The 7 Forms of Lightsaber Combat
I know i'm adding to my dork level by th'fact that i bothered to research this subject...let alone th'fact that i was interested enough to want to put it in my Journal....so sue me, i'm intrigued...
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. 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.
The only known practitioner of Form I is Kit Fisto
After Form I's proliferation as a saber combat technique, Form II or "Way of the Ysalamiri," came about as a means of lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat. It is described as being very elegant, powerful, and requiring extreme precision. The blade manipulation required for this form is very refined and requires much focus, but the results are extremely powerful.
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 (a.k.a.: Count Dooku), from Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, has mastered Form II to the highest degree, fighting with the precision built into the ancient technique. When he wields this Form it 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.
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 Qui-Gon Jinn, Kenobi's master and Form IV practitioner, fell 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 not be replicated or be counteracted by the Jedi's blaster-wielding enemies.
The need to deflect Blaster bolts inspired the technique in Form III. It is very defensive; utilising motions occurring very close to the body to achieve a nearly total protection, efficiently expending as little energy as possible to execute those moves. This technique exposes as little body target zone open areas as is possible, making a well-trained practitioner nearly invincible. Practioners of Soresu comfortably remain on the defensive until their opponents tire or make a mistake, only then do they strike offensively. Testimony to this is the fact that Kenobi, a Form III master, only falls when he chooses to let Darth Vader kill him. One could still argue that he is invincible as he re-appears later in the series as a Jedi Spirit.
Luminara Unduli is also a practitioner of form III.
The master practitioners of the "Way of the Hawk-Bat," make extensive use of acrobatic manoeuvres 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 favour of Form III because he felt that his master's death demonstrated a fatal flaw in this form.
In dire situations, Form IV practitioner 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 is a powerful style developed by Form III practitioners that preferred a more offensive angle. The defensive nature of Form III 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 channelling defense into offense. The example is commonly used that while Form III combatants effortlessly deflect laser bolts, Form V practitioners excel at redirecting the laser bolt toward the opponent. This simultaneously defends the user and efficiently injures the opponent.
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. This combat discipline is often called the "Diplomat's Form." One can see this in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones when many of the saber-wielders on Geonosis are killed. In fact, all of the Jedi using Form VI were killed at the Battle of Geonosis.
Form VI attempts to balance all elements of lightsaber combat, combining the Forms that came before into a less intensely demanding combat style. The result is that the users' skill in each individual area of lightsaber combat is only moderate, making Form VI well suited for diplomats, as they can spend their time training in the areas of politics and negotiation instead of combat training.
Dubbed the "Way of the Vornskr," Form VII was an incomplete form for millennia. 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 resulting in a very unpredictable battle style.
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.
However, as Mace Windu remarks in Episode III, Vaapad borders on the edge of falling to the dark side, as it channels one's anger and darkness into the attack. Only Windu's mastery and concentration of the light prevent him from succumbing, which is why Vaapad is rarely practiced and very dangerous. The two other known practitioners of the form- Sora Bulq and Depa Billaba- both fell to the dark side of the force.
Darth Maul is also a Form VII practitioner. He is mostly likely a Juyo user.
Say what you want...i find descriptions like that fascinating...and i wanted a record on it...do with it what you will...
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. 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.
The only known practitioner of Form I is Kit Fisto
After Form I's proliferation as a saber combat technique, Form II or "Way of the Ysalamiri," came about as a means of lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat. It is described as being very elegant, powerful, and requiring extreme precision. The blade manipulation required for this form is very refined and requires much focus, but the results are extremely powerful.
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 (a.k.a.: Count Dooku), from Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, has mastered Form II to the highest degree, fighting with the precision built into the ancient technique. When he wields this Form it 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.
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 Qui-Gon Jinn, Kenobi's master and Form IV practitioner, fell 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 not be replicated or be counteracted by the Jedi's blaster-wielding enemies.
The need to deflect Blaster bolts inspired the technique in Form III. It is very defensive; utilising motions occurring very close to the body to achieve a nearly total protection, efficiently expending as little energy as possible to execute those moves. This technique exposes as little body target zone open areas as is possible, making a well-trained practitioner nearly invincible. Practioners of Soresu comfortably remain on the defensive until their opponents tire or make a mistake, only then do they strike offensively. Testimony to this is the fact that Kenobi, a Form III master, only falls when he chooses to let Darth Vader kill him. One could still argue that he is invincible as he re-appears later in the series as a Jedi Spirit.
Luminara Unduli is also a practitioner of form III.
The master practitioners of the "Way of the Hawk-Bat," make extensive use of acrobatic manoeuvres 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 favour of Form III because he felt that his master's death demonstrated a fatal flaw in this form.
In dire situations, Form IV practitioner 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 is a powerful style developed by Form III practitioners that preferred a more offensive angle. The defensive nature of Form III 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 channelling defense into offense. The example is commonly used that while Form III combatants effortlessly deflect laser bolts, Form V practitioners excel at redirecting the laser bolt toward the opponent. This simultaneously defends the user and efficiently injures the opponent.
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. This combat discipline is often called the "Diplomat's Form." One can see this in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones when many of the saber-wielders on Geonosis are killed. In fact, all of the Jedi using Form VI were killed at the Battle of Geonosis.
Form VI attempts to balance all elements of lightsaber combat, combining the Forms that came before into a less intensely demanding combat style. The result is that the users' skill in each individual area of lightsaber combat is only moderate, making Form VI well suited for diplomats, as they can spend their time training in the areas of politics and negotiation instead of combat training.
Dubbed the "Way of the Vornskr," Form VII was an incomplete form for millennia. 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 resulting in a very unpredictable battle style.
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.
However, as Mace Windu remarks in Episode III, Vaapad borders on the edge of falling to the dark side, as it channels one's anger and darkness into the attack. Only Windu's mastery and concentration of the light prevent him from succumbing, which is why Vaapad is rarely practiced and very dangerous. The two other known practitioners of the form- Sora Bulq and Depa Billaba- both fell to the dark side of the force.
Darth Maul is also a Form VII practitioner. He is mostly likely a Juyo user.
Say what you want...i find descriptions like that fascinating...and i wanted a record on it...do with it what you will...