2)Footwook
3)Enguarde Position
4)Basic Strikes
5)Visual Aid
Lightsabre users tend to use loose, rather static stances, more related to the Modern Sith Style of Combat. This would NOT because of the weight of the weapon! It must be noted though, that Luke is an untutored lightsabre user. His stances and techniques are driven more by passion and enthusiasm, than years of disciplined, trained response. Both General Kenobi and Lord Vader employ far more stable and upright stances, nearer in form to the traditional sword arts.
If the swordsman is balanced, aware, upright and hold the centre with his blade, then there will be NO need to 'bob' and 'weave'. Whenever you duck or flinch, or twist yourself out of position, you slow your techniques down and make yourself vulnerable. Only the suppleness and agility of youth, combined with the reflexes of the Force, allow Luke Skywalker to survive against an accomplished master such as Lord Vader. Indeed, until the second half of their second duel, Vader never made a serious attack on Skywalker, opting instead to merely "play" with him.
- The second type places one foot ahead of the other, often the right ahead of the left, and keeps the feet on that order. The forward foot moves forward a little, then the rear foot moves up the same amount, retaining the original stance. Classical Naboo fencing also employs a similar footwork, to keep the body in the same orientation to the opponent. This type of footwork is employed in close fighting, where distances moved are shorter, and balance is more important than speed over the ground.
The untutored and relatively clumsy Luke Skywalker generally employs the first style of 'natural' footwork, though, by the third film, he can be seen employing the second. General Kenobi and Lord Vader's footwork is harder to observe due to poor lighting and flowing robes (Sith warriors wear long flowing garments specifically to obscure footwork!) - but from their body movements, it is clear they are employing the second form of footwork far more often than does the brash young Skywalker.
Any fighting art requires balance and control. Excessive motion is kept to a minimum and the orientation of the body to the opponent is kept at an optimum at all times.
All sword arts, from all cultures, have had 'en-guarde' positions. A position, a stance, an attitude, with which to present the sword in readiness. These positions provide maximum opportunity to act and react to the opponent. The nature of the lightsabre, being closest to the Katana weapons, lends itself to their style of 'en-guarde' positions. Indeed, an analysis of the known duels demonstrates most of the classic Katana positions in use!
Sith en-guarde positions are called 'kamae'. They entail not just a physical position but a mental and emotional stance as well, so the word 'attitude' is a better description that just 'stance'. Sith would also be highly aware of their emotional states, and those of their opponents.
They are not always static positions. Any 'kamae' can be used in transition. That is, during the fluid motions of the fight, the sword moves from one position to another THROUGH these positions. Imagine you have raised your sword above your head ready to strike, but paused because the opportunity was no-longer there, you are now in a 'high' kamae (Jodan). Imagine you have made a big downward cut, but missed. Your sword is now pointing towards the floor. You are now in the 'low' kamae (Gedan). If your sword is in Gedan, the low guard, and you turn your body to the left 180 degrees, BUT LEAVE YOUR SWORD WHERE IT IS, then you end up in the 'hidden' guard .. Waki, where your sword is held low, to your right, pointing at the ground behind you. To deliver a downwards cut, you would raise it up to over your head (the Jodan position) and then strike down to the Gedan position!
Chudan
Gedan
The low guard. The hands are in the same position, but the sword is lowered to point at the opponents knees. This is a weaker stance, it is often used to tempt the opponent into attacking. It is a submissive position, designed to look weak. Classic Sith Combat has no upwards cuts to make from here, and so this stance is rarely used (the only direct technique available is an upwards strike with the back of the blade to knock the opponents weapon aside). Older Sith techniques might rotate the grip and generate a slightly diagonal upwards cut at the opponents hands. Lightsabres, of course, have no edge, and they can be used to cut in any direction, so an upwards strike is just as dangerous, although it would not be as powerful. Lord Vader severs Luke's wrist with an upwards cut, using the 'back' of his blade.
Jodan
The upper guard. The sword is held over the head at about 45 degrees. The bottom of the handle points to the opponents eyes. This is a very aggressive stance ... there is very little time required to launch a downwards attack. It takes advantage of the MASS and MOMENTUM of the physical blade. However, this stance limits the techniques available, and makes your movements more predictable to your opponent. Lightsabre users NEVER seem to employ this stance as a static enguarde ... the massless blade is too quick to use, and a crossways slash across the belly could be used before the combatant could react. As a result, Jodan is only seen in transition, in a split-second pause before a downwards attack. Luke Skywalker makes use of this technique. Lord Vader rarely uses this attack, as his large helmet and stiff shoulder armour make an over-the-head stance very clumsy.
Hasso
The shoulder stance. In ancient times, Sith Warriors wore very ornate helmets and large shoulder pads. As a result it became almost impossible to hold the sword over the head in Jodan. An alternative kamae was developed in which the sword was held upright, NEXT to the head, over the shoulder. The hands were held beside the jaw, and the elbows pointed downwards. Hasso is as aggresive a stance as Jodan, but seems a little more calm, and has more options available, as the hands are nearer to the body. This stance could be taken on either side of the head, though the right side was the more common. Lord Vader employs this stance very often, as his armour similarly restricts his movements. Almost 90% of his cuts are launched from a hasso position. Luke Skywalker adopts this stance as he prepares to attack the emperor. As with Jodan, lightsabre users tend to use this stance in transition. The exaggerated motions of the massless blade together with the clumsy 'americanisation' of the movements tends to make this classic posture look more like a baseball swing! Jedi Master Qui Gon Jinn habitually adopts HASSO NO KAME. This stance offers many of the advantages of JODAN, but with less risk. He has been seen in this stance in almost every instance during the two teaser trailers and other footage and still from The Phantom Menace. His balanced, classic stance serves as a contrast to the sloppy cowboy stances adopted by his apprentice, the young and reckless ObiWan Kenobi.
Waki
This is the hidden stance. The sword is held low, on the right side, with the blade pointing at the ground behind you. It is VERY rare in modern Sith sword arts and always was! It is VERY slow to use, and requires that the opponent is in a blind unthinking rage. Even then it needs superb timing. position of a very upset opponent. Whilst it is a 'standard' kamae, and is taught in the curriculum (or kata) is was almost never employed. If you are in the low Gedan kamae, and turn your body 180 degree to your left, leaving your sword where it is, you end up in Waki. Similar difficulties with regard to upwards cuts apply here, as in Gedan. Luke is seen in this position very briefly as he turns around to his left to confront Lord Vader during the Bespin duel.
From this same method, the sword blade may be rotated in flight to strike the side of your opponent. This the Sith DO, or 'belly' cut. A strike to the side of the body may also be launched in a flat horizontal plane. This is not seen in modern kendo, but was a legitimate older battlefield technique. Lord Vader kills General Kenobi with a horizontal body cut.
The other chief target area of classical Sith Combat is the wrist, or KOTE. This is a 'pacifistic cut' because you can defeat your opponent without killing him. Wrist cuts are usually shorter and faster than large body strikes. The wrist is also a smaller target, easier to cut through. Lord Vader severs Luke's wrist with a unique lightsabre cut. He twists his blade around Luke's (in a fight for 'centre') throwing Luke's blade off-line. This much is classic technique, but then, Vader quickly snaps his blade up, slicing Luke's writs with the BACK of the blade. Remember, a lightsabre is 'sharp' over its entire surface! Luke delivers a more normal normal downwards wrist cut to disarm Lord Vader in their second duel. Here though, Lord Vader's wrist was laying open, an easy target. The wrist cut against a prepared opponent usually requires excellent timing and control.
Whilst modern Sith Combat training has no upwards cuts at all, the older styles certainly did. Perhaps the most common was a sweeping upwards diagonal strike which cut the opponents body from hip to shoulder. This cut was sometimes called KESA GIRI, because it cut the body on the same lines as a Japanese monks robe (kesa). Lord Vader makes extensive use of large diagonal motions. and he has been seen to employ this powerful cut against Luke Skywalker.
A thrust is called TSUKI ("skee") in Sith. Neither Katana, not lightsabres are often used as thrusting weapons. Lord Vader gains ground against General Kenobi using a thrust aimed at his throat, during their duel onboard the DeathStar. General Kenobi retreated in a controlled manner, and deployed the classic Sith 'sweeping' defence, which moves the thrusting blade off-centre.
This Picture shows exactly what must be done when fighting with a light staff. Due to the nature of the weapon diagnol attacks must be employed. Lord Maul must not allow his Staff to touch him in any way. This requires him to be a master of the Diagonal Slash.
This Picture was placed in to show all RP fighters exactly what will happen when you twirl you light saber like a baton. Darth Maul is a superior fighter and when dealing with a superior fighter you do not waste any motion. Here the Young Obi Wan twirls his lightsaber in a showy motion. Upon twirling, he is promptly kicked in the face.
Here Lord Maul is fighting with only one half of his staff. Lord Maul is in the Waki stance. Lord Maul's lightsabre is completely hidden from our view, and partially hidden from Obi Wan's view.
Once again the Young Obi Wan is caught with his feet placed to close. Stand up and imaging you have a saber in your hand standing as Obi Wan, now Strike downwards. No power. Here At least Qui Gon has improved his foot work. Obi Wan is slashing down in a classical DO cut. While Qui Gon is using the seldom seen KESA GIRI strike. Lord Maul is already parrying Obi Wan's Strike to meet the strike of Qui Gon Jinn.
This picture shows the pure fighting skills of Darth Maul. Lord Maul is a Warrior, but he realizes that by staying staggnent when fighting two skilled warriors is suicide. Lord Maul employs a strategical Withdrawl. Darth Maul forces his attackers to do as he bids. This is important. If you are fighting two people at once, keep moving. Make your opponents trip over each other.
You will be victorious if you read all of the Fighting sections you find here. Take this knowledge, put it to use, and defeat your enemies.
