Lightsaber shoto



The shoto (sometimes simply called short lightsaber) was a lightsaber with a very short blade.

Purpose
Essentially its purpose was to counter attacks by an opponent's weapon while freeing the primary lightsaber for a return strike. To this end shoto wielders were required to become proficient in the lightsaber techniques of Niman or Jar'Kai in order to reduce risk of injury to themselves due to the increased dexterity needed to master the use of both blades simultaneously.

Notable shoto users


The ancient Jedi Master Kavar fought with an ordinary lightsaber and a shoto. Uthar Wynn's Sith apprentice Yuthura Ban wielded a red shoto as her primary weapon. The Sith Lord Freedon Nadd's lightsaber was an orange (or bronze) shoto, which was later stolen from his tomb on Dxun by an expedition team sent by the Jedi Exile. During the Clone Wars era, the rebellious Jedi Master Sora Bulq carried a shoto which he used in a duel against Jedi Master Mace Windu. During the Jedi Purge, Maris Brood took up the use of two shotos after encountering Darth Vader's Secret Apprentice. The Grand Master of the New Jedi Order Luke Skywalker later used one to counter the effect of Lumiya's lightwhip.



The Dark Jedi Pic's and the Jedi Grand Master Yoda's lightsabers were small enough that they may actually have been technically classifiable as a shoto, though they were not used as such. During the Swarm War, the Dark Jedi Lomi Plo also used a shoto in her duel against Jacen Solo and Luke Skywalker.

During the events of the Confederation-Galactic Alliance War, when Luke Skywalker became aware of the re-emergence of Lumiya, he had his wife also construct a shoto. As the weapons were considered an essential item to have when fighting a lightwhip because it countered the advantage that the lightwhip had, the ability to go in more than one direction. Mara Jade constructed a shoto with a blue blade, while Luke's shoto had a red blade.

Behind the scenes

 * In Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Knights of the Old Republic II, the shoto is referred to as a "Short Lightsaber."


 * Shōtō is also a Japanese term for used for swords between 1-2 shaku (roughly 30-60 cm) in length.


 * Before Tempest identified the blades as shoto, fans often referred to them as lightdaggers.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
 * Star Wars: Darth Maul
 * Jedi: Mace Windu
 * Jedi: Count Dooku
 * Star Wars Republic: Trackdown
 * Star Wars Republic: The Siege of Saleucami
 * Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
 * Star Wars 96: Duel With a Dark Lady
 * Star Wars 102: School Spirit
 * Dark Nest III: The Swarm War
 * Betrayal
 * Tempest
 * Exile
 * Sacrifice