No one knows where the Martial Art of K’tara originated, but what is known is that it first appeared to the general public on the battlefields of the Second Sith War. Taught to the soldiers of Darth Revan’s army the emphasis of the K'tara style was the maximization of damage to the opponent while minimizing the amount of noise created by the attack. Thus, much of the K'tara martial art was focused on short, quick motions.
In keeping with general Sith philosophies about warfare Revan and Malik taught their army a secretive art unknown outside of Sith space thus ensuring their lethality for a majority of the war. Further K’tara was suited to the missions of the infamous Sith Assassins who hunted down and murdered the Jedi of the Old Republic with cunning brutality. Agents trained in the use of the K'tara arts could disarm an opponent and render them unconscious in a few swift motions, thereby attracting as little attention as possible. The most skilled of these operatives were taught an advanced form known as the Dha’Tracyn whereby they could maximize their firing efficiency up to a staggering 120%.
The mastery of K’tara and the sub-form Dha’Tracyn can make an individual into a highly efficient assassin. Augmented with the force there are almost no limits to what can be achieved. The only draw back is that this art can only be used with solid weapons, Lightsabers cannot be used as their gyroscopic effect sets off the balance required to achieve the proper technique. The Dha’Tracyn can only be used with projectile weapons as blaster bolts move too fast to be avoided.
In modern times, the art of K'tara has been substantially diluted by those who learn the first few ranks of the art, then leave to teach their 'Ultimate Martial Art' to crowds of students eager to part with their money. Holofilms in the last few decades have helped to make the art seem infallible, and even more popular, as a result.
While the vast majority of the Schools who teach K'tara teach an incomplete, or sometimes ineffective version of the art, there are a few schools of renown. Admission to these schools is quite restricted and more than expensive, students often having to pass multiple trials to begin study. Nevertheless, there are many who swear to the efficiency of K'tara.
Stance
This art is usually employed for stealth missions, or for situations where the practitioner is grossly outnumbered. As such there are several stances that can be employed from a crouched position to a standard slightly angled standing stance. Balance is essential as the practitioner is constantly in motion so stances must change as the mission evolves.
Striking
Short quick jabs and strikes to vital areas are the basis for unarmed striking in K’tara, whereas with solid weapons the goal is the maximization of movement to strike at multiple opponents, and with the Dha’Tracyn sub-form firing efficiency is the ultimate goal. Fluidity of movement is therefore emphasized when weapons are used as opposed to the halting movements of the empty hand forms. It should be noted that firearms in Dha’Tracyn can be used as blunt weapons as well as projectile.
Defense
In K’tara the best defense is an aggressive offense. With the empty hand and solid weapons strikes are achieved usually before an opponent is aware that he’s been engaged in battle. With the Dha’Tracyn swiftness and accuracy are the emphasis, where the only defense against firearms is to not be in the way of the projectile. With that in mind deflection or throwing off the aim of others with projectile weapons is the only defense available outside of shooting first.
Training
Since the Sith Wars of old K’tara has become a mainstay of elite Special Forces groups throughout the galaxy. Believed to have been disseminated by out of work Sith soldiers hired on as mercenaries and trainers for local military and defense forces. Accurate training can only be found in a few very small schools outside of Special Forces training centers. The Rebel Alliance now the New Republic still trains their operatives in K’tara and the Dha’Tracyn.
Weapons
Swords, blades, blunt weapons, and projectile firearms are all utilized in K’tara and the sub-form Dha’Tracyn making this one of the most versatile martial arts available in the galaxy today.
Level: Advanced
Prerequisites: Broken Gate 3, Kartranin 3, Dex 18
Style: Soft
Weapons: Empty hand, projectile weapons, knives
• Grace, Fluidity
•• Training Circle, Hand and Foot
••• Multiplicity, Crimson Harvest, Rain of Blows
•••• Gunslinger, Ghostwalk, Iron and Fire
••••• Sphere, Fire Wall, Unhittable, Einhand Reload, Cruciform