Lightsaber Combat: A Comprehensive Guide

What is Lightsaber Combat?

Lightsaber combat was a discipline comprising several martial arts specifically designed for, but not limited to, lightsaber fighting. These combat forms were necessary to address and take advantage of the distinct characteristics of lightsabers, particularly the weapon’s unusual balance, with all its weight concentrated in the hilt, and its omni-directional cutting edge.

Among the most notable combat styles focused on lightsaber use were the seven forms practiced by the Jedi Order. However, other groups also created their own styles and techniques, such as the Sith’s Dun Möch technique.

The distinct focuses and techniques of these combat forms were heavily influenced by the periods in which they were developed, as they often emerged in response to evolving weapons technology. For instance, the dueling-oriented Makashi form was developed during a time when Dark Jedi and rogue Force-sensitives were prevalent, leading to frequent lightsaber duels.

On the other hand, Soresu was created in an era when such duels were rare, and Jedi were more often facing opponents armed with blasters and other ranged weapons rather than engaging in lightsaber duels.

What Is the History Behind the Lightsaber Forms?

As lightsaber technology advanced and became a practical weapon, it was adopted as the standard armament of the Jedi Order by 7000 BBY. This development necessitated a combat style tailored to the strengths and limitations of the lightsaber, even though it retained many elements of traditional fencing. Form I, Shii-Cho, was established as a simplified style rooted in ancient fencing techniques, defining attack types, parries, body zones, and drills specifically designed for lightsaber use.

However, as Darksiders and fallen Jedi began to emerge, leading to frequent lightsaber duels, Shii-Cho proved inadequate for lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat. This led to the creation of Form II, Makashi, a precise and efficient dueling form tailored for such encounters. During this period, Makashi produced some of the galaxy’s greatest dueling masters, including the early Sith Lord Tulak Hord.

Makashi eventually became less prevalent due to the widespread use of blasters and other ranged energy weapons. To address this shift in combat, Form III, Soresu, was developed. Building on the blast-deflection training of Shii-Cho, Soresu focused on defensive coverage, characterized by tight, efficient movements. Many considered a true master of Form III to be virtually invincible, although the style faced criticism for its emphasis on defense over offense.

To counterbalance Soresu’s perceived shortcomings, two aggressive combat forms, Ataru (Form IV) and Shien (Form V), were developed concurrently. Ataru emphasized speed and agility, while Shien focused on strength and offensive tactics, notably utilizing the lightsaber’s ability to deflect blaster bolts back at opponents. Eventually, a more advanced variant of Form V, known as Djem So, was created, emphasizing aggressive lightsaber dueling.

While Forms IV and V were highly effective, many of the more traditional Jedi were uneasy with their aggressive nature. Seeking a more balanced approach that aligned better with Jedi philosophy, they developed Form VI, Niman. This form, derived from the Jar’Kai dual-blade combat style, offered a path to impressive lightsaber skill without relying on power or aggression. Niman became known as the “diplomat’s form,” though it ironically became the preferred style of the fallen Jedi-turned-Sith Lord Exar Kun, a formidable duelist.

Kun, confident in his abilities, believed himself to be the greatest duelist in the galaxy but ultimately met his match in Ulic Qel-Droma, a specialist in the Djem So form. Kun would later defeat Vodo-Siosk Baas, the Jedi Battlemaster of the era, and was one of the first to wield a saberstaff, which he crafted using schematics from a Sith holocron.

By the time of the First Jedi Purge, Form VII, Juyo, had been developed. This advanced and intensely aggressive form required mastery of multiple other forms and skirted dangerously close to the Sith’s focus on combat prowess. Juyo incorporated the agile footwork of Makashi, the tight, aggressive motions of Shien, and the fluidity of Niman.

Due to its demanding nature, Juyo was rarely taught, especially to those with a reckless temperament, and it remained underdeveloped for nearly a thousand years after the Army of Light disbanded following the Ruusan Reforms. Among the few known practitioners of Juyo after the First Jedi Purge were Jedi Masters Vrook Lamar, Zez-Kai Ell, Kavar, and Atris.

How Did Lightsaber Combat Change During the Sith Resurgence?

With the onset of the Great Galactic War and the resurgence of the old Sith Empire, the Jedi found themselves once again in widespread conflict with their long-standing adversaries. During the interim, the Sith Lords maintained access to the traditional lightsaber forms, utilizing them as early as the Jedi Civil War.

Notable Sith, such as the Emperor’s Wrath Scourge, were known to study Forms VII, IV, and III. While the Sith likely developed their own unique combat styles during this time, records of these innovations are scarce.

In response to the Sith threat, the Jedi refined the already deadly Form VII into Juyo-Kos, adapting it to meet the brutal demands of this dangerous era, which saw frequent and intense duels between Jedi and Sith. This perspective is supported by remarks from Jerbhen Hulis during his brief duel with Teneb Kel.

Prominent duelists of this period included Jaric Kaedan, a master of the Form VII variant, and Orgus Din, who honed his advanced skills through relentless practice to compensate for his weaker connection to the Force.

On the Sith side, Vindican and Malgus were among the first Sith Lords to clash with Jedi in over three centuries, facing off against Kao Cen Darach and the future Jedi Grand Master, Satele Shan.

During the New Sith Wars, a Twi’lek duelist named Kas’im emerged as a prominent figure among the Sith, serving as the lightsaber instructor at the Korriban Academy for the Brotherhood of Darkness. Many of his students became exceptional duelists, including Darth Bane.

When Bane eventually rebelled against the Brotherhood and fought Kas’im, the latter’s expertise in Jar’Kai dual-blade combat gave him an advantage, as Bane lacked training against such techniques. Bane regarded Kas’im as the finest duelist of the era, possibly the greatest ever, but he ultimately triumphed due to his superior command of the Force. Bane later went on to kill Kas’im’s Jedi counterpart, Raskta Lsu.

How Did Lightsaber Combat Evolve After the Ruusan Reformation?

After the final battle of Ruusan, most of the Sith and other Darksider organizations were wiped out or forced into hiding, leading to significant changes in Jedi lightsaber combat.

The Makashi form, which was focused on dueling, became obsolete due to its ineffectiveness against blaster-wielding opponents and the scarcity of lightsaber-wielding enemies. Less common weapon variants also fell out of favor; by 32 BBY, the use of double-bladed lightsabers in actual combat, as opposed to training, was nearly unheard of.

Despite these changes, the era produced one of the greatest lightsaber duelists in history: Yoda. Over his nine-hundred-year lifespan, Yoda mastered all seven forms of lightsaber combat, but he specialized in Ataru. This form’s broad swordplay and acrobatic movements compensated for his short stature and limited reach, making his fighting style a remarkable display of Ataru’s principles.

Other notable duelists of this period included Dooku, who, despite Makashi’s declining relevance, continued to specialize in it, viewing it as one of the highest forms of combat. Siolo Ur Manka was also highly regarded as a Jedi warrior before he renounced the lightsaber in favor of staff-fighting, which he considered a “purer” technique.

Mace Windu was another great duelist of the era, specializing in Juyo. He worked to complete the form, as the scarcity of duelists with the self-discipline required for Form VII left it unfinished. Windu’s efforts led to the development of the Vaapad style, named after a predator native to the moons of Sarapin.

Vaapad was a dangerous form that edged close to the dark side, requiring its practitioners to embrace the thrill of battle, channeling their own fury while feeding off their opponent’s aggression, creating a powerful feedback loop. Windu developed Vaapad with the help of fellow Jedi swordmaster Sora Bulq and only trained his Padawan, Depa Billaba, in the style.

Notably, Bulq introduced elements of Vaapad to Quinlan Vos during Vos’s retraining, though he kept the nature of the style a secret, and Vos chose not to use it after learning more about it.

Among the Sith, Darth Sidious’ apprentice, Darth Maul, was an exceptional duelist. As one of the most highly trained Sith in the order’s history, Maul mastered several obscure combat forms, particularly a corrupted Sith version of Juyo.

Alongside his refined martial skills, Maul wielded a double-bladed lightsaber, which he created after a failed engagement against Siolo’urmanka led him to conclude that single-bladed lightsabers were too restrictive. This unorthodox weapon, combined with the Jedi’s unfamiliarity with it, gave Maul a significant advantage, allowing him to defeat formidable Jedi such as Anoon Bondara and Qui-Gon Jinn. Maul was ultimately bested only when he dropped his guard against Jinn’s Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi.

With Maul presumed dead, Sidious sought a new apprentice, turning to Dooku after he left the Jedi Order and naming him Darth Tyranus. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan Kenobi trained Anakin Skywalker, a rising star within the Jedi Order. Skywalker specialized in Form V, an aggressive combat style that suited his bold and confrontational nature.

However, his rapid progress inflated his ego, leading him to believe he could rival Yoda. This overconfidence was shattered when Tyranus severed Skywalker’s arm in a fierce duel. Kenobi, on the other hand, focused on mastering Soresu, a defensive form he adopted after concluding that Ataru’s lack of defense contributed to Qui-Gon Jinn’s death. Despite Soresu’s effectiveness against blaster-wielding foes, Kenobi struggled against Tyranus, whose precise bladework easily bypassed Kenobi’s solid defenses.

What Impact Did the Clone Wars Have on Lightsaber Fighting Styles?

The Clone Wars introduced significant changes to lightsaber combat as the moderate forms that Jedi had relied on for centuries proved inadequate on the battlefield, necessitating the development of specialized combat styles. Notably, all Niman practitioners who participated in the Battle of Geonosis perished in combat.

In anticipation of the Sith-orchestrated conflict, Dooku recruited several skilled duelists into his personal cadre of Dark Acolytes, including the fallen Jedi Sora Bulq and the Rattataki warlord Asajj Ventress. Ventress’ prowess with a lightsaber was impressive enough to gain the favor of both Dooku and Sidious, leading to further instruction from Dooku, particularly in the Makashi lightsaber form.

Dooku also trained the Kaleesh cyborg General Grievous, who, due to his enhanced speed and reflexes, became one of the era’s most feared Jedi hunters, collecting lightsabers as trophies and defeating notable Jedi like Shaak Ti and Eeth Koth, while also fighting Mace Windu to a stalemate. However, the war claimed the lives of several great duelists, including Sora Bulq and Depa Billaba, leaving Mace Windu as the last master of Vaapad.

By the war’s end, Dooku and Grievous were slain by Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, respectively. Their vastly improved skills established them as two of the Jedi Order’s finest duelists, with Dooku acknowledging Skywalker as the greatest Djem So stylist he had ever encountered, and Mace Windu recognizing Kenobi as “the Master of Soresu.”

Windu’s Vaapad style faced its ultimate challenge during his confrontation with Darth Sidious, who was revealed to be the Republic’s Supreme Chancellor, Palpatine. Sidious’ advanced combat skills and mastery of the Dark Side enabled him to swiftly strike down Jedi Masters Agen Kolar and Saesee Tiin.

Kit Fisto and Windu were left to battle the ruthless Sith Lord, with Fisto barely managing to hold Sidious off before being killed. This left Windu to fully channel Vaapad, creating a feedback loop of power that left both combatants locked in an intense duel. Windu eventually gained the upper hand, disarming Palpatine and seemingly defeating him.

However, his victory was short-lived, as Anakin Skywalker intervened, betraying the Jedi and severing Windu’s sword hand, leaving him vulnerable to Palpatine’s Sith powers. Mace Windu, one of the greatest duelists in the Jedi Order and second only to Yoda, was dead.

Skywalker, now Darth Vader, led the assault on the Jedi Temple, personally cutting down many Jedi, including even the younglings. Not even the esteemed Jedi swordmaster and Council member, Cin Drallig, could withstand Vader’s relentless ferocity for long.

However, Vader met his match in his former master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Kenobi’s expertise in the defensive Soresu form proved to be the perfect counter to Vader’s all-out offensive. In one of the greatest lightsaber duels of all time, Kenobi strategically gave ground before Vader’s relentless onslaught, guiding the battle to a location of his choosing and gaining the upper hand.

Overestimating his abilities, Vader attempted to leap over Kenobi but was dismembered by his former master and left to die on the shores of a Mustafar lava river. He only survived when Palpatine, fresh from his own duel with Yoda, arrived to save him. Realizing that the new Sith Order could not be defeated through martial prowess alone, Kenobi and Yoda went into hiding, traveling to Tatooine and Dagobah respectively.

How Did the Great Jedi Purge Affect Lightsaber Combat?

With the Jedi Order essentially destroyed, the development of lightsaber combat slowed dramatically, with most advancements driven by the Sith. Despite this, the combat forms themselves were preserved in surviving records, holocrons, and among the Sith. During this time, Darth Vader emerged as a formidable force.

Encumbered by his heavy life-support armor, Vader was compelled to adapt and refine his lightsaber technique. His resulting combat form incorporated elements from various techniques, relying on brute strength and precision to counter the more acrobatic fighting styles favored by the surviving Jedi. This unique, though somewhat archaic, fighting method made Vader the most prolific Jedi hunter in history.

Vader’s dueling skills influenced several of his apprentices, including Starkiller and Kharys. Starkiller practiced Juyo and Soresu, favoring a Shien-style reversed grip, and bested skilled duelists like Kazdan Paratus, Rahm Kota, and even Darth Vader when he reached his peak as a lightsaber duelist.

Although Starkiller could hold his own against Shaak Ti, he ultimately relied on the Force to defeat her. Kharys, on the other hand, developed the Trispzest fighting style, combining traditional S’kytri aerial dueling with Form VII lightsaber combat. Starkiller eventually rebelled against his master, managing to defeat Vader before perishing in a confrontation with Emperor Palpatine.

This era also saw the rise of the Emperor’s Shadow Guard and the Imperial Saber Guard. Shadow Guardsmen favored lightsaber pikes and typically served as Palpatine’s enforcers, while Saber Guardsmen were equipped with standard lightsabers and trained extensively, often favoring Shien-style reversed grips. Both groups were highly effective on the battlefield, though they proved considerably less formidable against trained Jedi duelists like Starkiller or his clone.

Luke Skywalker, arguably the greatest lightsaber duelist of his time, was a natural with the weapon. After just one training session with Obi-Wan Kenobi, Skywalker became highly proficient in blast deflection and further honed his skills over the next three years through improvisation. Within months, he was skilled enough to defeat Vader’s former apprentice, Kharys, a practitioner of Form VII lightsaber combat and creator of the Trispzest style.

Skywalker’s abilities were further refined during his training with Yoda, resulting in a combat style that instinctively mirrored Vader’s personalized variation of Form V, with elements of Ataru and Soresu incorporated. By 3 ABY, he was skilled enough to hold his own against Darth Vader, surpassing many of the fully trained Jedi Knights the Dark Lord had faced before. Just a year later, Skywalker defeated Vader with a powerful display of his own technique.

What Was Luke Skywalker’s Influence on Lightsaber Combat?

Luke Skywalker eventually met his match in Lumiya, a Dark Jedi trained by Vader who later became a Sith Acolyte. Lumiya wielded a unique lightwhip, combining energy and metal lashes. As Lumiya pointed out, Luke’s Jedi training had only prepared him for weapons that were either energy-based or solid, not a combination of both. To adapt, Luke quickly constructed a shoto lightsaber as a secondary weapon, allowing him to counter the whip’s energy tendrils with one blade while cutting through the solid lashes with the other.

Over time, Skywalker’s skills advanced to the point where he could duel the resurrected Emperor Palpatine, even managing to sever the Sith Lord’s hand.

When Luke began reestablishing the Jedi Order, he received assistance in combat techniques from Kam Solusar, who had been trained in lightsaber combat by Palpatine’s Dark Side Elite, and Corran Horn, a former member of the Corellian Security Force with expertise in various unarmed combat techniques. Many of Luke’s students became capable of matching him in duels, likely due to their familiarity with his fighting methods.

While Luke had received formal training in Ataru from Master Yoda and passed this knowledge on to his students, the loss of much of the old Jedi Order’s knowledge, including many lightsaber combat techniques, meant that Luke’s new order had to start from scratch. Kam Solusar instructed the students in the three rings of defense, while Corran Horn introduced them to CorSec’s combat techniques.

Eventually, the new Jedi Order created three combat styles:

• Strong style: Focused on raw power and offense, occasionally sacrificing defense.
• Fast style: Emphasized speed and precision, particularly effective for deflecting blaster fire.
• Medium style: Balanced the two, serving as a foundational form similar to Shii-Cho in the old Jedi Order.

One of the academy’s finest students, Kyle Katarn, mastered all three forms and eventually attained the rank of Jedi Battlemaster. When the seven forms of the original order were rediscovered, Katarn went on to master Djem So as well.

Over the next century and a half, the various lightsaber fighting forms saw few major changes, though many masterful duelists rose to prominence.

The Imperial Knights developed their own unique combat styles: the aggressive Praetoria Vonil and the defensive Praetoria Ishu. These forms were practiced alongside classical lightsaber forms and were designed to emphasize teamwork rather than individual prowess.

What Are the Fundamental Techniques of Lightsaber Combat?

Body Target Zones

Lightsaber combat basics were established by Form I (Shii-Cho), the first form developed for lightsaber training, attacks and parries target different body zones:

Zone 1: Head

• Vertical chop aiming to bisect the opponent vertically
• Parried by a horizontal block

Zone 2: Right Arm/Side

• Horizontal sideswipe
• Parried by a vertical block

Zone 3: Left Arm/Side

• Same as Zone 2 but reversed for left-hand dominance

Zone 4: Back

• Strikes to the back/midsection are usually fatal
• Parried by an angled downward block behind the back

Zones 5/6: Legs

• Low sideswipes or slashes
• Parried by downward angled blocks

The Three Rings of Defense

Outer Ring

• Long range with wide, powerful strikes
• Four diagonal guard positions

Middle Ring

• For intercepting quicker blows and deflecting blaster shots
• Horizontal and vertical guards

Inner Ring

• Last defense against lunging attacks
• Single guard position covering the navel
• Parries by angling the blade’s tip to deflect strikes

Marks of Contact

These define the objectives and potential outcomes in lightsaber duels:

• Sun djem: Disarming the opponent
• Shiim: Minor wounding
• Cho mai: Amputating hand
• Cho sun: Amputating arm
• Cho mok: Amputating limb
• Shiak: Stabbing
• Sai cha: Decapitation
• Sai tok: Vertically bisecting
• Mou kei: Dismemberment through circular slashes

Ready Stances

Jedi Ready

• Dominant foot back, blade in vertical parry on dominant side

Defensive Neutral

• Feet even, blade in dominant side parry for deflection

Offensive Neutral

• Feet even, blade pointed at opponent

Center of Being

• Lightsaber held horizontally below the chin

Moves and Maneuvers

• Jung: 180 degree turn
• Jung ma: 360 spin to build momentum
• Shun: 360 one-handed spin
• Sai: Leap over low leg attacks
• Flowing Water: Follow opponent’s blade withdraw
• Falling Leaf: Spin and slash behind
• Dulon: Fast slashing attack from hilt position
• Kai-kan: Reenacting prior duels

Form-Specific Techniques

Here are the moves and maneuvers concerning the seven forms of lightsaber combat.

Form I: Shii-Cho

• Disarming Slash
• Sarlacc Sweep

Form II: Makashi

• Contentious Opportunity
• Makashi Riposte

Form III: Soresu

• Circle of Shelter
• Deflecting Slash

Form IV: Ataru

• Hawk-Bat Swoop
• Saber Swarm

Form V: Shien / Djem So

• Barrier of Blades
• Falling Avalanche
• Fluid Riposte
• Shien Deflection

Form VI: Niman

• Draw Closer
• Pushing Slash

Form VII: Juyo / Vaapad

• Assured Strike
• Vornskr’s Ferocity
• Swift Flank
• Tempered Aggression

Sokan

• High Ground Defense
• Unhindered Charge

Jar’Kai

• Twin Strike
• Rising Whirlwind

Tràkata

• Pass The Blade
• Unbalancing Block
• Flash Slash

Trispzest

• Spinning attack

What Are the Core Methods of Lightsaber Training?

The Jedi Approach

Most lightsaber training regimens were devised by the Jedi Order, with other groups adapting elements, many basics came from Form I (Shii-Cho) used as an introductory tutorial form.

To teach Force-attunement over physical senses, beginning Shii-Cho deflection training used blindfolds, forcing initiates to rely on instincts.

Later stages utilized sequences and velocities and repeated patterns to make moves reflexive.

Training Sequences

Sequences were choreographed series of attacks and parries, flowed together smoothly for applied combat situations.

Each lightsaber form had its own sequences, numbering in the hundreds. Some duelists felt using full sequences was superior to individual techniques, being faster and more fluid.

Sparring

Sparring matches provided novices a chance to test skills against opponents and learn from mistakes. Veteran duelists also sparred frequently to prevent skills from deteriorating.

While typically freeform, some sparring matches followed strict rules to cultivate specific skills like timing or consistency.

Specialized Sparring

• Dulon: Solo training against imagined foes
• Velocities: Accelerating exchange of set sequences
• Twin Suns: Leaping force-powered mid-air clash
• Faalo’s Cadences: Strike ball bearings without touching candles

The Jedi Trials

The Trial of Skill was one of the oldest tests for potential Jedi Knights. It evaluated:

• Lightsaber technique and combat prowess
• Ability to avoid distraction through discipline

Trials could involve acrobatics, levitating objects amid chaos or facing Live/simulated opponents and Sith Lords to test stamina.

Individual Forms Of Lightsaber Combat

What Are the Seven Forms of Lightsaber Combat and Their Characteristics?

Here are the main points concerning the seven forms of lightsaber combat.

Form I: Shii-Cho

• The first and most basic form
• Wide, sweeping attacks and parries
• Designed to fight multiple opponents
• Encouraged emotional mindset, requiring restraint

Form II: Makashi

• The ultimate dueling form
• Precise fencing/swordsmanship style
• Focused on disarming through blade mastery
• Often used specialized curved-hilt sabers

Form III: Soresu

• Most defensive form
• Tight moves and subtle dodges
• Optimized for ranged blast-deflection
• Prolonged battles of observation and control

Form IV: Ataru

• Aggressive acrobatic form
• Uses Force for amazing athletics and speed
• Incorporating somersaults, cartwheels, spinning attacks

Form V: Shien/Djem So

• Shien focused on blaster-bolt defense
• Djem So for offensive lightsaber dueling
• Powerful strikes and kinetic blows

Form VI: Niman

• The “diplomat’s form”
• Balanced mixture of other styles
• Broad generalization requiring improvisation

Form VII: Juyo/Vaapad

• The most vicious and lethal form
• Seemingly chaotic and unpredictable
• Drawing power from darkness
• Vaapad pushed user toward the Dark Side

What Fighting Styles Did the New Jedi Order Introduce?

Strong Style

The strong style is based on powerful strikes to break through an opponent’s defense, it covers great distance and has unmatched power but it leaves the user open to attacks, this style causes more damage than many other styles, its range and power make it effective against single opponents with melee weapons.

In lightsaber duels, the powerful strikes can break through blocks easily, if a lightsaber lock occurs, the user can usually win by ripping away the opponent’s blade.
The style is weak against blaster fire since the user has to shift the blade a lot to cover their body.

Fast Style

The fast style consists of short and quick motions with the blade that can be chained together indefinitely, it allows for multiple attacks at an extremely fast pace, its advantage is efficiency in one-on-one combat against slower opponents or multiple opponents without melee weapons, especially when combined with Force speed, it provides the best defense against blaster fire among all styles. In lightsaber combat, it is a powerful defensive technique against multiple or single stronger opponents.

However, its fast strikes limit the power of the blows making them easy to parry or overpower, its range is short making it less effective against multiple widespread opponents, its defenses can be broken through if the opponent is much more physically powerful.

Medium Style

The medium style is an intermediate style between the fast and strong styles, it has a balance of speed and power.

It is frequently taught first to new students learning lightsaber combat, its techniques are basic but more advanced and powerful styles can be developed from this foundation.

The simplicity of the medium style is both an advantage and a disadvantage, it provides decent offense and defense capabilities and users can deflect blaster bolts and fend off less-skilled duelists, the downside is that highly skilled gunfighters or talented swordsmen can relatively easily overcome the medium style’s defenses and strike through its attacks.

What Alternative and Hybrid Lightsaber Styles Exist?

Unorthodox and Hybrid Fighting Methods

There were many fighting styles that existed alongside the classic Jedi forms, adopted by individual Jedi duelists, Jedi were encouraged to develop hybrid fighting forms or study alternate fighting styles to back up their primary style, but some duelists discouraged hybrid methods, they believed that mastering a single form was better than attempting to master multiple forms.

Trispzest

Trispzest combines parts of Form VII lightsaber combat and traditional S’kytri aerial fighting styles, it was created for fighting with a lightsaber while flying or airborne, this allowed users to take advantage of being in the air against opponents on the ground. The sai cha technique of decapitating grounded enemies was heavily emphasized.

However, a major weakness of Trispzest was that users were vulnerable to attacks coming from below them while airborne.

Tràkata

The Tràkata style was based on turning a lightsaber on and off during combat, this allowed users to get past an opponent’s defense or trick them into overextending their attacks, it focused on practical fighting and deception, rather than the determined, straightforward tactics traditionally used by Jedi and Sith.

Sokan

Sokan was more a guiding principle of lightsaber combat than a distinct form, it revolved around using the environment itself to gain a tactical advantage in combat, it was based on out-maneuvering opponents using quick tumbling and jumping movements to close the distance and facilitate swift strokes towards vital areas.

Mounted Lightsaber Combat

In this type of combat, the duelist was limited to fighting one-handed, as the other hand was needed for steering the mount, attacks while mounted typically consisted of low lunges and diagonal slashes and arcs, the advantages were the high vantage-point and speed offered by the mount, but the duelist had to devote effort towards protecting and controlling the mount.

Telekinetic Lightsaber Combat

Telekinetic lightsaber combat was the art of wielding one’s lightsaber with Force-based telekinesis, it was extremely difficult but the primary advantages were that range ceased to be an issue, and the option of wielding numerous lightsabers simultaneously became viable.

Dun Möch

Dun Möch was a traditional Sith tactic based around psychological warfare, the practitioner relied on taunts that exposed an opponent’s inner doubts and weaknesses disrupting their concentration.

“Form Zero”

“Form Zero” was not an actual form of lightsaber combat, but rather an ethical principle, it was the idea that a Jedi should know when to use their lightsaber and when to withhold from resorting to force and instead find an alternative means of solving a problem.

Lus-ma

Lus-ma was an obscure lightsaber technique that Count Dooku trained Grievous and his IG-100 MagnaGuards in. Beyond the fact that one of these initiates used Lus-ma to counter a Soresu move, not much is known about the style.

Su ma

Su ma was the use of rotation in the Jedi Knight’s form of lightsaber combat, it was composed of three forms: ton su ma (the use of somersaults in combat), en su ma (the use of cartwheels in combat) and jung su ma (spinning).

Jar’Kai (Dual-Blade) Combat

The Jar’Kai style was developed by the Yovshin Swordsmen for dual-wielding blades, it allowed for a strong offense as the speed of two blades could overwhelm opponents.
A common tactic was to attack with one blade while using the other for defense or using both blades offensively in a continuous assault, Jar’Kai could be adapted to other styles like Asajj Ventress applying Makashi techniques to her practice of Jar’Kai.

Double-Bladed Lightsaber Combat

The main reason for the double-bladed lightsaber was to allow faster attacks without much movement, the two blades also made for a strong defense with the longer length giving more area to block and deflect attacks.

However, special training was needed because trying to use it without proper skill could lead to injuring oneself, the techniques that could be used were limited as the second blade made many fighting positions and movements impossible or awkward to perform.

Lightsaber Pike Combat

The lightsaber pike allowed for vastly increased range due to the long shaft the lightsaber was mounted on, the shaft provided advantages like improved leverage for powerful strikes and could be used defensively to block strikes.

However, the pike made many positions and movements awkward or impossible to execute and required open space to wield properly.

Lightwhip Combat

The lightwhip was an unusual weapon that most duelists were not familiar with, this gave lightwhip users an advantage of surprise, the lightwhip had a very long reach allowing attacks from far away, its flexible energy strand could bend around an opponent’s blade when they tried to block. If the lightwhip had multiple strands, it could attack from multiple angles and overwhelm the opponent’s defense.

However, the lightwhip blade was hard to control and not as strong as a regular lightsaber blade, and the wielder had to swing the whip in wide arcs to build up force leaving them open to attacks.

Unarmed Combat

As lightsaber combat forms were fully developed martial arts, unarmed combat training was standard, many species and cultures developed their own unarmed martial arts that could be applied with or without a lightsaber, physical attacks were regularly applied in duels to disorient opponents before a finishing attack, fights could degenerate into brawls if both opponents were disarmed, with some fighters augmenting their strength with the Force to unleash devastating blows.

External Sources

• Lightsaber combat | Wookieepedia – Fandom

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