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29-04-2023, 04:10 AM
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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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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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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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