Seven Forms of Lightsaber Combat: A Discourse

[Master Uilos]

I'd like a tip on what saber form to switch to. In addition to Shii-Cho and basic Soresu, I've been using a slightly unrefined version of Djem So. Currently, I'm going through some health problems that have presented in my last few sparring matches. I actually got put on a cane today, which amuses the Hell out of me. It'll be a cold day on Tatooine before I let this affect my saber-work, though. What style would you recommend for someone with slight physical disabilities. I've got fibromyalgia and a weak heart; but I'm strong enough to dent a heavy grade blade when using a heavy grade blade. My instincts are also good enough to take on a master and last long enough to earn his respect. Nothing short of a direct hit to the throat, gut, groin, or head is going to put me down, either. Here I am. I think I should switch over to Shien as my main style and implement more Soresu into my swordplay. Any advice? Now I Just need to work on my lightsaber cane...

Hrrm, I would actually recommend Niman. It is balanced, more meditative and discipline oriented without over-doing it, and is based primarily on Soresu.

[InverseKnight]

Hrrm, I would actually recommend Niman. It is balanced, more meditative and discipline oriented without over-doing it, and is based primarily on Soresu.

I'd rather not have to trade in my entire personality, but you likely have a very good point. Discipline is to the Inverse Knight as Sanity is to Deadpool. I've completely discounted Ataru from the beginning; it just won't do. I don't now, nor will I ever have the energy to pull that style off. Makashi might actually be a good style, since that's what Sir Christopher Lee / Count Dooku used to compensate for his old age and mobility issues. But I'm going to do a lot of reading up on Niman, despite my general distaste for the form. It just leaves you without an advantage. I've got a bit of untrained Hiten Mitsurugi in me; I'm an Empath by nature, so I use that in my fights to gain the upper hand. Works in video games too. It's why I destroy humans but get destroyed by the computer. What I do (A Dark-Sided Version, to my Neutral/Light Version) was discussed by Scourge in the Revan Novel, as to why he has difficulty with Droids. Perhaps this'll give some more insight into my personality and fighting style (I'm not posting videos until I've trained enough to not be embarrassed - and I get a sparring partner who isn't a cockbite). Niman is a malleable form, though. I can probably do something with it. Any other advice will be welcome and appreciated.

In my last sparring match, I ended up not only driving my opponent into the corner, but into a very small space (between the fence and our house - about four feet apart - with the fence closed, so he was, for all intents and purposes, death-boxed) and then just kept pressing the attack and countering his strikes and sweeps until I was exhausted (weak heart) and he had nowhere to go. We fight informally, as to be safer, so when I struck him in the gut, and he in my back - we called it a tie. I'd have won if my damn heart and asthma hadn't taken over me. I had to go sit down with my inhaler a while. I owned that entire match against an opponent of better physical conditioning, but slightly less skill. I got tired, that's why I lost. Or tied. Loss = Tie. I don't like ties. I'd rather lose than tie. A tie teaches you nothing. Losing brings wisdom. I have the skill for Djem So, just not the physical capability to keep it up. This is where the damnable Force would come in handy.

Shii-Cho is, of course, my starting point. Makashi is a definite option, considering my disability, but I simply lack the grace; which can be worked on. I'm a Genius Bruiser, but I'm still a brute force and intuitive fighter. I doubt that's respected, but I fight with my heart and my instincts. Soresu will require me to practice my patience; while not my greatest virtue, it's been slowly getting better. Some meditation and some relaxation should help. Ataru is out, simply because I'm too hindered to use it. Shien and Djem So are completely subjective at this point. Niman is going to be my greatest asset, as of now. I refuse to study Juyo, on principal. I have my history with the Dark Sides. Before I was taken by my Master, I was a Sith Acolyte. Never again. It also presents the same energy depletion as Ataru, making it impractical.

After I get a basic mastery of Shii-Cho, I think I'm going to practice getting a basic understanding of every form(sans Ataru and Juyo) to add into my Niman. Using Shien and Soresu as my main points. Until I do something about my heart, I don't know how my body will handle Djem So (unless my skill outweighs my physical disabilities). The mental aspects are what get me. I'm a very "Id" like person. I'd love to be Luke, but I've got too much of his father in me. Again, any and all advice is appreciated greatly.

[Darth Nonymous]

I'd like a tip on what saber form to switch to. In addition to Shii-Cho and basic Soresu, I've been using a slightly unrefined version of Djem So. Currently, I'm going through some health problems that have presented in my last few sparring matches. I actually got put on a cane today, which amuses the Hell out of me. It'll be a cold day on Tatooine before I let this affect my saber-work, though. What style would you recommend for someone with slight physical disabilities. I've got fibromyalgia and a weak heart; but I'm strong enough to dent a heavy grade blade when using a heavy grade blade. My instincts are also good enough to take on a master and last long enough to earn his respect. Nothing short of a direct hit to the throat, gut, groin, or head is going to put me down, either. Here I am. I think I should switch over to Shien as my main style and implement more Soresu into my swordplay. Any advice? Now I Just need to work on my lightsaber cane...

As a health and fitness professional specializing in such populations, I do not recommend you do this by yourself. Find some sort of formal instruction in some martial art or physical activity. The issues you describe present particular challenges that you may over look .

Also, do not focus so much on the movies and such for forms. do what appeals to you and find your interpretation. We are trying to post videos that will give people basics to formulate this on their own at Terra Prime: http://www.youtube.com/user/TerraPrimeLightsaber?feature=guide. Things like "Niman gives no particular advantage" or "Such and such is weak against multiple opponents" works great for comic books and stuff like that, but in reality martial art doesn't work like that. None of these things really exist and the descriptions are based on mostly dramatic themes in media rather than sound fighting principles.

it's an open book really. Your limitations will make what you do unique even as you use it to improve those limitations. Just relax a bit and feel free to find your own form. I think Niman was suggested because it has a sampling of techniques from different forms (supposedly) but, Any of these forms, if they are truly separate arts would have all of the basics hard wired into them. That would be a great place to bring your own personality out.

The other issue is that this kind of stuff generally reveals it's self to the student. Experiment and find out what suits you best through doing.

[Stiletto]

I actually got put on a cane today, which amuses the Hell out of me... Now I Just need to work on my lightsaber cane...

Practicing cane spinning - just saying. I have direct experience with this

[InverseKnight]

As a health and fitness professional specializing in such populations, I do not recommend you do this by yourself. Find some sort of formal instruction in some martial art or physical activity. The issues you describe present particular challenges that you may over look .

Also, do not focus so much on the movies and such for forms. do what appeals to you and find your interpretation. We are trying to post videos that will give people basics to formulate this on their own at Terra Prime: http://www.youtube.com/user/TerraPrimeLightsaber?feature=guide. Things like "Niman gives no particular advantage" or "Such and such is weak against multiple opponents" works great for comic books and stuff like that, but in reality martial art doesn't work like that. None of these things really exist and the descriptions are based on mostly dramatic themes in media rather than sound fighting principles.

it's an open book really. Your limitations will make what you do unique even as you use it to improve those limitations. Just relax a bit and feel free to find your own form. I think Niman was suggested because it has a sampling of techniques from different forms (supposedly) but, Any of these forms, if they are truly separate arts would have all of the basics hard wired into them. That would be a great place to bring your own personality out.

The other issue is that this kind of stuff generally reveals it's self to the student. Experiment and find out what suits you best through doing.

All my swordsmanship is informal and self-taught, but my melee martial arts are (Muay Thai, Jui Jitsu, and American Boxing) all under instructors. I'm aware my health issues may cause detriment; but I'm not going to give up on martial arts. It's one of the few things that give me pleasure.

I use forms more as a guideline to help explain in simple form. I've taken a look at that, and when I'm get my strength back in a few days and rest a bit; I'll start getting my shell taken care of. Use those videos, follow my kata: train up. I'll head to gym when I get a stronger painkiller, too.

Understood, Master.

Yes, sir.

[Master VorNach]

Keeping all the information Master Nonymous has just presented to you in mind, the first thing off the top of my head I would you try first is Makashi. Much of the discussion here is that it is most closely related to fencing which , compared to the other Forms, involves much smaller, more controlled blade work and a bit less overall physical movement.

[Jedi_Grevan]

Wonderful, and very informative.....printing my copy now

[DravvenSol]

Yes. There is a difference between "bashing", "Criticizing" and "Critiquing". The first two are just tearing something down because you don't like it. Critiquing is looking, assessing, and explaining why, and for what it's worth, what you think could have been done better. I try very hard to attempt the third without slipping into the second and evade the first

Agreed. If something's amiss, solve/reconcile it. Criticizing and bashing never move from identifying a problem to resolving the matter (they're the do nots). Critiquing is the proactive option (the do).

[xango]

Congratulations Craig for this great essay, find it helpful and I am going to keep it for further study. I am a 4 year Iaido practitioner and I want (in the future after a lot of work) to do my own interpretation for lightsaber using Iaido styles and if possible a writen discourse like yours. English is not my first language so please be patient with my bad english =)

[Master Uilos]

Congratulations Craig for this great essay, find it helpful and I am going to keep it for further study. I am a 4 year Iaido practitioner and I want (in the future after a lot of work) to do my own interpretation for lightsaber using Iaido styles and if possible a writen discourse like yours. English is not my first language so please be patient with my bad english =)

It's quite fine Xango, your English is a lot better than some of the native speakers I know. Where are you from?

[xango]

Hi Craig, from Mexico, live in Yucatan where the asteroid strike =)

[Rina Ascura]

Quite informative. We at the Yavin IV Saberfighting Club don't try to reconstruct the seven forms, which is fitting, because we are supposed to be the early New Jedi Order before the rediscovery of the old forms. We're more or less into Fast/Medium/Strong. But perhaps when I'll grow to be a master, I'll give it a try and introduce Soresu into our little Outer Rim community.

[eerockk]

Hi Craig, from Mexico, live in Yucatan where the asteroid strike =)

Chixulub represent! I love the Yucatan; it's my favorite spot in Mexico.

[Xnyanc4tX]

I really like ataru because it looks good at night. I will buy a Dark Initiate v3 with sound soon.

[yudiminoursun]

This is great Craig, thanks for your hard work,
talk soon,
Sun