Lightsaber Forms

[Master DS]

I've heard there are several Lightsaber Forms, and I've always wondered what Lightsaber Form would work best for me. Here's all the Lightsaber Forms that I know of:

Form I: Shii-Cho
Form II: Makashi
Form III: Soresu
Form IV: Ataru
Form V: Shien / Djem So
Form VI: Niman
Form VII: Juyo / Vaapad

[gileanofgrey]

The forms themselves are irrelevent as I told kurey today I don't think there is a set *form* persay meaning like there isn't a real martial art around those forms. For instance I chose the final form for two reasons. A. its the most aggresive based on the definitions provided. and b. very few people know it and c. the current sword style that I know is very aggressive so...but there isn't...like...well there isn't anything else so honestly based on the small definitions I couldn't tell ya...

[Master DS]

Alright that's interesting. So I guess when it comes to the Lightsaber Forms in general. You really have to Figure them out for yourself. Although I'm no sure which Form I would use.

[Darth Generiq]

Form 1, Shii Cho is the basic style taught to all younglings. It focuses on vertical, horizontal and diagonal beating strikes to specific body target zones. Best real world equivalent is escrima, kali or arnis stick fighting.

Form 2, Makashi is a style specifically designed for saber to saber combat. It focuses on grace and precision over power and speed. One of the only forms that regularly employees stabbing. Best real world equivalent is early rapier fencing, which combines a fair amount of cuts and slashes with a heavy dose of stabbing.

Form 3, Soresu is a style designed primarily for defense (specifically for deflecting blaster bolts). It is said that a master of Soresu is nearly undefeatable. Problem is, attacks are few and far between, so many fights involving a form 3 practitioner result in stalemates. Best real world equivalent is tennis, badminton and dodge ball. (We play dodge ball at my school, and deflect with our lightsabers. Its a rush)

Form 4, Ataru is a highly acrobatic form employing alot of tumbling and aerial kicks and strikes. The best real world equivalent is the Chinese broadsword and a touch of Tae Kwon Do (or any Korean style really) kicking drills. This is a great form for you Darth Maul loving butterfly kickers. (I'm one too)

Form 5, Shien or Djem So is very similar to form 3 in that is was designed as a primarily defensive form. The main difference is that it was designed as a counter attack form. The reason for two different names is that there are two sub-sects of this form. One (I don't remember which is which) was designed to counter form 2. The best real world equivalent is the single hand version of Ni Ten Ichi Ryu Kenjutsu, the style created by Miyamoto Mushashi. Many of his techniques were supposedly largely based on adaptations of European fencing styles. The sub-sect of form 5 is nearly identical to form 3 except that the focus is on deflecting the blaster fire back at intended targets. Again, tennis and badminton would be great real world equivalents for this.

Form 6, Niman is the consulars form. In simplest terms it is the jack of all trades form. See all of the above forms for best real world equivalents. When mastered form 6 should produce an unstoppable swordsman. The trick is... Mastering a five previous forms would take lifetimes, and unless you're Yoda...

Form 7 Juyo, was originally created as an alternate to the form 5 style meant to defend against form 2, a preferred style of the Sith. The style was never finished due to the fact that the war between Jedi and Sith ended rather abruptly when the Sith released the though bomb. Vapaad, was created when Mace Windu took it upon himself to finish the creation of Juyo, but altered it in such a way a to use focused dark energy to add power to his strikes. The idea was not to embrace the Dark Side, but to allow the natural feelings of anger and rage occur as they should and then flow out of you leaving no residual darkness. This was idea was feared by many Jedi as bordering far too close to the Darkside. For that reason there were few people ever even told about form 7, and even less taught its principles. Best real world equivalent would be the fencing styles mentioned in form 2 and the Kenjutsu styles mentioned in form 5 (though any two handed sword style would work.).

Hope that helps you decide Master DS. Good skill in your training. May the Force be with you.

[Master DS]

Wow. That's a lot of interesting information about the Lightsaber Forms.

[gileanofgrey]

You can always go to wikipedia and get the same information there also, it goes a little more in depth.

[The Sith Apprentice[MOD]of'08]

starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Lightsaber_forms

[Master DS]

That's really cool information Barjedi. I'll make sure to check it out. All this talk about the Lightsaber Forms makes me want to find out what Form I could use. I think it would be cool to say that I know one of them. It would look really neat for my Character Master DS.

[gileanofgrey]

Apr 8, 2008 22:55:10 GMT -5 Master DS said:

That's really cool information Barjedi. I'll make sure to check it out. All this talk about the Lightsaber Forms makes me want to find out what Form I could use. I think it would be cool to say that I know one of them. It would look really neat for my Character Master DS.

Of course, like myself I use form seven the mace vindu variation per my story line and my actual martial art. Cosmoe based on what I know would be more like for four and or three, curey would be more like shien...so it depends...so ya if you can find one that actually fits you and you like...go for it...it's whatever you want, whatever you feel fits you, and makes you happy.

[Bar Jedi]

i totally agree

[Hei-No Reysan]

i would lean more heavily towards makashi, seeing as most of my horrible sword fighting skill pertain to is shani and rapier.