Sai cha

"Sai cha comes from the ancient words for "separate" and "head", and as you might expect it describes the act of using a lightsaber to behead an opponent."

- Cin Drallig



In lightsaber combat, a sai cha was the rare instance when a Jedi beheaded his or her opponent. In general, sai cha was reserved for either biological opponents that presented a great danger&mdash;any opponent a Jedi could not afford to keep alive&mdash;or droids. Only individuals like Simus with great strength in the Force were able to survive it, and in his case it may have been impossible without the particular physiology of the Sith species.

Notable uses


"Do you think you'll still be able to call on the Force after I've separated your head from your body?."

- Asajj Ventress to Luminara Unduli

Droids were regarded by most Force-sensitives as neither honorable nor dishonorable, with the exception of a few heroic notables. For example, Obi-Wan Kenobi beheaded General Grievous's MagnaGuards on board the Invisible Hand and during the Battle of Utapau.

During the time of the Galactic Republic, Jedi Knight Ulic Qel-Droma used sai cha during the Freedon Nadd Uprising to end the life of Warb Null.

Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Bane applied sai cha against a defenseless Sirak when the Zabrak begged for mercy, and ten years later on Jedi Lord Valenthyne Farfalla during their duel on Tython.

In 37 BBY, Qui-Gon Jinn was forced to apply the sai cha against Baroness Omnino of Vena, as she was in possession of a psychic augmenter, a sophisticated device that enabled her to control the minds of others. Jinn was forced to decapitate her to save the lives of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum, and knocking the Baroness unconscious was not an option, as her dangerous mind may have remained active.

Mace Windu used sai cha to kill Jango Fett in the Petranaki Arena on Geonosis. He also attempted to use this move on Darth Sidious, until Anakin intervened.



Anakin Skywalker applied sai cha on Dooku onboard the Invisible Hand.

Master Yoda performed a magnificent sai cha on Clone Commander Gree and a fellow trooper after Order 66 was initiated.

During the Great Jedi Purge, Darth Vader was infamous for beheading his opponents with his lightsaber. Bol Chatak, Iwo Kulka and Siadem Forte were among his more well-known victims.

Several Jedi were forced to employ sai cha during the Great Jedi Purge. These include Roan Shryne, who performed sai cha upon Commander Appo in the Imperial invasion of Kashyyyk, and Jedi Master Tsui Choi, who applied it against a clone commander in 19 BBY.

A'sharad Hett used this technique to decapitate Resk.

Inquisitor Jerec performed two brutal sai cha marks: first on a helpless Morgan Katarn, and later on Jedi Master Qu Rahn.

Grand Master Luke Skywalker applied sai cha' during his final confrontation with Shimrra Jamaane, Supreme Overlord of the Yuuzhan Vong. Skywalker beheaded Jamaane with the crossed blades of both his and his nephew Anakin's lightsaber, much like how his father beheaded Count Dooku nearly fifty years before.

Jedi Master Tresina Lobi was felled by a sai cha strike from Dark Jedi Alema Rar, during their duel in Coruscant's Fellowship Plaza.

Dark Lady Lumiya received a sai cha strike from Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, ending both their duel and her life.

In the underlevels of Coruscant, Darth Caedus applied sai cha against the Falleen Jedi Thann Mithric.

Luke Skywalker used "sai cha'' to finish off Sith Lady Olaris Rhea during the Skirmish at Sinkhole Station.ref name="Abyss">"Abyss (novel)"

On the Planet Daluuj, an Unidentified Rodian Sith receieved a sai cha strike from Shado Vao at the end of the skirmish.

Darth Stryfe beheaded Darth Reave after he transformed into a rakghoul mutant on Had Abbadon.

Behind the scenes
Beheading of opponents is normally not available in Star Wars computer games, because of censorship and rating issues. However, in Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast and Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, beheadings and general dismemberment are possible using the "Saber Realistic Combat" function which is accessible through a cheat code. In some cases you didn't even need to attack your opponent if they are running right at you, all you need to do is turn in their direction.

In the novelization of Revenge of the Sith, Darth Sidious kills both Saesee Tiin and Kit Fisto this way, and proceeds to decorate his desk with the deceased Master Fisto's head.

Appearances

 * Tales of the Jedi: The Freedon Nadd Uprising 1
 * Darth Bane: Path of Destruction
 * Darth Bane: Rule of Two
 * Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan: Last Stand on Ord Mantell
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * The Lesson
 * The Clone Wars: Headgames
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith junior novel
 * Star Wars: Purge
 * Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
 * The Last of the Jedi: A Tangled Web
 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
 * Star Wars 80: Ellie
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
 * The Unifying Force
 * ''Tempest
 * Sacrifice
 * Inferno
 * Fury
 * Abyss
 * Star Wars Legacy 30: Vector, Part 11
 * Star Wars Legacy 30: Vector, Part 11

Notes & References
Sai cha