands with full force, so that contact with another player feels controlled rather than painful. Most larp systems expect fighters to make clear, deliberate contact that registers as a hit without driving through the target the way a full swing might. The exact threshold varies by game, but the underlying idea is consistent: you are performing combat, not competing to overwhelm someone physically. Learning to pull blows well takes practice, because it runs against the instinct to follow through naturally. New players are strongly encouraged to train with experienced fighters in a low-stakes setting before joining open combat, and to listen carefully to the safety brief every game runs before play begins. If you are unsure whether your striking force is appropriate, ask a marshal or referee on site — they are there to help and will not think less of you for asking. Each game's own rules and safety brief are the final authority on what acceptable contact looks like at that event.