Takeda's Form One (Shii-Cho) Training

[Zanear the Edge]

The room is a simple square, 50 x 50. It's floor and walls are padded for extra protection. On the North wall is a rack that contains training sabers, plus a group of lockers to keep personal items in.

Standing in the center of the room is a shimmering figures in white robes, Jedi Master Augustus Starwarrior, the Half-Chiss Jedi that was now One with the Force.

Greetings friend! Cate has told me many good things about you. Enter please, and place your personal items in a locker.

[Takeda]

Takeda enters the training area, and performs a formal bow to his instructor.

"Well met Master Starwarrior..." he nods another small bow as he says his instructors name. "It is a great honor to train with you this day." He nods another bow, takes a step backwards then turns to the locker and follows the instructions. With the exception of the light coat he wears and his long-knife, both of which he stows in the locker, he has left his other items on the ship and wears only a set of fatigue pants and a sleeveless t-shirt.

He returns to his previous position and stands relaxed his arms crossed below his waist in front of him, his left hand holding the right wrist. He bows again to signal respect for his instructor and to let him know he is ready for his next instruction.

[Zanear the Edge]

The Jedi Master smiles at Takeda. He'd hadn't seen anyone bow so much since he was a Padawan, but he kept the amusement to himself. Tell me, how long have you been in training to be a Jedi? Are you offically a Padawan learner, having been assigned a Master?

He waits for the student to answer, and when he does, simply nods. Tell me, do you know the Jedi Forms of combat? Can you tell me how many there are?

[Takeda]

Takeda, unable to shake the formality drilled into him by his culture, replies.
"I have not been assigned a Master to instruct me, nor even know if that is the intention. Formally I have not trained at all, however Master Windancer thought I have been inadvertently training most of my life."

As he finishes speaking, he nods a bow, its effect is visual punctuation.

Listening to his instructors next question, he replies.
"I know nothing of Jedi combat, I know nothing of the forms or their number."

[Zanear the Edge]

The shimmering form of the Jedi Master looks at Takeda somewhat skeptically. It's unusual to train a non-Jedi in their ways, but Cate has vouched for you, so that's good enough for me. He then gestures with his hand at the rack on the wall. Find a saber that fits your style. They are all designed for training purposes.

Moving to the center of the mat, he begins his instruction. Ok, the first thing to know is that dueling is about respect. If you respect your opponent, you will receive it in return. There are seven Forms of combat. The 8th Form, known as Form Zero was created by Yoda and is a mindset for a Jedi to remember at all times when a conflict might escalate. Since your not going to be a Jedi, I'll skip it. Basically I'll be training you in the most basic of all Forms, Form One or better known as Shii-Cho. It names several basic attacks, and explains the combat zones. It' s straight forward attacks and defenses, nothing fancy or wild. In a duel, the rule is no more than 3 attacks per post. That includes attack style Force Powers. Also, whenever you duel, always post your defense to others attacks first, before counter attacking. That's extra important.

Before I begin to explain Shii-Cho in full, do you have any questions?

[Takeda]

Takeda moves over and examines the sabers on the wall and selects one with a longer and extremely thick handle. While the saber would likely be uncomfortable for most humans, it is barely large enough for his hand.

His selection made he returns towards his instructor and listens carefully, as his instructor finishes speaking he nods.

"I do not have any questions at present."

[Zanear the Edge]

Alright then, a little history as I explain the use and purpose of Form One. He takes a breath, or at least seems to, as he no longer has a need to breathe anymore, being one with the Force.

Form I: Shii-Cho, also known as The Way of the Sarlacc, or The Determination Form, was the first of the seven forms of lightsaber combat. As the most ancient style of lightsaber combat, Shii-Cho was developed during the transition period from swords to lightsabers. As lightsabers were wielded in a manner similar to swords, many of the maneuvers, such as attacks or parries, remained unchanged, as the key principles of the old sword-fighting methods continued to be incorporated. The simplicity and persistent methods of the form led it to being dubbed the "Way of the Sarlacc" and the "Determination Form". As Shii-Cho was developed prior to either the emergence of Dark Jedi or Sith Lords, it was not developed with lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat in mind. Despite the development of a combat form tailored to lightsaber dueling, Shii-Cho was not rendered obsolete. Its simplicity and basic focuses left the form ideally suited for basic training, and it was used to provide initiates with a basic introduction to lightsaber combat. Shii-Cho remained an effective form of combat for thousands of years, its simplicity making it a good fallback option when no other form would do.

The Jedi master took a moment to let Takeda reflect on that knowledge, letting the idea of what he was about to learn sink in.

Shii-Cho fostered an emotionally-heated mindset, which resulted in the considerable temptation to execute combat with lethal intent, requiring great restraint to exercise the form without going too far. Despite the pull to kill, the style was designed for the purpose of disarming without seriously injuring. In combat, Form I encouraged deliberate tactics, calling for continuous, step-by-step advancement while cutting off the opponent's angles. Shii-Cho was specialized towards engaging multiple opponents, the wide, sweeping motions being ideally suited towards attacking numerous adversaries. However, Form I was not as useful against single opponents, as such enemies had complete mobility and could find a weakness in Shii-Cho's comparatively clumsy bladework. In order to teach students to draw upon the Force rather than rely on their senses, early level Shii-Cho blast-deflect training was conducted with a blindfold, forcing the initiate to rely upon his instincts. Later training was conducted through the use of sequences and velocities, the continuous repetition making the moves instinctive reflexes. These training regimes were carried over to all following lightsaber combat forms, which used similar methods. The basic rules of attacks, parries and body target zones were established by Shii-Cho combat. Shii-Cho also had two methods of combat which determined how these moves were executed; Ideal Form and Live Combat Form.

Ideal Form was mainly used in sparring, and all the moves and maneuvers were executed at perfect horizontal/vertical angles, with attacks and parries being perpendicular to one another. The Live Combat Form was much more functional, the attacks being diagonal strikes at each respective body zone, the goal being to increase speed and reduce actual movement. Here the Jedi pauses once again, the large amount of information given might hurt Takeda's head. Grinning he continued. Ideal Form is something you need to practice on your own. Once shown it's quite simple. However, Live Combat is what you'll learn with me. Going back into 'teacher' mode, the Jedi Master continues.

The body target zones were numbered as follows; 1 - head, 2 - right arm and side, 3 - left arm and side, 4 - back, 5 - right leg, 6 - left leg.

Shii-Cho philosophy emphasized victory without injury and as such, the sun djem mark of contact was traditionally employed by Form I practitioners. Keeping with the use of sun djem, one of the attacks utilized by Form I practitioners was referred to as the "Disarming Slash", consisting of a strike directed at the opponent's weapon in an attempt to rip it out of their grasp. Another of the techniques utilized by Shii-Cho was dubbed the "Sarlacc Sweep", a wide sweeping attack in which the duelist struck against multiple enemies.

The Jedi sighed, not used to talking so much in such a short time. Waving his hand upward, he speaks once again. Now, please take a basic stance, and run through the body zones, striking with your weapon in the area that they would be.

[Takeda]

Takeda nods a curt bow to his instructor.
"Thank you Master Starwarrior, taking the time to explain the evolution of the style gives me a better grasp of it."

Takeda takes a few steps back respectfully and holding it off to the side well away from both of them, he ignites the saber. Still having it face off to the side, he hefts it, gets a measure of its balance, and moves it back and forth slowly through the empty space. He extends his arm in a slow thrust, and then returns to his original posture.

"Strange, there is no weight to the blade, though there is... momentum to it, It is like it has weight in movement but the balance of the hilt does not change. My apologies for my quizzical nature, this is the first time I have seen a saber in person, let alone have handled one."

He takes a step forward, and raises his blade to a basic defensive posture, His body is not square to Gus, but diagonal, presenting a more narrow profile to attack. he pauses for a moment then lowers his saber.
"Master, shall I execute each maneuver as a separate strike and then return to ready or should I immediately proceed to flow into the next strike?"

[Zanear the Edge]

He grins and then responds. Let's start with attacking the body zones first. Make a manuver, calling out which zone you are aiming for, and then strike, returning to center when done. He waved his hand in front of himself. Use me as a target. I'm a ghost anyways, you can't hurt me.

[Takeda]

Takeda nods a quick bow of acknowledgment, raises his saber, and then commences.

"Left arm."
More graceful than his bulk suggests, Takeda steps forward, and extends a single handed strike towards gus's upper left arm area. The maneuver is executed cleanly and efficiently, no clumsy footwork, just a smooth step and extension of his arm, as the blade hums through the air.

((OOC I am not quite sure if your intending to block or just be all ghosty-slick, I will edit if necessary))

The blade stops abruptly an inch from where Gus's shoulder would be, and without any fan-fare Takeda steps back and resumes center. He pauses to hear his instructors assessment.

[Zanear the Edge]

Not bad... he says, without moving, just standing there. However....please go ahead and follow through, as if you meant to cleave through me. He grins that famous grin that broke a thousand hearts in this Galaxy far,far away. I promise it won't hurt. Chuckling, he stopped himself for just a moment. You know, I forgot to mention something. He made to draw a lightsaber from his belt, and a ghostly version seemed to appear in his hand. It was made from a wroshyr tree branch, and was curved hilt in design. He held out his hands and gripped his weapon so that Takeda could see it. Also, there's a specific way to hold your saber: in Shii-Cho form, a lightsaber is held by putting one hand on the very top, and another hand on the bottom. On the top hand, pressure was applied to the 4th finger, 5th finger, and the thumb, as if one could fight without the 3rd and 2nd fingers. The bottom hand was maneuvered in a push-pull motion.

[Takeda]

Takeda nods a bow of acknowledgment of the instructions.

"I will endeavor to obtain a more appropriate training saber for further lessons. This one is too short for me to wield two handed."

Takeda resumes his stance.

"My apologies for not following through master, if I may be so bold as to point out a lesson form my clan training. Cait briefly explained your fairly unique situation. To strike into you would offer no resistance, and to cut with no resistance would not provide you with any information regarding my technique, for in effect I would still have to pull my blow, my energy in the cut would have nothing to expend itself against, providing a natural outcome. However, I will do as you instruct."

Takeda, resumes his center.

"Right arm"
Takeda steps forward with his left foot, and slightly off-line of center. The blade at first remaining in place in the step, the effect as if he drew the blade back towards himself, but this is in reverse of that, Takeda body moved forward while the blade simply elevates in height slightly.

As his left foot decends in the step, the blade raisesand begins it decent, more in the direction of Gus's head at first, and then as the arm comes level, it's angle changes in a smooth motion and like the end car of a train gains extra speed and power from the motion of the whole body, thus no effort is wasted. As Takeda's arm nears extension, his wrist and shoulder roll, the blade dropping into a slot at a very precise time and strike at a nearly flat angle as Takeda's hips turn and the arm extends away from him. The blade, had Gus not been at one with the force, would have severed his arm at the top of his left bicep, and more than likely continued through into his chest and out the other side. As it is Takeda stops the blade one inch away from Gus's arm... his left one on the other side of his body.

While the maneuver was not a perfect example of a Shii-Cho strike, Gus may note that the position of Takeda's body and blade through the entire strike offered him excellent advantage should a preemptive strike been launched against him. Gus may have also noted that there is an almost un-nerving calmness to Takeda's emotion. There is no rage or anger of course, but there is also a lack of the excitement or nervousness that comes with nearly all new students. The combination of the smoothness of movements Takeda uses and his emotional state, suggest many hours each day practicing the same maneuvers repeatedly in very formal training.

As Takeda withdraws and resumes center, there is a faint hint of a sad emotion for a fraction of a second. Coupled with what Gus may already surmise, the maneuver Takeda just executed has been performed successfully in a practical application.

Exactly as instructed Takeda pauses for a brief moment...
"Left leg."

Takeda continues in this fashion to attempt to go through the full sequence of basic cuts.

[Zanear the Edge]

The Jedi Master listens and nods at Takeda's comments, all of them correct. He was already quite advanced, and Gus thought that he might be ready to choose his next Form. But still, a spar was needed to test him fully.

Well done! Your efforts are precise and measured, your movements fluid without wasting energy. He begins to walk away from his student, going to 'sit' on the bench by the lockers. Waving his hand, a button is depressed and a slim droid walks in from a as before unseen door. As you may or may not know, this is what's called a proxy droid. It takes the form of anyone, and has within it's core the complete fighting style of many different duelists. Since my...condition...prohibits me from actually dueling you, I'll be using this droid. He waved his hand again, and the droid shimmered for a moment before taking on the form of Gus himself! The now very much real "Gus' walks to the rack and pulls a curved handled blade, similar to the one the real Master had. Walking back to center, the droid grinned and bowed to his opponent.

Now remember, this Form is not well suited to one on one combat, but both of you will be using the Form, the ghost spoke to Takeda. Remember the rules, in training, three attacks at most, no Force Powers allowed. Always defend attacks before counter attacking. Remember to describe not only how you hold your weapon, but with which hand, or both. Describe footwork, and where your attacks are aimed at (target zones, but describe the spot, don't use the number.) And always, be specific as possible and use logic. Sometimes you can't block everything! Be creative. And most importantly, and this is the ULTIMATE rule...

Never, ever, say you land a hit, or that you say what your opponent does or how he/she reacts. That's the fast way to be called a God-Mod. EVERYthing is always, you attempt to hit this, you aim for that, you try to do this.... do you understand? Now..any questions?

[Takeda]

Takeda bows acknowledgment to the real Gus.
"I understand your instructions, but I do have one question. Will we be calling blows, or will your proxy and I be engaging in a full spar?"

After Gus responds, Takeda makes ready and centers himself. His right foot forward to his opponent, the saber held in his right hand in a conventional grip. His broad shoulders and torso are set on an angle to minimize targets of opportunity, the hilt of the saber about waist level (for T) and the tip angled out about 30 degrees towards his opponent. his empty hand held loosely behind him and out of the way.

He pauses, then salutes the proxy and returns to center.

[Zanear the Edge]

The ghost grins, and the proxy mirrors it...oddly and eerily in a creepy manner. Live spar, and the blades are set to only do stun damage, so it will sting and maybe cause a appendage to go numb. And you have to let the Force flowthrough you, let it guide your actions, and feel what must be done. So in a nutshell, no we won't call shots. They both toss a wink at the end, and the Ghost laughs while the proxy simply holds an annoying smirk.

Now, go ahead and attack first....