For a more interesting rp I have come up with a stat chart for force users.
(Grim I took away the point system for the time being.)
Younglings. and Discipulus, being that they are just learning about the force will only be given sorten choices of force powers.
Telekinesis - This ability is used to lift objects and move them, including the wielder and enemies, in a desired direction. While training Luke Skywalker on Dagobah, Yoda tells him that the size/weight of an object is only relevant in the mind of the practitioner, and that once the mental distinction about an object's size can be dispelled, objects of any size can be moved. Yoda demonstrates this by lifting Luke's X-wing starfighter out of the swamp. This is not constant across the entirety of the expanded Star Wars universe, or even the movies, however. In "Episode III" for Playstation 2, for example, Obi-Wan requires Anakin's assistance to move objects or open doors multiple times throughout the course of the game (although this can be seen as a gameplay-specific addition and as such may not be considered canon), and even Yoda himself appeared to have difficulty moving the pillar that was threatening to crush Obi Wan and Anakin in the movie Episode II: Attack of the Clones (though he might have been exhausted after just facing off against Count Dooku). In the Clone Wars saga, which aired on Cartoon Network, Yoda is shown using the Force to cause whole starships to crash into each other.
Force Push/Pull - Telekinetic abilities to pull or push objects away, as well as enemies. The greater the user's aptitude, the heavier the object that can be manipulated or the more wide the arc or radius of the force 'wave'. It can be used to pull weapons from enemies. Force pull was used by Luke to get his lightsaber from the snow in the wampa cave, as well as by Obi-Wan Kenobi to pull sabers, blasters, staves, and other varied weaponry to his hands in the prequel trilogy.
Force Strike - To a large extent, Force Push and Force Strike are the same power, with Strike being the more destructive version. In The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon Jinn used Force Strike in a fray to throw a team of battle droids away. Force Strike, although technically a neutral ability, is often considered to have traces of the dark side due to its more aggressive usage. Darth Maul may well utilise this power. In The Phantom Menace he is seen to push Obi-Wan Kenobi into the Naboo reactor shaft, although the accompanying sound suggests a more malevolent power. In the videogame tie-in the Force Push of light characters is blue, whereas that of Maul is red, perhaps again suggesting the possession of the Strike ability.
Force Leap/Jump - Uses the Force to augment the user's natural leaping ability. Force users adept in this can perform incredible vertical/horizontal leaps with impunity. This ability appears to be somewhat basic and is performed many times in the Star Wars movies, notably essential when Obi-Wan killed Darth Maul. It is also seen in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back when Luke jumps out of the carbonite machine and again in Star Wars Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi when Luke is battling Vader for the last time. This ability is essential for practicers of Form IV lightsaber combat, like Yoda. It isn't certain how high/far a Jedi may leap with this power. The latter two chapters of the Jedi Knight series of games suggests a leap twelve times a Jedi's height when the power is mastered, but looking at the leaps of characters in the movies, the figure could be far higher.
Lightsaber forms For the Younglings and Discipulus:
Form I: Shii-Cho
Younglings, the Jedi initiate rank, first learn Form I before they begin a Padawan apprenticeship with a Jedi Master. Younglings are taught Shii-Cho first because of its simplicity and versatility. In Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, the Younglings that can be seen being taught by Yoda to deflect light blaster bolts are in the beginning stages of Form I. It is probably based on basic fighting techniques from Kendo.
Sometimes called the ideal form, Form I used horizontal side-swipes and parries made with the blade of the lightsaber held upright to push the point of an enemy's blade away during a side-to-side attack. If the attack is a downward slash aimed at the head, Form I simply reversed the motion, with a horizontally-held lightsaber being moved up and down to deflect a blow. All the basic ideals of attack, parry, target zones, and practice drills were created with the Form I style.
Form I, like the other forms of lightsaber combat, includes the following basic techniques and concepts:
* Attack: a set of strikes 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
There was only one known master of Form I in the Star Wars Universe: Kit Fisto. Though Kit Fisto was a master of Shii-Cho, he could not defeat Darth Sidious with it in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Based on KOTOR 2 and the novelization of Revenge of the Sith, the Shii-Cho form is good versus many enemies wielding conventional blaster weaponry. Its simplicity is its strength, making it a very good style to use if all else fails.
That is all. Your Young.
Padawan, Adepts and Inceptors. Are more skilled in the arts and have learned more.
Telepathy - The ability to mentally communicate over small or vast distances. Palpatine uses this ability in Episode III to contact Anakin in the Council chambers, and convince him to come to Palpatine's aid. Also, Luke uses it to contact Leia in Episode V. Palpatine is later seen to use telepathy in the Expanded Universe. Whilst Mara Jade serves as his Hand, he is able to contact her anywhere in the galaxy through telepathy, even, it seems, posthumously.
Burst of Speed - Makes the user able to maintain sprinting speeds (even moving in awkward directions like backwards) for as long as the effect lasts. Since Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast it seems that the power may bend the subjective time of the caster making everything seem slower. Greater aptitude grants boosts to speed and/or greater duration. The ability first appeared in the book "Shadows Of The Empire" during a fight between Luke Skywalker and Guri. It is further shown in the films at the beginning of Episode 1 when Droidekas sent by Nute Gunray attempt to kill Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn. The duo use a burst of speed to evade the deadly droids.
Force Sense - Used within the Jedi Order to sense the future, possible danger, a person's location, or the presence of the Dark Side. In Episode II, when Obi-Wan Kenobi is in the club on Coruscant he senses the bounty hunter hired by Jango Fett and strikes her down with a lightsaber. Also, in Episode II Anakin senses Padm� is in trouble when she is sleeping in the beginning of the movie. Empathy is a Light-Side power that is similar to this versatile force ability.
'Jedi mind trick', Affect Mind or Persuasion - This power can confuse and persuade others, making them bend to the user's will. It usually only works on those who are weak-minded. Used by Qui-Gon Jinn in The Phantom Menace, Obi-Wan in Attack of the Clones and A New Hope, and Luke Skywalker in Return of the Jedi. Toydarians and Hutts are immune to it, however. The Jedi Knight series of games implied that the power is multi-faceted, and can either cloud the mind of a foe, create a distraction, render the Jedi invisible (like Cloak) or even turn the mind of an enemy against his comrades.
Force Throw - Causes objects to be hurled towards a target. Darth Vader used this ability against Luke in The Empire Strikes Back; Darth Maul used it in The Phantom Menace in order to hit a switch and open a door while fighting; Count Dooku used it in Attack of the Clones to drop part of a pillar onto an unconscious Obi-Wan Kenobi and an injured Anakin Skywalker. A skilled force-user can throw multiple large objects simultaneously at great speed, as evidenced by Darth Sidious during his duel with Yoda in the Senate chamber. During the same duel, Jedi Master Yoda himself hurled a spinning delegate seat back at Sidious.
Lightsaber forms
Form II: Makashi
After Form I's proliferation as a saber combat technique, Form II came about as a means of lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat. It is described as being very elegant, powerful, and requiring extreme precision, allowing the user to attack and defend with minimal effort, while his opponent tires himself out. The form relies on parries, thrusts, and small, precise cuts�as opposed to the blocking and slashing of the other forms. The blade manipulation required for this form is very refined and requires much focus, but the results are extremely potent. However, as ranged weapons such as blasters come into play, or more than one opponent is present, the advantages of this form become obsolete. The Younglings could then advance to their next level of lightsaber combat.
Form II emphasized fluid motion and anticipation of a weapon being swung at its target, allowing the Jedi to attack and defend with minimal effort. Although many Jedi historians considered Form II to be the ultimate refinement in lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat, it was dropped in favor of Form III combat when blaster weapons became prevalent in the galaxy.
Form III: Soresu
Form III, the most defensive of all of the forms, was developed to counteract the advancing blaster technology throughout the galaxy. Most opponents that the Jedi faced during the prequel era carried blasters. Soresu utilizes motions occurring very close to the body to achieve near-total protection, efficiently expending as little energy as possible to execute these moves. This technique exposes as few target zones on the body as possible, making a well-trained practitioner nearly invincible. It borrows movements from Kendo, Wushu and Fencing, making it a very beautiful and graceful form. After Darth Maul's defeat on Naboo, Obi-Wan Kenobi decided to perfect his practice of Soresu since Qui-Gon Jinn, Kenobi's mentor and Form IV Ataru master, fell against Darth Maul. By the time of Revenge of The Sith, Obi-Wan Kenobi is acknowledged as The Master of Soresu by Mace Windu in the novelization.
Unlike Form II combat, which was developed to work against another lightsaber, Form III was most effective in anticipating and deflecting blaster fire. It stressed quick reflexes and fast positional transition, in order to overcome the rapidity with which a blaster could be fired. It was essentially a defensive technique, emphasizing the non-aggressive Jedi philosophy while reducing the exposed areas of their bodies. In the wake of the death of Qui-Gon Jinn at the hands of Darth Maul, many Jedi turned away from the Form IV style of open, acrobatic fighting and took up Form III in order to minimize the risk of injury or death at the hands of an opportunistic opponent.
Though initially developed to deflect blaster fire, Soresu, if perfectly mastered, could act as a defense to any type of attack, including that of a lightsaber. Obi-Wan's performance of Soresu in Episode III is the prime example of the form.
Practitioners of Soresu comfortably remain on the defensive until their opponents make a mistake; only then do they strike offensively. It focuses heavily on counterattack and defensive strikes - there are no preemptive strikes in the form. Soresu can best be described as a passive form and one to be used by Masters who are extremely patient and passive. Soresu users do not wish to fight, or harm. Even during a fight they prefer to remain on the defensive, and they will strike only when absolutely necessary, or if their opponent drops his guard during battle. Luminara Unduli and Barriss Offee are also proficient in this form.
Form IV: Ataru
The master practitioners of Form IV make extensive use of acrobatic maneuvers often thought physically impossible without the aid of the Force. It is quite similar to the martial art of wushu. It is very acrobatic and even more so with the use of the Force, and very articulate when slowed down. The majority of kung fu sword techniques are displayed through this form of Ataru, and may have been incorporated into this style by the earlier practitioners.
Now for the Knights, Dark Jedi or Apprentis(sp) and Militis
Force powers:
Enhance Ability - The Force boosts the user's abilities, empowering his or her strength, dexterity, and endurance. Yoda uses this ability to overcome the infirmities of old age, which is quite necessary for a practitioner of Form IV lightsaber combat.
Electric Judgement - Apparently the same ability as Force lightning
Force Grip - Often believed to be an enhanced combination of the two neutral force-powers Force Pull and Force Push, Force Grip (as shown by Darth Vader in A New Hope) can be used to grip a target's neck (and/or constrict their trachea). Stronger users can lift the target off their feet, choking them until they suffocate, optionally slamming the target into a wall or sending them flying over a precipice. While the attacker can quite simply break the target's neck, death by strangulation appears to be favored by the Sith (Darth Vader the most prominent among them). It was used briefly by both Darth Tyranus against Obi-Wan Kenobi at the beginning of Revenge of the Sith, and by a deluded Darth Vader against the pregnant Padme (and briefly against Obi-Wan). Some Jedi are also able to make use of this ability, as evidenced by Luke Skywalker using it to dispatch two of Jabba's guards.
Lightsaber Forms;
Form V: Shien / Djem So
The name of the Fifth Form of lightsaber combat varies in different sources. According to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, Shien is the Fifth Form. Revenge of the Sith Novelization stated clearly that Shien and Djem So are two different styles, and Anakin Skywalker mastered them both. By comparison, Djem So demonstrated an even higher level of physical strength and aggressive moves. So it is believed that Shien and Djem So both fall under the category of Form V, much like Juyo and Vaapad in Form VII, with Shien better at dealing with blaster bolts and Djem So better at blade-to-blade combat. It can be described as a mix of medieval swordmanship and kendo.
Form V was developed by a group of Jedi Masters who felt that Form III was too passive, while Form IV was not powerful enough. It addressed the shortcomings of both forms, in which a Jedi Master may have proved to be undefeatable but could not overcome the enemy. Among the many unique aspects of Form V was the development of techniques in which the lightsaber was used to deflect a blaster bolt directly back at the firer, deliberately to cause harm to the opponent.
Form V is a powerful style developed by Form III practitioners that preferred a more offensive angle. The defensive nature of Form III often leads to dangerously prolonged combat. This style came about from combining Forms II and III. Jedi Master Plo Koon, and Anakin Skywalker, both as himself and as Darth Vader, are all practitioners of Form V. Jedi Master Agen Kolar may possibly have been a Form V practitioner since he favored aggressive negotiations. Luke Skywalker's use of Form V is probably as much instinctive as trained, as he was trained as a Jedi by both Obi-Wan Kenobi (Forms III and IV) and Yoda (Form IV). However, Luke's particular form of lightsaber combat may in the end be something entirely new, with traces of Forms III, IV and V mixed together with his own personal styles. It is doubtful that Masters Kenobi and Yoda had time to actually teach him the finer points of the various forms. As with many other aspects of Jedi knighthood, Luke had to improvise and create new fighting styles to replace the ones lost during the Great Purge.
Embodying the perfection of the idea of counterattack, Form V maintains its existence through having sufficient defensive skills, as derived from Form III, but channeling defense into offense. 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. Also, it utilizes Form II's parries, allowing the user to parry the attempted attack, and counter it.
Form V is also different from Form III in the fact that Form V practictioners believe that the best defense is a good offense. It has already been observed that Form III users simply deflect blaster bolts and parry lightsaber attacks until the opponent makes a fatal mistake. Form V practitioners take the near impenetrable defenses of Form III and press the assault, using wide, sweeping blows in an attempt to overwhelm the opponent with brute strength.
However, where Form II concentrated on precise and elegant parries, Form V permits the user to actually fully block and repel attacks since it calls for the use of more brute, Force-enhanced strength. This is evident in Revenge of the Sith when Dooku takes a swing at Anakin and Anakin not only blocks it, but pushes Dooku back with overwhelming strength. Also, in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, we see how Form V can be used to physically bully an opponent. In a rage, Vader continuously locked sabers with Luke only to throw him back and press his assault. The same happened in the second duel as Luke forced Vader back with his onslaught of physical strength. In addition, it is mentioned in the novel Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader that during their duel on Murkhana, Vader cut off Bol Chatak's arm and then slew her after "simply beat[ing] her into submission." This also indicates usage of Form V.
A dedication to the power and strength necessary to defeat an enemy characterizes the philosophy of Form V, which some Jedi describe by the maxim "peace through superior firepower." To some Jedi Knights, Form V represents a worthy discipline prepared for any threat; to others, Form V seems to foster an inappropriate focus on dominating others. The aggressive philosophy of Form V is the source of many a Jedi's disapproval.
With the offensive but refined movements of Form II and the highly defensive postures of Form III, Form V has been proven to be a highly effective style. Both Form V and VII call for its user to use emotion to enhance their strength. Form V users can best be described as bold, powerful, fearless and confident. They are unafraid to let their emotions rule them and contribute to the fight, though they are wary of falling to the dark side. A master Form V stylist will be able to pull back from the abyss of the dark side, as Luke Skywalker did when he defeated Vader, though that does not always happen.
In the game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords, Jedi Master Vrook teaches the Jedi Exile Shien if the Exile is a Jedi Guardian, a Jedi Sentinel, or the advanced forms of either.
According to Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith The Visual Dictionary, Aayla Secura knows about Djem So as well. It is highly possible that Cin Drallig was also a practitioner of this form, as in the "Revenge of the Sith" video game he uses attacks and stances similar to Anakin's.
Form VI: Niman
Niman 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 Episode II: Attack of the Clones, when all of the Jedi using Form VI are killed in the Battle of Geonosis, including Coleman Trebor, whose technique could not defend against Jango Fett's masterfully placed blaster shots.
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 areas of lightsaber combat is only moderate, making Form VI well -suited for diplomats and consulars, as they can spend their time training in the areas of politics, negotiation and Force mastery instead of combat training. It can be affectionately referred to and known as a sort of "Jack of All Trades" form, with mastery of no one aspect of combat, but competency in all.
This was one of the most advanced of the seven primary forms of lightsaber combat developed by the Jedi Knights of the Old Republic. At the time of the Battle of Geonosis, Form VI was the standard in Jedi fighting techniques, emphasizing the use of techniques from Forms I, III, IV, and V in overall moderation.
Many Jedi skilled in Form VI techniques had already spent at least ten years studying the other four Forms, an aspect that many Masters felt was too demanding of the Jedi's time in regards to its benefits on the battlefield.
There is, however, one saving grace to this form not mentioned above. Niman is the stepping stone to the dual lightsaber form, known as Jar'Kai. No one who has successfully mastered Jar'Kai has done so without first mastering Niman.
In Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith The Visual Dictionary, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi is depicted posed in a Niman ready stance.
Form VII: Juyo / Vaapad (Although not mastered)
In the Jedi world, Form VII was an oddity for millennia. It was modified by Jedi Master Mace Windu, who used it to create his Vaapad fighting style. The most challenging and demanding of all forms, Form VII requires intense focus, high levels of skill, and mastery of other forms. Form VII is without question the rarest form, and only two Jedi have ever mastered Vaapad fully: Mace Windu and his Padawan, Depa Billaba. Sora Bulq, who instructed Quinlan Vos in a few of its basics, never fully mastered Vaapad; Mace Windu stated that Sora knew "almost as much as him". As stated in Star Wars Insider, Darth Maul was trained in Form VII combat as well.
However, Vaapad borders on the edge of using the dark side, as it channels one's anger and darkness into the attack� it may be related to Japanese shinkengata [1]. Only Windu's mastery and concentration of the light side prevents him from succumbing, which is why Vaapad is rarely practiced and very dangerous. The only two other known practitioners of Vaapad, Sora Bulq and Depa Billaba, both fell to the dark side of the Force, unable to maintain control over their emotions. Many believed Plo Koon could master Form VII, but he believed that it was too dangerous so he took on Form V instead.
Vaapad goes beyond being a fighting style as it becomes a state of mind and a power. The state of mind requires that a user of Vaapad be allowed to enjoy the fight and be given over to the thrill of battle and the thrill of victory.
The power of Vaapad is simple: it is a channel for one's inner darkness; and it is a reflecting device. With strict control, a person's own emotions and inner darkness can be changed into a weapon of the light. Vaapad is able to take the hatred, anger and rage of the opponent and reflect it back at him. In his fight with Palpatine, Mace Windu used Palpatine's own speed and hatred against him, reflecting it back against the Sith Lord and using it as his own power. Vaapad is at once a form of lightsaber combat, a state of mind, and an actual tangible power. To use it required great mastery, discipline and, above all else, purity of heart and spirit. Vaapad users are intense, focused, and introverted; there are even signs of pent-up hostility in them.
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. The staccato swings and flow of the form make it seem as if the attacks are not linked�but in reality, it is merely confusing the opponent. The sword techniques of this art are very practical, using "battlefield" philosophy; kill, move on.
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.
Only through the learning of several other forms could a Jedi began to understand Form VII, being the most demanding combat style. It involved so much physical combat ability that its training brings a Jedi very close to the Dark Side of the Force. To master Form VII, a Jedi had to employ bold movements and be more kinetic than in any other form. Form VII employed the use of overwhelming power directed through unconnected, precise movements that kept an opponent continually off-guard.
In KOTOR 2, which takes place about 4,000 years before the Clone Wars, the Jedi Exile could learn Juyo from Master Kavar if a Guardian, Weapon Master, or Marauder. This shows that Form VII was already an effective form for millennia before Mace Windu completed it with Vaapad.
Darth Maul, master of Form VII, battles Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
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Darth Maul, master of Form VII, battles Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
In the novel Star Wars: Shatterpoint, Mace Windu indicated that part of Depa Billaba's Vaapad blade work has even surpassed Mace Windu himself and the Vaapad he created and used.
Another variation of Juyo is used by Master Cin Drallig in the Revenge of the Sith Video Game, whose personal style takes the extremely high speed at which Juyo operates and takes it to a Vaapad-like level without losing the power of normal Juyo.
Form VIII: Sokan
Developed by the ancient Jedi Knights during the Great Sith War, Sokan combines tactics that allow for evasion and mobility with the kinetic motions of Form IV combat. Sokan involves swift strokes of the lightsaber aimed towards the opponent's vital areas in addition to quick tumbles and movements. Combatants make use of large amounts of terrain, trying to maneuver their opponents into vulnerable areas during the course of battle.
Form IX: Shien
This variation of Djem-So uniquely involves a Jedi holding the lightsaber horizontally. The Jedi points the end of the blade at the opponent; it is swung in a fast arc while the Jedi punches his saber-hand at his opposing combatant, in a stabbing motion. Mace Windu used this in the arrest against Palpatine. Adi Gallia uses a personal variation of this form, holding her saber vertically instead of horizontally, almost as if this form is aiding the combat of others. In Return of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker is shown to use this form briefly while engaging Vader from underneath the stairs of the Emperor's throne room, after being taunted into attacking by Vader's comments about turning his sister to the Dark Side.
Form X: Jar'Kai
The dual saber style of Jar'Kai permits a Jedi to fight with two lightsabers, one in each hand, as seen in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones by Anakin Skywalker. One of the blades in the wielder's hands is used for attacking while the other one is used for defending, such as parrying, or for more offensive power. Often, the Jedi wields a short lightsaber (very rarely referred to as a "lightdagger") as a main-gauche instead of a normal lightsaber to gain more balance. This technique was probably inspired by the Japanese art of Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu. In the book Yoda Dark Rendezvous, Master Maruk says those who practice dual sword wield have a tendency to rely too deeply on their swords. Jar'Kai was first used by Xendor and the Letto Legions for the obvious reason that two blades would be more aggressive. Its name, Niman is even inspired by the triumvirate of Kashi gods of Xendor's old human planet Kashi. Many Jedi train to use the Niman style in the hopes of gaining a basic knowledge of the dual-bladed attack, but very few Jedi ever totally master Jar'Kai. Count Dooku is seen occasionally using it. Serra Keto, Sora Bulq, Asajj Ventress, Komari Vosa, Darth Revan, A'Sharad Hett and Joclad Danva (who can be seen wielding two lightsabers in the background during the Battle of Geonosis), the Dark Jedi Boc and the Emperor's Hand Jeng Droga are all practitioners of Jar'Kai. Niman is the stepping stone to dual saber mastery, and no one has ever fully learned Form X without first mastering Form VI.
Masters and Mestre
Force powers
Force Lightning/Sith Lightning - This power was first portrayed by Emperor Palpatine in Return of the Jedi. Force Lightning is a purely energy-based specialty attack of the Sith. Force energy, in the form of lightning bolts exits the Force-user's body through their fingertips. The greater the user's aptitude, the more power the lightning bolts possess and the more they fork, allowing the possibility of striking multiple foes at once. In certain Star Wars computer games, Force Lightning is even capable of draining the energy of the opponent, preventing him from accessing his own Force abilities. Force Lightning is often used as a form of torture; not only does it cause severe physical damage, but also extreme agony to the victim. However, a single powerful blast may be sufficient to kill a person instantly. Although Force Lightning is a potent ability, it can be countered by the Light Side power Dissipate Energy. In Episode III, Force Lightning appears to deform Palpatine's face, leading some to belive that the power harms the user as well, but this view is controversial. It is thought by some that Sidious' physical appearance as Chancellor Palpatine was an illusion created with Force energy, and that the lightning merely melted the illusion away. Another possibility may be that the lightning was reflected back upon him by Mace Windu's lightsaber, causing this result.
* Chain Lightning - This variant of Force Lightning is different in that now the target is one and there is a chance that the lightning will move to another person. It appears only in the Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith video game, and curiously is used by Kyle Katarn and Mara Jade who belong to the Light Side.
* Emerald Lightning (disputed as Dark-side power) - This is a variation of Force Lightning used by Luke Skywalker in "The Unifying Force" against the Yuuzahn Vong Slayers. It is identical to regular Force Lightning except for the fact that it is emerald green in appearance.
Life creation and biological immortality (disputed) - According to Darth Sidious in Episode III, Darth Plagueis the Wise had "such a mastery of the Force he could create life itself." He could also use this power to sustain his own biological life from the ravages of aging. There is no dispute that Sidious claims this as a Sith Lord power (requiring sufficient wisdom and mastery); the dispute is whether Sidious was speaking truthfully that his master, Darth Plagueis, actually possessed this power, or whether Sidious lied in order to seduce Anakin to the Dark Side. If Darth Plagueis did have this power, many EU sources have suggested it is possible Plagueis created Anakin in this fashion in the womb of Shmi Skywalker, and that Sidious was aware of Anakin's conception. This would explain how Anakin could have been born of a virgin, how Anakin had the highest midichlorian count ever recorded, and how and why Sidious/Palpatine took an interest in the boy the moment they met. While Sidious admits he does not have this power (and it is hard to imagine that Sidious would kill his master without first learning the secret), the extreme longevity of Sidious, far surpassing all normal humans, may very well be the result of at least partial mastery of this power. If this ability does exist, as some Expanded Universe material implies, it is the only Sith Lord ability and Dark Side power that is arguably "good", and can result in positive consequences, as it can be used to keep "those [the Sith Lord] cared about" from dying (if indeed a Sith Lord is capable of caring for anyone). If this power is real, it is ironic that the Dark Side of the Force, so often used to take life, can be used to both create life and sustain it. According to Sidious, Darth Plagueis was the only Sith Lord with the wisdom and knowledge and mastery and power to actually (fully) master this ability (although Sidious' extreme longetivity maybe due to an incomplete mastery).
Dissipate Energy (or Absorb)- The ability to disperse Force energy, and to even absorb or redirect it. A trained Jedi may contain the energy of all kinds of Force attacks used against them. As the energy used to perform Force-related powers is limited, a Jedi can use the enemy's attacks to their own benefit, instead of receiving damage from them. In Attack of the Clones, Obi-Wan used this to contain Count Dooku's Lightning with his lightsaber. Mace Windu did a similar thing, only that he redirected the lightning against Darth Sidious. Yoda is so skilled with the Force that he uses his palms to absorb dark lightning, as he did in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.
Lightsaber Forms;
Form VII: Juyo / Vaapad (Mastered)
In the Jedi world, Form VII was an oddity for millennia. It was modified by Jedi Master Mace Windu, who used it to create his Vaapad fighting style. The most challenging and demanding of all forms, Form VII requires intense focus, high levels of skill, and mastery of other forms. Form VII is without question the rarest form, and only two Jedi have ever mastered Vaapad fully: Mace Windu and his Padawan, Depa Billaba. Sora Bulq, who instructed Quinlan Vos in a few of its basics, never fully mastered Vaapad; Mace Windu stated that Sora knew "almost as much as him". As stated in Star Wars Insider, Darth Maul was trained in Form VII combat as well.
However, Vaapad borders on the edge of using the dark side, as it channels one's anger and darkness into the attack� it may be related to Japanese shinkengata [1]. Only Windu's mastery and concentration of the light side prevents him from succumbing, which is why Vaapad is rarely practiced and very dangerous. The only two other known practitioners of Vaapad, Sora Bulq and Depa Billaba, both fell to the dark side of the Force, unable to maintain control over their emotions. Many believed Plo Koon could master Form VII, but he believed that it was too dangerous so he took on Form V instead.
Vaapad goes beyond being a fighting style as it becomes a state of mind and a power. The state of mind requires that a user of Vaapad be allowed to enjoy the fight and be given over to the thrill of battle and the thrill of victory.
The power of Vaapad is simple: it is a channel for one's inner darkness; and it is a reflecting device. With strict control, a person's own emotions and inner darkness can be changed into a weapon of the light. Vaapad is able to take the hatred, anger and rage of the opponent and reflect it back at him. In his fight with Palpatine, Mace Windu used Palpatine's own speed and hatred against him, reflecting it back against the Sith Lord and using it as his own power. Vaapad is at once a form of lightsaber combat, a state of mind, and an actual tangible power. To use it required great mastery, discipline and, above all else, purity of heart and spirit. Vaapad users are intense, focused, and introverted; there are even signs of pent-up hostility in them.
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. The staccato swings and flow of the form make it seem as if the attacks are not linked�but in reality, it is merely confusing the opponent. The sword techniques of this art are very practical, using "battlefield" philosophy; kill, move on.
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.
Only through the learning of several other forms could a Jedi began to understand Form VII, being the most demanding combat style. It involved so much physical combat ability that its training brings a Jedi very close to the Dark Side of the Force. To master Form VII, a Jedi had to employ bold movements and be more kinetic than in any other form. Form VII employed the use of overwhelming power directed through unconnected, precise movements that kept an opponent continually off-guard.
In KOTOR 2, which takes place about 4,000 years before the Clone Wars, the Jedi Exile could learn Juyo from Master Kavar if a Guardian, Weapon Master, or Marauder. This shows that Form VII was already an effective form for millennia before Mace Windu completed it with Vaapad.
Darth Maul, master of Form VII, battles Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
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Darth Maul, master of Form VII, battles Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
In the novel Star Wars: Shatterpoint, Mace Windu indicated that part of Depa Billaba's Vaapad blade work has even surpassed Mace Windu himself and the Vaapad he created and used.
Another variation of Juyo is used by Master Cin Drallig in the Revenge of the Sith Video Game, whose personal style takes the extremely high speed at which Juyo operates and takes it to a Vaapad-like level without losing the power of normal Juyo.
Stances
Stances
All strength and propulsion in the martial arts starts in the feet. The stance is important in fighting, as it not only provides balance but also the energy to be placed into an attack. It is the basis upon which all lightsaber combat is placed. It involves footwork, the alignment of the legs and torso, the straightening of the back, and the loosening of the arms so that they can snap into the desired position. Keys to good stances include: allowing the dominant foot to be the main source of propulsion, keeping the knees bent, keeping the back straight, and constant, calm breathing.
The Stance Grid:
Rear Center Forward
Aggressive: Aggressive Back Aggressive Neutral Aggressive Forward
Neutral: Neutral Back Jedi Ready Neutral Forward
Defensive: Defensive Back Defensive Neutral Defensive Forward
Stances in italics are extrapolations based upon the foundations of sword stances. Only those stances seen in the movies and television series are described here.
Jedi Ready
The most basic of all Jedi stances - also called "basic neutral" - this one employs stepping back with the dominant foot and drawing the lightsaber so that it is parrying on the dominant side. Weight is distributed evenly between the feet. It is natural that the dominant shoulder be rolled slightly back. The hilt of the lightsaber is held down level with the waist with the tip of the lightsaber pointed at or slightly over the head of the target. This stance is similar to the chūdan-no-kamae in kendo, except in the kendo form you step forward with the dominant foot as you draw the blade. This is evidence of the Jedi only using lightsabers as a matter of defense of themselves and others, whereas in kendo the purpose is for attack.
In Episode I, Obi-Wan Kenobi always used this stance when drawing his lightsaber, and hastily moved into it as well. This shows how undisciplined he was as a padawan. His feet shifted oddly so that his rear foot was not in a straight line pointing forward, his back was hunched forward (this reduces both balance as well as the flow of energy to-and-from the internal organs), and he held the point of his lightsaber so high that it partially obscured his vision. It is possible he is attempting an aggressive forward stance. By Episode II, he has changed more so into his former master's style.
Neutral Forward
Very similar to Jedi ready, except that the dominant foot is forward - identical to chūdan-no-kamae - with the lightsaber hilt close to the waist, the blade pointed to the enemy. Slightly more weight is on the front foot than the rear, which means that the dominant leg is still the one that propels the attack.
Anakin uses this stance in Episode II. He centers himself by setting his stance and swinging his blade slowly from behind his back, over his head, down centerline of his body, and settling the lightsaber in place.
Defensive Neutral
A good defensive posture, defensive neutral is ready for any occurrence but is also non-threatening. The dominant foot is drawn back and pointed approximately forty-five degrees out to the side. Approximately sixty-percent of the weight is on the back foot. The dominant shoulder is rolled back as the blade is drawn. The lightsaber is held vertically next to that side of the head, in the pocket created by the shoulder. This form is almost identical to the hassō-no-kamae stance found in kendo.
In Episode I, Qui-Gon Jinn uses this stance when drawing his lightsaber. His form is almost flawless, showing the years of training and discipline spent acquiring his skill. He holds his lightsaber back in such a fashion that his eyes are able to scan a wide forward arc, looking for targets and watching attacks. With his long legs, he is able to hold his feet wide, ready to spring forward at a moment's notice. In Episode II, Obi-wan has followed in his master's footsteps and picked up this stance, and in Episode III when he is fighting Anakin just before Anakin jumps on to the same platform you see Obi-Wan using the stance.
Defensive Back
The best defensive posture in sword combat, defensive back is difficult to penetrate, but also difficult to launch an effective attack from. The hilt of the blade is rasied high towards the face, the point of the blade pointed diagonally down at the ground. From this position slashing strikes aimed at the torso can be easily blocked, and stabbing strikes can be quickly parried with wide, sweeping moves from which the defender can quickly move forward into a better stance. Another advantage of this stance is that the blade can be quickly swung all the way around the torso to block attacks from all directions. This is similar to the "Ox" and "Hanging guard" positions of the medieval longsword.
In Star Wars: Clone Wars, Anakin Skywalker assumes a very flashy form of this stance after he and Obi-Wan Kenobi dispatch an entire squad of droids in Chapter 2.
Aggressive Neutral
A very threatening stance similar to the Jedi ready stance. This involves standing with more of the weight on the front foot rather than the rear. The arms are held so that the hilt of the lightsaber is in line with the solar plexus, and the point of the lightsaber is directed at the target's head. The distance from the body to the lightsaber is greater than most stances. This form is not very useful in conventional combat, but is very deadly in lightsaber-on-lightsaber combat. Darth Sidious uses this when he is fighting Mace Windu.
Combined with the elegant, flowing, and swift motions of Form II, this stance allows Count Dooku to keep his guard up while pressing the attack. Even when facing an Anakin Skywalker armed with two lightsabers, he is able to gain an advantage by keeping his enemy at arm's length.
Aggressive Back
A more radical stance than most, aggressive back is a low posture from which a swift attack can be launched. The back foot is pointed out almost ninety-degrees from the body and is holding over eighty-percent of the weight. The front foot is extended forward, almost straight. The lightsaber is held on the dominant side, right beside the head, its blade facing directly forward. Like aggressive neutral, this stance is only useful for taking on a single enemy armed with a lightsaber, especially since it obstructs view of the right side of the body.
This is Obi-wan's stance from Episode III. He uses it mainly in facing General Greivous, alternating at times with aggressive neutral. This leaves him open to attack from surrounding droids, but he realizes that danger is minute in scope to giving Grievous one inch of advantage. Darth Sidious also uses this stance often during his fights against Masters Windu and Yoda.
Aggressive Forward
This stance is fairly simple, and involes holding the lightsaber above the user's head, with the blade facing behind them. It allows the user to easily block a high attack or start a strong downward slash.
This stance is used by Darth Sidious at the beginning of his fight with Yoda. During their duel on Geonosis, Darth Tyranus and Anakin Skywalker also use this stance.
Body Zones
The body is sectioned off into "zones", areas to describe a location of an offensive or defensive move, called an attack or a parry, respectively. For example, the move Attack 3 can only be defended against by Parry 3: as the opponent attempts to strike the left side, the defender blocks to the left, parrying his blow.
The Body Zones:
* Zone 1: Head - Strikes made to the right and left sides of the neck are said to be in zones 2 and 3, respectively.
* Zone 2: Right arm and side
* Zone 3: Left arm and side
* Zone 4: Back
* Zone 5: Right leg
* Zone 6: Left leg
Examples of Attacks and Parries:
Attack 1: A simple, over-the-head strike at an opponent's head. Though not practiced much in combat training, it is a general move performed over and over to practice form and stance.
Parry 1: A block where the defender shifts his stance back slightly, and then holds his lightsaber up horizontal above his head. Whether the hilt is to the right or the left determines how the defender wishes to press his following attack.
Attack 2/3 Combo: This is a rushing attack where the lightsaber is swung from one shoulder to the opposite hip, brought back up behind the back, and swung down from the opposite shoulder to hip. This X-shaped attack is useful for keeping an enemy busy blocking and unable to counterattack.
Parry 2/3 Combo: A natural defense to the Attack 2/3 combo. The blade is lowered to the hip and brought up diagonally to intercept the opponent's blow. As soon as the lightsabers are no longer making contact, the blade is lowered to the opposite hip and the move is repeated. Jedi can get locked in this combo during a velocity, and it is common to see the attack-parry combo continue to get faster and faster, until either attacker or defender gets the upper hand in speed and can press the attack or counterattack.
(Grim I took away the point system for the time being.)
Younglings. and Discipulus, being that they are just learning about the force will only be given sorten choices of force powers.
Telekinesis - This ability is used to lift objects and move them, including the wielder and enemies, in a desired direction. While training Luke Skywalker on Dagobah, Yoda tells him that the size/weight of an object is only relevant in the mind of the practitioner, and that once the mental distinction about an object's size can be dispelled, objects of any size can be moved. Yoda demonstrates this by lifting Luke's X-wing starfighter out of the swamp. This is not constant across the entirety of the expanded Star Wars universe, or even the movies, however. In "Episode III" for Playstation 2, for example, Obi-Wan requires Anakin's assistance to move objects or open doors multiple times throughout the course of the game (although this can be seen as a gameplay-specific addition and as such may not be considered canon), and even Yoda himself appeared to have difficulty moving the pillar that was threatening to crush Obi Wan and Anakin in the movie Episode II: Attack of the Clones (though he might have been exhausted after just facing off against Count Dooku). In the Clone Wars saga, which aired on Cartoon Network, Yoda is shown using the Force to cause whole starships to crash into each other.
Force Push/Pull - Telekinetic abilities to pull or push objects away, as well as enemies. The greater the user's aptitude, the heavier the object that can be manipulated or the more wide the arc or radius of the force 'wave'. It can be used to pull weapons from enemies. Force pull was used by Luke to get his lightsaber from the snow in the wampa cave, as well as by Obi-Wan Kenobi to pull sabers, blasters, staves, and other varied weaponry to his hands in the prequel trilogy.
Force Strike - To a large extent, Force Push and Force Strike are the same power, with Strike being the more destructive version. In The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon Jinn used Force Strike in a fray to throw a team of battle droids away. Force Strike, although technically a neutral ability, is often considered to have traces of the dark side due to its more aggressive usage. Darth Maul may well utilise this power. In The Phantom Menace he is seen to push Obi-Wan Kenobi into the Naboo reactor shaft, although the accompanying sound suggests a more malevolent power. In the videogame tie-in the Force Push of light characters is blue, whereas that of Maul is red, perhaps again suggesting the possession of the Strike ability.
Force Leap/Jump - Uses the Force to augment the user's natural leaping ability. Force users adept in this can perform incredible vertical/horizontal leaps with impunity. This ability appears to be somewhat basic and is performed many times in the Star Wars movies, notably essential when Obi-Wan killed Darth Maul. It is also seen in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back when Luke jumps out of the carbonite machine and again in Star Wars Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi when Luke is battling Vader for the last time. This ability is essential for practicers of Form IV lightsaber combat, like Yoda. It isn't certain how high/far a Jedi may leap with this power. The latter two chapters of the Jedi Knight series of games suggests a leap twelve times a Jedi's height when the power is mastered, but looking at the leaps of characters in the movies, the figure could be far higher.
Lightsaber forms For the Younglings and Discipulus:
Form I: Shii-Cho
Younglings, the Jedi initiate rank, first learn Form I before they begin a Padawan apprenticeship with a Jedi Master. Younglings are taught Shii-Cho first because of its simplicity and versatility. In Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, the Younglings that can be seen being taught by Yoda to deflect light blaster bolts are in the beginning stages of Form I. It is probably based on basic fighting techniques from Kendo.
Sometimes called the ideal form, Form I used horizontal side-swipes and parries made with the blade of the lightsaber held upright to push the point of an enemy's blade away during a side-to-side attack. If the attack is a downward slash aimed at the head, Form I simply reversed the motion, with a horizontally-held lightsaber being moved up and down to deflect a blow. All the basic ideals of attack, parry, target zones, and practice drills were created with the Form I style.
Form I, like the other forms of lightsaber combat, includes the following basic techniques and concepts:
* Attack: a set of strikes 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
There was only one known master of Form I in the Star Wars Universe: Kit Fisto. Though Kit Fisto was a master of Shii-Cho, he could not defeat Darth Sidious with it in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Based on KOTOR 2 and the novelization of Revenge of the Sith, the Shii-Cho form is good versus many enemies wielding conventional blaster weaponry. Its simplicity is its strength, making it a very good style to use if all else fails.
That is all. Your Young.
Padawan, Adepts and Inceptors. Are more skilled in the arts and have learned more.
Telepathy - The ability to mentally communicate over small or vast distances. Palpatine uses this ability in Episode III to contact Anakin in the Council chambers, and convince him to come to Palpatine's aid. Also, Luke uses it to contact Leia in Episode V. Palpatine is later seen to use telepathy in the Expanded Universe. Whilst Mara Jade serves as his Hand, he is able to contact her anywhere in the galaxy through telepathy, even, it seems, posthumously.
Burst of Speed - Makes the user able to maintain sprinting speeds (even moving in awkward directions like backwards) for as long as the effect lasts. Since Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast it seems that the power may bend the subjective time of the caster making everything seem slower. Greater aptitude grants boosts to speed and/or greater duration. The ability first appeared in the book "Shadows Of The Empire" during a fight between Luke Skywalker and Guri. It is further shown in the films at the beginning of Episode 1 when Droidekas sent by Nute Gunray attempt to kill Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn. The duo use a burst of speed to evade the deadly droids.
Force Sense - Used within the Jedi Order to sense the future, possible danger, a person's location, or the presence of the Dark Side. In Episode II, when Obi-Wan Kenobi is in the club on Coruscant he senses the bounty hunter hired by Jango Fett and strikes her down with a lightsaber. Also, in Episode II Anakin senses Padm� is in trouble when she is sleeping in the beginning of the movie. Empathy is a Light-Side power that is similar to this versatile force ability.
'Jedi mind trick', Affect Mind or Persuasion - This power can confuse and persuade others, making them bend to the user's will. It usually only works on those who are weak-minded. Used by Qui-Gon Jinn in The Phantom Menace, Obi-Wan in Attack of the Clones and A New Hope, and Luke Skywalker in Return of the Jedi. Toydarians and Hutts are immune to it, however. The Jedi Knight series of games implied that the power is multi-faceted, and can either cloud the mind of a foe, create a distraction, render the Jedi invisible (like Cloak) or even turn the mind of an enemy against his comrades.
Force Throw - Causes objects to be hurled towards a target. Darth Vader used this ability against Luke in The Empire Strikes Back; Darth Maul used it in The Phantom Menace in order to hit a switch and open a door while fighting; Count Dooku used it in Attack of the Clones to drop part of a pillar onto an unconscious Obi-Wan Kenobi and an injured Anakin Skywalker. A skilled force-user can throw multiple large objects simultaneously at great speed, as evidenced by Darth Sidious during his duel with Yoda in the Senate chamber. During the same duel, Jedi Master Yoda himself hurled a spinning delegate seat back at Sidious.
Lightsaber forms
Form II: Makashi
After Form I's proliferation as a saber combat technique, Form II came about as a means of lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat. It is described as being very elegant, powerful, and requiring extreme precision, allowing the user to attack and defend with minimal effort, while his opponent tires himself out. The form relies on parries, thrusts, and small, precise cuts�as opposed to the blocking and slashing of the other forms. The blade manipulation required for this form is very refined and requires much focus, but the results are extremely potent. However, as ranged weapons such as blasters come into play, or more than one opponent is present, the advantages of this form become obsolete. The Younglings could then advance to their next level of lightsaber combat.
Form II emphasized fluid motion and anticipation of a weapon being swung at its target, allowing the Jedi to attack and defend with minimal effort. Although many Jedi historians considered Form II to be the ultimate refinement in lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat, it was dropped in favor of Form III combat when blaster weapons became prevalent in the galaxy.
Form III: Soresu
Form III, the most defensive of all of the forms, was developed to counteract the advancing blaster technology throughout the galaxy. Most opponents that the Jedi faced during the prequel era carried blasters. Soresu utilizes motions occurring very close to the body to achieve near-total protection, efficiently expending as little energy as possible to execute these moves. This technique exposes as few target zones on the body as possible, making a well-trained practitioner nearly invincible. It borrows movements from Kendo, Wushu and Fencing, making it a very beautiful and graceful form. After Darth Maul's defeat on Naboo, Obi-Wan Kenobi decided to perfect his practice of Soresu since Qui-Gon Jinn, Kenobi's mentor and Form IV Ataru master, fell against Darth Maul. By the time of Revenge of The Sith, Obi-Wan Kenobi is acknowledged as The Master of Soresu by Mace Windu in the novelization.
Unlike Form II combat, which was developed to work against another lightsaber, Form III was most effective in anticipating and deflecting blaster fire. It stressed quick reflexes and fast positional transition, in order to overcome the rapidity with which a blaster could be fired. It was essentially a defensive technique, emphasizing the non-aggressive Jedi philosophy while reducing the exposed areas of their bodies. In the wake of the death of Qui-Gon Jinn at the hands of Darth Maul, many Jedi turned away from the Form IV style of open, acrobatic fighting and took up Form III in order to minimize the risk of injury or death at the hands of an opportunistic opponent.
Though initially developed to deflect blaster fire, Soresu, if perfectly mastered, could act as a defense to any type of attack, including that of a lightsaber. Obi-Wan's performance of Soresu in Episode III is the prime example of the form.
Practitioners of Soresu comfortably remain on the defensive until their opponents make a mistake; only then do they strike offensively. It focuses heavily on counterattack and defensive strikes - there are no preemptive strikes in the form. Soresu can best be described as a passive form and one to be used by Masters who are extremely patient and passive. Soresu users do not wish to fight, or harm. Even during a fight they prefer to remain on the defensive, and they will strike only when absolutely necessary, or if their opponent drops his guard during battle. Luminara Unduli and Barriss Offee are also proficient in this form.
Form IV: Ataru
The master practitioners of Form IV make extensive use of acrobatic maneuvers often thought physically impossible without the aid of the Force. It is quite similar to the martial art of wushu. It is very acrobatic and even more so with the use of the Force, and very articulate when slowed down. The majority of kung fu sword techniques are displayed through this form of Ataru, and may have been incorporated into this style by the earlier practitioners.
Now for the Knights, Dark Jedi or Apprentis(sp) and Militis
Force powers:
Enhance Ability - The Force boosts the user's abilities, empowering his or her strength, dexterity, and endurance. Yoda uses this ability to overcome the infirmities of old age, which is quite necessary for a practitioner of Form IV lightsaber combat.
Electric Judgement - Apparently the same ability as Force lightning
Force Grip - Often believed to be an enhanced combination of the two neutral force-powers Force Pull and Force Push, Force Grip (as shown by Darth Vader in A New Hope) can be used to grip a target's neck (and/or constrict their trachea). Stronger users can lift the target off their feet, choking them until they suffocate, optionally slamming the target into a wall or sending them flying over a precipice. While the attacker can quite simply break the target's neck, death by strangulation appears to be favored by the Sith (Darth Vader the most prominent among them). It was used briefly by both Darth Tyranus against Obi-Wan Kenobi at the beginning of Revenge of the Sith, and by a deluded Darth Vader against the pregnant Padme (and briefly against Obi-Wan). Some Jedi are also able to make use of this ability, as evidenced by Luke Skywalker using it to dispatch two of Jabba's guards.
Lightsaber Forms;
Form V: Shien / Djem So
The name of the Fifth Form of lightsaber combat varies in different sources. According to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, Shien is the Fifth Form. Revenge of the Sith Novelization stated clearly that Shien and Djem So are two different styles, and Anakin Skywalker mastered them both. By comparison, Djem So demonstrated an even higher level of physical strength and aggressive moves. So it is believed that Shien and Djem So both fall under the category of Form V, much like Juyo and Vaapad in Form VII, with Shien better at dealing with blaster bolts and Djem So better at blade-to-blade combat. It can be described as a mix of medieval swordmanship and kendo.
Form V was developed by a group of Jedi Masters who felt that Form III was too passive, while Form IV was not powerful enough. It addressed the shortcomings of both forms, in which a Jedi Master may have proved to be undefeatable but could not overcome the enemy. Among the many unique aspects of Form V was the development of techniques in which the lightsaber was used to deflect a blaster bolt directly back at the firer, deliberately to cause harm to the opponent.
Form V is a powerful style developed by Form III practitioners that preferred a more offensive angle. The defensive nature of Form III often leads to dangerously prolonged combat. This style came about from combining Forms II and III. Jedi Master Plo Koon, and Anakin Skywalker, both as himself and as Darth Vader, are all practitioners of Form V. Jedi Master Agen Kolar may possibly have been a Form V practitioner since he favored aggressive negotiations. Luke Skywalker's use of Form V is probably as much instinctive as trained, as he was trained as a Jedi by both Obi-Wan Kenobi (Forms III and IV) and Yoda (Form IV). However, Luke's particular form of lightsaber combat may in the end be something entirely new, with traces of Forms III, IV and V mixed together with his own personal styles. It is doubtful that Masters Kenobi and Yoda had time to actually teach him the finer points of the various forms. As with many other aspects of Jedi knighthood, Luke had to improvise and create new fighting styles to replace the ones lost during the Great Purge.
Embodying the perfection of the idea of counterattack, Form V maintains its existence through having sufficient defensive skills, as derived from Form III, but channeling defense into offense. 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. Also, it utilizes Form II's parries, allowing the user to parry the attempted attack, and counter it.
Form V is also different from Form III in the fact that Form V practictioners believe that the best defense is a good offense. It has already been observed that Form III users simply deflect blaster bolts and parry lightsaber attacks until the opponent makes a fatal mistake. Form V practitioners take the near impenetrable defenses of Form III and press the assault, using wide, sweeping blows in an attempt to overwhelm the opponent with brute strength.
However, where Form II concentrated on precise and elegant parries, Form V permits the user to actually fully block and repel attacks since it calls for the use of more brute, Force-enhanced strength. This is evident in Revenge of the Sith when Dooku takes a swing at Anakin and Anakin not only blocks it, but pushes Dooku back with overwhelming strength. Also, in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, we see how Form V can be used to physically bully an opponent. In a rage, Vader continuously locked sabers with Luke only to throw him back and press his assault. The same happened in the second duel as Luke forced Vader back with his onslaught of physical strength. In addition, it is mentioned in the novel Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader that during their duel on Murkhana, Vader cut off Bol Chatak's arm and then slew her after "simply beat[ing] her into submission." This also indicates usage of Form V.
A dedication to the power and strength necessary to defeat an enemy characterizes the philosophy of Form V, which some Jedi describe by the maxim "peace through superior firepower." To some Jedi Knights, Form V represents a worthy discipline prepared for any threat; to others, Form V seems to foster an inappropriate focus on dominating others. The aggressive philosophy of Form V is the source of many a Jedi's disapproval.
With the offensive but refined movements of Form II and the highly defensive postures of Form III, Form V has been proven to be a highly effective style. Both Form V and VII call for its user to use emotion to enhance their strength. Form V users can best be described as bold, powerful, fearless and confident. They are unafraid to let their emotions rule them and contribute to the fight, though they are wary of falling to the dark side. A master Form V stylist will be able to pull back from the abyss of the dark side, as Luke Skywalker did when he defeated Vader, though that does not always happen.
In the game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords, Jedi Master Vrook teaches the Jedi Exile Shien if the Exile is a Jedi Guardian, a Jedi Sentinel, or the advanced forms of either.
According to Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith The Visual Dictionary, Aayla Secura knows about Djem So as well. It is highly possible that Cin Drallig was also a practitioner of this form, as in the "Revenge of the Sith" video game he uses attacks and stances similar to Anakin's.
Form VI: Niman
Niman 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 Episode II: Attack of the Clones, when all of the Jedi using Form VI are killed in the Battle of Geonosis, including Coleman Trebor, whose technique could not defend against Jango Fett's masterfully placed blaster shots.
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 areas of lightsaber combat is only moderate, making Form VI well -suited for diplomats and consulars, as they can spend their time training in the areas of politics, negotiation and Force mastery instead of combat training. It can be affectionately referred to and known as a sort of "Jack of All Trades" form, with mastery of no one aspect of combat, but competency in all.
This was one of the most advanced of the seven primary forms of lightsaber combat developed by the Jedi Knights of the Old Republic. At the time of the Battle of Geonosis, Form VI was the standard in Jedi fighting techniques, emphasizing the use of techniques from Forms I, III, IV, and V in overall moderation.
Many Jedi skilled in Form VI techniques had already spent at least ten years studying the other four Forms, an aspect that many Masters felt was too demanding of the Jedi's time in regards to its benefits on the battlefield.
There is, however, one saving grace to this form not mentioned above. Niman is the stepping stone to the dual lightsaber form, known as Jar'Kai. No one who has successfully mastered Jar'Kai has done so without first mastering Niman.
In Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith The Visual Dictionary, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi is depicted posed in a Niman ready stance.
Form VII: Juyo / Vaapad (Although not mastered)
In the Jedi world, Form VII was an oddity for millennia. It was modified by Jedi Master Mace Windu, who used it to create his Vaapad fighting style. The most challenging and demanding of all forms, Form VII requires intense focus, high levels of skill, and mastery of other forms. Form VII is without question the rarest form, and only two Jedi have ever mastered Vaapad fully: Mace Windu and his Padawan, Depa Billaba. Sora Bulq, who instructed Quinlan Vos in a few of its basics, never fully mastered Vaapad; Mace Windu stated that Sora knew "almost as much as him". As stated in Star Wars Insider, Darth Maul was trained in Form VII combat as well.
However, Vaapad borders on the edge of using the dark side, as it channels one's anger and darkness into the attack� it may be related to Japanese shinkengata [1]. Only Windu's mastery and concentration of the light side prevents him from succumbing, which is why Vaapad is rarely practiced and very dangerous. The only two other known practitioners of Vaapad, Sora Bulq and Depa Billaba, both fell to the dark side of the Force, unable to maintain control over their emotions. Many believed Plo Koon could master Form VII, but he believed that it was too dangerous so he took on Form V instead.
Vaapad goes beyond being a fighting style as it becomes a state of mind and a power. The state of mind requires that a user of Vaapad be allowed to enjoy the fight and be given over to the thrill of battle and the thrill of victory.
The power of Vaapad is simple: it is a channel for one's inner darkness; and it is a reflecting device. With strict control, a person's own emotions and inner darkness can be changed into a weapon of the light. Vaapad is able to take the hatred, anger and rage of the opponent and reflect it back at him. In his fight with Palpatine, Mace Windu used Palpatine's own speed and hatred against him, reflecting it back against the Sith Lord and using it as his own power. Vaapad is at once a form of lightsaber combat, a state of mind, and an actual tangible power. To use it required great mastery, discipline and, above all else, purity of heart and spirit. Vaapad users are intense, focused, and introverted; there are even signs of pent-up hostility in them.
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. The staccato swings and flow of the form make it seem as if the attacks are not linked�but in reality, it is merely confusing the opponent. The sword techniques of this art are very practical, using "battlefield" philosophy; kill, move on.
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.
Only through the learning of several other forms could a Jedi began to understand Form VII, being the most demanding combat style. It involved so much physical combat ability that its training brings a Jedi very close to the Dark Side of the Force. To master Form VII, a Jedi had to employ bold movements and be more kinetic than in any other form. Form VII employed the use of overwhelming power directed through unconnected, precise movements that kept an opponent continually off-guard.
In KOTOR 2, which takes place about 4,000 years before the Clone Wars, the Jedi Exile could learn Juyo from Master Kavar if a Guardian, Weapon Master, or Marauder. This shows that Form VII was already an effective form for millennia before Mace Windu completed it with Vaapad.
Darth Maul, master of Form VII, battles Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Enlarge
Darth Maul, master of Form VII, battles Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
In the novel Star Wars: Shatterpoint, Mace Windu indicated that part of Depa Billaba's Vaapad blade work has even surpassed Mace Windu himself and the Vaapad he created and used.
Another variation of Juyo is used by Master Cin Drallig in the Revenge of the Sith Video Game, whose personal style takes the extremely high speed at which Juyo operates and takes it to a Vaapad-like level without losing the power of normal Juyo.
Form VIII: Sokan
Developed by the ancient Jedi Knights during the Great Sith War, Sokan combines tactics that allow for evasion and mobility with the kinetic motions of Form IV combat. Sokan involves swift strokes of the lightsaber aimed towards the opponent's vital areas in addition to quick tumbles and movements. Combatants make use of large amounts of terrain, trying to maneuver their opponents into vulnerable areas during the course of battle.
Form IX: Shien
This variation of Djem-So uniquely involves a Jedi holding the lightsaber horizontally. The Jedi points the end of the blade at the opponent; it is swung in a fast arc while the Jedi punches his saber-hand at his opposing combatant, in a stabbing motion. Mace Windu used this in the arrest against Palpatine. Adi Gallia uses a personal variation of this form, holding her saber vertically instead of horizontally, almost as if this form is aiding the combat of others. In Return of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker is shown to use this form briefly while engaging Vader from underneath the stairs of the Emperor's throne room, after being taunted into attacking by Vader's comments about turning his sister to the Dark Side.
Form X: Jar'Kai
The dual saber style of Jar'Kai permits a Jedi to fight with two lightsabers, one in each hand, as seen in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones by Anakin Skywalker. One of the blades in the wielder's hands is used for attacking while the other one is used for defending, such as parrying, or for more offensive power. Often, the Jedi wields a short lightsaber (very rarely referred to as a "lightdagger") as a main-gauche instead of a normal lightsaber to gain more balance. This technique was probably inspired by the Japanese art of Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu. In the book Yoda Dark Rendezvous, Master Maruk says those who practice dual sword wield have a tendency to rely too deeply on their swords. Jar'Kai was first used by Xendor and the Letto Legions for the obvious reason that two blades would be more aggressive. Its name, Niman is even inspired by the triumvirate of Kashi gods of Xendor's old human planet Kashi. Many Jedi train to use the Niman style in the hopes of gaining a basic knowledge of the dual-bladed attack, but very few Jedi ever totally master Jar'Kai. Count Dooku is seen occasionally using it. Serra Keto, Sora Bulq, Asajj Ventress, Komari Vosa, Darth Revan, A'Sharad Hett and Joclad Danva (who can be seen wielding two lightsabers in the background during the Battle of Geonosis), the Dark Jedi Boc and the Emperor's Hand Jeng Droga are all practitioners of Jar'Kai. Niman is the stepping stone to dual saber mastery, and no one has ever fully learned Form X without first mastering Form VI.
Masters and Mestre
Force powers
Force Lightning/Sith Lightning - This power was first portrayed by Emperor Palpatine in Return of the Jedi. Force Lightning is a purely energy-based specialty attack of the Sith. Force energy, in the form of lightning bolts exits the Force-user's body through their fingertips. The greater the user's aptitude, the more power the lightning bolts possess and the more they fork, allowing the possibility of striking multiple foes at once. In certain Star Wars computer games, Force Lightning is even capable of draining the energy of the opponent, preventing him from accessing his own Force abilities. Force Lightning is often used as a form of torture; not only does it cause severe physical damage, but also extreme agony to the victim. However, a single powerful blast may be sufficient to kill a person instantly. Although Force Lightning is a potent ability, it can be countered by the Light Side power Dissipate Energy. In Episode III, Force Lightning appears to deform Palpatine's face, leading some to belive that the power harms the user as well, but this view is controversial. It is thought by some that Sidious' physical appearance as Chancellor Palpatine was an illusion created with Force energy, and that the lightning merely melted the illusion away. Another possibility may be that the lightning was reflected back upon him by Mace Windu's lightsaber, causing this result.
* Chain Lightning - This variant of Force Lightning is different in that now the target is one and there is a chance that the lightning will move to another person. It appears only in the Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith video game, and curiously is used by Kyle Katarn and Mara Jade who belong to the Light Side.
* Emerald Lightning (disputed as Dark-side power) - This is a variation of Force Lightning used by Luke Skywalker in "The Unifying Force" against the Yuuzahn Vong Slayers. It is identical to regular Force Lightning except for the fact that it is emerald green in appearance.
Life creation and biological immortality (disputed) - According to Darth Sidious in Episode III, Darth Plagueis the Wise had "such a mastery of the Force he could create life itself." He could also use this power to sustain his own biological life from the ravages of aging. There is no dispute that Sidious claims this as a Sith Lord power (requiring sufficient wisdom and mastery); the dispute is whether Sidious was speaking truthfully that his master, Darth Plagueis, actually possessed this power, or whether Sidious lied in order to seduce Anakin to the Dark Side. If Darth Plagueis did have this power, many EU sources have suggested it is possible Plagueis created Anakin in this fashion in the womb of Shmi Skywalker, and that Sidious was aware of Anakin's conception. This would explain how Anakin could have been born of a virgin, how Anakin had the highest midichlorian count ever recorded, and how and why Sidious/Palpatine took an interest in the boy the moment they met. While Sidious admits he does not have this power (and it is hard to imagine that Sidious would kill his master without first learning the secret), the extreme longevity of Sidious, far surpassing all normal humans, may very well be the result of at least partial mastery of this power. If this ability does exist, as some Expanded Universe material implies, it is the only Sith Lord ability and Dark Side power that is arguably "good", and can result in positive consequences, as it can be used to keep "those [the Sith Lord] cared about" from dying (if indeed a Sith Lord is capable of caring for anyone). If this power is real, it is ironic that the Dark Side of the Force, so often used to take life, can be used to both create life and sustain it. According to Sidious, Darth Plagueis was the only Sith Lord with the wisdom and knowledge and mastery and power to actually (fully) master this ability (although Sidious' extreme longetivity maybe due to an incomplete mastery).
Dissipate Energy (or Absorb)- The ability to disperse Force energy, and to even absorb or redirect it. A trained Jedi may contain the energy of all kinds of Force attacks used against them. As the energy used to perform Force-related powers is limited, a Jedi can use the enemy's attacks to their own benefit, instead of receiving damage from them. In Attack of the Clones, Obi-Wan used this to contain Count Dooku's Lightning with his lightsaber. Mace Windu did a similar thing, only that he redirected the lightning against Darth Sidious. Yoda is so skilled with the Force that he uses his palms to absorb dark lightning, as he did in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.
Lightsaber Forms;
Form VII: Juyo / Vaapad (Mastered)
In the Jedi world, Form VII was an oddity for millennia. It was modified by Jedi Master Mace Windu, who used it to create his Vaapad fighting style. The most challenging and demanding of all forms, Form VII requires intense focus, high levels of skill, and mastery of other forms. Form VII is without question the rarest form, and only two Jedi have ever mastered Vaapad fully: Mace Windu and his Padawan, Depa Billaba. Sora Bulq, who instructed Quinlan Vos in a few of its basics, never fully mastered Vaapad; Mace Windu stated that Sora knew "almost as much as him". As stated in Star Wars Insider, Darth Maul was trained in Form VII combat as well.
However, Vaapad borders on the edge of using the dark side, as it channels one's anger and darkness into the attack� it may be related to Japanese shinkengata [1]. Only Windu's mastery and concentration of the light side prevents him from succumbing, which is why Vaapad is rarely practiced and very dangerous. The only two other known practitioners of Vaapad, Sora Bulq and Depa Billaba, both fell to the dark side of the Force, unable to maintain control over their emotions. Many believed Plo Koon could master Form VII, but he believed that it was too dangerous so he took on Form V instead.
Vaapad goes beyond being a fighting style as it becomes a state of mind and a power. The state of mind requires that a user of Vaapad be allowed to enjoy the fight and be given over to the thrill of battle and the thrill of victory.
The power of Vaapad is simple: it is a channel for one's inner darkness; and it is a reflecting device. With strict control, a person's own emotions and inner darkness can be changed into a weapon of the light. Vaapad is able to take the hatred, anger and rage of the opponent and reflect it back at him. In his fight with Palpatine, Mace Windu used Palpatine's own speed and hatred against him, reflecting it back against the Sith Lord and using it as his own power. Vaapad is at once a form of lightsaber combat, a state of mind, and an actual tangible power. To use it required great mastery, discipline and, above all else, purity of heart and spirit. Vaapad users are intense, focused, and introverted; there are even signs of pent-up hostility in them.
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. The staccato swings and flow of the form make it seem as if the attacks are not linked�but in reality, it is merely confusing the opponent. The sword techniques of this art are very practical, using "battlefield" philosophy; kill, move on.
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.
Only through the learning of several other forms could a Jedi began to understand Form VII, being the most demanding combat style. It involved so much physical combat ability that its training brings a Jedi very close to the Dark Side of the Force. To master Form VII, a Jedi had to employ bold movements and be more kinetic than in any other form. Form VII employed the use of overwhelming power directed through unconnected, precise movements that kept an opponent continually off-guard.
In KOTOR 2, which takes place about 4,000 years before the Clone Wars, the Jedi Exile could learn Juyo from Master Kavar if a Guardian, Weapon Master, or Marauder. This shows that Form VII was already an effective form for millennia before Mace Windu completed it with Vaapad.
Darth Maul, master of Form VII, battles Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Enlarge
Darth Maul, master of Form VII, battles Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
In the novel Star Wars: Shatterpoint, Mace Windu indicated that part of Depa Billaba's Vaapad blade work has even surpassed Mace Windu himself and the Vaapad he created and used.
Another variation of Juyo is used by Master Cin Drallig in the Revenge of the Sith Video Game, whose personal style takes the extremely high speed at which Juyo operates and takes it to a Vaapad-like level without losing the power of normal Juyo.
Stances
Stances
All strength and propulsion in the martial arts starts in the feet. The stance is important in fighting, as it not only provides balance but also the energy to be placed into an attack. It is the basis upon which all lightsaber combat is placed. It involves footwork, the alignment of the legs and torso, the straightening of the back, and the loosening of the arms so that they can snap into the desired position. Keys to good stances include: allowing the dominant foot to be the main source of propulsion, keeping the knees bent, keeping the back straight, and constant, calm breathing.
The Stance Grid:
Rear Center Forward
Aggressive: Aggressive Back Aggressive Neutral Aggressive Forward
Neutral: Neutral Back Jedi Ready Neutral Forward
Defensive: Defensive Back Defensive Neutral Defensive Forward
Stances in italics are extrapolations based upon the foundations of sword stances. Only those stances seen in the movies and television series are described here.
Jedi Ready
The most basic of all Jedi stances - also called "basic neutral" - this one employs stepping back with the dominant foot and drawing the lightsaber so that it is parrying on the dominant side. Weight is distributed evenly between the feet. It is natural that the dominant shoulder be rolled slightly back. The hilt of the lightsaber is held down level with the waist with the tip of the lightsaber pointed at or slightly over the head of the target. This stance is similar to the chūdan-no-kamae in kendo, except in the kendo form you step forward with the dominant foot as you draw the blade. This is evidence of the Jedi only using lightsabers as a matter of defense of themselves and others, whereas in kendo the purpose is for attack.
In Episode I, Obi-Wan Kenobi always used this stance when drawing his lightsaber, and hastily moved into it as well. This shows how undisciplined he was as a padawan. His feet shifted oddly so that his rear foot was not in a straight line pointing forward, his back was hunched forward (this reduces both balance as well as the flow of energy to-and-from the internal organs), and he held the point of his lightsaber so high that it partially obscured his vision. It is possible he is attempting an aggressive forward stance. By Episode II, he has changed more so into his former master's style.
Neutral Forward
Very similar to Jedi ready, except that the dominant foot is forward - identical to chūdan-no-kamae - with the lightsaber hilt close to the waist, the blade pointed to the enemy. Slightly more weight is on the front foot than the rear, which means that the dominant leg is still the one that propels the attack.
Anakin uses this stance in Episode II. He centers himself by setting his stance and swinging his blade slowly from behind his back, over his head, down centerline of his body, and settling the lightsaber in place.
Defensive Neutral
A good defensive posture, defensive neutral is ready for any occurrence but is also non-threatening. The dominant foot is drawn back and pointed approximately forty-five degrees out to the side. Approximately sixty-percent of the weight is on the back foot. The dominant shoulder is rolled back as the blade is drawn. The lightsaber is held vertically next to that side of the head, in the pocket created by the shoulder. This form is almost identical to the hassō-no-kamae stance found in kendo.
In Episode I, Qui-Gon Jinn uses this stance when drawing his lightsaber. His form is almost flawless, showing the years of training and discipline spent acquiring his skill. He holds his lightsaber back in such a fashion that his eyes are able to scan a wide forward arc, looking for targets and watching attacks. With his long legs, he is able to hold his feet wide, ready to spring forward at a moment's notice. In Episode II, Obi-wan has followed in his master's footsteps and picked up this stance, and in Episode III when he is fighting Anakin just before Anakin jumps on to the same platform you see Obi-Wan using the stance.
Defensive Back
The best defensive posture in sword combat, defensive back is difficult to penetrate, but also difficult to launch an effective attack from. The hilt of the blade is rasied high towards the face, the point of the blade pointed diagonally down at the ground. From this position slashing strikes aimed at the torso can be easily blocked, and stabbing strikes can be quickly parried with wide, sweeping moves from which the defender can quickly move forward into a better stance. Another advantage of this stance is that the blade can be quickly swung all the way around the torso to block attacks from all directions. This is similar to the "Ox" and "Hanging guard" positions of the medieval longsword.
In Star Wars: Clone Wars, Anakin Skywalker assumes a very flashy form of this stance after he and Obi-Wan Kenobi dispatch an entire squad of droids in Chapter 2.
Aggressive Neutral
A very threatening stance similar to the Jedi ready stance. This involves standing with more of the weight on the front foot rather than the rear. The arms are held so that the hilt of the lightsaber is in line with the solar plexus, and the point of the lightsaber is directed at the target's head. The distance from the body to the lightsaber is greater than most stances. This form is not very useful in conventional combat, but is very deadly in lightsaber-on-lightsaber combat. Darth Sidious uses this when he is fighting Mace Windu.
Combined with the elegant, flowing, and swift motions of Form II, this stance allows Count Dooku to keep his guard up while pressing the attack. Even when facing an Anakin Skywalker armed with two lightsabers, he is able to gain an advantage by keeping his enemy at arm's length.
Aggressive Back
A more radical stance than most, aggressive back is a low posture from which a swift attack can be launched. The back foot is pointed out almost ninety-degrees from the body and is holding over eighty-percent of the weight. The front foot is extended forward, almost straight. The lightsaber is held on the dominant side, right beside the head, its blade facing directly forward. Like aggressive neutral, this stance is only useful for taking on a single enemy armed with a lightsaber, especially since it obstructs view of the right side of the body.
This is Obi-wan's stance from Episode III. He uses it mainly in facing General Greivous, alternating at times with aggressive neutral. This leaves him open to attack from surrounding droids, but he realizes that danger is minute in scope to giving Grievous one inch of advantage. Darth Sidious also uses this stance often during his fights against Masters Windu and Yoda.
Aggressive Forward
This stance is fairly simple, and involes holding the lightsaber above the user's head, with the blade facing behind them. It allows the user to easily block a high attack or start a strong downward slash.
This stance is used by Darth Sidious at the beginning of his fight with Yoda. During their duel on Geonosis, Darth Tyranus and Anakin Skywalker also use this stance.
Body Zones
The body is sectioned off into "zones", areas to describe a location of an offensive or defensive move, called an attack or a parry, respectively. For example, the move Attack 3 can only be defended against by Parry 3: as the opponent attempts to strike the left side, the defender blocks to the left, parrying his blow.
The Body Zones:
* Zone 1: Head - Strikes made to the right and left sides of the neck are said to be in zones 2 and 3, respectively.
* Zone 2: Right arm and side
* Zone 3: Left arm and side
* Zone 4: Back
* Zone 5: Right leg
* Zone 6: Left leg
Examples of Attacks and Parries:
Attack 1: A simple, over-the-head strike at an opponent's head. Though not practiced much in combat training, it is a general move performed over and over to practice form and stance.
Parry 1: A block where the defender shifts his stance back slightly, and then holds his lightsaber up horizontal above his head. Whether the hilt is to the right or the left determines how the defender wishes to press his following attack.
Attack 2/3 Combo: This is a rushing attack where the lightsaber is swung from one shoulder to the opposite hip, brought back up behind the back, and swung down from the opposite shoulder to hip. This X-shaped attack is useful for keeping an enemy busy blocking and unable to counterattack.
Parry 2/3 Combo: A natural defense to the Attack 2/3 combo. The blade is lowered to the hip and brought up diagonally to intercept the opponent's blow. As soon as the lightsabers are no longer making contact, the blade is lowered to the opposite hip and the move is repeated. Jedi can get locked in this combo during a velocity, and it is common to see the attack-parry combo continue to get faster and faster, until either attacker or defender gets the upper hand in speed and can press the attack or counterattack.
