Lightsaber Forms {|}

Lightsaber combat refers to several schools of martial arts specialised in, though not limited to, fighting with a lightsaber. Such fighting forms are required to compensate for, or take advantage of, the unique attributes of lightsabers - notably the odd balance of the weapon, with all of its weight being in the hilt, and the omni-directional cutting edge. The most prominent lightsaber-oriented combat styles are the seven forms of the Jedi Order, though other organizations are known to have developed their own styles and methods, an example being the Sith-developed dun möch technique.
The various combat forms owe their unique focuses and methods to the eras in which they were created, as they were oftentimes developed to answer a new generation of weapons technology. For example, the duelling-centric Makashi form was created during a time when Dark Jedi and rogue Force-sensitives ran rampant through the galaxy, and lightsaber duels became a common occurrence, whereas Soresu was developed when such confrontations were rare, and Jedi were more likely to confront blaster-wielding opponents and gunslingers rather than lightsaber duellists.


Overview
Throughout the millennia since the lightsaber's creation, the art of duelling with them has developed into seven "classic" forms and numerous other styles. It is difficult to master for a number of reasons, one of them being that all of the weight a lightsaber has is in its hilt. It has been said that only a Force-sensitive individual can completely master lightsaber combat. All seven traditional lightsaber forms include the same basic techniques as ancient sword-fighting styles, such as defensive postures, overhand strikes, parries, and counters. A riposte is a technique where the user strikes an opponent after deflecting or blocking an attack.
The lightsaber is a very versatile weapon, owing to its unique lightness and omni-directional cutting ability. It can be wielded one-handed or with both hands. The Jedi and Sith are trained to use the Force as a conduit between the wielder and the weapon. Through this bond in the Force, the blade becomes an extension of their being; it moves with instinct as though it were a part of the body. The Jedi and Sith's attunement to the Force accounts for the almost superhuman agility and reflex illustrated in the use of the lightsaber.
Although the blade is weightless, two-handed slashes are the most common movement. This is because momentum is still needed to cut through solid objects, as solid objects are repelled by the blade arc until they are changed to gas or plasma. Therefore, momentum is required to counteract the initial repelling force. The stronger the swing, the faster and easier the blade will cut. If little force is applied to the swing, the repelling force of the blade arc will leave shallow cuts. When two lightsaber blades come in contact with each other, the two repelling forces make the blade appear to be solid. Also, the field that causes the energy to arc back into the hilt causes some gyroscopic effects. While technically weightless, the blade still has some resistance to changes in motion. The slight gyroscopic effects are easily controlled by a trained Force user, but can become problematic for the untrained.


History
When lightsaber technology was developed to the point where they became a viable weapon, becoming the standard weapon of the Jedi Order by 29,453 TYA (3,347 BTC), a combat form that accounted for the abilities and weaknesses of the weapon was required. Form I, Shii-Cho, was developed as a highly simplified style, based on age-old fencing principles, that defined the types of attacks, parries, body zones and practice drills that could be utilized with the lightsaber. When Darksiders and fallen Jedi began to arise, lightsaber duels became an almost routine activity, and Shii-Cho was simply not up for the task as it did not address lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat. This necessitated the development of Form II, Makashi, a precise and efficient fighting form geared towards lightsaber duelling. This style's prevalence during this era produced many of the greatest duelling masters the galaxy has ever seen, a notable example being Tulak Hord, one of the early Sith Lords.
Makashi was eventually rendered partially obsolete due to the increased distribution and common usage of blasters and other ranged energy weapons. Due to this, the third form, Soresu, was created. An extrapolation and development of Shii-Cho blast-deflect training, Soresu emphasized defensive coverage, characterized by tight and efficient movements. A true Form III master was considered invincible by many. However, the style was not without its detractors, who criticized its focus on defence at the expense of offense. As an answer to the weaknesses of Soresu, Ataru (form IV) and Shien (form V) were developed side by side. Both were highly aggressive combat forms, the former focusing on speed and agility, the latter on strength and attack moves. Notably, Shien exploited the lightsaber's ability to deflect blaster bolts by deliberately deflecting shots towards opponents. Later, a new, more advanced Form V variant known as Djem So was developed, focused on aggressive lightsaber duelling.
While forms IV and V proved highly effective, many more conservative Jedi were put off by their aggressive focuses, and set to work creating a form that balanced all the other focuses with overall moderation, in better keeping with Jedi philosophy. The result was the sixth form, Niman. Developed from the Jar'Kai dual-blade combat style, Niman was a gateway to fantastic lightsaber skill without a focus on power or aggression and became known as the "diplomat's form", though it would ironically become the favoured style of the fallen Jedi-turned-Sith Lord Exar Kun, a masterful lightsaber duellist. Due to his obvious skill, Kun came to consider himself the greatest duellist in the galaxy, though he ultimately met his match in the Djem So specialist Ulic Qel-Droma. Kun went on to defeat Vodo-Siosk Baas, the Jedi Battlemaster of the day, and wield one of the earliest saberstaffs, creating the weapon from schematics provided by a Sith holocron.
By the time of the First Jedi Purge, Juyo (form VII) had been created. An advanced and extremely aggressive form, Juyo required high-level mastery of multiple forms to be studied, as it cut perilously close to Sith intensity of focus on combat ability. Specifically, Juyo drew on the agile footwork of Makashi, the tight, aggressive motions of Shien, and the fluid style of Niman. Masters of the form in the Jedi Order were loath to teach it to those with proven recklessness. Four of the only known notable practitioners alive following the First Jedi Purge were Jedi Masters Vrook Lamar, Zez-Kai Ell, Kavar and Atris.


Basic Moves and Manoeuvres

Body Target Zones
Many of the basics of lightsaber combat are established by the Shii-Cho lightsaber form, as it was the first form developed, and is specialised towards training individuals in the use of lightsabers. Attacks and parries in lightsaber combat are described by the body zones they target. In idealised sparring drills, most attacks are executed with horizontal swipes, while parries are carried out with vertical blocks meant to push the point of the enemy's blade away, with the exception of the "Attack 1" and "Parry 1", which are reversed.
Zone 1: The Head - A zone 1 attack consists of a vertical chop at the head, with the goal of vertically bisecting the opponent, and the corresponding parry is a horizontal block. A classic zone 1 attack is typically preceded by a high guard position, though the zone 4 parry position is also used for this purpose. The zone 1 parry position is a horizontal guard, with the blade held at head-height and angled across the body. It is not unheard of for a zone 1 attack to be deflected aside by having a zone 1 parry transition into a zone 2/3 drop parry position.
Zone 2: The Right Arm and Side - Zone 2 attacks are horizontal sideswipes, with the corresponding counter being a vertical parry position. Shii-Cho sparring drills have the handle held at waist height with the blade extended upwards, though other combat forms employ drop parries with the handle held high. Assuming a humanoid duellist's right arm was his dominant, any strikes against his weapon arm would correspond with Zone 2 attacks.
Zone 3: The Left Arm and Side - Zone 3 attacks are much the same as zone 2, albeit the directions are reversed. Assuming a humanoid duellist's left arm was his dominant, any strikes against his weapon arm would correspond with Zone 3 attacks.
Zone 4: The Back - Zone 4 encompasses the entire midsection and torso, but refers specifically to the back. A successful Zone 4 attack is almost always fatal. As the classic Parry 4 position is a drop parry position with the blade angled downwards behind the duellist's back, the classic Attack 4 is likely a variation on Zone 2 and 3 attacks. An alternate, albeit more awkward, Parry 4 position has the hilt held behind the back at waist height, with the blade extended upwards.
Zone 5/6: The Right and Left Leg (respectively) - Zone 5 and 6 attacks are low sideswipes or slashes, while the corresponding defensive positions are drop parries with the hilt held at the waist.

The Three Rings of Defence
Outer Ring: The Outer ring of defence relies on grand sweeping blows to attack at range. The wide attacks take longer to deliver, but are very powerful. The Outer ring consists of four guard positions, all with the blade held diagonally: the upper right, upper left, lower right and lower left.
Middle Ring: The Middle ring of defence is designed to pick up quicker blows and block them, though it is also effective for blast-deflection. The guard positions all feature the blade being held at right angles, with the upper and lower guards being horizontal, while the left and right positions being vertical.
Inner Ring: The Inner ring is the last line of defence, dangerous to be attacking or defending from. It is proof against lunging attacks, and relies on parries instead of blocks. It has only a single guard position, with the hilt covering the navel. Attacks are deflected by angling the blades tip and shunting them aside with the lower third of the blade, facilitating a swift counter towards the opponents chest or abdomen.

Marks of Contact
All Jedi forms involve the same marks of contact, describing the objectives, manoeuvres to use, and the various outcomes that can arise out of a fight involving lightsabers as weapons. They help focus a Jedi's attacks and defences on a few clearer categories, rather than diffusing awareness across an infinite number of possibilities in a duel.
Sun djem: The sun djem is the act of disarming the opponent, the objective usually being not to physically harm him/her. The classic Shii-Cho move, the Disarming Slash, is specialised towards executing the sun djem.
Shiim: The shiim is a more minute wound to an opponent by the edge of a lightsaber's blade. The shiim can be applied anywhere on the body, and is not specific to any zone.
Cho mai: The cho mai is the amputation of an opponent's weapon-hand.
Cho sun: The cho sun is the amputation of an opponent's weapon-arm.
Cho mok: The cho mok is the amputation of an opponent's limb, such as a humanoid's arm or leg.
Shiak: The shiak is the act of stabbing an opponent.
Sai cha: The sai cha is the decapitation of the opponent. Being a sideswipe at an opponents side and neck, the sai cha corresponds with Zone 2 and 3 attacks.
Sai tok: The sai tok is the act of cutting an opponent in half, usually separating his or her legs from the torso at the waist, but vertical bisections corresponding with Zone 1 attacks are not unheard of.
Mou kei: The mou kei is an attack that dismembers an opponent through a circular motion of the lightsaber, aimed at the major limbs. The mou kei, being aimed at all major limbs, lashes out at multiple body zones.

Ready Stances
While all the lightsaber forms have their own unique opening and ready stances, a number of positions are standard to lightsaber combat in general.
Jedi Ready: Having much in common with the Ataru guard, the Jedi ready is the most common stance among Jedi. The dominant foot is held back, with the blade in a vertical parry position on the dominant side.
Defensive Neutral: The differences between the Defensive Neutral and the Jedi Ready are negligible. The blade is still held in a parry position on the dominant side, though the feet are evenly spaced rather than one held back. This position is intended to provide the maximum amount of blade surface area for blast-deflection, and also to maximize its visual impact as a warning.
Offensive Neutral: The feet are evenly spaced, with the blade pointed towards the enemy. The stance is intended to provide the minimum visual blade area for target and tracking.
Centre of Being: The Centre of Being is a stance used in lightsaber combat. It can also be used for meditation. The stance is used by members of the Jedi Order. Users of this stance will hold the lightsaber horizontally, with the lightsaber hilt just below the chin.

Moves and Manoeuvres
Jung: The Jung is a 180 degree turn.
Jung ma: The Jung ma is a 360 degree spin, used to build momentum for an attack.
Shun: The Shun is a 360 degree spin, during which the lightsaber is held one-handed.
Sai: The Sai is the act of overleaping an attack at the legs.
Flowing water: The Flowing Water cut is a technique based on the principle of using the space created when the opponent withdraws their lightsaber offensively to one's own advantage. As the opponent pulls their lightsaber back from a bind, the user will follow it with their blade, in effect causing the opponent to pull the user's blade into themselves.
Falling leaf: The Falling Leaf cut is an ancient move that involves the user spinning and making a fast slash at an opponent standing behind them, and then returning to face the way they were before the manoeuvre. It is described as spinning one's feet to "slash from the sky".
Dulon: The Dulon is a lightsaber move where the hilt's pommel is held at one's midsection, with the blade thirty degrees up, and is slashed at high velocity. The name dulon also refers to a solo lightsaber training.
Kai-kan: The Kai-kan is not a manoeuvre per se, but rather a re-enactment of a prior lightsaber duel.


Training Methods
The various lightsaber training methods are largely devised by the Jedi Order, with other organizations borrowing elements for their own use. Most of the Jedi training elements are established by the Shii-Cho, which continues to find a niche as a tutorial form.
In order to teach students to draw upon the Force rather than rely on their senses, early level Shii-Cho blast-deflect training is conducted with a blindfold, forcing the initiate to rely upon his instincts. Later training is conducted through the use of sequences and velocities, the continuous repetition making the moves instinctive reflexes. These training regimens are carried over to all following lightsaber combat forms, which used similar methods.

Sequences
Sequences are precisely choreographed series of attacks and parries that flow together smoothly and are used during combat. Each form of lightsaber combat has its own sequences, and there are hundreds of different sequences which can be applied to various combat situations.
Some believe that using sequences in combat is superior to using individual moves, because taking time to consider and use moves individually in combat is slow and inefficient, while using sequences instead of individualised moves is faster and more fluid, providing significant advantages.

Sparring
Sparring is mock combat between two duellists. Sparring sessions provide novices with the opportunity to test their skills against an equal or greater opponent, and learn from their mistakes. Many fully trained duellists will take to frequent sparring sessions with contemporaries to ensure that their skills don't atrophy, sometimes opting for training droids in the absence of live sparring partners.
While most sparring matches are relatively free-form, there are certain styles of matches governed by a strict set of rules. These more specialised matches are intended to develop skills in specific ways, such as developing timing or consistency.

Dulon
The term "dulon" typically refers to a lightsaber move where the duellist holds their hilt's pommel at one's midsection with the blade thirty degrees up, and would be slashed at high velocity. However, the term also refers to a solo lightsaber training exercise in which an initiate practices a sequence of moves against imaginary opponents.

Velocities
Velocities involve two students practicing sequences of attacks and parries against each other, repeating the same patterns over and over, while constantly increasing the speed of the movements until one opponent got hit, or decided to yield by saying "Solah."

Twin Suns
In this form of practice, two Jedi will use the Force to rise and land like two suns crossing the sky. It requires a great mastery in lightsaber combat, high attunement with the Force, and precise timing. This technique requires two Jedi to stand at the opposite ends of an open area. Then the combatants will start running at each other and make a Force Jump toward the opponent. While in the air the Jedi will activate their lightsabers and when crossed beside in mid-air, they would strike at one another, trying to harmlessly cut a piece of opponent's clothing and then deactivate the lightsaber before landing on the ground.

Trial of Skill
The Trial of Skill is one of the oldest trials in the battery of tests preferred by the Order. While the test does consist of numerous displays of lightsaber technique, the main thing that the battlemaster look for when judging a potential Knight is their ability to avoid distraction through self-discipline. Before its formalization, the trial was made up of acrobatic feats, while using the Force to levitate objects in the midst of storms. As the test were incorporated into the more standard academy testing, the High Council required that each participant face off against some form of adversary, though the individual or individuals they faced varied in species or allegiance, and could be made of flesh and blood or a clever simulacrum created from archived data. In some cases, Padawans are forced to compete with the battlemaster in a duel, or even the Grand Master, and outlast their attacks. Other students might face many opponents, some of them attacking with a lightsaber, others manipulating perception or altering the environment in the chamber. Additionally, the Council could opt to use the simulacrum program and send any number of Sith Lords to test the stamina of a young Padawan.

(See below for specific articles related to lightsaber combat)