Form I/Legends



Form I: Shii-Cho or The Determination Form was the first of the seven forms of lightsaber combat.

As the weapons technology of the lightsaber was developed, the need for a form of combat arose. Thus Form I, also called Way of the Sarlacc, was born. Shii-Cho was the most ancient style of fighting, 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.

One of the marks of contact, sun djem, was a goal of early Form I duelists, as disarming or destroying the oppoents' weapons could ensure victory without causing injury, which was always a Jedi objective. However with the rise of Form II, sun djem became nearly impossible as Makashi duelists were well trained to prevent his / her own weapons being taken or destroyed.

The opening stance for Shii-Cho seemed to be the basic defensive stance; both hands clasping the lightsaber pointed down at a 45 degree angle from a high starting position.

Form I, like its succeeding forms, includes the following basic techniques and concepts:
 * attack, a set of attacks aimed at different body zones
 * parry, a set of blocks to thwart any attack in the specified body zones
 * body target zones (1 - head, 2 - left arm, 3 - right arm, 4 - back, 5 - left leg, 6 - right leg)
 * training drills called velocities

 Three Rings of Defense:

Outer: With four guard positions at the upper right; upper left; lower right and lower left, the outermost ring was characterised by sweeping heavy blows, which though powerful took longer to deliver.

Middle: Like the outermost ring, the middle had four guard positions, high, low and left and right. The middle ring was designed to pick up quicker blows and stop them before they intersect with the body, this was the most effective at picking off blaster bolts.

Inner: The inner ring of defense used parries as opposed to blocks and was primarily used against lunging attacks, the lightsaber was kept in close to the body, with the hilt covering the navel. With the tip of the blade angeled so that attacks were picked up on its lower third, attacks could then be shunted aside and a riposte against and enemy's stomach or chest was possible. This was the last line of defense and was dangerous to both defend and attack from.



Younglings, the Jedi initiate rank, first learn Form I before they begin a Padawan apprenticeship with a Jedi Master. They most often utilize it to deflect plasma bolts from training remotes.

Kit Fisto was a masterful practitioner of Form I, but he could not defeat Darth Sidious with it. Obi-Wan Kenobi commented Form I as wild, raw and deadly, requiring much emotional heat; however Kenobi sometimes did infuse elements of Shii-Cho into his swordplay, including the rematch with Count Dooku onboard the Invisible Hand.

Shii-Cho was also one of the forms which Count Dooku taught the fearsome Jedi hunter General Grievous, who in turn taught his IG-100 MagnaGuards.



Appearances

 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Tides of Terror
 * Jedi: Aayla Secura
 * The Cestus Deception
 * Star Wars: Clone Wars
 * Clone Wars Adventures: Volume 1
 * Star Wars Republic: Show of Force
 * Star Wars: Obsession
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith novel