

I've seen this across several different anime, although I don't have a
specific example right now.

Typically the attack will be a barrage of projectiles and the defending
character (e.g. the main protagonist) hasn't landed a hit yet or otherwise
hasn't revealed how much of a threat he is yet. I understand the translated
term "running away" is meant as a jeer against the protagonist. However, the
protagonist is still engaged in active combat, and I would think "running
away" means attempting to disengage. In this case the taunt has faulty logic.
I understand taunting does not need logic, it is meant to strike a nerve and
make the target more predictable.

Is it that tactical evasive maneuvers are considered cowardly and are
disallowed in Bushido? I'm basing this guess off of an example in One Piece;
When Zoro initially duels Hawkeye, gets struck and is about to lose, Zoro
asserts that taking a step backward is equivalent to breaking his oaths and
forfeiting his ambitions. This might not be the best example though since the
characters, during combat, including Zoro, have no qualms against preserving
their own life by dodging attacks, which is the context of this "running away"
taunt.


CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-17T01:00:56.123
30592
2016-11-14T15:00:25.200
2016-11-14T15:00:25.200
8486
22760
question
one-piece tropes
Why is it when a character nimbly dodges attacks the aggressor will call it "running away"?


Many people will accuse someone of running away in a fight if they do a lot to
evade being hit by their opponent. Generally in a fight one can tell wether an
individual is actually "running away" or just trying to avoid getting hit.
Someone who does not actually want to be in the fight or is scared will
generally keep running away with out making an attempt to actually fight back.

In the case of One Piece we see a lot of characters dodge and evade but that
reason is to just avoid damage. Luffy for example will dodge a lot of attacks
but he will make every attempt to inflict as much damage as he can on his
opponent. He will even fight back when he does no damage at all. (i.e.
Magellan)

Dodging and evading is not considered cowardly most characters will just call
it so becasue they are fustrated that they have missed their attacks and wish
to goad their opponent so that they may stop all of their evasive maneuvers.


CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-21T11:57:50.767
30706
2016-03-21T11:57:50.767
15660
30592
answer