Guard shoto/Legends

Guard shoto (also referred to as "lightsaber tonfa") was a rare perpendicular-gripped type of short lightsaber with a second handle sticking from the main hilt at 90 degrees. Though it could be gripped by either hilt, when wielded by the perpendicular handle, it was especially useful at blocking other lightsabers. The only known users of these were the Jedi Maris Brood and Sinya, a Black Sun member.

Characteristics
The guard shoto's design allowed for a wide variety of blocking, trapping, jabbing and slashing techniques making it a versatile and extremely dangerous weapon in the hands of someone trained to wield it properly. Likewise, it could be very hazardous in the hands of one unskilled in its use, both for the wielder and the opponent.

A lightsaber made in this design could have been held with the blade pointing out for attacking or with the blade pointed back along the wielder’s own arm to provide greater defensive cover and allow the wielder to move in very close to their opponent.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Darth Maul 2
 * The Force Unleashed novel
 * Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game
 * Star Wars: The Force Unleashed comic