Water Dance



"This is the Bravo's Dance, the Water Dance. It is swift... and sudden!"

- Syrio Forel

The Water Dance, also known as the Bravo's Dance, is a swordfighting style practiced by bravos, the swordfighters of the Free City of Braavos. Syrio Forel, former First Sword to the Sealord of Braavos, is a master of the Water Dance.

Unlike the fighting style of Westerosi knights, Water Dancers favor slender, lighter swords for a faster, more elegant fighting style based on sword thrusts, instead of the hacking and slashing of heavy longswords and greatswords. Instead of defending by means of powerful direct blocks with heavy swords, this style favors using greater agility to dodge or deflect incoming attacks. It is called the "Water Dance" because it stresses fluid motion, quickly advancing to attack or withdrawing to defend. Water Dancers employ a sideways stand, which provides the rival with a smaller target, with the weapon arm extended in diagonal and the opposite forearm behind the small of the back.

Season 1
Eddard Stark hires Syrio Forel to teach the Water Dance to his daughter Arya, when he realized that, despite his reservations, she was determined to learn how to fight with her sword Needle.

Known Water Dancers

 * {Syrio Forel}
 * Arya Stark (apprentice)