Shii-Cho Basic strike tutorial.

[Master VorNach]

VorNach is an accomplished German Longsword player. This technique exists in that tradition. I do not remember what it is called, I will let him answer that one.

If I'm understanding the question correctly this is zornhau.

I have been looking at the footwork. Why are the first Sai strikes performed with feet advancing from the side the attack is coming from while the Sun Djem strikes have the opposite foot leading the direction of the attack?

I have been also studying German Longsword lately and that may be coloring my thoughts

Let me set this out and see if I understand the question.
The Sai strikes at the beginning of the form are effectively a Chinese version of the classic zornhau.

If you are standing in vom tag with your right foot back, (presuming you are right handed) as you begin your cut you either pass forward or triangle step forward with your right foot, cutting down through alber to finish in weschel or nebenhut (which is roughly the finishing point for the sai strike in the form).

The closest analogy I can come up with fight now for the sun djem sequence is to try this: starting in weschel with your right leg forward. Throw zwerchau (to finish in ochs on the right) as you take a wide advance to the right with your right foot. Throw zwerchau to the left but don't rotate your arms, you should end up cutting with the long edge, as you take a wide standard step to the left.

I'll try and get a short video clip together to show what I'm talking about, if we don't answer this sufficiently in the next few days.

There are some differences in how the German style executes these techniques as presented in Master Nonymous's tutorial but the foundation principles are the same.

[Darth Nonymous]

If I'm understanding the question correctly this is zornhau.


Let me set this out and see if I understand the question.
The Sai strikes at the beginning of the form are effectively a Chinese version of the classic zornhau.

If you are standing in vom tag with your right foot back, (presuming you are right handed) as you begin your cut you either pass forward or triangle step forward with your right foot, cutting down through alber to finish in weschel or nebenhut (which is roughly the finishing point for the sai strike in the form).

The closest analogy I can come up with fight now for the sun djem sequence is to try this: starting in weschel with your right leg forward. Throw zwerchau (to finish in ochs on the right) as you take a wide advance to the right with your right foot. Throw zwerchau to the left but don't rotate your arms, you should end up cutting with the long edge, as you take a wide standard step to the left.

I'll try and get a short video clip together to show what I'm talking about, if we don't answer this sufficiently in the next few days.

There are some differences in how the German style executes these techniques as presented in Master Nonymous's tutorial but the foundation principles are the same.

Bang.

WaddaItellya? Point for getting Master VorNach to write this response.

[Delta_Petra]

Okay here are some drawings of what I am seeing in the footage from Master Nonymous.
The Sai Strikes from zones 3 to 5 and 2 to 6.




Now here is where I get hung up on the footwork.  When Nonymous starts doing the Sun Djem strikes, the footwork is reversed.  I am wondering why?





Master Nonymous is striking from the same directions as the first moves, but the footwork is changed.  I am trying to figure the reasoning.  The previous video I shared has the demonstrator's footwork different from Nonymous.

Does this help at all in understanding my question? (Sorry is these pictures at bigger than they need to be.)

[Darth Nonymous]

Yes those picture do clear demonstrate. But, I am afraid my answer is the same.

The reason you step out like that is to allow for the follow through the target. because you are going from rear hip to front and in Shii-cho that corresponds to the forward leg, the amount of turn you can produce is limited. The step is how you produce the power to travel through the target buy putting the body behind the strike. The other way to produce the strike is to step all the way through to the other stance as in the Sarlacc Sweep or Ataru su ma.

The association with direction of strike and step is rather incidental as you should be able to produce the power in what ever stance and guard you are in.

Is this clearer?

[Delta_Petra]

Yes those picture do clear demonstrate. But, I am afraid my answer is the same.

The reason you step out like that is to allow for the follow through the target. because you are going from rear hip to front and in Shii-cho that corresponds to the forward leg, the amount of turn you can produce is limited. The step is how you produce the power to travel through the target buy putting the body behind the strike. The other way to produce the strike is to step all the way through to the other stance as in the Sarlacc Sweep or Ataru su ma.

The association with direction of strike and step is rather incidental as you should be able to produce the power in what ever stance and guard you are in.

Is this clearer?

Yes. Thanks.

[Zren Tobas]

Wow so easy. This is my form then. How good is it in saber combat and what would be a good fighting stance to start out with?

[Master VorNach]

Wow so easy. This is my form then. How good is it in saber combat and what would be a good fighting stance to start out with?

Take a look at our introductory stance and footwork video.
Choice of "fighting stance" is tactical, in the moment. Being familiar with footwork in general is necessary to develop a well rounded approach.

http://youtu.be/BnaRY-oPuRU

[Zren Tobas]

Is Shii-Cho a Sith form? This is what I want to still use for when I go to cons and do parties and such. Do you think you could draw out an example of all the basic saber moves sometime? That'd help me out even more. Thanks if anyone doesn't mind doing that.

[Master VorNach]

Is Shii-Cho a Sith form? This is what I want to still use for when I go to cons and do parties and such. Do you think you could draw out an example of all the basic saber moves sometime?

As we define it Shii-Cho is the introductory material that everyone learns, it's not Sith specific.
We have a the introductory material that we offer available through our YouTube channel as well as out homepage:
https://sites.google.com/site/terraprimelightsaberacademy/home

[Bluesky]

Does anyone know the Forms that the Sith favor over the forms the Jedi? Is there a concensus?

Is Juyo a Sith inspired form?

Shii-Cho would be fundamental to both wouldn't it? Not sure, I tend to go by Craig's work on this.

With your Shii-Cho; is it just introductory or do you practice it as a fully formed style?

(Clear video thankyou Master)

Kind Regards
Bluesky

[Veldryne]

juyo and djem so tend to be favoured by the sith due to the the ease of channeling rage, anger, and agression into their fighting style

with ataru, shien, niman, and soresu being favourites of the jedi

certain sith like Lord Scourge have been known to use soresu however

and makashi tends to be a favourite of both, really it just comes down to the individual fighter for the most part

[Darth Nonymous]

juyo and djem so tend to be favoured by the sith due to the the ease of channeling rage, anger, and agression into their fighting style

with ataru, shien, niman, and soresu being favourites of the jedi

certain sith like Lord Scourge have been known to use soresu however

and makashi tends to be a favourite of both, really it just comes down to the individual fighter for the most part

i would say Shien is more toward the Sith end. They even have a Sith Shien varient.

[Veldryne]

i always understood shien to be more concerned with deflection of blasters than djem so was

a focus on defense just doesnt seem the sith way, lol more like smash through my enemies, seems more their style

[Master Uilos]

i always understood shien to be more concerned with deflection of blasters than djem so was

a focus on defense just doesnt seem the sith way, lol more like smash through my enemies, seems more their style

And now for an episode of FROM A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW!! This episode will focus on Soresu and Shien as seen through the eyes of the Jedi and the Sith

Soresu (Jedi) "I do not wish to harm my opponent(s). I will use their aggression against them and only strike if necessary"

(Sith) "I wish to crush my opponents, Body and Soul. I will give them the sense that they will breach my defenses, and when they grow arrogant, I will strike!"


Shien: (Jedi) "I will re-direct my opponents attacks back to them. I will end their violence with their violence"
(Sith) "You are not worthy to die by honorable combat. You shall die by the very bolts you fire!"


Also, Shien could be used as much for Melee as ranged, it was just based more on finesse and agility groups than Djem So was

[Solinus]

Is Shii-Cho a Sith form? This is what I want to still use for when I go to cons and do parties and such. Do you think you could draw out an example of all the basic saber moves sometime? That'd help me out even more. Thanks if anyone doesn't mind doing that.

Zren, think about it this way: Shii-Cho is the VERY basic of lightsaber combat taught to little kids as they enter the Jedi Temple. They learn this form, then as they grow, they may move into another form or stay with Shii-Cho a while longer in an attempt to fully master it. But just because you only see the Jedi Order using this form doesn't make it a Jedi only form.

Each of the forms are a set of moves. They are neither Jedi or Sith. It's the PERSON using the form that is Jedi or Sith. The forms themselves can be classified as Passive, Aggressive, or Defensive in nature, but FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, they do not belong to any side.

As for the move sets, here are your links:

Terra Prime YouTube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/TerraPrimeLightsaber?feature=g-user-u

Play list of all Shii-Cho videos: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL89FD30F9F512416E

Each video lasts only a few minutes. Focus on videos 4, 5, and 6 first. These are the three strikes. If you have any questions, let us know.