The Assistant-Blademaster's Guide to Makashi

[Lord Iezkon]

The Assistant-Blademaster’s Guide to Makashi

Introduction

Makashi is the second form of lightsaber combat, created as the lightsaber evolved and Form I was seen as a clumsy form for the more modern weapons that were wielded, the modern lightsaber of now compared with the protosaber of old. Form II can also be called the Contention Form, or the Way of the Ysalamiri. It is widely renowned for its capability in duelling combat, and thus gains the colloquial name ‘the duelling form’. Founded on all that the first form is not: finesse, elegance, and focus. The Ysalamiri are detailed further in Sith Kelsa’s ‘The Way of the Ysalamiri - A Produce of Focus’, but they are an agile, swift creature, negating the power of those who attack them. This is exactly where Makashi gets one of its names from. It is worth noting that they are anchored to the trees in which they reside - swift and nimble in their ability to negate the Force, but rather stationary in all other regards.  The issue often had by Makashi users is that, while they are often forces to be reckoned with in single combat, the form is inefficient against multiple opponents, or those wielding blaster weapons. Thus, as blaster weaponry increased, the use of Makashi in combat settings became less and less, as it became more likely to meet blaster-wielding opponents than those wielding lightsabers.

For many hundreds of years, Shii-Cho had the monopoly on lightsaber combat, primarily for the sheer weight of weaponry not making itself ideal for more refined forms like Makashi. However, as the technology moved forwards, making way for the more lightweight and efficient lightsabers with an internal power supply, forms such as Makashi were able to come to the forefront of lightsaber combat. Makashi allows for the intellectual side of duelling and lightsaber combat to come to light, rather than the more simple, impulse-informed haste of its preceding Form. Being as reliant on fluidity, conservation of energy, and economical strikes, every movement, attack, and defence is taken into the mind of the practitioner, such that they are prepared for any eventuality in their duels.

One can appreciate the way in which Makashi was built by looking at that which came before, and observing the way that the Way of the Ysalamiri’s attack patterns differ, build on, and plug holes left by its predecessor. It’s emergence came when saber-to-saber combat was becoming more common, and Shii-Cho was inefficient for this purpose. Utilising jabs and cuts, rather than hack-and-slash movements, Form II is a result of Form I’s failures. The focus on avoiding disarmament from your opponent, conserving energy as best as possible, and sheer efficiency, makes Makashi a force to be reckoned with in one-to-one lightsaber combat.

Makashi’s philosophy is one of focus, clarity, and certainty, fostering a mindset of constant awareness. This constant awareness is one of the form’s greatest strengths, as a Makashi master is able to predict the moves of their opponent and respond accordingly with their own attacks. This works best due to a doctrine used by all Makashi users: Contentious Opportunity.

Contentious Opportunity

Contentious Opportunity is the ability to recognise weaknesses in your opponent and thinking on your feet to know how to use this for your own benefit. These weaknesses could be weak bladework, poor footwork, fatigue among others, and a Makashi user will spot these, and begin their assault to exploit the weakness presented with swift offensive moves. Using this, the practitioner can elegantly and efficiently outmaneuver their opponent with a precise and focused moveset.

Additionally, it is valuable to note the Makashi Riposte, which is a technique used after successful redirection of an incoming attack. The Makashi Duellist will immediately counterattack, creating their own opportunities, as well as simply exploiting those presented by their opponent. Where other forms prefer overwhelming attacks, Makashi is calculated and controlled, a Makashi user does not work on impulses or uncertainty, but on certainty and clear opportunities. Thus, the Makashi duellist often finds their control outmatches their opponents impulsivity.

In Combat

Makashi is a form whose elegance often speaks for itself, though without much further analysis, the footwork can appear almost simple. Moving forwards and backwards, being efficient and economical, and maintaining distance from one’s opponents. However, a true Form II practitioner must be aware of their every move, a single misstep being enough to cost them the duel. Built upon the conservation of one’s energy, Makashi allows the user to continue their offence with minimal fatigue. Often, an advanced Makashi user will find success in fighting Shii-Cho or Ataru users, as these both utilise full body movements and do not think deeply on conserving speed, but instead focus on generating momentum. Thus, a Makashi user - who remains entirely grounded throughout their combat - can bide their time, eventually making a fight ending attack, after their opponent has exhausted themselves.

While utilising Makashi, there are a number of types of footwork to consider, which are primarily focused upon two circles; the major and minor duelling circles. The former, the Major Duelling Circle, is the space in which the practitioner is duelling. This accounts for the position of the user, and their opponent, and makes up the distance one should keep from their opponent at any given time within the duel. The latter, the Minor Duelling Circle, is the personal space of the user, or that of their opponent, wherein they are out of reach of one another. Now, if we were to imagine a straight line which passes through the center of the Minor Circles belonging to each duellist, and extends infinitely in either direction. This line would, quite aptly, be referred to as the Line of Infinity. This line is where a Makashi duellist utilises their Corridor footwork: Moving back and forth along this line, in a linear fashion. This is where some will gain the impression that Makashi footwork is simple, but the sheer thought and finesse which goes into perfecting this makes it just one of many complex attributes of the form.

From footwork, to bladework, to every motion considered, a Makashi user is thorough and economical. It is, however, for this very reason that Form II doesn’t harbour the wide strikes and full body motions required to properly counter multiple opponents or blasterfire. Indeed, the prevalence of blaster technology only became widespread after Makashi had already been created, thus resulting in the oversight in countering such weaponry.

Utilising Makashi allows a focused, nimber, and precise set of moves. While you are more vulnerable to large groups of enemies, or more predictable saber forms, study of the aspects of the other saber forms does indeed assist in ensuring you are not vulnerable in this manner. Mastery of Makashi brings about a mindset wherein the user senses, feels or predicts the movements of their opponent and knows how to respond to each in less than a moment’s notice: instinctive and near-perfect with each rebuttal. Often, this allows the user to avoid being placed in a position which their Form cannot counteract. A Makashi Master will learn to predict where many would aim to be unpredictable.

Training Makashi

The first thing to contend with when you intend to train Makashi is that it is the polar opposite to Shii-Cho. While the basics of lightsaber combat as a whole still apply, and these fundamentals must not be forgotten, the way in which they are applied varies quite drastically from its precursor. The use of the lightsaber is much more precise: this is primarily due to the fact that at its time of creation, the lightsaber had evolved into a much more lightweight weapon than years prior. Additionally, it comes from the ability to counter Shii-Cho - what is better to halt an opponent who swings and arches than with short, sharp, and efficient movements?

To begin here, we will discuss the most ‘typical’ Makashi opening stance. This begins with feet a shoulder width apart, with the non-dominant foot turned at a 45 degree angle. Blade held in the dominant hand, in a relaxed grip, with the body angled in the same direction as the non-dominant foot, to minimise the area where the opponent is able to strike. To signify the beginning of a duel with a worthy opponent, the practitioner may utilise the Makashi Salute, which consists of bringing your blade in front of your face, moving it down into a slash to your dominant side and behind you. Often followed with a Makashi Flourish, which consists of creating a series of quick ‘x’ shapes in the air with the tip of the blade. This, then, leads into the opening stance. While these steps are not essential, they are a staple of Makashi duelling.

Then, the next step towards learning Makashi is to master the footwork. As described above, there are layers of complexity to the footwork considered with the form. The more simple of the two is the corridor footwork, linear movement along the Line of Infinity in a forwards or backwards motion. This is where the most focus must be during a duel, as one’s position on the Line of Infinity determines the capability to attack, defend and maneuver within the duel. While I call this simple, the dedication of one’s focus on this kind of footwork leaves little room for luck, but it is a product of concentration and precision. To move with Corridor Footwork requires a calculated decision with each step taken. In order to begin working on this in particular, it is ideal to move in line with a certain point in front of you, whether this is your opponent or some other notable point during individual training, and practice some of the more precise and nimble movements of Makashi without deviating from the Line of Infinity you find yourself and your opponent (real or imagined) on at every point in your duel. However, a vital note here is that Corridor Footwork is not the only way to use Makashi: To utilise only linear footwork during a duel - especially against one stronger than yourself - is to condemn yourself to a premature grave.

The next stage is the focus on the Major and Minor Duelling Circles, which have been described above. While these are more complex notions, for they exist only as an imagined circle encompassing the duellists, they are vital to begin working towards true mastery of Makashi. The footwork encapsulated in these two circles is not a set of moves in any particular direction, but a way in which the space is defined, and which we can utilise the area in which we duel. I would recommend, in the early days of training with this form, becoming familiar with the two circles; playing with distance and space, such that it eventually becomes instinct. You know that when your opponent moves in one way, attacks in another, you respond using not only your body, and the blade, but the space around you itself.

Finally, the only way to learn a form in a practical sense is to put that which you read into action, or gain a lesson from one already well versed in it. Thus, this guide serves only as an introduction to the form, to be used in conjunction with practice. The best way to learn to fight is to fight, regardless of the form you choose to fight with.

(*Post by Eddi Arkiti.*)