Power or finess

[Redeye the jedi]

Just wondering what this will bring

[Illyiss]

Both will serve you better than one or the other...  Also depends on application and style.  Form 2, for instance relies more on finesse, while form 5 is power.  In the end, it's the skill, execution, endurance, and if all things are equal, luck.

[KalSaj]

I agree with Illyiss overall, both are preferable (and impossible to only have one, I'd argue) but then there is the question of the ratio. In a game of near-100% finesse vs near-100% power, my money is on finesse (speaking from martial arts experience). 75% finesse/25% power vs 25% finesse/75% power...that's a tough one. I'd go with power as a "good enough" sort of thing, but maybe not. If they are about equal (60/40 vs 40/60), money is on the guy with 60% power as I suspect that fight would come down to endurance.

[Illyiss]

I think it needs to vary, in the moment.  When dealing with lightsabers, any contact to the opponent wounds or kills, as the nature of the plasma blade doesn't require force to cut, unlike a traditional blade.  So finesse can go a long, long way to scoring more light hits.  Finesse, applied well can even generate momentum, which will carry the plasma through a cut.  Strength comes into play when parrying, blocking, and powering through parries and blocks, as well as generating momentum in a hurry.  As far as momentum with finesse versus strength, think nunchucks (finesse) versus a one inch punch (strength).  Force will always be mass times acceleration, the only difference is how you achieve that acceleration.  Also, finesse is easier (overall, up to the point it can be managed with strength) to adjust and re-direct then pure strength power movements.  So, there has to be a constantly changing ratio of power and finesse, through strength, properly cultivated and applied will advance BOTH aspects.  So again, it comes down to skill and application, with the wild card of luck thrown in.

[KalSaj]

I think it needs to vary, in the moment [...]  it comes down to skill and application, with the wild card of luck thrown in.

Very true, but that doesn't necessarily help us make a "decision", does it haha. For these theoretical scenarios (and perhaps I should've led with this), I like to imagine you perfectly copy a fighter then tweak his stats a bit. Same skill level, same proficiency, just ONE thing is different. In this case, the balance of finesse and strength. At some point you gotta start isolating variables or the answer to every question becomes: "depends" haha.

[Illyiss]

At some point you gotta start isolating variables or the answer to every question becomes: "depends" haha.

“Luke, you’re going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view.”   

[Redeye the jedi]

I feel myself ,that technique is the most import focal point ,,,,technique and muscle memory ,,your finess will be honed through thorough patience and practice ,your power will be defined by your persistence of both technique and focus bringing your technique to power ,this is a way of life not a hobby.............mtfllap and msibty

[wandering-seeker]

Personally I've always tended towards finesse. I'm not a big guy and though I'm stronger than I look, I can never hope to match the power of the people I tend to be fighting. Finesse allows a smaller fighter to find the gaps in a stronger opponents fighting form, which inevitably leads to the contacts necessary for victory.

[Illyiss]

Personally I've always tended towards finesse. I'm not a big guy and though I'm stronger than I look, I can never hope to match the power of the people I tend to be fighting. Finesse allows a smaller fighter to find the gaps in a stronger opponents fighting form, which inevitably leads to the contacts necessary for victory.

Power does not come only from strength.  Momentum, leverage, and weight can all play a part, individually and in combinations to generate power.  That said, finesse can be more artfully applied than power...

[Cosmoline]

I agree they're both critical.  In my own training, one enters combat relaxed, with a smile.  We're told to use the Fulen to respond to pressure one way or the other.  Strong to weak, weak to strong. The key is to remain in full control of the weapon at all times, and to stay one step ahead of your foe so you can hit first.   Vor-indes-nach, schwach und starke. 

Power does not come only from strength.

Indeed, true power seems to come most from proper body position and cutting dynamics.  A crude swing with biceps generates far less impact than a true time cut with the force of the entire body behind it.  At least my head feels that way after getting hit by folks who know what they're doing ;-)

[Redeye the jedi]

First of all thanks for all the insight ,,after all knowlege is power,..I find that strength is summoned through the focus of the technique and skill ,hence your technique ,,blocking ,parry,flexibility,you have to know your limits and attemp to persevere past to the next level ,,constant disapline ,and of coarse it helps to have a sparring partner, multiple actually so you get used to fighting multiple techniques allowing to to adapt and be capable everyone fights differently it's nice to be prepared as it makes you stronger in form and mind

[Master Nero Attoru]

In application, you need both.  In training, finesse should come first - one of the best training mantras I've encountered is "slow is smooth, smooth is fast."  You train technique first, and when you have your foundation built, you can begin to generate power to supplement it.