Makashi, the second form of Classical Lightsaber Combat, is often considered the best form for saber on saber dueling.
Explanation
Often referred to as 'the duelist form', Form II lightsaber combat is a rarely seen fencing style that emphasizes both finesse and speed. Count Dooku mastered Form II and brought the once-archaic style back into practical use at the dawn of the Clone Wars. It is mainly designed for lightsaber-on-lightsaber dueling and a favourite of master duelists. While it may not be as good against ranged weaponry or multiple opponents it is virtually unstoppable against a single duelists. Like Shii-Cho its age and simplicity have no reflection on its elegance and efficiency in a true lightsaber duel. Some things have always worked, and so long as there are enemies who bear lightsabres, there will be those who choose Makashi.
This quintessential duelling style was developed over generations of Jedi training and was popular during the ancient Sith Wars when Jedi were required to fight Sith in direct one-on-one combat. Eventually Form II rose to the forefront as one of the most elegant methods to defeat the opponent. However with the advent of blaster technology, and the decrease of lightsabre weilders, most followers abandoned Makashi in favour of the more defensive Form III.
While the form praises dexterity over strength it is a very compact and trim form with almost no flourishes and no unnecessary motions. This style is to the point and considered a hard style. The strikes of Makashi rely more upon the inherent damage of the lightsaber over the adherent's strength. This is not to say that strength plays no part in the form, however, as the strength to overcome particularly skilled opponents is still necessary.
Grip
Held at an angle, the Form II grip has the ring and small finger held tightly with the index and middle fingers loose. The looser the index finger the more confident the user. Customised sabers are often made in a curved hilt shape specifically for the trim strikes of this form, creating a more natural s striking continuum with the style's grip. Form II is almost universally done with one hand on the hilt, the other hand used for balance or open handed attacks.
Stance
With the feet square to the shoulders, the body should be turned at a slight angle away from the opponent, thereby reducing the target for the opponent. The saber arm is closest to the enemy and the blade is held down and slightly forward and away from the body.
Striking
Fast and light, this style relies heavily upon the flexibility of the wrist, the fast mobility of the blade a crucial dynamic in successful application. Tight arcs and fast slashes are used to out manoeuver an opponent.
Parrying
Makashi has very limited blocks, instead relying on parries to deflect an opponent's blade, get their blade within striking distance, and disarm an opponent. By using an opponent's vigour against them the redirection of their weapon, and the strategic placement of their weapon to enable a proper next strike, this form is incredibly effective against other saberists. Due to the form's placement of the saber it is not terribly effective versus ranged weaponry.
Requirements
A saberist who wishes to study Makashi must first attain a combined score of 24 in dexterity and intelligence.
The Duelist Sabre
The most famous of the Form II adherents tend to use the more ergonomic curved hilt sabres, favoring them for the angle at which the blade follows the arm. Whether or not this aids their fighting is an oft-contested subject. What is known however, is that when a Makashi master decides to pick up the curved Hilt sabre as their preferred one, that they rarely, if ever go back to the usual style.
Further, once one gets used to the curved hilt sabre, there is an adjustment period when one tries to return to the regular straight hilt. Obelisk warriors sometimes eschew this style for this reason alone… lightsabres are commonly lost or destroyed on the field of battle, and you can not rely upon the small chance that a fallen enemy happens to have such an uncommon variant of an already rare weapon.
Makashi masters have been known to favor Nextor focussing crystals in their lightsabers. This seven-pointed crystal found on Geonosis is valued highly by masters of the second and seventh form of sabre fighting. When used in the saber, these crystals chaotically change the energy flow of the saber, making it easier for the weilder to parry other saber blades, and give them an advantage in saber locks. Deflecting blaster bolts with such a blade is far less precise and much more difficult, however, as the chaotic 'grain' of the plasma tends to bounce blaster bolts in remarkably unpredictable fashion.
Adherents