Questions 3: Writing a Fight With Evenly Matched Opponents

Posted on November 28, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

I realized I’m usually talking about fight scenes where one character has an advantage.  At least that’s what is in my head.  Yet, there are fights when they are evenly matched.  It is a constant jockeying for position until someone makes a mistake.  These can be fun with a lot of tension.  They are also harder to write due to the urge to choose a side or the fact we already know who wins.  I thought about making a longer post, but thought it would be more fun to do questions.  That and there’s a family thing going on, I wrote the post, I don’t know why it stayed in drafts, and I’m thankfully I noticed it last night.

  1. How would you show that characters are evenly matched in a fight?
  2. What advice would you give to an author in writing an evenly matched fight scene?
  3. Do you have a favorite battle between equals?
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About Charles Yallowitz

Charles E. Yallowitz was born, raised, and educated in New York. Then he spent a few years in Florida, realized his fear of alligators, and moved back to the Empire State. When he isn't working hard on his epic fantasy stories, Charles can be found cooking or going on whatever adventure his son has planned for the day. 'Legends of Windemere' is his first series, but it certainly won't be his last.
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6 Responses to Questions 3: Writing a Fight With Evenly Matched Opponents

  1. noelleg44's avatar noelleg44 says:
    November 28, 2025 at 10:25 am

    I remember that scene from Monty Python. Hysterical.

    I feel totally inadequate to answer your questions since I’ve never written a fight scene or even thought about one.

    I suppose if I had to, I’d make it back and forth, highs and lows, to keep up the tension, and when one person finally wins, it would be with regret. It’s like two evenly matched sports teams, although each side usually has a ton of fans. When one loses, the comment is – it was a great game, but someone had to win!

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  2. coldhandboyack's avatar coldhandboyack says:
    November 28, 2025 at 12:28 pm

    Not a pro at this, but I think you have to build up the fight card and credibility in the earlier chapters. Then you don’t have to mention it when the bell rings.

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  3. L. Marie's avatar L. Marie says:
    November 28, 2025 at 12:43 pm
    1. Good question. Probably with the way the strikes are quickly blocked and with the speed of the battle. I think of Anakin and Obi-Wan on Mustafar.
    2. Give each opponent a strength and a weakness that makes each strong or weak against the other. Anakin could have beaten Obi-Wan. But he was too angry and immature to counter Obi-Wan’s superior strategy and wisdom.
    3. Lin and Suyin Beifong in Legend of Korra. Each had strengths and weaknesses. I think Suyin has the edge on Lin though. The Korra versus Kuvira fight in the last season was good because Korra had to be very strategic against Kuvira. Not saying they were evenly matched, but both had a disadvantage and a strength against the other.

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