The Assistant-Blademaster's Guide to Soresu

[Lord Iezkon]

The Assistant-Blademaster’s Introduction to Soresu

Author's Note

This document is not a guide to learning Soresu, but an introduction to the Form and how it functions. If the reader wishes to learn more, they should contact the Blademaster’s office to discuss whether Soresu is appropriate for their learning with the blade.

Introduction and History

Form III, Soresu, can be known as the Way of the Mynock, or the Resilience Form. This form is the very embodiment of defensive lightsaber combat - against either ranged or close-range foes, the moveset remains largely unchanged to see the user left with a strong defence. The main drawback, however, is that it lacks any defined offensive moveset. Though, this is not to say that one cannot make any offensive moves without breaking form: indeed, to wield Soresu as it should be used is to wait for the openings your opponent gives you and see the fight ended with deadly efficiency. In a striking similarity to Makashi’s Contentious Opportunity, a Soresu user is aware of every opportunity that may present itself. However, instead of using every opportunity presented, these are instead assessed. Sometimes, an opportunity will appear to be ‘missed’, but these are often noted in the mind of the Soresu user, but the Form III master knows exactly how and when to use these - even if it appears to be ignored. Those that are noticeably capitalised upon, however, often will see the fight ended with deadly efficiency. The Soresu user needs only one attack, and that attack is brutal in its singularity.

Soresu, while being often perceived as passive, a Jedi form, or heresy, but with the proper training and the right practitioner, Form III is a deadly weapon. It is true that the possibility of creating a path towards… light-sided patterns of thinking, those of which we will never tolerate in the Sith Empire, but this form need not be passive, should one learn from the right teacher, and be of the right mind to begin; it is an elegant tool when used by the Sith. A Sith who knows how to wield it will find themselves with deadly efficiency, able to outlast most any opponent. Soresu’s defences are subtle, ever present, and make up the very basis of the form. While blaster weaponry was becoming more and more common, the early wielders of the lightsaber needed a more rigorous defense than that which is provided by Shii-Cho or Makashi, and is the very first form designed specifically to defend against blasterfire. From Form I, comes III, allowing the user to create the most defensive coverage with the minimal energy expended. Where Shii-Cho relies on wide, full body movements, Soresu relies more heavily on economy of movement and conserving one’s momentum.

Soresu is commonly considered too defensive, and thus it gave way to more offensive fighting styles - mainly, the Form V variants, Shien and Djem So - by members of the Sith Order. While Form III is still used by Sith and by Jedi, these are often, but not always, using an adapted version of the form. It is common to see Sith utilise a broken version of Soresu, allowing for proactive creation of opportunities and direct counter attacks. This is, in its very core and philosophy, still Soresu, but begins to move towards early Form V, as the latter was created by this desire for a Soresu user to have stronger offence, without losing the defensive focus. The greatest weapon of a Soresu master is their opponent. To use Soresu is to allow your opponent to overextend and fall victim to fatigue, such that the fight can be ended with singular, brutal efficiency. When used with the blade within the Sith Order, Soresu is fuelled by emotion, cruelty, and connection with the Dark Side of the Force. Jedi may use pacifism, serenity, and harmony of emotion, a Sith is using just the opposite, channelling their very being, their presence in the Force, into efficient and deliberate defense. While this is often meditative in some sense for a Sith, it is not calm, Jedi-like meditation, but angry and the channelling of energy and emotion being pooled into one’s own heightened state of being - there is nothing serene about a Sith who wields Soresu. However, the difference between this mindset and Form I is that the Form III practitioner is not giving into their impulses and reacting mindlessly, but they are indeed more aware, calculating each and every movement, and every possible opening. A Soresu user knows when to strike, when to wait, knows which opportunities to take, and which not to. To use Soresu is to understand that anything and everything can be an advantage, so long as you know how to wield it, while also knowing that a wrong move can mean death.

Opening Stances, Moves and Maneuvers

There are countless opening stances for any and every form of lightsaber combat, and if I intended to detail them all in one document, this would go on endlessly. Instead, I will delve into the one which is most widely seen, and thus most recognisable. With a single-handed grip, the lightsaber is held beside the user’s head, on the same side of the hand being used - this is, usually, the dominant hand, but could be either - with the blade pointed towards your opponent. Then, the other hand, usually wielding no lightsaber, raises into a claw, extending towards your opponent, taunting them. There are variations to be made if you wish to use Soresu with Jar’Kai, or a two-handed weapon like a Saberstaff, but these will not be touched upon in this document. Sloping the front leg towards the opponent, and the back bent like a coiled spring ready to move in any direction. The taunting aspect of this stance is essential to Soresu, as the intention is to force your opponent to overextend, such that you may capitalise on their mistakes - taunting helps with this, as it can often drive a less experienced swordsman to foolish attacks. The master of Form III has efficient blocks, and devastating, brutal attacks, but largely can allow their opponent to fight themselves, using the failings of their opponent as their greatest weapon. Instead of meeting your opponent head-on, you aim to guide blows away from yourself, subverting their momentum and forcing the opponent in a much more subtle manner to adjust their line of attack. It assists with this to remain a small distance further from your opponent than you would in Shii-Cho or Makashi, as this forces the opponent to reach towards you to attack. A Soresu user will also find tactical retreats to be an important tool - the longer the duel drags out, the greater advantage they find themselves with. Thus, ensuring you remain just out of reach allows your opponent to become frustrated and often make mistakes, or simply become fatigued.

The first ‘associated move’ that is essential to be discussed is the Circle of Shelter. This technique allows the user to move their blade continuously, maintained by its own momentum. This provides the maximum amount of defensive coverage of the user’s body, while using the minimum energy. This often allows the Sith to fall into the meditative state, wherein they can channel and focus their rage, building up their power for what is to come. There is nothing peaceful about it, in the right pair of hands it is efficient and brual: one can smoothly deflect attacks and blasterfire without breaking a sweat, saving the energy for a vicious attack from the Sith at the moment where it will have the most impact, often fight-endingly so.

The second essential move associated with Soresu is the Deflecting Slash, which aims to remove each blaster bolt from the field of battle in its entirety. Working in circles around the body, Soresu aims to create the absolute maximum defensive coverage that is possible. Thus, the Deflecting Slash moves perpendicular to the line of travel of the incoming threat - be that a lightsaber or a blaster bolt. This style of movement is essential for the deflection and defence within Soresu, but does not lend itself to seeing blaster bolts reflected like Shien tends to allow. It does, however, allow for much greater leverage when attempting to see an incoming saber deflected away from the body, such that the user can make their fight ending blow.

Final Notes

At its very basic principles, Soresu is flexible, the user is ready to react to whatever their opponent may throw their way: retreat, evade, dodge, block, parry, and deflect, and make use of their surroundings. The Soresu user can move with certainty, knowing solutions and seeing advantages that others may disregard. Seeking to end the fight in the most efficient manner possible, the Soresu user will opt for the Marks of Contact which offer a swift end to a duel: Sai Cha, decapitation, and Sai Tok, bisection. They will not use a multitude of Shiims to see their opponent defeated, but instead use a single blow, either taking the life with the Marks of Contact above, or a limb with the ‘Cho’ Marks of Contact. They need only one blow, but this strike is brutal in its singularity. Soresu is defensive, and relies heavily on a user biding their time, waiting for the opponent to present opportunities, but these opportunities are seized and used in brutal, deadly ways. A master of Soresu is efficient, subtle, and ready for anything.


(*Post by Eddi Arkiti.*)