Post originally by EgoWumpus at 2003-05-27 14:41:58
Converted from Phorums BB System

The benefits to fighting naked largely come in hand to hand combat; you're way, way more slick naked than you are when you're wearing something. You can't really grab on easily, especially if you're covered in mud or blood. The reason you have the urge to wet yourself when you're scared is to cause your legs to be slick; harder to grab onto you.

So, when wrestling it really helps to be naked. Your opponent has less purchase.

Now, in combat with weapons I can see it being beneficial not only for the intimidation effect but also because there is nothing to bind you up with; no clothing to get in the way. I can also see why the practice died out once they developed effective hardened leather and metal armor, along with weapons that worked at slightly longer range than knives and hand axes.

[Ego]out