Shii-Cho

The oldest and most direct form of lightsaber combat is Shii-Cho.

Explanation

Form I is the oldest lightsaber fighting style and serves as a basis for most of the other forms of lightsaber training. It was the first style developed by the Jedi with the advent of the energy-bladed weapon. Form I consists of a variety of standard duelling manoeuvres that are required before being able to move into the more difficult fighting styles and the basics are exhibited in the First Circle of most of the other forms. Because of this Form I is often the most misunderstood style.

Many people rush to associate the age and simplicity of Form I with weakness when in fact Shii-Cho is one of the most aggressive of the seven Jedi Arts. What Form I lacks in style and artistry it more than makes up in brute force and power. It is because it resembles ordinary sword fighting so closely that Shii-Cho is so easy to learn and, indeed, master, however this is far from a weakness and most masters of Form I will tell how they believe this is its greatest strength. Form I is particularly effective when faced with multiple adversaries at once. In a time when many saberists use excessively overstylized forms, the deceptive simplicity of Shii-Cho shines through.

This style utilises relatively basic manoeuvres with very little flash. It is the easiest of all styles to start as many of the manoeuvres are rather intuitive but true mastery requires dedication and practice. While adherents of other forms tend to knock the Form I styles as clumsy and inelegant they cannot deny its effectiveness in combat, Favouring strength over dexterity and strong strikes over light slashes. Form I is a hard art, preferring strong but sudden attacks, and has no parries but several blocks.

Grip

Shii-Cho utilises what is called a hammer grip where the hands are kept in direct line with the wrists and forearms. Adherents of Form I typically wield two-handed to maximise their strength.

Stance

With legs are slightly wider than the shoulders and slightly bent at the knee face the opponent with the hilt close to the dominant side of the waistband with blade extending up and forward at a reasonable angle as shown.

Striking

Keeping the wrist in line with the hand the majority of the Form I power comes from the shoulder and back with the adherent putting all of his weight behind most of the strokes and blocks. This skeletal alignment makes it easier for a student to learn powerful techniques by teaching them to strike with their entire body weight, creating slow but devastatingly powerful strokes.

Blocking

By anticipating an opponent's strike the Form I adherent will literally strike into the opponent's blade. This blocking style can sometimes even push back a weaker opponent's strike and place the adherent back into the offence where this style shines.

Requirements

Any student who wishes to study Shii-Cho may, but they must have a combined score of 24 in strength and charisma.

Simplicity

Many warriors throughout history have been proponents of the simplest path. The almost natural gross motor movements inherent to Shii-Cho's roots lend itself perfectly to battlefield application of this precept.

As one advances through the ranks of Shii-Cho mastery, many of the strikes and blocks develop an artistic simplicity that elude to a different move. Those facing the Shii-Cho master may take these subtle cues as warning, and expect a differing strike, believing that the coming attack is far more convoluted or complicated than the simple devastation that is Shii-Cho's strength.

Adherents

• Kit Fisto