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***Meatslopper*** · 29-04-2023, 04:02 AM

Name of Niman
[The history of the name, the Legion of Lettow and the first great schism]

The Diplomat Form
[Moving past the diplomatic stigma]

The Path of the Changebringer
[The path to Niman, the philosophical and training elements of Niman]

The Sixth Form
[The Classical Stances and 13 Techniques. the core of the bladework.]

The Tricksters Form
[Niman isn’t just tricks but it has them. additional “tricks” to improve your form; Sokan, Don Moch, Trakata]

The Moderation Form
[The Sin of Modulation, the formula for integration; Jar’kai, the Force, Hand to Hand and other forms.]

The Way of the Rancor
[How it relates to the Rancor. Dulons, Velocities and Sparring, putting it all together.]

The Challengers Form
[Parting words, references, notes]

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***Meatslopper*** · (This post was last modified: 29-04-2023, 04:05 AM by Meatslopper.)

The Name of Niman

There were three schisms in the Jedi Order. The one that is most known to us is the Second Great Schism for its happening is what ultimately created the Sith. The Dark Jedi who were cast aside by the Order, founded a new one, based on superior ideals.

The First Great Schism however did first create the Legion of Lettow, a name that stands almost solely through its creation of the name Niman. They did not create the form itself, the style itself when beneath them was one of two blades more akin to Jar’kai, the name one to represent the two gods of the Kashi Mer, a society so forgotten to history that it only serves a point here.

General Xendor, a Kashi Mer man and the founder of the Legion of Lettow was an interesting man, though a strange person, who was wrong in really just a lot of ways. He was the first one historically to ignite such a large fracture as the Great Schism. Denied the ability to learn or to teach beyond the confines of the order on Ossus or to build upon the Dark Side’s teaching, he created his own Academy on Lettow against the wishes of the Order.

For the crime of existing, for the crime of wishing to place himself above the constraints and chains of the Jedi. Together they brought war. Two ideas clashed as they often do and in the end, the Legion of Lettow fell.

But even if he died with much of his legion on Columbus, as the Republic showed its traitorous hand by refusing aid, his loyal right hand, Arden Lyn would then lead his defeated Legions for a time before eventually being slain herself.

Xendor and his Legion are from an unrefined era but they are proof of three things:

One.That Niman’s name origin comes from a questioner, a challenger, perhaps the first one of any success, of the Jedi, of their limitations, it comes from someone who was adaptable in war, who’s ultimate end was dying a warrior’s death in hand to hand combat on the field of battle.

Two. That even in death and defeat, their chosen form’s name carried on, handed on, to a new form along with their other ideas because they died in action and refused to compromise in their ambition and left a legacy of doubt in the minds of the Je’daii, one that would historically aid in the the Second Great Schism and the birth of the Sith as we know it.

Three. That Xandor’s openness to new ideas may also have been very well what caused his downfall in part. That in attempting to meld the different cultural ideas he did together, may have had a detrimental effect on his legions, skilled warriors no doubt, but in encouraging alien ideas that could not meld led to a lack of unifying principles in his ranks and in that disunity of purpose he allowed his vanguard to be cut off and him with it. This is one of the worst failings of bad Niman.

Xandor is a really interesting figure. Xandor’s legacy in a way is Niman in both its potential failures and successes. He adopted creativity, challenged himself and the false doctrine that bound him, but the tradition he built in its place accepted too many conflicting ideas and allowed itself to be weakened, along with his army.

It was unrefined or even improperly defined. There is no better word for it and it needed a core to define itself by, that would only come after it passed.

Spoiler: Sourcing

***Meatslopper*** · (This post was last modified: 29-04-2023, 04:07 AM by Meatslopper.)

The Diplomats Form

There is nothing wrong with being a diplomat, many, many great Sith have held that role, however to claim this form as one for negotiation is a Jedi idea. Niman is flexible and less physically demanding, with a series of more standard techniques at its base and does often for the integration of Force techniques more common in your less combatively active Sith, this does allow it to fall into the hands of those less actively involved in seeking violence.

However. As anyone should learn in Acolytehood, violence comes to all Sith. No matter the job all are warriors of a kind, expected to, should the day come draw their blade and defend themselves or their position. This is what makes Niman perfect for the diplomat, but when giving something a name you have to consider the implications beyond just a first glance.

To claim that Niman is for the diplomat, the inquisitor, alone or even primarily, is an often mistaken and terrible idea one could get from the name. This can be seen proven wrong in the Dark Lord Exar Kun, an excellent duelist who was undefeated in single combat, all the way until his death, buried in a tomb on Yavin 4. He had a ravenous hunger for knowledge and would likely never have stopped expanding his form.

The name The Diplomats Form is not entirely inaccurate as it is lax but adaptable nature allows it’s basic techniques to be effective for the less directly combatant but to a warrior, to a blademaster or a duelist it is a flawed one and I would like to in this document, move past it to discuss the actual merits of the form beyond its ease of access.

***Meatslopper*** · (This post was last modified: 29-04-2023, 04:09 AM by Meatslopper.)

The Path of the Changebringer

The Path of the Changebringer’s origins are kinda plainly and explicitly the creation of a reputed madman, the former Sith Ashana in his document. Within his document “Form IV: Niman.” It’s.. an interesting document and one not all that informative to the reality of combat but its general philosophical conceits are decent enough I suppose for the foundation. The balance of multiple tactics achieved in a single variant or available option to the form as a whole.

These are what you must learn first individually to study Niman and drill many times over often together, oftentimes seperate to Master Niman. You may train these in any order, outside of the first and last, which must be studied in this order.

See and Prepare
The Element of Order

Probe, Observe, Evaluate. This is the formula Sith Ashana defines the opening strategy of Niman to later define what tactics will then be used in the combat to follow. He is not incorrect. Understanding an opponent is a good part of beating them, but I correlate them together under “see and prepare”, in practice though one may echo Sith Ashana’s words in training or with a familiar opponent you may engage in the ritual process of testing the response, observing and then evaluating how to approach them. It is more practical in real scenarios to see something and then prepare for the next move, motion or strategy. One may probe for further information but one must also understand that, that information is not always so open or so easy to read and should consider their goal foremost, beat the enemy, without being defeated in doing so. Through our inability to achieve this we learn how to achieve it in the next strike, next fight, next day.

Outmaneuver:
The Element of Air

Sith Ashana describes this as if based upon the element of water. I see its traits far more in air, on Drumond Kaas, we’ve all had that experience of hiding from the rain, of ducking into shelter, only for the wind to pick up in the opposite direction and catch us completely off guard. The wind can get under the hood of your cloak, the winds can be gentle and graceful or swiftly harsh, able to move around in impossible to predict directions as the weather changes. If you kneel unmoving for a time you will feel the variety and inescapability of wind.

Air teaches us movement, striking from fluid and adaptable angles and to be able to strike from anywhere at any distance.

It is learnt through the study of Sokan, Ataru, Makashi and Shien.

It is expressed in Niman’s graceful but often simple movement, its ability to shift around guards and to open up from a long distance to occupy or to hurt.

Overwhelm:
The Element of Water

If you have ever studied the waterfall of the Horuset Estate, the relentless rapids of Vykos or the at the time of writing this the busted dam of Equanos. That water can hit like a truckspeeder, it can slam into you relentlessly like a wall of force or drag you beneath with tidal force. It can be calm, still, strong or weak. No matter what state Water is in, it promises change and flow, from ice melting to the soft pool that hides riptides.

Water teaches flow and adaptability, its movements and various forms give us insight into adaptability and the process of adapting a single substance through multiple paths, water is however often guided through them.

This is learnt through among others the study of Shii Cho, Shien, variants such as Jar’kai, and Light Force Integration.

It is expressed by Niman’s ability to attack and defend in harmonic motions using both hands effectively , its adaptive nature seen in the many variants built to allow and lastly its graceful flow of motion.

Overpower:
The Element of Fire

Sit upon the hearth of the mess or the fires of the meditation room and see that fire grows and shrinks in size, that when fueled by air it gains strength but loses it’s consistency, feel the warmth of the body and the breath exhaled from within with every scream, every shout emphasises the power of the body.

The strongest strikes and most aggressive strikes are fueled by fire. This is learnt through the training of Shii Cho, Ataru, Djem So or Juyo and Heavy Force Integration.

It is expressed by Niman in the powerful and direct. Though proper Niman allows for both integration and balance, at times what is required if given the space more direct methods to overpower their guard, Force Lightning for instance must be more fully committed to once the opening is made and that is fire. It burns bright and as opportunity is made through the other techniques the fire must swell at some point, but understanding the proper time to use it so it does not burn out entirely is key in managing it.
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Withstand:
The Element of Earth

Never waver, never relent. The words that defined Djem So and the Kalkoran Powerbase, are too referred to in the core of Niman. Earth is the element of immovability, of unwavering defence until they themselves sharpen you into the best weapon. It is about durability and defence, but also knowing when to move for the most optimal effect, with earthquakes able to take even the more prepared off guard. It is endurance incarnate, when all else fails embody earth and move not one inch further back.

The most stalwart of defences are born from earth. This is learnt from among others Soresu, Djem So and Defensive Heavy Force Integration.

Realism:
The Element of Chaos

The final element. While you may train the others individually, realism is the reality of combat and where they will all be tested, the galaxy is continually random and often only suffering, the peak is defined by the lowest points and the peak is only ever temporary. The ideal scenario does not exist in live combat and this is where all the various techniques exist to be balanced and placed into reality. All forms are composites of the different elemental techniques, if you are practising Fire like aggression alone you will know only one aspect of the galaxy around you.

Niman is a form of realism, of flexibility and adaptability. To learn Niman you should learn the various elements that incorporate it but chaos moves them beyond the conceptual into actuality, it is from here we start to walk the path of constant change and find ourselves and our centre. It is learnt through live training and general experience in the life of the Sith. Every day is dangerous to a Sith. It is this fundamental principle that even the diplomats understand but must then be transferred to combat.

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Spoiler: Inspiration

***Meatslopper*** · 29-04-2023, 04:10 AM

The Sixth Form

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Niman is the Sixth Form of lightsaber combat. It is first and foremost one of the forms, which may seem mostly redundant but in terms of Niman, this can almost be weirdly shocking to some people. The idea that Niman has any structure whatsoever or a real set of codified techniques of its own can be thought of in really strangeways. Yes, Niman adheres to the idea of combat realism and flexibility, but ultimately it still has an array of core, fundamental techniques that form the mechanics of the form, just as a Speeder kinda needs a baseline of internals to make it function, as too does Niman it’s basic thirteen fundamental techniques.
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The Classical Stances
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Though Niman is flexible in its stances more so than others, it has several classically used by the form.

[The Diplomats Guard] One hand presenting the palm forward, the other holding the blade behind, pointed outwards from the body and down at an angle. Both legs flex slightly at the knees.
Example A:Esme holding the weapon in her right hand, held behind and slanted out rightwards. She holds her left hand extended in front of her.

[The Moderation Guard] The Mainhand holds the blade outwards from the shoulder either straight or pointing slightly up towards the opponent, the offhand rests upon the upper chest, open and in the same direction as the mainhand, with the feet evenly spaced.
Example A: Esme held the weapon in her right hand in front straight out from her shoulder, presenting her side to the opponent, the other hand sat upon her chest.

[Two Handed Low Guard] The feet are close together with either the left or right foot in front. The hilt is held in both hands at the hip with the blade pointing backwards to the left.
Example A: Esme holds the hilt in both hands sitting by her left hip with the blade pointing backwards and downwards.

[Two Handed High Guard] The feet are a little further apart, the blade is held above the head, hilt in front and the blade only slightly angled back. It’s very similar to Djem So in posture, but less committal.
Example A: Esme holds the hilt in both hands above her head, the blade is pointed up and slanted slightly backwards.

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The Thirteen Techniques of Niman
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1 - The Chopping Technique:
Fire Technique

It is a downwards cut delivered with the top-three thirds of your blade, in an overhead circular motion. It can be delivered in one hand or two, done vertically or diagonally with the two handed strike familiar to those of the Djem So or Shii Cho discipline and the one-handed strikes more similar to its counterpart Shien. In the one-handed strike, the offhand comes back to balance it out, as you step in. These can be delivered more directly from overhead, or completely around from the blade being held behind in one of the Niman opening stances.

Example A:
One Handed Vertical
Esme held the weapon in the [Diplomats Guard].She steps in on her right foot bringing the lightsaber in an overhead chop aimed vertically to the head, her offhand drawing backwards in a low circular motion to be brought up around back..

Example B:
Two Handed Vertical
Esme holds the weapon in the [Two-Handed High-Guard]. She draws it backwards overhead before quickly releasing it in a two handed, Shii Cho esque vertical chop in a circular motion.

Example C:
One Handed Diagonal
Esme holding the [Moderation Guard] stepped in suddenly leftwards at an diagonal angle, bringing the weapon overhead into a fast downwards diagonal chop at an invisible shoulder, offhand pulling back sharply.

Example B:
Two Handed Vertical
Esme holds the weapon in the [Two-Handed High-Guard]. She draws it backwards overhead before quickly releasing it in a two handed, Shii Cho esque vertical chop in a circular motion.

Example C:
One Handed Diagonal
Esme holding the [Moderation Guard] stepped in suddenly leftwards at an diagonal angle, bringing the weapon overhead into a fast downwards diagonal chop at an invisible shoulder, offhand pulling back sharply.
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2 - The Strike Technique:
Air Technique

A one-handed strike split into straight and reverse, the offhand generally resting near the hilt, to be drawn out parallel overhead, to tighten post impact but not necessarily, just like the chop it is delivered with the first third of the blade. It is achieved by a small twist of the wrist and relaxation of the elbow to strike. But the motion of the wrist allows you to displace an incoming strike while attacking.

Example A:
Straight Strike
Esme holds the [Moderation Guard]. The Droid thrusts at her chest. She takes a half-step forward, twisting her wrist, to displace the incoming thrust from the training droid and strike with the top third of her blade, drawing a small cut left to right.

Example B:
Reverse Strike
Esme holds the [Moderation Guard]. The Droid stabs at her chest. She stepped inwards, flicking the weapon out rightwards, knocking off a thrust from the droid and opening up its chest for rebuttal, her blade over it’s.

Example C:
Reverse Strike To Hand
Esme holds the [Moderation Guard]. The Droid takes a stab at her. She stepped leftwards avoiding a thrust and flicking the weapon out rightwards to catch the opposing foe's hand with the first third of her blade.
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3 - The Slicing Technique:
The Element of Water

Alike to the swing of a Rancor’s arm. These are circular swings done from any numerous directions, striking through the motion often ascending from the hip upwards, horizontally or downwards in full or half-crescent like motion, to bring the blade to centre pointing forward or to carry across to the opposite side.

The offhand can be used with two fingers by the wrist to steady the weapon, brought in the opposite direction to balance or if done in the reverse direction, to swing in a full circle overhead to give it speed.

Example A:
Horizontal Slice
Esme holds the [Two-handed Low-Guard]. She stepped in on her left foot, releasing her off hand from the weapon and brought it upwards in a horizontal slice from left to right with the top third of the blade and the hilt ascending upwards to the right side of the body.

Example B:
Reverse Strike
Esme holding the weapon in her right hand, held behind and slanted out rightwards. She brought the lightsaber swinging in an upwards vertical half-circle, slicing the air it rests to point directly ahead her off-hand balancing it out.
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4 - The Drawing Technique:
The Element of Air

The drawing technique is retracting the blade from above, below or horizontally from inside the opponent’s guard with the intent to draw the blade along their form upon retreat. It allows for you to actively turn into the drawing motion behind guards and pull back defensively while injuring the opponent. The hilt is often drawn directly back to your hip and stomach.

Example A:
Drawing from above

Esme holding the hilt in her right hand with her blade held in slanted overtop The Droid’s horizontal sword in a bind, brought the hilt back to the left side of her stomach with the blade following, dragged diagonally across The Droid's shoulder , as she stepped leftwards and to the side.

Example B:
Drawing from below
Esme holding the hilt in her right hand with her blade slanted downwards pointing low. The Droid thrusted and she stepped left, breaking the centre line, flicking the blade up and drawing it back to her hip across its outstretched arm.

Example C:
Drawing horizontally with both hands
Esme holding the hilt in both hands held out and pointing forwards drawing directly backwards along the outside of The Droid's hands as she stepped backwards drawing the hilt to her hip.
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5 - The Dragging Technique:
The Element of Earth

Rather likely Soresu inspired technique. As a practitioner of Shien, this in particular is useful for countering forms just like it. Drawn up vertically, the form will have the blade point come upwards beneath the opposing guard to exploit their own motion to make contact while leaning back while in the horizontal the practitioner sorta steps in and inserts the blade either over or above the guard to exploit an opening, the offhand often acts as balance.

Example A:
Dragging vertically
Esme held the hilt in both hands with her blade angled below and pointing down.[/color] The Droid made a thrusting motion. Esme stepped backwards and left, dragging the point of the blade upwards to connect the back of the hand using its own motion against it.

Example B:
Dragging horizontally
Esme holds the weapon in the [Moderation Guard]. The Droid launched a one handed thrust at her chest. Esme stepped leftwards dragging the blade horizontally against the outside of the hand.[/color]
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6 - The Stabbing Technique:
The Element of Air

It’s a thrust, just like Makashi but slighter in its lunge to maintain an easier balance. It also often favours overhand and downwards thrusts, it’s rather useful to let blows pass over your chest then thrust overtop.

Example A:
One-handed Stab
Esme held the weapon in her both hands in front straight out from her hip. She lunged forward towards The Droid, her left hand releasing the blade to be swung out to the side for balance with her blade stabbing towards its centre.
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7 - The Tapping Technique:
The Element of Air

It is a downwards tap delivered entirely through the flick of the wrist to either defensively knock a weapon downwards or to offensively strike the wrist over top of the blade if it comes in low enough, generally can be combined with a step backwards.

Example A:
One-handed Tap
Esme holds the weapon in the [Two-Handed High-Guard]. The Droid swung with a horizontal sweep, Esme stepped back leaning her hips out of the way and throwing her legs back, releasing her offhand, she brought the blade downwards for a quick tap at the exposed hand.
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8 - The Flicking Technique:
The Element of Earth

The tap but in reverse. The hand is drawn taut and flicked upwards to intercede from below, this can act as a lot of Niman can as both defence and offence, by being subversive and stepping in laterally this can make a vertical strike up the outside of the arm while forming an easy guard position when done with one hand, when done with two it is normally done for the sake of leverage.

The reverse flicking comes up from below with a small counter circle and step over from your backfoot out back and behind, attempting to slice in a circular motion from below, both countering and often aimed at the wrist or lower arm in turn.

Example A:
One-handed Flick
Esme held the blade pointed low and to the ground. She snapped the hilt down and drew her hand taut to flick the blade upwards beneath an invisible hand.
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9 - The Checking Technique:
The Element of Earth

Or by my preferred name, the intercept technique. This can be achieved one-handed, with the offhand balancing with it and your form creating a semi-circle, it should be wide as if you are trying to hug a bear. It is then achieved by the rotation of the wrist and weapon. The bottom third or strong of the blade checks the opponent’s blade downwards and in the opposite direction of the person and the top third strike often in tandem at medium or close distances.

This is done either in a small rotation around and then downwards of the horizontal intercept and the larger motion of the left intercept, right intercept and reverse intercept with the left and right stepping and leaning into the opposite directions with the bottom of the blade checking the opponent’s blade downwards in the reverse intercept.

This avoids dragging or easy countercuts. This also gives options to achieve the real intent, slipping behind the guard of the opposition or in a large circular motion in the reverse intercept, to bring the weapon down and up, with the tip pointing downwards potentially able to score the leg.

Example A:
One-handed Horizontal Intercept
The Droid thrust at Esme’s chest. Esme in the [Moderation Guard] turned her wrist to bring her lightsaber around in a small motion to check the point with the strong to the left, the top third coming in from left to right to strike at its hand.

Example B:
One-handed Right Intercept
The Droid thrust at Esme’s chest. Esme in the [Moderation Guard] stepped leftwards on her lead-leg as she turned her wrist leftwards into a full clockwise rotation of the hand to check the blade with the strong exposing the right-side of the body for a countercut with her offhand reaching out to balance.

Example C:
One-handed Reverse Intercept
The Droid thrust at Esme’s chest. Esme in the [Moderation Guard] stepped leftwards with her back-leg leaning far in that direction with her offhand to balance. She twisted her hilt to have it rotate clockwise ending with the pommel pointing upwards and the blade pointing downwards, checking the thrust rightwards and up.
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10 - The Parrying Technique:
The Element of Water

The Parry is a common move in Niman. It is split in two, reversed and overturned.

Reversed Parrying steps in and brings the blade to parry from below this is generally this is for mid-range using the length, meanwhile Overturned Parrying sits at a closer range, like the reverse intercept it comes up from beneath to catch the offending blade on the length this time counter-clockwise, with the practitioner stepping in the opposite direction to the parry. The other hand will often extend for balance.

Example A:
Two-handed Reverse Parry
The Droid thrust at Esme’s chest. Esme in the [Two-Handed Low-Guard] turned her blade upwards to counter the blade beneath with the length letting her score a contact upon the droids hands.

Example B:
One-handed Overturned Parry
Esme in the [Moderation Guard] stepped back upon her leadfoot slightly and rotated her hand and forearm counterclockwise bringing the hilt past her shoulder and the blade slanted downwards to her right, balancing out with her left hand.
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11 - The Stirring Technique:
The Element of Water

Stirring is when the blade is rotated as if stirring a pot held out in front. The intent is to control the opponent's blade by the tip and open them up for a counter or if forceful enough twist their wrist into a disarm.

Example A:
One-handed Stirring
Esme in the [Moderation Guard] rotated her wrist and hand in a continual stirring motion, seeing the blade draw a circle in the air ahead.
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12 - The Lifting Technique:
The Element of Fire

The process of lifting an opponent's blade to create opportunity beneath. It is either done through front or rear lifting.

Front Lifting is stepping in on your lead-leg and lifting the blade up until the hilt if parallel with the brow, both hands often join together, grip loose and the wrist strong, to gradually but swiftly rise like the rising of a flame.

Rear Lifting is stepping and putting your weight on your back-leg to achieve the same but in retreat or stepping offline to break up your positioning and perhaps come in from a new direction.

Example A:
Two-handed Front Lifting
The Droid thrust at Esme’s chest. Esme in the [Two-Handed Low-Guard] turned her blade upwards to counter the blade beneath with the length letting her score a contact upon the droids hands.

Example B:
Two-handed Rear Lifting
Esme in the [Moderation Guard] stepped back upon her leadfoot slightly and rotated her hand and forearm counterclockwise bringing the hilt past her shoulder and the blade slanted downwards to her right, balancing out with her left hand.

13 -.The Pressing Technique:
The Element of Fire
The pressing technique is the opposite of the lifting technique, which really shouldn’t be a surprise. The downwards press almost always uses both hands. The legs flex and press using the length of the blade.

Example A:
Two-handed Pressing Technique
Esme in the [Two-Handed High-Guard] pressed downward with the blade coming down in front, flexing her legs to push and push, until she was impossibly close to the ground with the blade hovering over it, rear-knee making contact with it.

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Spoiler: Visual Sourcing

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***Meatslopper*** · 29-04-2023, 04:11 AM

The Trickster Form

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The Trickster Form is a name given by someone. The former Sith Ashana, got this from somewhere I think but its origins are unsourced. I can find no references to it beyond this but he treated the reader like they should know it, so who really knows. If you know, if someone wants to improve the guide and knows do tell me. However a likely answer is that someone he studied, with or under coined it and its true origins are lost to time.

The Trickster, like the Diplomat, represents an idea about the perceived nature of the form and its wielder. That it opens itself for “tricks” and I certainly do not deny it does. Niman’s nature allows the integration of numerous elements. Each often disparate in its method and techniques because it is nothing if not adaptable. Yet it is not tricks without substance, tricks alone will win no engagement and if they do they will place you within a zone of little improvement. They must be accessed through the form or else they are just a trick and though tricks alone may win a battle, they will not win a war. If all you have is tricks you have an empty hand.
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Sokan:
In Niman, the environment becomes both tool and weapon, its natural flexibility and the simplicity of its Thirteen Techniques allows for the greatest engagement with Sokan. It can fully adapt to take advantage of any environment. I believe there are two generally different types of interactions this leads to Hard Sokan Techniques and Soft Sokan Techniques.

Hard Sokan Techniques: Hard Sokan Techniques are those that interact directly with the environment to create an immediate outcome. Examples of this would be kicking up sand with a push to cover your advance, pulling backwards, drawing an object from behind to strike them and slicing an object in half to have it fall upon the opposition. This is a direct action to the outcome.

Soft Sokan Techniques: Soft Sokan Techniques are those that interact with the environment more passively to increase the chance of success and all that. Using the high ground, low ground, shifting through water to clog up footwork. It is an action leading to potential advantage. It relies on the lightest feet.

Niman takes advantage of both to outmanoeuvre the opponent. Turning a Force Attack, or movement off the offhand as Niman likes to do in it’s one handed variant is something that additionally uses the environment to an additional effect in Hard Sokan Techniques is a good usage, it provides an easy way to occupy and strike from behind meanwhile Soft Sokan Techniques are something that the more open minded, creative approach allow Niman without restrictions, use anything and everything but be careful to practice in different environments as your options will change and you need to recognise opportunities as they come.
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Dun Möch:
Dun Möch is the technique of provoking, taunting, diplomacy and baiting the opponent in with conversation, gestures and occasionally force powers.

The forms that make the greatest use of Dun Möch are Soresu and Makashi. Both because they embody something of a more defensive or balanced approach, Niman is no different. I’m not generally very good at it but this can very well let it make use of Dun Möch effectively. The opportunities here are really as endless as words but there are a few that work in my experience most consistently.

Bait: The Bait is where an opponent is drawn into an inopportune movement or space. This can be achieved by feigning weakness or retreat, through baiting out aggression through an insult or jeer, a simple gesture like beckoning. This can backfire immensely against an aggressive fighter or someone stronger than you but it’s there.

Manipulate/Diplomacy:
Convincing someone to stand down is a rare thing among the Sith, for really good reasons, never waver, never relent. However against the actual opposition, this is often used to sway them to the Dark or simply into their own execution or slavery, there is little more demoralising for a Solider than to see an ally, especially one so strong surrender.

An example of me achieving this was against the at the time treasonous Miraluka in the Zarchas Rebellion as she tried to run. The cowardly behaviour was recognized and upon orders, she was berated upon it and eventually seeing her total defeat, stood down.

The Insult:
The Insult can often be used to achieve bait, as many of these can. But sometimes the objective is really a less linear trap. To break someone’s confidence, to break someone’s self esteem in their own ability can be a surefire way to make them overestimate you and perform just as they believe they would. Alternatively, to insult someone’s person or connections can take someone off balance, especially against a defensive form and force them to come out and engage recklessly.

The Convincing Pressure:
This is slow pressure applied to someone to draw them into engagement especially in a place of differing strength. Force Wound, Force Slow, Force Grip are all examples of useful abilities that apply pressure on the opponent to draw them into melee, against a stronger opponent in this aspect of the force it becomes inert. It is the promise that it won’t go away, especially on those who leave themselves undefended for it, unless they engage.
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Patterns:
Patterns create expectations. If you are consistently defensive people will predict you to be defensive and prepare. If you favour one type of strike over another they will see that strike and try to raise you a counter. By abusing the natural pattern recognition we see aaaall the time, you can switch up certain stylings to come at different angles, maybe use your normal entry into an opening stance to step into an immediate charge or attack or feint an expected opening into something else.
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Trakata:
The deactivation and reactivation of the blade. To bypass a guard and strike the opponent. It’s more favoured in Makashi than Niman but if I was to pick a second from where it may best be used it’s the so called Tricksters Form, it does however mean commiting to an almost entirely offensive blow and opening your guard. This is why it is a risky move but if your opponent is not prepared for it an effective and possibly finishing one.

It is better in the Jar’kai variant due to its ability to more equally protect yourself while attacking. The use of an offhand dispels some of the risk of such a manuvouver, as you do not so completely drop your guard. There are generally two things it favours.

The Distant Engagement:
The distant use of Trakata is generally for thrusts. It allows you to bypass a defence that threatens only to blade or slip a difficult strike while they engage from one direction. I’m not really a fan. It seems like a waste and like you’re just messing around with vague poking but some people like it, it’s relatively safe if your reach extends beyond theirs.

The Close Engagement:
Is where I find it actually useful, in close, where you’re shifting tight a full swing, cut or other move may not be that easy, a very simple idea in close quarters fighting is to disengage the blade and slip it close to their form, an easy method to get people up in your face, more risky, but it’ll reward.

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***Meatslopper*** · 29-04-2023, 04:12 AM

The Way of the Rancor

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How does it prepare?:
The Element of Order
There are innumerable numbers of sub-species of Rancor. They adapt to almost any environment despite their bulk and can be found pretty much anywhere that hasn’t been torn down and replaced, as they are destructive to wherever they find themselves within. This is Niman’s adaptability incarnate, how ultimately, though Niman has a core, there are many variations of these techniques, many practitioners bring their own ideas to it and build it around themselves and where they personally belong.

There is really no shame in being you if it works, if it doesn’t, evolution will build a better version, if you do not. Just like Niman’s history, it is built upon filtering out the wrong ideas into something more whole and just like it, we as practitioners should be doing the same for ourselves, there are those who practise a form and those who embody their form on the deeper level of life, through its evolution it was able to see Patterns in it’s opponents and exploit them.
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How does it outmanoeuvre?
The Element of Air
Intentional or otherwise, the hounds were attracted to a fallen corpse as bait, leading them into the Rancors feeding area. It emerged from the forest where its camouflage skin blended in with the shrubbery with Sokan, announcing its presence with a roar, using surprise and intimidation to achieve a rudimentary form of Dun Möch to scare the hounds. Its high up position allows it to observe the battlefield without putting its eyes at much risk, letting it easily See and Prepare at a distance, which in ideal circumstances is where it keeps its opponent.
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How did it withstand?
The Element of Earth
Through impossibly tough skin. The Rancor is able to use a version of the Checking Technique with its arms, as they are conditioned for this, the strikes made against these are mostly meaningless, through these contacts it can strike unafraid, taking hits upon its arms, just as one would do with the strong of the blade to open it up for counters. Its large frame is balanced well by a low posture, and flexed knees, with massive hands either side to balance or stabilise if need be, there’s a reason the Standing Rancor is the term to use the techniques of Niman. It is balanced in all departments like the form.
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How did it overwhelm?
The Element of Water
The hound only has so much it can attack with, by comparison the Rancor takes full advantage of its two arms and reach. It was used both independently and in tandem to both ward off the multiple attackers, with one motion using it’s fist to counter one and to grab and kill another. It showed intelligence by throwing a rock to occupy a weaker hound, while it followed in behind for the kill, much like the Rancor Throw who’s name it inspired, combining the use of all its tools unified and further showing its use of Sokan.Its swings are thrown loosely and flowingly, able to defend most angles and shift from one attack to the other.
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How does it overpower?
The Element of Fire
You probably already know how it finished those it opened up. The Rancor is mostly and primarily known for its strength, to the point people look past the technique takeaways rather easily. It crushed one’s neck with it’s hand, reminiscent of Force Choke and another with a Grip into a bite which is similar to Draw Closer, which side-swipe swing, which could be applied akin to a Slicing Technique or a Pushing Slash given it was occupying with it’s other arm with the Checking Technique. It concluded with stepping on the injured hound to finish it off, there’s a lesson there as well for the Sith, never hesitate, on the battlefield people can and will get up and all it takes is the wrong time, down, does not mean totally out. It generates most of its power from the turn of the hips, allowing each hand to come in naturally with some force behind it.
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How we use this.
The Element of Chaos
Building from everything we’ve learnt so far. We start putting it into practice. Using this Rancor as an example, we are going to build a Dulon and then a [color=#ccb1f3]Velocity before showing how these techniques would be used in a live combat scenario.

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The “Encircled Rancor” Dulon
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A Dulon for those unfamiliar is a form of lightsaber drill, designed to hone technical skill with a set of movements. You can build them around what you need to practise or in this case around a scenario idea. It’s also a good way to show off and reaaally hammer home what you should know. Learning against an active opponent who doesn’t always throw what you want or encourages you to just go a little harder, doesn’t encourage memory retention of the more technically intricate, in a real engagement, nothing will be performed to perfection because it can be practically unfeasible, so this is a method of really hammering home your techniques. If there’s anything in this document you’re struggling with, make a Dulon of your own to practise them.

Example A:
The “Encircled Rancor” Dulon

Esme ignited her lightsaber, holding it in the low-guard stance, by her left hip, the length pointing out and back, feet close together with her right foot forward. She turns with her hip, sliding her right leg out behind, the blade following it, to point outwards from her side and down behind her. The Sith Apprentice turns into an overturned parry, the blade forming a rising semi-circle with the point downwards and the hilt in the air above, her offhand swings with her motion to point the same direction, it lies open with the fingers curled.

Esme twists back the way she came, clamping her offhand down, she pulls it across herself throwing a small crate across the room to her left, with this motion the blade scoops up and into an upwards thrust, as she lunges the same direction as the crate, twisting her wrist slightly to displace an invisible attack and cut a small line with the top third. She then takes a half-step backwards rotating her blade around to check the invisible foe to her right, leaning to the opposite side, she fires off a Force Push, rotating her wrist slightly for a downwards diagonal chop at what would be the left shoulder.

The offhand pushing in sees them join together, and she presses down with the blade, her knees slowly bending until she’s almost crouching before drawing the weapon backwards rising gradually from her stance, the moment it touched her hip, she snapped out her left-hand open in the opposite direction from where she started, pushing out the blade once more to the side, a mirror of the Diplomats Stance, that slowly, tightens as she stands further joining her hands to look directly at the camera, with it slanted backwards at her hip in the Moderation Stance. There it was extinguished.

Formula Example 1:
Standing Rancor, Low-Guard Stance to Diplomats Stance to A - Soft,
Begin [Outside Measure], B - Moderate Opener to A - Soft Closer, End.
A - Soft Technique to A - Soft.
Begin [Inside Measure], B- Moderate Opener, B - Soft Closer, End.
B - Soft to A - Soft [Break]
Diplomats Stance to Low-guard Stance.
(Ignore Diplomat to Low-Guard in velocity)

Or

Standing Rancor, Low-Guard Stance to Diplomats Stance to A - Parry Technique,
Begin [Outside], B - Force Grip Hard Sokan Opener to A - Strike Technique Closer, End.
A - Checking Technique to A - Drawing Technique.
Begin [Inside Measure], B - Force Push Opener, B - Chopping Technique Closer, End.
B - Pressing Technique to A - Drawing Technique [Break]
Diplomats Stance to Low-Guard Stance.
(Ignore Diplomat to Low-Guard in velocity)

Or

Low-Guard to Diplomat to 10, Force Grip Hard Sokan Opener to 2 Closer, 9 to 4, Force Push Open, 1 Close, 4 to 13 to 4 to Diplomat to Low-Guard.
(Ignore Diplomat to Low-Guard in velocity)
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The “Encircled Rancor” Velocity
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A Velocity is a sparring drill. These are set motions, both defence and attack to drill home the proper speed against an opposition. You aren’t trying to outplay the opponent but simply be faster, the first to make contact or have the opponent yield wins. This is the technique of honing them to a fine point before you get yourself beaten up in a proper spar. As this is based off the Dulon. The first person's formula remains the same, the additional formulas are focused on the opposition, it’ll show you how these motions build beyond sparring the great evil that is the air.

Example A:
The “Encircled Rancor” Velocity Dulon

Esme engaged her lightsaber, she held it in the low-guard stance, by her left hip, the length pointing out and back, feet close together with her right foot forward. She turns with her hip, sliding her right leg out behind, the blade following it, to point outwards from her side and down behind her.

The Droid activated its training saber. It mirrored Esme’s gesture exactly, standing a fair distance apart. It pulled backwards with its hand and a little training remote flew at Esme’s back, as it stepped towards her.

The Sith Apprentice turns into an overturned parry, the blade forming a rising semi-circle with the point downwards and the hilt in the air above knocking the droid aside, her offhand swings with her motion to point the same direction, it lies open with the fingers curled. Esme turns back the way she came, clamping her offhand down, she pulls it across herself throwing a small crate across the room to her left, with this motion the blade scoops up and points forward as she follows in.

The Droid continues forward and swings its blade upwards from its right-side in a slicing technique, with the hilt ascending leftwards to be taken in both hands, battering aside the crate as it comes in, entering into measure for a sudden thrust to stab at Esme’s chest.

Esme pushes the blade forward into upwards thrust, as she lunges the same direction as the crate, twisting her wrist slightly to displace the thrust attack inwards and cut a small line with the top third.

The Droid stepped back a half-step, dropping low, it flicked its hand and hilt downwards to bring the point upwards towards Esme’s blade-hand.

Esme stepped backwards a half-step and rotated her wrist to check the blade with the strong to off to her right, as she lent in the other direction using her off-hand for balance then to mime a Force Push, rotating her wrist simultaneously for a downwards diagonal chop to the droids left shoulder, her right, to her left.

The Droid rotates its wrist, pushing upwards with its knuckles pointing skyward in a pressing motion to counter the downwards chop, opening up its left to mime a pushing gesture back, as it pushed in naturally to take the hilt in both hands.

Esme stepped in her offhand rejoining her main, applying counter pressure with a pressing motion, attempting to get the top-third overtop then drag backwards on retreat across it#s shoulder.

The Droid brings it’s weapon up and around countering the point with strong force as she retreats in a stirring technique, attempting to rip the weapon from her as it is pulled back as well.

Esme continued backwards, their weapons twist in the centre rotating, as she loosens her grip to go with it, she retreats from the contact, it returns to the Diplomats Stance, pointed behind as her offhand comes in, quicker this time, for a Force Pull on the training probe now behind the droid, as they swapped roles, quicker this time.

Formula Example 1:
Standing Rancor, Low-Guard Stance to Diplomats Stance to,
Begin Outside Measure, B - Moderate Opener, A - Soft Opener, B - Soft Closer, End.
Begin Inside Measure, B - Soft Opener, B - Moderate Closer, End.
A - Soft Technique to A - Soft Technique
Diplomats Stance
(Repeat until contact)

Or

Standing Rancor, Low-Guard Stance to Diplomats Stance to,
Begin Outside, B - Force Pull Hard Sokan Opener, A - Slicing Technique Opener to B - Stabbing Technique Closer, End.
A - Flicking Technique
Begin, B - Lifting Technique Opener, B - Force Push Closer, End.
A - Checking Technique to A - Stirring Technique.
Diplomats Stance
(Repeat until contact)

Or

Low-Guard to Diplomat to Force Pull Hard Sokan Opener, 3 Opener to 6 Closer, 8 to 12 Opener, Force Push Closer to 9 to 11.
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Niman Sparring
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Example A:
Niman Exhibition Sparring

Esme activated her lightsaber. She flicked a switch and held it in the Moderation Stance, her offhand sitting atop her chest, with the mainhand pointed in the direction of her opponent and slightly up, the rest of her body angled behind, leading with her right..

The Droid activated its training saber. It assumes the two-handed high guard, held out slightly in front, pointed up and slightly back, overhead. It then stepped in opening up with a two-handed diagonal chop aimed at Esme’s right shoulder, left to right cutting inwards from shoulder to centre chest pointing forward between them..

Esme stepped backwards, not meeting strength for strength, she rotated her wrist to check the point with the strong of her blade downwards, coming overtop to score the droid's shoulder using her superior one-handed reach..

The Droid stepped backwards the top-third almost grazing it. It twisted its wrists to bring the blade beneath Esme’s, pressing upwards with both hands on the centre, then releasing one hand to stir the blades around, controlling her point to twist it from her hands if unable, it’d try to use the top-third to slash across her legs as it twisted downwards..

Esme deactivated her blade in the middle, pushing off into a Force Jump, she threw her legs out backwards in an effort to avoid the low slash, mid-air, she reactivated her blade spinning it in a defensive figure of eight, to land gently poised a little distance away..

The Droid’s slash missed Esme’s legs as it delayed behind, using that slash to open space, it pushed it’s offhand forward and its wrist fired off a few yellow training bolts at her mid-air that were all deflected by the aerial defence, as she landed, it followed at a slower pace..

Esme, using the distance between them, curled her offhand, as the blade rose to its original position between them into a Force Choke, attempting to curl the force around the droid's neck.

The Droid’s metal throat seemed to feel nothing but the pressure was there, controlling it a moment, the droid pulled back on it’s left-hand and the training droid swept in to strike at Esme’s legs and continued on in its journey, once reaching her, entering into a loose thrust at left side of her chest more likely to be exposed in defending herself.

Esme turned, releasing the choke into an overturned parry, the hilt in the air projecting the blade downwards to a point as it made a semi-circle, aiming to slice through the droid in one clean motion, her offhand following to rest two fingers near her wrist for strength. She used that momentum as the droid came in turn into a Jung Su Ma rotation, to slip her left shoulder away and to knock the blade aside with the strong of the blade and perform a slicing motion, carrying up towards its hip, her offhand thrown out for balance, landing again with her knees flexed.

The Droid’s stab was redirected, its hip was opened in a shower of sparks from the shiim contact. It used the given momentum to bring the blade around and down into a diagonal chop, which should it meet the blade, would turn into a pressing technique to push down on her guard.

Esme met the chop, with both hands initially, attempting to push upwards from her flexed knees to provide herself so more power to lift it slightly and open up beneath, using that, her offhand shot out, firing off an angled Force Push, to knock it back and slightly up in the air an opening simultaneous with her driving her hilt down, attempting to flick up and score along the inside of its leg.

The Droid was shunted off, the blade scoring another mark. It landed with a thud and staggered a few steps, the blade being brought down into the Moderation Stance, with one hand over the chest, the blade presented in line with its shoulder, the body behind.

Esme pulled back on her offhand and with it the Droid. She followed in simultaneously with her blade for a slice aimed right to left, across its chest.

The Droid used that momentum to its advantage. It brought its own weapon in for a diagonal chop at Esme’s forearm.

Esme met the blade coming around. They connected and she had to turn into the left to use its momentum and leverage up and over her, without any balance, it would tumble using her left hand to control it around but not before as it did it dragged backwards scoring along her armour plated shoulder.

The Droid went for a low slice right to left, aimed at Esme’s legs, as it came in again.

Esme stepped backwards avoiding them with well timed steps, she tapped her blade downwards overtop, marking the droid's hand with the point.

The Droid a little slower from its overuse still sent a slash still ascending rose to its left side, angled downwards, it thrust in at her chest.

Esme stepped to her left, throwing her hand out, she formed a Force Bubble forming a hard block between them in an effort to see the training saber catch it at the wrong angle and deflect it aside. Then she released it, taking a few steps back, as if achknowledging it was a risky move.

The Droid was deflected off, it came back in for a loose reverse strike, twisting its wrist and snapping it out back with the point aimed to make a small line across Esme’s leading leg, as it came up.

Esme swapped hands with her blade. The left-hand checked this time coming around in a small rotation of her wrist, she fired off a shock with her right hand in tandem, aiming for its eyes, then following up, into a slicing motion overtop right to left aimed at its hips.

The Droid was caught in the eyes. Its head started to spark, it flicked up its blade defensively, lucky to be in a position to counter her slice. If the block succeeded it then tried to push into the bind and press forward.

Esme’s blade caught on the droids. As it pushed in she gave it her left, turning with it, her offhand grabbed its hands letting it push her blade down, she controlled it there, pushing slightly it gave her room, to free her blade, rotate her wrist and come overtop as she turned, left to right straight through the middle and escape with its weapon.

The Droid was cut in two. Each part, golden as the lightsaber had severed them. Esme was left with the training blade in a reverse grip held within her grasp.

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***Meatslopper*** · 29-04-2023, 04:14 AM

The Challenger Form

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Coined by the current assistant blademaster, Apprentice Daxze Vipion. The Challenger Form is an adept way of saying as has been said so many times, Niman never stays still. In the hands of people, though its core must remain, it must also always be adapting to you, to the environment you find yourself in. It is the most -alive- of the six classical forms, it never stays the same and allows for absolute flexibility.

Its techniques may not be as complicated as Makashi but in their simplicity they let you add a lot of your other skills, prior knowledge and integrate your strengths in a way more rote forms might not allow. If you want to be adaptable, lean into exploring other styles or you just want something simple to fall back upon. Niman is really not a bad shout, you know.

Everything can apply the principles of Niman. Its principles extend beyond the blade to how we enter a room or see the world, it comes from and back to us and everything.

Every day is struggle and suffering but only through them you can master being alive.
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Spoiler: Recommended Reading

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