Lightsaber combat/Legends

Lightsaber Combat is an element of the fictional lightsaber plot-detail used by Jedi and Sith in the Star Wars franchise. They are never mentioned in the Star Wars films (as of episodes I, II, IV, V, and VI being released), but they do exist in the films, the Expanded Universe, including many novels.

Form I: Shii-Cho
As the new weapons technology, called the lightsaber, came into use after more primitive weapons were used, the need for a form of combat arose. Thus, Form I, also called, "Way of the Sarlacc," was born. Ancient sword-fighting traditions held key principles of blade combat that were implemented by early Jedi Masters in the rather basic technical tactics of Form I.

Form I, like its succeeding forms, includes the following basic techniques and concepts:
 * attack
 * parry
 * body target zones
 * training drills called velocities

Younglings, the Jedi initiate rank, first learn Form I before they begin a Padawan apprenticeship with a master. In Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, the Younglings can be seen being taught by Yoda to deflect light plasma shots.

Form II: Makashi
After Form I's proliferation as a saber combat technique, Form II, the, "Way of the Ysalamiri," came about as a means of lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat. It is described by many as very elegant, powerful, and requiring of extreme precision. It is very refined. Blade manipulation is at its highest level.

In the time near the Clone Wars, the Jedi Order seldom practices this technique. There is, if at all, so little lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat involved in a Jedi's life that Jedi Masters have found it impractical.

Darth Tyranus, from Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, has mastered Form II to the highest degree. He fights with the precision built into the ancient technique. Form II requires much focus and results in much power. Form II, wielded by Darth Tyranus, devastates the Jedi; the system of Jedi training at the time of confrontation between Darth Tyranus and other Jedi does not prepare the Jedi for the precise movements of a form bred for lightsaber dueling.

Form III: Soresu
After Darth Maul's defeat on Naboo, Obi-Wan Kenobi decided to perfect his practice of Form III lightsaber combat, the most defensive of all of the forms, since the Form IV practitioning Qui-Gon Jinn, Kenobi's master, was unable to hold his own against Darth Maul.

Form III, the, "Way of the Mynock," was originally developed to counteract the advancing blaster technology throughout the galaxy. Those to whom the Jedi were mainly opposed usually wielded blasters now; the Jedi needed to find a method to defend that could be not replicated or be counteracted by the Jedi's blaster-wielding enemies.

Laser bolt deflection training inspired the technique in Form III. It is very defensive; it has no aggressive qualities. Form III utilises motions occuring very close to the body to achieve a nearly total protection, efficiently expending as little energy as possible to execute those moves. This techniques exposes as little body target zone open areas as is possible, making a well-trained practitioner nearly invincible. Testimony to this is the fact that Ben Kenobi, a Form III master, manages to never die unwillingly throughout his life and in the Star Universe; he only dies when he chooses to let Darth Vader kill him (though one could still argue that he is invincible; he still re-appears later in the series as a Jedi Spirit).

Form IV: Ataru
The master practitioners of the, "Way of the Hawk-Bat," make extensive use of acrobatic maneuvers often thought not physically possible. Qui-Gon Jinn and Yoda were both masters of Form IV, as shown in their duels against Darth Maul and Count Dooku, respectively. Obi-Wan Kenobi, though already very advanced, abandoned his Ataru training in favor of Form III because he felt that his master's death demonstrated a fatal flaw of the Ataru form.

In dire situations, Form IV practicioners use the Force to aid in their acrobatics. Spinning, jumping and running very fast and very high, masters of Form IV are sometimes only seen as a blur. In order to achieve the acrobatic prowess, amazing reflexes and physical punch of this form, a Jedi Master would focus on the Force, letting it flow deeply throughout his entire physicality, even allowing him to overcome the limitations of old age.

Form V: Shien
Form V is known for its power. It was developed by Form III practicioners that preferred a more offensive angle and felt that the defensive nature of Form III only dangerously prolonged combat. The maxim, "peace through superior firepower," encompasses the philosophy of Form V, also called the, "Way of the Krayt Dragon." Anakin and Luke Skywalker are both practitioners of Form V.

Form V maintains its existence through having sufficient defensive skills, as derived from Form III, but channeling defense into offense. The example is commonly used that while Form III combatants effortlessly deflect laser bolts, Form V practicioners excel at redirecting the laser bolt toward the opponent. This at the same time defends the user and efficiently injures the enemy.

Form VI: Niman
The, "Way of the Rancor," Form VI was the standard style at and around the time period of the Clone Wars and the Great Jedi Purge. One can see this in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones when many of the saber-wielders on Geonosis are killed. In fact, though, all of the Jedi using Form VI were killed at the Battle of Geonosis.

Form VI attempts to balance all elements of lightsaber combat; Form VI is considered a combination of Form I, Form III, Form IV, and Form V. The result is that the users' skill in each individual area of lightsaber combat is only moderate. Form VI is much less intensely demanding than other forms of lightsaber combat; this makes Form VI much more of a style suited for diplomats; they can spend their time training in the areas of politics and negotiation instead of combat training.

Form VII: Juyo
Dubbed the, "Way of the Vornskr," Form VII was an incomplete form for millenia. It was further developed by Jedi Master Mace Windu, who could complete it with his, "Vaapad," style. The most challenging and demanding of all forms, Form VII requires extreme, intense focus, high levels of skill, and mastery of other forms. Only two Jedi have ever mastered Form VII fully, Mace Windu and Depa Billaba. One other Jedi, Sora Bulq, mastered its physical aspects but was overwhelmed by the required mental discipline.

Intrepid, somewhat direct movements are used in combination with very advanced techniques involving Force-powered jumps and motions. Form VII does not appear as, "fancy," as Form IV, but the technical details of it use very open movements. Though, Form VII is very unpredictable in battle.

Form VII demands the emotional and physical intensity of Form V, but it much more effectively controls it (if mastered). Form VII, when fully mastered, results in extraordinary power.

Speculative Form "Zero"
Not an actual form of lightsaber combat itself, and technically not even official, Form Zero supposedly exists as the idea that a Jedi should know when to use their lightsaber and when to find another means to solve a problem. This was defined by Master Yoda. This is mostly talking about the fact that Jedi need to restrain themselves when tempted to use "Aggressive Negotiations," and instead use another well-developed Jedi skill, as the Jedi Mind Trick.

Maneuvers and marks of combat
All seven forms of lightsaber combat utilize these ancient terms used by the Jedi for describing the objectives, maneuver to use, and the various outcomes that could arise out of a fight involving lightsabers as weapons. Also listed is the term used to describe a re-enactment of a sword/lightsaber battle.

Cho mai
The term cho mai is used to describe the action of cutting off an opponent's weapon hand. This move shows that the Jedi using it has the honor to cause the opponent minimal physical damage; it also shows the skill and mastery of the Jedi performing the move to the opponent.

Cho mak
A cho mak is the act of cutting off an opponent's limb, such as a humanoid's leg.

Cho sun
The term cho sun is used to describe the move used to cut off an opponent's weapon arm.

Jung
A jung in lightsaber combat is a 180-degree turn.

Jung ma
The term jung ma is used to describe a maneuver used by Jedi to perform a 360-degree spin in which power is gained for an eminent attack on the opponent.

Kai-kan
The kai-kan is a re-enactment of a famous, usually ancient, very dangerous, lightsaber or even sword battle, which only very well-trained Jedi attempt to perform.

Sai
A sai is the term used to describe the move used by Jedi to evade an attack directed at their legs. The Jedi jumps up with the Force as the main backbone of the strength, height, and speed at which the jump is executed.

Sai cha
The term sai cha is used to describe the rare instance when a Jedi beheads his or her opponent.

Sai tok
A sai tok, frowned upon by the Jedi because of its Sith-like nature, is the act of cutting an opponent in half, usually seperating his or her legs from torso at the waist.

Shiak
The term shiak is used to describe the honorable action of stabbing an opponent.

Shiim
A shiim is a more minute, considered inferior, wound to an opponent by the edge of a lightsaber's blade. It is also considered a sign of desperation or struggle against a potent enemy.

Shun
The term shun is used for when a 360-degree turn is performed with just a one-handed grip, thus gaining speed for an attack.

Sun djem
A sun djem is a attack used by Jedi that disarms the weapon of an opponent, the objective usually being not to physically harm the opponent.