Shiak

"Shiak is "stabbing". Jedi tradition holds that shiak is an honorable method of inflicting serious injury because it causes the least visible injury to the opponent's body."

- Cin Drallig

In lightsaber combat, shiak was the act of stabbing an opponent and was considered relatively honorable by the Jedi. Jedi usually stabbed in the leg or arm, however Sith preferred stabbing opponents through the chest, often guaranteeing certain death to the unfortunate victim.

Notable uses
Jedi Consular Raana Tey received a shiak strike from Shel Jelavan, though it did not immediately end her life.

Jedi Master Ven Zallow was defeated by Darth Malgus's shiak during the Sacking of Coruscant, killing him.

During a skirmish on Tython, Darth Zannah applied shiak against the Echani Jedi Master Raskta Lsu from behind, ending the Jedi's life. In that same battle, Johun Othone died at Zannah's hands in a similar manner when she drove her lightsaber through his chest after he was injured by Zannah's master.

Shiak was used by Darth Maul when he stabbed Jedi Master Siolo Ur Manka. He used it again on Qui-Gon Jinn during their duel on Naboo.

Anakin Skywalker killed a T'surr slave trader named Krayn by stabbing him through the chest. He also applied this technique to Tal Merrik, a corrupt senator working for Death Watch who was trying to hold Satine Kryze hostage.

Obi-Wan Kenobi attempted to use shiak on Durge during the Battle of Muunilinst, but failed due to the durable nature of Durge's species. He also used the technique against B1 battle droids on Christophsis, in addition to numerous other battles during the Clone Wars.

The Jedi Master Fay was killed when Asajj Ventress impaled her from behind. Ventress also used shiak on Senate Commando Faro Argyus when he tried to take all the credit for the rescue of Nute Gunray.

General Grievous "rewarded" Gha Nachkt's finding R2-D2 and cracking his never-been-erased memory by impaling him through the back.

Barriss Offee used shiak on Clone trooper Trap when he tried to infect her with a brain worm.

Anakin Skywalker used shiak to kill the powerful Force-wielder known as the Son. Darth Sidious used this maneuver to kill Jedi Master Agen Kolar, when a team of Jedi Masters went to arrest him.

During and after the Great Jedi Purge, Darth Vader utilized shiak multiple times. During Vader's attack on the Jedi Temple in 19 BBY, he killed Chief Librarian Jocasta Nu by lifting her into the air and impaling her through the chest. Shortly afterwards, in the hidden pasageways underneath the Temple, he would kill Sha Koon in a similar manner. Later that year, when he assailed a secret meeting of surviving Jedi, the first to die by his blade was the Jedi Knight Sia-Lan Wezz, having been impaled by the Dark Lord; he then sliced off her hand as she fell dead. Vader also ended the life of Jedi Master Hylon when he impaled him through the chest atop Mount Dijandi on Otavon 12. Jedi Padawan Drake Lo'gaan was also stabbed through the chest by Darth Vader, though unlike Hylon, Lo'gaan survived the blow. Also, shortly after the Battle of Yavin in 0 ABY, Vader again applied shiak in a battle against a hyenax pack on the planet of Vaal, where he stabbed one of the attacking animals through its skull.

The simulacrum of Darth Phobos was defeated by Galen Marek stabbing her in the back. Marek himself was impaled by Darth Vader on the bridge of the Executor when Palpatine discovered him and was then flung into space. He would survive the betrayal, though he spent six months on the Empirical recovering.

During their showdown on Mustafar, X1 threw his lightsaber at his brother, X2. However, X2 dodged, and X1's blade ran him through instead, causing him to stagger off a nearby cliff to his death.

Jacen Solo killed his former student Nelani Dinn with shiak after applying cho mok and shiim as well during their mission at The Home near Bimmiel.

This technique was also used by Luke Skywalker against Darth Caedus in their duel on the Anakin Solo. Luke also used it on the dark side being Abeloth, apparently killing her by stabbing her in the chest.

Darth Caedus skewered Jedi Battlemaster Kyle Katarn with this technique, though Katarn would survive the encounter.

Jaina Solo used shiak to defeat Yuuzhan Vong Warmaster Tsavong Lah, killing him by running her lightsaber through his neck during the Battle of Ebaq 9. Thirteen years later, she used it again on her brother, Jacen Solo, now Darth Caedus, impaling him through the abdomen when she ambushed him during their final duel. Caedus survived the blow, however.

Darth Nihl used this technique against Zabrak Jedi Master Wolf Sazen during the Massacre at Ossus, though Sazen would survive the battle.

Imperial Knight Elke Vetter received a shiak strike to her right leg from Darth Talon. Talon herself was later stabbed through the stomach by Cade Skywalker.

Darth Krayt impaled the Imperial Knight Mohrgan Fel through the chest during his raid on the Imperial Palace. He used it again on his former adviser, Darth Wyyrlok, during a battle for control of the One Sith; Mohrgan and Wyylok were both killed upon being impaled. Krayt himself was a victim of two shiak strikes: the first time, he was stabbed in the back by Imperial Knight Azlyn Rae when she and her allies attempted to assassinate him, though it failed to kill him. He was later run through the chest by Cade Skywalker during their final showdown, and this time, the Sith Lord was killed.

Behind the scenes
Originally, Shaak Ti was going to be killed in Revenge of the Sith by General Grievous when he held a lightsaber behind her heart and ignited it, killing her. However, this scene was deleted from the film and Shaak Ti was later killed by Galen Marek on Felucia, making it non-canon.

In the game Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy the player, if he or she stays on the light side, can stab any opponent in the game. However, if a player chooses to turn to the dark side, Jaden Korr kills Rosh Penin by shiak. After Jaden leaves, Kyle enters and finds Rosh who is severely injured, who says he was sorry that both of Kyle's students had failed him. Before Rosh dies, Kyle assures him that he had become a Jedi.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
 * Crosscurrent
 * Star Wars: The Old Republic
 * Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 24: Knights of Suffering, Part 3
 * Darth Bane: Rule of Two
 * Survivors
 * Nameless
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Jedi Quest: Path to Truth
 * Star Wars: Republic 53: Blast Radius
 * Yoda: Dark Rendezvous
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Purge
 * Star Wars Purge: Seconds to Die
 * Star Wars Purge: The Hidden Blade
 * Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game
 * Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
 * Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron
 * Star Wars Galaxies
 * I, Jedi
 * Dark Tide I: Onslaught
 * Destiny's Way
 * Betrayal
 * Inferno
 * Fury
 * Invincible
 * Allies
 * Conviction
 * Star Wars: Legacy 8: Allies
 * Star Wars: Legacy 31: Vector, Part 12
 * Star Wars: Legacy&mdash;War 1
 * Star Wars: Legacy&mdash;War 6
 * Betrayal
 * Inferno
 * Fury
 * Invincible
 * Allies
 * Conviction
 * Star Wars: Legacy 8: Allies
 * Star Wars: Legacy 31: Vector, Part 12
 * Star Wars: Legacy&mdash;War 1
 * Star Wars: Legacy&mdash;War 6

Notes and references
Shiak Shiak