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Shii-Cho: The way of the Sarlacc
![[Image: XgF7ot4.png]](https://i.imgur.com/XgF7ot4.png)
It is the very first Form every acolyte learns upon beginning their training. It is characterized by wide arching sweeps, disarming moves. Shii-Cho is the foundational form which teaches us how to string together one strike after the other.
This was the very first style of sword combat that was devised to be used by Force Users. It was originally created to be used with metal blades as opposed to lightsabers, this is why it relies so heavily on wide arching swings. It is vicious, fluid and brutal.
Since the time of Form I's inception, our technology has, of course, evolved, first through the proto-saber, then afterwards came later the Lightsaber that we know and use to this day. Despite its archaic origins however, Shii-Cho has remained the single most important Form that every Sith is made to learn, as it was the foundation for every other Lightsaber form that came after it.
Its importance lies not only in its usefulness as a fighting form, but also in the training techniques and moves that were devised for it. The former being called 'Velocities' the latter being the 'marks of Contact'.
The opening stance for Shii-Cho may appear simple at first, but it is deceptive. There is nuance in how the stance is assumed. Depending on whether you place your dominant leg forwards or backwards, it can be both defensive or offensive.
The classic Shii-Cho opening stance:
Hold your blade at in front of you around navel height, angle it at a roughly 45° angle. Spread your feet apart to be in line with your shoulders, slide one of your feet forward and one behind yourself.
You place your dominant foot in the front to make it defensive. That is because from that position it is easier to pull backwards if needed.
If instead you move your dominant foot in the back then it becomes offensive in nature. That is because from this position you can push towards your opponent with greater ease.
Of course, this is but the only the classical starting stance. There are numerous variations of it. Ranging from the low guard stance to the aggressive stance. I will provide some examples in the following section, alongside a more in depth look at Shii-Cho proper.
![[Image: ykVSah4.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/ykVSah4.jpg)
Many of these stances can be used offensively and defensively, this is why it is important that you do not underestimate and disregard Form I. This variety enables Shii-Cho to be one of the more effective forms in combat as it can be incredibly fluid and unpredictable in the hands of a skilled practitioner.
Shii-Cho is primarily focused on its wide arching slashes which incorporate most of the upper body to generate momentum. I would not fault you if, based on the description so far, you assumed that the form is one of brute force and savagery. It is not, for it is imperative that the manoeuvres and strikes you employ to be precise and to serve a purpose, lest you just wind up flailing like a thug without a drop of discipline, weak and ripe to be cut down by someone who knows what they are doing.
The techniques that define Form I usually involve targeting specific parts of the body. These parts will be referred to as the 'target Zones' during practice.
When used defensively Shii-Cho relies on parries and blade locks, strikes that are aimed at your opponents weapon mid swing to open up them up to a counter attacks. For the greatest impact, you should aim to strike your opponents blade as close to its top end as you can, that is where you can create the most leverage with the momentum of your strike.
Firstly, you have the ideal form. This is, as the name suggests, the Form's most ‘idealised’ variation, where all the attacks are done horizontally or vertically with the parries done perpendicularly to the attacks. This is useful as a training tool, however it is not used in real combat scenarios.
The other variation of Shii-Cho is the live combat form. This is the variation you are most likely to be taught, especially during times of strife and war. This version incorporates more varied attack patterns and defensive moves of all angles. This is also the version that puts more emphasis on the economy of movement, to maximise your fighting potential and minimize the amount of energy you expend during combat. After all, a fatigued combatant is more prone to making mistakes.
Here I will detail some of the techniques that the form employs, alongside an example of how you can perform it.
The Sarlacc Sweep
This move is a large sweep which is meant to cleave through several opponents in one large swing of your blade.
One way to perform this move is to have the practitioner begin with a low-guard stance while having their dominant foot in the back. Followed by stepping through and swiping your blade sideways, turning your torso with it to generate more momentum for the strike.
Disarming Strike
Also known as Sun Djem, is an attack aimed at the very weapon of the enemy in order to destroy their ability to fight back. This can be achieved a multitude of ways. Against blasters, simply cutting the weapon in half is enough to end the fight.
Against lightsabers and other melee weapons one should begin by creating an opening to exploit, then swiftly following it up with a strike where the weapon is held.
Mou Kei
The severing of a foe's limbs. This move is more often a result of seizing a sudden opportunity, rather than a conscious action. Often a result of your opponent leaving themselves open, be it by attempting to reposition themselves in a careless fashion, or over committing to a strike in that leaves them vulnerable.
If you are aiming to perform this then I would advise you to build up towards it by forcing your foe on the back foot with a relentless assault. When their concentration begins to wane and their stamina is drained, that is when you will attack, that is when you will have the best chance to dismember your enemy and dispatch of them.
Here I will detail some of the basic defensive stances used with this Form. This is not an exhaustive list, but it should suffice in providing you with the basics.
I have also included an image of the six zones of attack to help with visualising these.
The classical Shii-Cho stance
Areas covered by it: Zones 1 to 4
How to utilize: A flexible and simple stance, allowing for a wide range of movement, you can parry and block a variety of attacks with relative ease without the need to shift your footing too much from this pose.
Description: The basic Shii Cho stance with the blade angled before the navel.
The Hasso Guards (Reverse and Normal)
Areas covered by them: 1 to 4 (Normal) and 4 to 6 (Reverse)
How to utilize: The normal Hasso allows you to defend your upper body by shifting your blade to the side, by making them strike your blade at a diagonal angle. Be mindful that such usually cause attacks to slide up or down, you need to be careful that your foe does not end up slicing your hand off.
The Reverse Hasso enables scooping parries to be used against attacks coming towards your legs, but it does leave your upper body more open in turn.
Description: The Hasso Ward is done by holding one’s blade before themselves completely vertically upwards while the Reverse Hasso is held downwards vertically.
![[Image: IsmipBy.png]](https://i.imgur.com/IsmipBy.png)
The Marks of Contact are the names of specific techniques and strikes that are used in lightsaber combat, these are not unique to Shii-Cho, but I am including it because it is foundational knowledge.
They are the following:
Sai Cha: Beheading.
Shiak: A precise stab, usually aimed at vital organs.
Sai Tok: The bisection of one's opponent.
Mou Kei: The severing of multiple limbs in one strike.
Cho Sun: The removal of your opponent's weapon wielding arm.
Cho Mai: The removal of the opponent's weapon holding hand.
Sun Djem: Attacks aimed at a foe's weapon(s). (Note, this can be done to both a saber and a blaster.)
Cho Mok: The removal of a foe's limbs in general.
Shiim: A shallow cut made to wear down your opponent, not deep enough to sever nor cripple a limb.
Shii-Cho’s greatest strength lies in its simplicity and ease of learning. It can be very easily learned and applied to great effect. It is also rather effective at handling larger groups of enemies due the wide arching slashes that the form is known for. Allowing you to clave through multiple foes with one strike.
One of its notable weaknesses however, is its performance against blasters. As the form itself was created with metal swords and vibroswords in mind originally. Likewise it falls quite short against Makashi, Form II, as it was specifically developed as a counter to Shii-Cho.
Yet despite all of this, despite its age and its shortcomings, the form remains an important building block of Lightsaber combat and training, for it endows us with the knowledge and the basics necessary to understand the lightsaber forms that built upon the very foundations that this form has created.
Apprentices and acolytes alike would do well to learn this form well.
![[Image: QcJCbko.png]](https://i.imgur.com/QcJCbko.png)
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Shii-Cho: The way of the Sarlacc
Spoiler: OOC Information:
It is the very first Form every acolyte learns upon beginning their training. It is characterized by wide arching sweeps, disarming moves. Shii-Cho is the foundational form which teaches us how to string together one strike after the other.
This was the very first style of sword combat that was devised to be used by Force Users. It was originally created to be used with metal blades as opposed to lightsabers, this is why it relies so heavily on wide arching swings. It is vicious, fluid and brutal.
Since the time of Form I's inception, our technology has, of course, evolved, first through the proto-saber, then afterwards came later the Lightsaber that we know and use to this day. Despite its archaic origins however, Shii-Cho has remained the single most important Form that every Sith is made to learn, as it was the foundation for every other Lightsaber form that came after it.
Its importance lies not only in its usefulness as a fighting form, but also in the training techniques and moves that were devised for it. The former being called 'Velocities' the latter being the 'marks of Contact'.
The Starting Stances
The opening stance for Shii-Cho may appear simple at first, but it is deceptive. There is nuance in how the stance is assumed. Depending on whether you place your dominant leg forwards or backwards, it can be both defensive or offensive.
The classic Shii-Cho opening stance:
Hold your blade at in front of you around navel height, angle it at a roughly 45° angle. Spread your feet apart to be in line with your shoulders, slide one of your feet forward and one behind yourself.
You place your dominant foot in the front to make it defensive. That is because from that position it is easier to pull backwards if needed.
If instead you move your dominant foot in the back then it becomes offensive in nature. That is because from this position you can push towards your opponent with greater ease.
Of course, this is but the only the classical starting stance. There are numerous variations of it. Ranging from the low guard stance to the aggressive stance. I will provide some examples in the following section, alongside a more in depth look at Shii-Cho proper.
Many of these stances can be used offensively and defensively, this is why it is important that you do not underestimate and disregard Form I. This variety enables Shii-Cho to be one of the more effective forms in combat as it can be incredibly fluid and unpredictable in the hands of a skilled practitioner.
Shii-Cho is primarily focused on its wide arching slashes which incorporate most of the upper body to generate momentum. I would not fault you if, based on the description so far, you assumed that the form is one of brute force and savagery. It is not, for it is imperative that the manoeuvres and strikes you employ to be precise and to serve a purpose, lest you just wind up flailing like a thug without a drop of discipline, weak and ripe to be cut down by someone who knows what they are doing.
The techniques that define Form I usually involve targeting specific parts of the body. These parts will be referred to as the 'target Zones' during practice.
When used defensively Shii-Cho relies on parries and blade locks, strikes that are aimed at your opponents weapon mid swing to open up them up to a counter attacks. For the greatest impact, you should aim to strike your opponents blade as close to its top end as you can, that is where you can create the most leverage with the momentum of your strike.
The different forms of Shii-Cho
Firstly, you have the ideal form. This is, as the name suggests, the Form's most ‘idealised’ variation, where all the attacks are done horizontally or vertically with the parries done perpendicularly to the attacks. This is useful as a training tool, however it is not used in real combat scenarios.
The other variation of Shii-Cho is the live combat form. This is the variation you are most likely to be taught, especially during times of strife and war. This version incorporates more varied attack patterns and defensive moves of all angles. This is also the version that puts more emphasis on the economy of movement, to maximise your fighting potential and minimize the amount of energy you expend during combat. After all, a fatigued combatant is more prone to making mistakes.
Associated Techniques
Here I will detail some of the techniques that the form employs, alongside an example of how you can perform it.
The Sarlacc Sweep
This move is a large sweep which is meant to cleave through several opponents in one large swing of your blade.
One way to perform this move is to have the practitioner begin with a low-guard stance while having their dominant foot in the back. Followed by stepping through and swiping your blade sideways, turning your torso with it to generate more momentum for the strike.
Disarming Strike
Also known as Sun Djem, is an attack aimed at the very weapon of the enemy in order to destroy their ability to fight back. This can be achieved a multitude of ways. Against blasters, simply cutting the weapon in half is enough to end the fight.
Against lightsabers and other melee weapons one should begin by creating an opening to exploit, then swiftly following it up with a strike where the weapon is held.
Mou Kei
The severing of a foe's limbs. This move is more often a result of seizing a sudden opportunity, rather than a conscious action. Often a result of your opponent leaving themselves open, be it by attempting to reposition themselves in a careless fashion, or over committing to a strike in that leaves them vulnerable.
If you are aiming to perform this then I would advise you to build up towards it by forcing your foe on the back foot with a relentless assault. When their concentration begins to wane and their stamina is drained, that is when you will attack, that is when you will have the best chance to dismember your enemy and dispatch of them.
The defensive stances
Here I will detail some of the basic defensive stances used with this Form. This is not an exhaustive list, but it should suffice in providing you with the basics.
I have also included an image of the six zones of attack to help with visualising these.
The classical Shii-Cho stance
Areas covered by it: Zones 1 to 4
How to utilize: A flexible and simple stance, allowing for a wide range of movement, you can parry and block a variety of attacks with relative ease without the need to shift your footing too much from this pose.
Description: The basic Shii Cho stance with the blade angled before the navel.
The Hasso Guards (Reverse and Normal)
Areas covered by them: 1 to 4 (Normal) and 4 to 6 (Reverse)
How to utilize: The normal Hasso allows you to defend your upper body by shifting your blade to the side, by making them strike your blade at a diagonal angle. Be mindful that such usually cause attacks to slide up or down, you need to be careful that your foe does not end up slicing your hand off.
The Reverse Hasso enables scooping parries to be used against attacks coming towards your legs, but it does leave your upper body more open in turn.
Description: The Hasso Ward is done by holding one’s blade before themselves completely vertically upwards while the Reverse Hasso is held downwards vertically.
The Marks of Contact
The Marks of Contact are the names of specific techniques and strikes that are used in lightsaber combat, these are not unique to Shii-Cho, but I am including it because it is foundational knowledge.
They are the following:
Sai Cha: Beheading.
Shiak: A precise stab, usually aimed at vital organs.
Sai Tok: The bisection of one's opponent.
Mou Kei: The severing of multiple limbs in one strike.
Cho Sun: The removal of your opponent's weapon wielding arm.
Cho Mai: The removal of the opponent's weapon holding hand.
Sun Djem: Attacks aimed at a foe's weapon(s). (Note, this can be done to both a saber and a blaster.)
Cho Mok: The removal of a foe's limbs in general.
Shiim: A shallow cut made to wear down your opponent, not deep enough to sever nor cripple a limb.
The Strengths and the Weaknesses of the Form
Shii-Cho’s greatest strength lies in its simplicity and ease of learning. It can be very easily learned and applied to great effect. It is also rather effective at handling larger groups of enemies due the wide arching slashes that the form is known for. Allowing you to clave through multiple foes with one strike.
One of its notable weaknesses however, is its performance against blasters. As the form itself was created with metal swords and vibroswords in mind originally. Likewise it falls quite short against Makashi, Form II, as it was specifically developed as a counter to Shii-Cho.
Yet despite all of this, despite its age and its shortcomings, the form remains an important building block of Lightsaber combat and training, for it endows us with the knowledge and the basics necessary to understand the lightsaber forms that built upon the very foundations that this form has created.
Apprentices and acolytes alike would do well to learn this form well.
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