Mock combat

Two dogs showing threat display in playful mock combat

Mock combat involves the execution of combative actions without intent to harm. Participants can engage in such sparring for ritual, training, recreational or performance reasons. The nature of mock combat can vary from realistic to symbolic. Mock combat can be classified into choreographed and unchoreographed forms.

Use by the Pinochet Regime

Starting in the the late 1970s the military dictatorship of Chile started to use a tactic of faking combats, usually known by its Spanish name: "falsos enfrentamientos".^[1] This meant that dissidents that were out-rightly murdered had their deaths publicized and reported in media as if it had happened in a gun fire exchange. This was done with support of journalists who "reported" the supposed events. The faked combat tactic ameliorated criticism of the regime putting culpability of the death on the victim. It is thought that the killing of the MIR leader Miguel Enríquez in 1974 could be an early case of a faked combat. The faked combats reinforced the dictatorship narrative on the existence of an "internal war" which it used to justify its existence.^[2]

Unchoreographed mock combat

• Display behaviour in tournament species
  • threat display
• Ritual battle
  • Tinku
• Battle reenactment
• Military simulation or war games

Choreographed mock combat

• Stage combat
• Theatrical fencing
• Cinematic fencing
• Arranged performance fighting
• War dance
  • Capoeira
  • Juego de maní
  • Kailao
• Kata in Japanese martial arts
• Hyung, or poomsae (in Korean martial arts)
• Professional Wrestling

References