did Rose know how to fight before playing the Game?

i started thinking about this sequence a few days ago. i took Martial Arts classes for several years and i (and probably anyone else who practices martial arts) can tell you that one of the first things you learn is how important a proper stance is—typically you want to have your legs spread far apart and bounce slightly on your feet, so as to be prepared to spring into action at a moment’s notice. it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to say that Rose’s stance in the above panel is a stylized version of that, would it?

Rose knowing self-defense/martial arts wouldn’t be too much of a stretch—i mean, compare how she and John enter the Medium. John initially has a lot of trouble just fighting Imps, and Rose

yeah. dang.

so that’s where i get my “Rose knows martial arts” headcanon from. as for who taught her…well

a mother will do what’s best for her children