Lightsaber Forms Part I:
The Seven Forms of Lightsaber Combat:
According to Star Wars: Attack of the Clones The Visual Dictionary, each Jedi chooses the style of lightsaber combat that best suits him or her. [4] For example, the shorter Master Yoda uses the Ataru form to compensate for his lack of reach and height, as well as to take advantage of his nearly limitless amount of Force power; Mace Windu uses Vaapad to tap into his anger and employ it constructively (without giving himself over to the dark side); Count Dooku's practice of the Makashi form fits his intention to frequently engage in lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat as well as his emphasis on class, elegance and precision. The Jedi Exile from Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II was an expert in many of these forms but never relied on just one. While not always, lightsaber styles are generally taught to the students by the Jedi Battlemasters. [5]
Form I: Shii-Cho
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
According to an article in Star Wars Insider magazine, Younglings, the Jedi initiate rank, first learn Form I before they begin a Padawan apprenticeship with a Jedi Master. Younglings are taught Shii-Cho first because of its simplicity and versatility. In Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, the Younglings that can be seen being taught by Yoda to deflect light blaster bolts are in the beginning stages of Form I. It is probably based on basic fighting techniques from Kendo. [6]
Sometimes called the ideal form, Form I used horizontal side-swipes and parries made with the blade of the lightsaber held upright to push the point of an enemy's blade away during a side-to-side attack. If the attack is a downward slash aimed at the head, Form I simply reversed the motion, with a horizontally-held lightsaber being moved up and down to deflect a blow. All the basic ideals of attack, parry, target zones, and practice drills were created with the Form I style.[7]
Form I, like the other forms of lightsaber combat, includes the following basic techniques and concepts:
Attack: a set of strikes aimed at different body zones
Parry: a set of blocks to thwart any attack in the specified body zones
Body target zones (1, head; 2, left arm; 3, right arm; 4, back; 5, left leg; 6, right leg)
Training drills called velocities
There were only a few known masters of Form I in the Star Wars universe: the best known being Kit Fisto and Cin Drallig. Obi-Wan Kenobi used elements of Shii-Cho even though he was "The Master of Soresu". Though Kit Fisto was a master of Shii-Cho, he could not defeat Palpatine with it. Based on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords and the novelization of Revenge of the Sith, the Shii-Cho form is good versus many enemies wielding conventional blaster weaponry. Its simplicity is its strength, making it a very good style to use if all else fails. Many Jedi and Sith are known to use more than one Lightsaber form. [7]
Known Practitioners: Kit Fisto, Cin Drallig, Stass Allie, Jedi Younglings (Very Basics)
Form II: Makashi
After Form I's proliferation as a saber combat technique, Form II came about as a means of lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat. It is described as being very elegant, powerful, and requiring extreme precision, allowing the user to attack and defend with minimal effort, while his opponent tires himself out.[8] [7]
The form relies on parries, thrusts, and small, precise cuts—as opposed to the blocking and slashing of the other forms. The blade manipulation required for this form is very refined and requires much focus, but the results are extremely potent. However, as ranged weapons such as blasters come into play, the advantages of this form become less useful, but this form of lightsaber combat is still potent against multiple opponents.
Form II emphasized fluid motion and anticipation of a weapon being swung at its target, allowing the Jedi to attack and defend with minimal effort. Although many Jedi historians considered Form II to be the ultimate refinement in lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat, it was dropped in favor of Form III combat when blaster weapons became prevalent in the galaxy.
Count Dooku, master of Form II, faces Jedi Master Yoda.In the time near the Clone Wars, the Jedi Order seldom practices this technique. There is little lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat involved in a Jedi's life, so Jedi Masters have found it impractical. [9]
Darth Tyranus (also known as Count Dooku), from Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, has mastered Form II to the highest degree, fighting with the precision built into the ancient technique. When he wields this form, it devastates the Jedi; the system of Jedi training at the time of confrontation between Darth Tyranus and other Jedi does not prepare the Jedi for the precise movements of a form bred for lightsaber dueling. Former Separatist general Sev'rance Tann was also a practitioner of Form II. It is also possible that General Grievous was also a practitioner of this form since he was trained by Count Dooku, although Mace Windu told Obi-Wan Kenobi that Grievous was a practitioner of all lightsaber combat forms in the novelization of Revenge of the Sith due to his adaptive combat capabilities.
In the Star Wars Expanded Universe, Count Dooku mentioned that Master Tholme had kept up his dueling skills better than most of the Order who trained to deflect blaster bolts; thus suggests Tholme as another possible candidate of Makashi.[10]
While it has been suggested that this style is based on the Spanish style of fencing, "La Verdadera Destreza," (which is based on classical philosophy and mathematics including the works of Aristotle, Euclid, and Pythagoras), this is highly unlikely, given that La Verdadera greatly emphasized the thrust over any sort of cutting attack. Makashi users are elegant, precise, calm, and confident to the point of arrogance. Form II users have extreme faith in their chances for victory, and often look so relaxed while fighting that it appears that they are dancing. The biggest flaw in Makashi is that it will not hold off heavy attacks, such as from Djem-So (Count Dooku got extremely tired while fighting Anakin Skywalker in the Episode III novelization) or from multiple enemies/attacks.
Form II is believed to have died out with Count Dooku's and Cin Drallig's death, as there is no record of its instruction after the Clone Wars in Luke Skywalker's new Jedi order.
Known practitioners: Count Dooku/Darth Tyranus, Darth Revan, Exar Kun, Sev'Rance Tann1, Asajj Ventress1, Komari Vosa1.
Note 1: Their preferred form is unknown, but Count Dooku's training most likely drew them towards Makashi.
Form III: Soresu
Obi-Wan Kenobi, who was acknowledged by Mace Windu as "the Soresu master".Form III, the most defensive of all of the forms, was developed to counteract the advancing blaster technology throughout the galaxy. Most opponents that the Jedi faced during the prequel era carried blasters. [11] Soresu utilizes motions occurring very close to the body to achieve near-total protection, efficiently expending as little energy as possible to execute these moves. [12] This technique exposes as few target zones on the body as possible, making a well-trained practitioner nearly invincible. However, Soresu's same dedication to defense and minimal bodily exposure also decreases the lightsaber's threat range.
After Darth Maul's defeat on Naboo, Obi-Wan Kenobi decided to perfect his practice of Soresu since Qui-Gon Jinn, Kenobi's mentor and Form IV Ataru master, fell against Darth Maul. [13] By the time of Revenge of The Sith, Obi-Wan Kenobi is acknowledged as The Master of Soresu by Mace Windu in the novelization.
Unlike Form II combat, which was developed to work against another lightsaber, Form III was most effective in anticipating and deflecting blaster fire. It stressed quick reflexes and fast positional transition, in order to overcome the rapidity with which a blaster could be fired. It was essentially a defensive technique, emphasizing the non-aggressive Jedi philosophy while reducing the exposed areas of their bodies. In the wake of the death of Qui-Gon Jinn at the hands of Darth Maul, many Jedi turned away from the Form IV style of open, acrobatic fighting and took up Form III in order to minimize the risk of injury or death at the hands of an opportunistic opponent. [7]
Though initially developed to deflect blaster fire, Soresu, if perfectly mastered, could act as a defense to any type of attack, including that of a lightsaber. Obi-Wan's performance of Soresu in Episode III is the prime example of the form.
Practitioners of Soresu comfortably remain on the defensive until their opponents make a mistake; only then do they strike offensively. It focuses heavily on counterattack and defensive strikes - there are no preemptive strikes in the form. Soresu can best be described as a passive form and one to be used by Masters who are extremely patient. Soresu users do not wish to fight, or harm. Even during a fight they prefer to remain on the defensive, and they will strike only when absolutely necessary, or if their opponent drops his guard during battle. Luminara Unduli and Barriss Offee are also proficient in this form.
Known practitioners: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Barriss Offee, and Luminara Unduli.