What are everyone's prefered forms of Saber Combat?

[Daven Vash]

Hey, all! I'm just wondering what everyone's favorite forms of Saber Combat are, and why. I'm really excited to see what everyone else prefers!

I personally prefer Ataru. This is most likely due to that fact that I have been free-running for the last seven years, or so, of my life. So, naturally, it's concept of using every plane of motion together, and constantly flowing from one maneuver to the next as the situation dictates allows me to utilize my free-running in combat.
Though, I lean more towards Soresu for defense, as it's more serene approach to combat lends an excellent compliment to my application of Ataru. This also allows me to overcome many of Ataru's short-comings in defense.

[eerockk]

I'm into Soresu as well for the sole fact that I don't like to get hit! Since I truly believe in the defensive-only aspect of saberfighting. I'm a Canadian - we don't have fair self-defense laws in this country; it's almost as if the law wants one to let one's self get pummeled in an attack, and then "trust" that the law will deal with the offender. We have to be "reasonable" with our use of self-defense techniques or the defender gets charged with assault as well. Seems a little open-ended for me.

That's why Soresu offers a means of effective self-defense, and means that I won't get pummeled, but won't have to pummel anyone in the process. I am truly a product of my environment!

[Kaiden Shardsbane]

My preferred method of saber combat at the moment involves me yelling "AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!" and running away as fast as possible.

In all seriousness, I like feinting attacks, grappling the other deulist's hilt, and swinging at their feet.  Not sure how that all comes together and what form to call it, because I'm not as up-to-snuff on my Saber Forms as I used to be.

[Master Bluespike74]

I haven't studied the 7 forms of lightsaber combat enough to say I am a certain form.  At the moment, I use techniques I have learned from Shaolin Kempo using Chuks and tried to modify them so that my saber moves mirror what my body is already trained to do. 

[Oramac]

it's almost as if the law wants one to let one's self get pummeled in an attack, and then "trust" that the law will deal with the offender. We have to be "reasonable" with our use of self-defense techniques or the defender gets charged with assault as well. Seems a little open-ended for me.

That sucks man.  Sorry to hear it's that bad.


As for me, conceptually I prefer Djem-So.  The measured relentless assault and finishing the fight quickly on my terms appeals to me. 

In practice, I'm probably some screwy combination of all 7, plus whatever random bits and pieces I've picked up from past experiences. 

[Master Nero Attoru]

As everyone knows... I'm a Makashi guy

[RevanChrist]

Seeing how I dont start Kendo class until Saturday,,I got nothing.
In a perfect world  Heavy on defense but when the opening presents it self to end it quickily and decisively. that opportunity is taken without hesitation or remorse.

[4stringjedi]

Shii-Cho as always spoken to me for some reason, I like to keep it simple. Then again I appreciate all the 7 forms for different reasons.. Maybe I'm a Niman guy..

[Daven Vash]

I'm a Canadian - we don't have fair self-defense laws in this country; it's almost as if the law wants one to let one's self get pummeled in an attack, and then "trust" that the law will deal with the offender.

This makes perfect sense, as to why you would lean towards Soresu's more defensive (but not passive) approach to combat. We do what we know, I suppose. lol

Though that does really suck...

I like feinting attacks, grappling the other deulist's hilt, and swinging at their feet.

Honestly, that sounds (at least conceptually) like a very aggressive Shien, to me. "Sith Shien," perhaps? : p

Though there's nothing wrong with running when your in a losing situation. lol

As for me, conceptually I prefer Djem-So.  The measured relentless assault and finishing the fight quickly on my terms appeals to me. 

In practice, I'm probably some screwy combination of all 7, plus whatever random bits and pieces I've picked up from past experiences. 

Honestly, that way I see it, we all lean to one philosophy of and set of techniques, but incorporate the parts of other forms that appeal to us.

Like I said, I prefer an Ataru-Shien mix, but I also incorporate the occasional Shii-Cho swing, or Makashi thrust, if the situation calls for just such a move. : )

As everyone knows... I'm a Makashi guy

That's because of your background in Fencing, correct?

In a perfect world  Heavy on defense but when the opening presents it self to end it quickily and decisively. that opportunity is taken without hesitation or remorse.

That actually sounds like Soresu to me, with the emphasis being placed less on defending until your opponent is tired, and more on patience and waiting for the right opening to end the fight quickly and decisively.

Shii-Cho as always spoken to me for some reason, I like to keep it simple. Then again I appreciate all the 7 forms for different reasons.. Maybe I'm a Niman guy..

Shii-Cho is an excellent form, all on it's own, and isn't appreciated by enough people if you ask me. : )

I also appreciate all seven forms' philosophies, and the applications of the ones I feel I understand well enough, and I will occasionally use all of them. What makes me an Ataru user, I feel, is the fact that it's techniques and philosophy are what drive my dueling. I simply sprinkle a bit of everything else on top of it.

I hope that makes sense. : )

[Daven Vash]

So far, it seems like there's a good variety of different preferences of styles. As opposed to what seems to be occurring amongst the people I train with. Most of them seem to either prefer Djem-So or Shii-Cho. Which is fine, but you get tired of fighting a bunch of people that all take the same two approaches to combat...

[eerockk]

This makes perfect sense, as to why you would lean towards Soresu's more defensive (but not passive) approach to combat. We do what we know, I suppose. lol

Though that does really suck...

Not that I'd go out of my way to injure an attacker, but yeah, a re-examination of these self-defense laws are in order.

[digitalsithlord]

I will have to go with Form II (Makashi)  I just prefer the single hand dueling approach....

[Daven Vash]

Not that I'd go out of my way to injure an attacker, but yeah, a re-examination of these self-defense laws are in order.

I never meant to imply that you would, I was just agreeing that since that's what you're used to it makes perfect sense that you would lean towards the form that most closely resembles that "passive" approach to fighting. Of course Soresu may appear passive, but it is anything but. : p

[Daven Vash]

I will have to go with Form II (Makashi)  I just prefer the single hand dueling approach....

As do I, actually. But ,as I've said before, Ataru's philosophical approach to combat most appeals to me. I just take a mostly one-handed approach to it. : )

[Master Nero Attoru]

That's because of your background in Fencing, correct?

Yup!  Ten years of fencing means I pretty much use Makashi by default.  If I had to use another style though, I'd go with Djem So.

I will have to go with Form II (Makashi)  I just prefer the single hand dueling approach....

Just keep in mind that Makashi isn't the only Form to use a single hand.  You could essentially perform any of them with a single hand - point in case being Master VorNach's video demonstrating single handed Djem So.