Saber Forum

How does one determine what form is best for them? Is there a saber mater that could point me in the right direction or offer any pointers?

I suggest checking out the Terra Prime Lightsaber Academy series of the 7 Forms of Lightsaber Combat.  Try the forms that they demonstrate and see which ones you like and which ones feel best. 

As a practitioner of Kempo, I am taught to study 5 animals:  Snake, Crane, Tiger, Dragon, and Leopard.  Of these 5, I found that I like Tiger techniques best as they are up close and power based.  I would not have learned this about myself if I did not try all 5.

Give the 7 that they demonstrate and try and you may surprise yourself on the ones that you like. 

The question is, how do you prefer to take on an opponent? Do you go head in and bombard them with attacks? Use Precision strikes and stabs? prefer defense? use high energy attacks? trap and control opponents attacks? A controlled blending of those? Or do you prefer vicious fighting?

I would say that I am more of a control person. 

This is a key question.  How you instinctively react in a duel gives you an idea of what Form suits you the most.  An aggressive swordsman might find Ataru or Djem So are more their forte, whereas a more passive one might feel comfortable in Soresu.  It's all about how you approach the combat situation... trying to pick a Form that doesn't fit you will just frustrate you IMHO.

Bluespike had a good suggestion too - check out some of the Terra Prime stuff on this forum.  Master Nonymous does a good job demonstrating different styles, and keeps putting out more and more helpful instruction for people willing to learn... like you!

That sounds like Form V: Djem So and Shien. Shien is more focused on redirecting group attacks with mobility and footwork. Djem So is more duelist focused, and relies on power and dominating the blade of the other wielder.

True enough, although Makashi is a control based form as well.  They seem to both go for that goal, but with different methods - one being domination while the other being guile.

Touche', but I think we're both biased to our respective dueling styles :P. Makashi seems more focused on controlling one's own self, and therefore making your opponent dance to your tune. Where Djem So is controlling the opponent through sheer force of strength.

I really seem to like djem-so. Definitely going to practice some more and make sure it's right for me!

I started with Shii-Cho, and I really like it. But being a more passive person myself (despite what I've been through), so Soresu is my style.

Thanks for the analysis.  Domination is definitely something more my style as I like to be the one in control.

I'm the same way, I don't like to wait around for someone else to make the move and then having to adapt according to them.

That's a good way to describe it.  Djem So is another favorite of mine, probably second to Makashi.  It's funny because they have such different methods that you would think they're incompatible, but I've found I can utilize them both fairly well.  I'd like to work on a kind of blend of the two sometime, but it's something I haven't really had much time to develop yet.


Nice.  I would personally recommend starting with Shii-Cho to learn the basics, especially if you don't have a background in swordsmanship.  You can move onto Djem So after that - and there may well be even more material on that Form by then!

You feel it... I've actually been looking to un-form myself and seek what I'm calling natural action. I'm probably Makashi if I had to quantify it, using mostly single hand stuff with my most commonly used saber, but I find the form changes some based on my weapons, my opponent, my opponent's weapons, terrain, and a few other considerations.

What he said.
Shii-Cho gives you a good grounding in the basics and it also transitions into Djem So very easily.