The Path Of A Jedi [JEDI DETAILS]

The Seven Forms of Lightsaber Combat

Form I: Shii-Cho

Also known as the Determination Form, Shii-Cho was the first lightsaber combat form to be developed. Nowadays, the vast majority of apprentices are taught the basics of this Form at a bare minimum before moving on to learn a Form that suits either their preference or taste. Shii-Cho is simple, yet highly randomized and unpredictable: despite being so basic, it remains quite effective when employed by a skilled user.

Shii-Cho is at its most effective when used against multiple opponents; its characteristic movements are wide, sweeping, and thus effective at keeping a number of enemies at bay. It has no particular weaknesses, and is an excellent Form to fall back upon when no others seem useful. Common Shii-Cho attacking philosophies relied on the concept of victory without injury; one of the most common maneuvers used was a quick strike at an opponent's weapon, intended to either rip it from their grasp or disable it entirely.



Form II: Makashi

Also known as the Contention Form, Makashi was developed as a direct result of Shii-Cho's relative ineffectiveness against lightsaber-wielding opponents. Makashi was developed for lightsaber-on-lightsaber combat. It fell out of popular use quite some time before the rise of the Empire, in large part because of its ineffectiveness when used to deflect blaster bolts.

The second Form was intended as a direct opposite to Shii-Cho's wide, sweeping movements. Makashi focuses on precise and efficient attacking movements: thrusts and light cuts, as opposed to heavy-handed swings. Makashi is at its most effective when used to engage an enemy one-to-one; however, Makashi specialists are generally susceptible to being overwhelmed through sheer force or numbers and many are ineffective where deflecting blaster bolts is concerned.



Form III: Soresu

As with Makashi, Form III--the Resilience Form--was developed to directly counter another Form's weaknesses. Soresu was developed to allow lightsaber wielders to more effectively deal with the increasing popularity of blasters and other projectile weapons. Regarded as the perfect symbol of Jedi non-aggression philosophy, Soresu was quite popular from its development onward. Initiates are commonly more than capable of defending themselves, but oftentimes lack the experience to effectively counter-attack.

Like the second Form, Soresu espouses economy of motion and efficient, tight bladework. Wielders tend to keep their blades constantly in motion in order to build up momentum and further preserve energy. Unlike Makashi or Shii-Cho, however, Soresu is entirely focused around defense: users tend to rely on their strong defensive technique to wear opponents down and then take advantage of mistakes made by either fatigue or frustration. Requiring endurance much more than physical strength, Soresu can be effective in any user's hands regardless of physique or situation - as long as they don't mind drawing out combat.



Form IV: Ataru

Developed concurrently with Shien, Ataru was initially conceived as a pushback against the overly conservative nature of Soresu. This was a Form used by both Jedi and Sith from its inception through to the fall of the Old Republic; perhaps the most visually impressive form, Ataru is physically intensive and heavily reliant on acrobatics and agility.

Ataru tends to be much more physically intensive than Soresu or Makashi. This Form is easily identified by the Force-assisted acrobatics for both attack and defense, as well as the fast, powerful strikes from a number of directions its users commonly employ. Some users, like the Jedi Master Yoda, were capable of using the Force to effectively employ Ataru despite physical limitations such as age or small stature. While effective against a single opponent in an open space, Ataru becomes less effective when a user is forced to fight in a confined space, against multiple opponents, or for a lengthy period of time.



Form V: Shien / Djem So

Unlike most of the other Forms, Form V actually consists of two primary disciplines: Shien and Djem So. Shien was developed alongside the fourth Form as a more aggressive alternative to Soresu with an emphasis on defending against blaster attacks, whereas Djem So came later and was intended as more of a lightsaber combat form. Both disciplines heavily focus on using an opponent's attacks against them, whether by returning blaster bolts to the location they were fired in Shien's case or attempting to immediately counter after blocking an attack, as with Djem So. Despite also having its heyday, some Jedi felt that the fifth Form put too much emphasis on aggression and dominating opponents.

Shien was intended to, and effectively does, fill a niche somewhere in between Soresu and Ataru: it is most effectively employed when a user needs to defend themselves, commonly against blaster-wielding enemies, but also needs to retain some level of offensive capability. Another more unorthodox variant of Shien involves wielding the lightsaber in a reverse grip, but its effectiveness was frequently debated and the matter was never truly resolved. Despite its strengths, Shien is said to be much less effective when used to combat a single opponent.

Perhaps as a result of Shien's weaknesses, Djem So was developed as a later variant of the fifth Form and also to push back against Soresu's inherent deficiencies. While many Djem So users can effectively defend themselves from all manner of attacks, they are much more well-known for their strength, power, and quick retaliation after parrying a blow. Djem So is primarily a lightsaber combat form known for an emphasis on strong vertical strikes, whose most notable weakness is a distinct lack of mobility.



Form VI: Niman

Niman, the Moderation Form, is perhaps the most versatile of all the Forms. It was initially developed as a blend of all the previous Forms, meaning users possessed no particular strengths or weaknesses. Niman was the form commonly learned by those who preferred to study the Force or effective diplomacy; its being essentially made up of the basics of the other Forms made it easy to learn and quick to master. As it also incorporated elements of other martial arts with dual-weapon combat as their focus, Niman also offered a strong base for those interested in learning how to wield two lightsabers.

While praised for its versatility, Niman was also said to take a relaxed approach towards bladework. Niman was commonly derided as ineffective because of this, being somewhat ineffective in a real fight and only good for facing down criminals and thugs, but in the right hands it could prove just as effective as any of the other Forms. Niman relies heavily on a user's improvisational skills and creativity, rather than the instinctive responses promoted by the other Forms, to be truly effective. Users also commonly applied Force-based attacks, such as telekinetic pulls or shoves when timed with lightsaber swings, to make up for the fact that they might have been less effective lightsaber duelists. Niman's most notable weakness, perhaps, is Makashi: it was said that a Niman user would find it almost impossible to defeat a Makashi practitioner purely in lightsaber combat.



Form VII: Juyo / Vaapad

The last of the seven classical Forms outlined by the Jedi Order, the Ferocity Form was perhaps the most controversial. Juyo was frequently considered the most vicious of the seven Forms, and was also the most difficult and demanding to master. Juyo is a furious, aggressive form, and Jedi generally avoid learning it because of this. Another related style, Vaapad, was developed and perfected by Mace Windu in the last days of the Old Republic. Vaapad was similar in that it relied on the user's aggression and inner darkness, making it something of a contentious topic and a form many Jedi avoided learning. Vaapad users, barring total masters of the form, are nearly always at risk of falling to the dark side; in a fight, they flirt with darkness at best and give in to it at worst.

Juyo is characterized by wide, sweeping motions with a heavy focus on keeping up the attack. Chaotic, erratic, unpredictable, Juyo also incorporates some level of acrobatics, though these do not seem nearly as smooth as those espoused by Ataru users. Juyo is most effective in one-to-one lightsaber combat, where its pure aggression and general lack of focus on defense cannot be easily taken advantage of. Like Ataru, however, Juyo also possesses some level of physical intensity, and can tire a user over the course of prolonged duels - if to a lesser extent. Vaapad shares many of these characteristics, but its techniques and movements are said to possess a certain liquid precision that the ragged brutality of Juyo often lacks.