Cho mai

"Cho mai translates as "to cut off the weapon hand." Because this strike instantly ends an opponent's ability to use a weapon but does not kill, cho mai is always a preferred move in combat."

- Cin Drallig

In lightsaber combat, Cho mai was the act of cutting off an opponent's weapon hand.

Application and Description
Cho mai was considered honorable among the Jedi as it showed respect to an opponent by causing minimal physical damage. It also demonstrated the skill of a swordsman. Darksiders consider the mark to be merciful as such individuals preferred to kill opponents rather than maim.



In lightsaber combat, cho mai was often performed by simply driving the opponents blade aside before cutting at the wrist. Other methods include altering the angle of one's parry to catch the opponent's wrist instead of the blade or sliding the weapon inside an opponent's guard during a bladelock to cut off their hand. An even more vicious method consisted of grabbing the opponent's wrist and holding it in place while cutting it off. Executing cho mai was often a question of recognizing an opening and exploiting it, attacking when the opponent leaves their weapon hand vulnerable. Such was usually the case against blaster wielding opponents.

Notable Examples
Aboard the Hammerhead-class cruiser, Harbinger; Darth Sion initiated cho mai against Kreia.

During the confrontation between the Jedi Exile and Darth Traya, the former used cho mai against her after weakening the Sith Lord.

Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Bane severed the weapon hand of Johun Othone while they dueled in Belia Darzu's stronghold.

In 22 BBY, Obi-Wan Kenobi used cho mai against Zam Wesell when she tried to shoot him in the back in the Outlander Club.

Anakin Skywalker used cho mai on Count and Dark Lord of the Sith Dooku shortly before killing him on the Separatist flagship Invisible Hand.

During the Battle of Utapau, Obi-Wan used cho mai twice against General Grievous.

At the end of the Clone Wars, Anakin Skywalker again applied cho mai on Mace Windu, as he saw only a brief opportunity to prevent the death of his soon to be master.

In 19 BBY, Darth Vader assailed a secret meeting of surviving Jedi with the first to die by his blade being the Jedi Knight Sia-Lan Wezz, having been impaled by the Dark Lord before cutting of her hand as she fell dead, adding insult to injury.

Darth Vader severed Luke Skywalker's right hand during the duel at Cloud City.

Luke Skywalker returned the favor during his rematch with Vader during the Battle of Endor.

In a brief but fierce duel, Luke Skywalker proved victorious after cutting off the hand of a reborn Emperor Palpatine during the Battle of Pinnacle Base.

Jaden Korr was quite skilled in applying cho mai just after winning bladelocks.

Years later, Lumiya, the Dark Lady of the Sith, used this technique on Luke Skywalker during their duel at the Roqoo Depot.

Imperial Knight Elke Vetter lost her hand to Darth Talon.

Sith Lord Darth Kruhl applied cho mai against Rikkar-du in between application of two brutal shiim marks. He then killed Rikkar-du.

Appearances

 * Lost Tribe of the Sith: Savior
 * Light and Shadow
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
 * Darth Bane: Rule of Two
 * The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones junior novel
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith junior novel
 * Star Wars: Purge
 * Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
 * LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
 * Star Wars Rebellion 13: Small Victories, Part 3
 * Splinter of the Mind's Eye
 * Splinter of the Mind's Eye 3
 * Splinter of the Mind's Eye 4
 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * Dark Empire
 * Dark Empire audio drama
 * Tempest
 * Star Wars: Legacy 13: Ready to Die
 * Star Wars: Legacy 42: Divided Loyalties