Variant of: Hapan
Prerequisites: Hapan 2/5, DEX 18
Style: Soft
Weapons: Unarmed Only
Knifist is a style of combat popularized on Alderaan before its destruction. After the Alderaanians destroyed all their armaments, the dueling societies needed something to fill the void. Knifist arose. Copying many of the movements and attacks of the far more well known Hapan Martial Arts, Knifist soon became recognized as a popular variant of the style.
Knifist involves slashing and stabbing movements with the hands and feet, as if wielding knives. The same is true for the defense, as knifist combatants are taught to deflect weapons with their bare hands (by striking them on blunt surfaces at precise angles). While difficult to learn, and exceedingly so to master, once mastery has been achieved it is quite deadly. Many a knifist master can fight an armed opponent and win, without the use of a single weapon.
The draw-back is that this form requires the use of two unfettered hands and two equally unfettered feet, which means that those who wish to practice it must do so unarmed. Some of the more extreme practitioners go so far as to remove their shoes before combat. Still, it is among the most beautiful and effective styles in existence, recognized by its flowing and graceful movements.