the 7 forms of "lightsaber" combat

i know it seems like a role-playing idea, but i am actually genuinely interested in the arts of lightsaber combat that the jedi use in the movies. is there anywhere that i might read on this and learn at home. i already have a potential sparring partner, and we have kendo matches all the time with bamboo fighting sticks that we made, but i'd like to surprise him with some nice and elegant flourishes and new techniques. like i said, i know it seems like a role-play, but it's not, i'm just curious.

I'm not an expert in martial arts, but I think if you look for Martial arts training with tools (swords, whip, ...) you might come across something that might help you.

For having fun with friends, flourishing is the way to go, and it looks neat when well done. As for actual combat application I would advise against it; even practicing it. And the reason is that we tend to do what we practice.

Is there anywhere on this site to read about different light saber techniques… not that I am aware of.

Goofing off one day, I think I saw something about it on Wookieepedia. But I can’t remember how detailed it was.

Let me know if you find anything though! It sounds like it could be interesting to see.

I bought some kendo dvds, but i have not yet had the chance to use them since i hurt my back. I am getting better but i still should wait a little.

I have something that might change your world:

Terra Prime Lightsaber Academy.

Look it up.

It's something I mull over occasionally. Not for 'combat', but for specific modes of awareness. The beauty of the idea for a lightsaber is that it is so free of operational limitations, so casting some concept of dogmatic skill sets over it seems redundant.

It did make me thinkg though that perhaps the idea should be to transpose different modes of awareness into different circumstances to which they were more efficient... we are talking about channeling the Force after all!! The resultant application would be improved whatever it was. The concept supports the fiction then that they train in this way because the lightsaber represents this system most closely by its freedom of expression.

So in that way I do not see the 7 Form's as sets of movements, but the aforementioned modes of awareness. From each of these Form's then you are able to use any and all movements, but what is chosen is the result of different models of shaped awareness.

If you have ever learnt to fly an aircraft for example, you will be aware that there is a fundamental grouping of instruments which present vital information in aircraft handling, and that managing balance amongst them is enough to occupy the pilots time entirely. Its called an instrument scan. Flying though requires attention in other areas as well so the most basic mantra happens to match the Temple's Tenets, and is used to teach priorities but also as a drill so each step is remembered and addressed;

Aviate - control the aircraft (focus)
Navigate - know where you are (knowledge)
Communicate - keep up with required comms so others know what they need to know (wisdom)

So in detail for the first one, aviate, we return to the instrument scan. They even often design cockpits so that specific instruments are in the same basic arrangement. These drill's of how to process data are to drive a specific outcome and designed to improve performance, and therefore safety etc.

So in the fiction, successful combat means mastery of the weapon. So if the most powerful (personal) weapon is the mind, and the next most powerful happens to be a lightsaber, then clearly one of those two are not real.

I am still toying with what I think works best, but I've gone through a few of the movies and what I've got so far makes sense and matches the movements nicely imo.

Terra Prime Lightsaber Academy is an excellent source for lightsaber combat applications. They post regular videos to youtube and have discussion panels every Friday that cover various topics.

Another popular source would be the Novastar/Caine Saber Combat System.

fighting technique, combat, with weapons, it's all about that weapon, and what to use it.
it is not the same, the technique for a katana, than the technique used with a spanish sword (both swords)

the technique involve how to use properly, to attack and defend ,

a double edge sword has a different technique than a one edge.... so

how to know, how to use a weapon that doesn't exist, it's only guessing, you think what the weapon do, then you imagine, what you can do with it.

a real duel in old japan, take 10 seconds or less, no more than 3 strokes, is not what you see in movies.

a lightsaber (a real one) must be even hard to handle, a simple mistake can harm you in a way no other existing sword can

in my opinion, the secret of the lightsaber goes more to the perfect control of the weapon.

then you can find your own technique. you can chose from several different disciplines to copy, just select the ones you can use with a real lightsaber (if exist)

fast strokes and back to position. no hand protection, so you can't be in contact with other lightsaber for much time for the opponent to slide his and cut your arm/hand/lighsaber.

distance, focus, control, and speed, the only protection against a lightsaber, is another lightsaber (duel)

so take in mind a simple scratch is going to be, a dead on the floor arm, leg, or whatever the weapon touch.

I love kendo, but is not right for a real lightsaber (not all)

watch the movies, and extract the choreography, (there are some mistakes) but looks nice.

tpla video spin doctor- with a real lightsaber, he cut or burn the slaves, several times ... with a wood stick, easy... let's give this guys a real lightsaber, and tomorrow they don't have arms.

and if you look, in almost al videos there are deadly mistakes (if they use a real lightsaber)

watch the 7 forms, and well.... easy with a flexible policarbonate led blade .... time to time gets too close to body (I say close, but there is contact, with cloth and parts of the body

hard without a real one.... everybody can guess, like me.

666 wrote: how to know, how to use a weapon that doesn't exist, it's only guessing, you think what the weapon do, then you imagine, what you can do with it.

I disagree here for a few reasons. Firstly, because this process of "guessing" is what drives weapon innovation, which in turn, drives fighting styles. But mostly because what we know about lightsabers can inform us of their pattern of use pretty reliably. This is because a weapon's use is dictated by its physical form--you can try all day to stab someone with an axe, and unless it's shaped right for it, it's not going to happen. Similarly, scimitars seem completely unwieldy, until you recognize that it isn't used the same as a katana, neither of which work like a western longsword. Why? Because they're all shaped differently, and that dictates their fundamental manner of use.

What we know:

• Their blade is composed of a contained beam of either focused photons or (much more likely) plasma.
• The blade is symmetrical along the axis of emission (the blade is the same all the way 'round it)
• The blade can cut in any direction.
• The blade is, for all intents, mass-less.
• The blade emits light and heat (it cauterizes wounds as it creates them)
• The blade will not cut through another blade
• The sword is a fictional weapon, based on a real-world style (Kendo)

What this means:

• This blade must use techniques similar to a double-edged straight blade, at the least.
• Spins and flourishes are not nearly as detrimental to the wielder, and may be used to aid in defense or psychological intimidation.
• The only force you would feel would be when the blade contacts something, so strength is less important until after contact is made.
• The blade's center of gravity is closer to the hand, meaning that once contact is made, the effort required to cut is more than a standard blade.
• The blade may (obviously) not be held to assist in defense without some kind of cortosis gloves or somesuch.
• The style will, at least in some regards, look like the form that inspired it.

So, the bottom line, in my mind, is that you have a weapon like a shinai, but where every surface can cut. You need lots of wrist strength, because torque is going to be more important than brute strength except in extenuating circumstances. You will need to focus on techniques that keep the main mass of the weapon (the handle) in an easily controllable position, as you would when in foot-combat with a cavalry sabre. And, unlike traditional weaponry of similar size and shape, and actual lightsaber would gain no benefit from twirls, swirls, or arcing flourishes. On a normal weapon, these help build momentum as well as distract the opponent, but with a near-weightless blade (which I will assume until I'm corrected), it would only be good for the latter.

Hello brother Saric,

I am also learning a light saber form. Starting off Shii Cho Dulon is the best way to go as to this form being the basic and it helps with saber technique. Good luck

Tai-yun Dai