Form II: A Report, by Acolyte Nedhorroc

[Rhysand Sekker]

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Form II, also known as Makashi or the contention form, is one of the most ancient, precise and conservative lightsaber forms out there. It is specialized in lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat and is therefore a direct descendant from form I, Shii-Cho, which was developed in the transitional period from metal swords to lightsabers, in a time before the Sith Order. Therefore, it did not deal with the issue of lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat.

History:

Makashi (pronounced: Muu-kaa-shee) was created by the Jedi after the First Great Schism, to deal with the issue of lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat, in which Shii-Cho was lacking.

Makashi is usually described as elegant and focused and is based on balance and footwork to outmanoeuvre opponents. Fluidity, precision, and economy of motion were relied on, rather than strength, with Form II bladework heavily utilizing jabs and light cuts rather than hack and slash movements. Overall, the form was at its fore when engaged in combat against a single enemy duelist. However, after the Hundred Year Darkness saw the destruction of most of the galaxy's Dark Jedi, the chances of encountering a lightsaber-wielding opponent drastically decreased, which caused a wane in Makashi’s popularity.

In the intervening years, the Great Hyperspace War and the Old Sith Wars began and ended in fits and starts, which caused the appearance of Dark Jedi and other lightsaber-wielding opponents to take on a sporadic pattern. This, combined with the increasing availability of blaster technology, resulted in ever-increasing numbers of blaster-wielding opponents, rarely any lightsaber-wielding opponents. As Makashi has been designed strictly for blade-to-blade combat, it lacks an effective means of combating enemies with projectile weapons. Due to this oversight, Makashi lost a great deal of its practical applicability, and over time it faded into relative obsolescence.

Technique:

Form II has little to no defence against blaster-wielding enemies, being mostly focused on duelling other lightsaber-wielding opponents such as Jedi or Knights of Zakuul.

The early levels of Makashi are devised to provide a defence against an opponent's blade, allowing an initiate in the style to defend himself with minimal effort, but needing to be paired with a more offensive style to score a winning blow. The higher levels of the form proved considerably more effective. Form II bladework encourages precision and efficiency over power, using jabs, parries and light cuts rather than slashes, blocks and chops. The blade manipulation required for this form was very calculated, requiring intense focus and expert timing. It is described as elegant, powerful and precise, relying on feints to confuse and trap opponents. These refinements allowed a user of the form to attack and defend with minimal energy expenditure. Makashi also places a great deal of emphasis on footwork in both attack and defence. The footwork of Form II practitioners commonly follows a single line, front and back, shifting the feet to keep in perfect balance as the practitioner advances and retreats.

Sources:

IC:

“The Art of the Lightsaber”, by lord Tokiai

“Small report: Makashi”, by apprentice Zephra Aeros

OOC:

Star Wars wiki

The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force

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