Form 1

[Sarias]

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[This document has been approved by both the Blademaster and Overseers for its content and publishing in the Acolyte Archives.]

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[Form 1 / Shii-Cho / The Way of the Sarlacc]

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General Information

The first of the ancient forms; intended to serve as the foundation for all of swordsmanship. Upon first glance, one may ascribe a negative view to the style due to it's simplicity and basic technique, yet people commonly overlook the intricacy that is allowed due to that. A beauty in the elementary if you will. This simplistic nature is likewise one of the reasons it's taught as the first form Sith Acolytes learn. It is the only form in which the physical, mental, and spiritual requirements are all easily acquired by the inexperienced and the style in which can serve as the building blocks for the future. The substructure of any methodology is by far the most important aspect, hence why true understanding of Form 1 is essential towards your future in saber forms. Despite this, however, I've found that many seem to neglect that importance and rush so eagerly to the other forms arguably before their understanding is prime.
One of the primary functions of Shii-Cho is to deal with multiple opponents. This is in my personal opinion the reason behind the title: "The Determination Form". The ability of crowd control is incredibly important - something noted and embellished on in one of my previous essays I shall link here:
[multiple opponents - guide - jaxen varn]
To "determine" the motions and movements of your opponents. To direct where they are and how they will act in response to your own movements is a skill few manage to master due to the difficulty and myriad of variables like footwork, positioning, attack choice and the opponent themselves. Directing one opponent's attack into another enemy. Separating enemies to allow easier focus on a more advantageous few. There are so many extraneous skills to be introduced when using Shii-Cho, though that is not to say that there aren't skills built-in to the form itself. The most notable being it's long sweeping attack motions to make attack and defense against such scenarios easier and then of course the Sarlacc sweep. All of which we shall note later in this document. Furthermore, this focus on multiple control -could- be used to propose that the form is therefore weakest when fighting a single opponent, perhaps the weakest of all forms in that aspect. The final things of worth to acknowledge is an asset of its foundational structure, it's use as a fallback form. When the other more complex forms fail one can rarely find it difficult to revert to the basics of Shii-Cho as a last resort. Though whether this would provide a particular advantage in scenarios is another question entirely - especially after analysis of form one's strengths and weaknesses.

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Genesis

The history of Form 1 is ambiguous. It states in the archive texts that it was gradually formed over the continued prominence of blades in combat - all the way up to the invention of the proto-saber used tens of thousands of years before our current time. Dating use of the proto saber back to the times of the hundred years of darkness and first great schism. However the form itself was developed long before the separation of Jedi and Dark Jedi, thus lightsaber on lightsaber combat was both incredibly rare to do and very much not encouraged - meaning Shii-Cho's focus was not for such action. History states that this was the reason for the development of Form 2, therefore I can deduce that Form 2's purpose is saber on saber combat. Though beyond that I'm currently ignorant.
One of the queries I've been contemplating is the idea that Form 1 and perhaps subsequently Form 2 were both developed with the mind of a proto-saber wielder. If so, is there a particular trend or type of movement that can be attributed to taking into consideration the strengths and weaknesses of the proto-saber; such as the power pack and cable. Besides the obvious reasons, is there an underlying reasoning behind the simplistic movements? Perhaps to avoid tugging or cutting the cable that connects to the power-supply? An interesting thought regarding saber form development.
Although the form was certainly practiced and formed over the course of a long era, it was only legitimized as "Form 1" long afterwards when practice of it was both codified and finished.

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Stance

Opening Stance:
The opening stance consists of a two-handed grip on the hilt, held in front of the navel with the blade angled upwards or downwards forty-five degrees. Feet spread shoulder width apart, posture angled forward, followed by the set of standards regarding dominant foot position. Extension of the dominant foot is the form in an inherently defensive manner. Vice versa signifying the offensive posture.
Ideal Form:
A purely non-combative variant of the form in which you partake in the same positioning, yet attacks are done vertically and horizontally. Whilst defensive motions are completely perpendicular to the foreseen attack. Useful for very basic training.
Live Combat Form:
This takes the ideal form and embellishes it with diagonal movements, emphasizing speed and the efficiency of movement when reaching such speed. More complicated than the Ideal to suit that of a combative scenario in which all angles become a possibility.
Hasso Guard
The variant of the guard that protects body target zones 1-4, consisting of a guard in front of the navel with the blade angle shifted such that an incoming strike will hit a diagonal surface. This allows a blade to slide up/down upon impact and forfeits their opportunity to get a grip of your blade. Showing how even the smallest of movements can determine scenarios in a fight greatly.
Reverse Hasso Guard
This is essentially the practice of scooping motions to attacks directed towards the legs.

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Body Target Zones

Zone 1 - Head/neck
Zone 2&3 - Either sides of the body
(Zone 2 - The enemy's right side)
(Zone 3 - The enemy's left side)
Zone 4 - Strikes towards the torso and back
Zone 5&6 - Either sides of the legs
(Zone 5 - The enemy's right side)
(Zone 6 - The enemy's left side)

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Marks of Contact/Maneuvers

Cho Mai – Cutting off an opponent’s weapon hand
Cho Mok – Cutting off an opponent’s limb
Cho sun – Cutting off an opponent’s weapon arm
Sha Cha – Beheading
Sai Tok – Cutting an opponent in half
Shiak – A stabbing
Shiim – Minute wound usually shallow in nature
Mou Kai – Dismembering multiple limbs
Sun Djem – Normal disarming
The Sarlacc Sweep (Spinning sweep to slash multiple foes at once)

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Guidelines

• Due to the era in which it was created, especially in regards to the development before and during Dark Jedi arose, one of the form's primary focuses comes in the form of disarming techniques. Thus one of the main objectives is to capitalize on this already predestined outcome when partaking in the form. Applying a Sun Djem, Shiim or Cho Mai in just the correct way, disarming an enemy, can win you a fight almost certainly should the opponent be unprepared.
  
• Be versatile. One of the other desired characteristics of the form is credited to that of unpredictability and a form of randomness. This is not to say that you should necessarily go outside of the basic movements of the form to catch an enemy off-guard, however not broadcasting every intended movement is what I believe is the ideal.
  
• Attacking in the form tends to keep to sweeping and arcing motions. This is to aid in it's goal of being effective against multiple opponents, however likewise can add additional strength and motion to the swings, using a lot of the upper body and twisting of the hips in such actions.
  
• Although it is not required, it is usually appropriate to stick to the six body target zones when deciding where you wish to attack and defend. Horizontal and vertical blocks to those zones will save your life, whether in a normal or drop parry.
  

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Three Rings of Defense

The third fundamental facet to blade-work in general, alongside body target zones and marks of contact, is the three rings of defense. Each ring represents a particular sequence of defense against attacks that are aimed at particular body target zones.
Consisting of the Inner, Middle and Outer rings with each their own style of defense.
Inner ring - Primary defense of this ring lies in parries instead of direct blocks to defend against actions like lunges. The blade is kept close to the body, hilt covering the navel and tip of the blade angled so that attacks can be picked up on the lower 1/3 and diverted to the side to counter attack with a riposte to the opponents stomach. This was the last line of defense due to it's risk on both defense and attack.
Middle Ring - This ring has four guard positions: high, low, left and right. The middle ring is designed for quicker defenses towards attacks aimed with speed. Also very effective to defend against blaster bolts.
Outer Ring - Similar to the Middle Ring, the Outer Ring has another four guard positions: upper right, upper left, lower right, lower left. This ring was stylized with wide sweeping heavy attacks which sacrifice speed for strength. Perhaps the favored ring for Shii-Cho maneuvers.

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Advice

Although obvious due to Shii-Cho's use of crowd control, it is commonly forgotten that in retrospect of this, advancing on an enemy is heavily encouraged in combat. To be aggressive and gain ground is vital for control, especially if you can manage to cut off the vectors an opponent has use of. To back an enemy into the corner, effectively hampering both their offense and defense an astonishing amount. Some come to know this as a form of "Sokan" - the use of the environment in a battle. Upon deliberation, one could possibly link this to the use of wide arcing strikes and sequences, with its ability to restrict the angles of an opponent and subsequently the retaliation and maneuverability they are allowed to express.
When training with the Ideal form, it is important to start with simple sequences that can be smoothly transitioned into one another. Once moderately comfortable with said sequences, advance onto velocities, requiring the aid of another who likewise knows the sequences to act as a respondent. Proceed to attack and defend against each other, using the sequences, Body Target Zones, Rings of Defense, and Marks of Contact, in a slow and methodical manner. Slowly advancing both the speed and reaction-time with continued training.
Shiim is the most notable of the Marks of Contact for Form one. Incorporating a minimal, minute, wound to the attacker. Yet despite it's shallow effect, it can be incredibly important when used correctly. One of the first things I learned came from Lord Kalkoran himself, in which he detailed how the process of breaking an enemy down over the course of the fight was essential to allow the final finishing blow. If the Shiim contact is anything - it is certainly a tool to enact this. I find it personally best to Shiim specific target zones to hinder qualities of a fighter, examples including: attacks to zone 5 and 6, hindering substantial movement, attacks to zone 2 and 3 to hinder weapon defense and attack or to contribute to efforts of disarming.
Do not apply too much body weight into the attacks of Shii-Cho - it's arcing motions should allow more than enough leverage for strength and such weight orientation prohibits both precision and balance. This is far from a classic view on Shii-Cho, however is something I have personally given thought to and included in this document.
When you finish a velocity attack, retract the blade back to position swiftly for a just defense to possible counter-actions. Again, not something attributed solely to Shii-Cho, yet an important lesson I learned when sparring with Apprentice Sekker due to it almost costing me a leg.
When facing more than one enemy, make sure all enemies are within 180% placement. To forfeit the entire 360% and allow them to capitalize off of your blindness and inability to defend all angles will result in your rightful death for being so foolish. Remain mobile, ideally offensive in nature, though the assault on ground spacing is less important than that of keeping opponents in line of sight and defense.

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Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths:

• Strong against multiple adversaries
  
• Versatile yet inherently simple
  
• Body, mind and spiritual requirements low
  
• Impressive in it's focus/ability with disarming techniques
  

Weaknesses:

• The form falls short in single one-to-one combat, especially against Form 2 practitioners.
  
• The wide motions suggest a weakness to Zone 4 attacks such as Shiaks, especially when wind-up gestures are necessary in the velocities of Shii-Cho
  

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Last Notes

One of the last things that weighs on my mind is the justification behind the title "The Way of the Sarlacc" in which I am still perplexed with. Is it in association with the creature's long lifespan? The simplicity and foundational temperament allowing its use as a "fall-back form" and thus justifying why beyond all other forms it will continue to thrive in years to come. A statement of its unwavering inertia? Or is it regarding the concept of crowd control. Something I will have to ask those more knowledgeable.
For now that is the end of this document summarizing the collective knowledge of the archives, myself, my superiors and the ancients that created Form 1. I will continue to update this should my knowledge grow or should new developments come to light.

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