Private Ataru a sight for sore eyes!

[Kat Decoria]

It had been too long since Kat had practised Ataru to any serious degree and it had been even longer still since she had trained under the amazing Romi Jade, another teacher she realised she had a crush on when she was part of the SJC. It was a pattern that had Kat curious if she was only developing feels for older teachers, like some terrible cliche but she shook her head and realised that she was being silly. What teenage doesn't form crushes on teachers, especially teachers like Allyson Locke and Romi Jade, and Kat was sure there were plenty other students vying for Romi's attention whenever Kat attended one of her classes. However, she was older and while not much wiser when it came to love and relationships, Kat was sure she had moved on from silly teenage crushes, she couldn't linger in the past forever and was happy to meet up with Romi and learn a few more things on Ataru fighting. Skilled Jedi Master knowing the same form as her was exciting since she didn't get to train with others often in Ataru, however she was excited to learn more. She dressed in some casual gym wear, figuring that she would be working up a sweat in the training session. Adding a hoodie on just to fight the cold on the way to the training room.

Jumping on the spot, Kat warmed herself up and tied her hair into a tight bun to avoid getting in eyes as she trained. Wandering through the halls, Kat was feeling a little hungover from the night before, she spent it out with a woman whose name was not coming to her mind, it was not a good date. Though Kat hadn't really had a good date to compare it, the woman wasn't too bad she guessed, just not Kat's type it seemed more and more clearer as the night dragged on which had her drinking more. Rubbing her temples, she really soon not drink the night before training, it was never a good idea. Taking a mouthful of water, she hoped that if she kept hydrated then it would not be as harsh as previous hangovers. Entering the training room, it was empty which suggested that Kat had gotten there first. Which didn't mind her, gave Kat the chance to stretch and do some Echani movements to get herself ready for the training session. Moving fluidly in her movements as though she was performing a dance, Kat started her first Echani kata.

Romi Jade

 

[Romi Jade]

She strode into the room, cutting through the illumi-strip beams -- great she was here.

'Kat. Hey," Her pacing settled a bit until there was no forward motion at all. All in tandem, she stopped walking and freed her shoulders from her jacket. She threw out her arm, and the bomber went flying to the side of the room. "First of all welcome to Jakku, and second, it's good to see you again."

She smirked, while titling her head forward; a stray locs fell from the peak of her clavicle. "So we're doing some Ataru training today? I remember a short convo we had before in the last lesson I led that you were picking it as your main form?"

Her necked swiviled just a tad as she posed the question; she wanted to make sure she was recalling the right thing.

"No?"

---

Kat Decoria

 

[Kat Decoria]

Finding the Jedi Temple on Jakku had not been an easy thing, everything on Jakku just looked the same. Desert planets were not known to have plenty of noteable areas. However, Kat made her way to the enclave and had a short tour around the day before the training. When Romi entered the room, she moved in sharp and elegant manner, it was impressive the way she walked and gave an air of no nonsense as well for the Echani who offered a smile, albeit a little goofy. "Hey, yeah I was surprised to hear you were training out here and its good to see you too!"

Well damn, Kat thought as she watched Romi move her jacket onto a hangar and seemed to look amazing doing it. How does someone look good putting the jacket away?! It was clear that her crush had not faded away although there was a lot of admiration for Romi as well, someone to look up to as a role model as well.

She nodded her head slowly as Romi asked about Ataru, not trusting her voice at first, partly a little hungover and partly she was just feeling a bunch of butterflies fluttering in her stomach. "Uhhh... Yeah, I got pretty good with it but haven't been training since I left the Silver Jedi and thought this be a good chance to learn from one of best." Kat coughed nervously as she offered a weak smile. "I figured Ataru was closest to my natural Echani combat."

Romi Jade

 

[Romi Jade]

"Surprised huh?" She followed up before taking slow pace towards the center.

She loosened her stance, "Alright yeah, I can show you a few things or so." A quick jolt of the head, she motioned for Kat to join her in the center. "You're likely right, Ataru incorporates a good amount of the body. The fluidity of Echani martials arts would mesh well I'd think."

She backpedalled a bit to give them some room, "Alright, there's one principle I'd like to heed to when exploring combat...and even more so Ataru. You may remember, but combat is all about controlling conflict. Putting the battle on your own terms. You should always be acting, never reacting."

She pointed for Kat's weapon, signaling for her to pull it as she went for her own hilt.

"Ataru requires a lot of energy, tons. So much so that fighting marathon battles aren't recommended unless you've got the proper stamina to do so. So its imperative that you're intentional about how you do it and when...because you won't have room to waste any energy."

Kat Decoria

 

[Kat Decoria]

Kat nodded her head, "yeah, well Jakku isn't known to be greatest planet in the galaxy, similar reputation to Tatooine." She shrugged, it didn't bother her too much but she didn't think much of Jakku personally, "also, I thought you were still part of the Silver Jedi, I hadn't heard you left so thought we would be meeting on Kashyyyk I guess but the temple here is nice."

Moving to the spot where Romi gestured as she attempted to warm her muscles a little with a bit of jumping on the spot. Kat nodded her head, it was nice to listen to a Master's explanation of Ataru, she had mostly learned how to do Ataru from holocrons and reading on the form so having a personal lesson on it was a pleasant change of pace. "I chose Ataru since it would work best with the combat training that I already have. It also seemed to be the best with my legs." She tapped the metal thigh, she had built these legs to improve her manoeuvrability and be incredibly tough.

Being aggressive seemed an odd stance for a Jedi but in combat turns it made sense, being aggressive was everything in Djem So. "Oh, fair enough, well with combat being everything for Echani. Aggression is perhaps something I need to work on, I tend to be defensive and avoid combat till I have assessed my opponent then attack. Which I know is more Soresu but I am moving around and trying disorient my opponent as well." Grabbing her saber pike, she twirled it in her hands slowly. Igniting the green saber, her gaze focused on Master Romi.

Romi Jade

 

[Romi Jade]

"I wasn't technically a member of the Silvers, I just spent some time with them to help out anyway I could. I guess I meshed well because it did seem as if I was a member hahaa," She explained. Not that it was an issue or anything, but it spoke miles of the Silvers for how welcoming and helpful they'd been to her during her recovery period. She was grateful.

"I find myself somewhere in the middle...Ataru is also good for tactical reposition as well. And sometimes, disorientation, and avoidance can end things swiftly too. The idea of always acting and not reacting doesn't just involve attack sequences. It could mean being intentional about dragging someone to a space that benefits you the most, or taking a more grounded defensive stance to preserve your bursts till you've accumulated all the info about your opponent. So let's explore a few things. I want you to attack me from overhead, jump into it."

Kat Decoria

 

[Kat Decoria]

Listening, Kat understood where Romi was coming from, the young Echani had been feeling lost for awhile, though she was attempting to find her place amongst the GA. Having lost her belief that she was a Jedi, it had been nice to be around Jedi and see if she could find that flame inside her once again. Looking over Romi, Kat attempted to assess the strengths and weaknesses. "Okay, makes sense and sure..." She wasn't confident in taking on the Master in the Form.

Closing her eyes, calming her feelings, while she might be nervous and unsure of herself, she couldn't let her opponent know that. Showing that would be the end of the fight right then. Something that had happened all the time when she was learning how to fight as an Echani. Feeling her legs kick into life, jumping supernaturally high, bouncing off the ceiling and landing elegantly behind Romi, her saber swinging high at the opponent. Kat held her weapon firmly as she struck hard while assessing where she was weak in terms of defence.

She needed to make sure that she could counter any attack coming back at her, her pike meant that she had length in the strike so could move back swiftly if she needed to.

Romi Jade

 

[Romi Jade]

Romi ignited her blade -- scarlet fire shot out.

She tensed her wrist, and calved while stiffening her arm; her non saber arm, cupped the inner elbow of her saber arm. She felt the brunt of the attack and staved it off while pivoting around to face Kat.

"Good!" She nodded, "Normally one of us would follow through with something else, but I wanted to break this down really quick. So nice leap by the way, more than I expected, you used your environment to give you some leverage. You'll notice that gravity is your best friend - sorta- in acrobatics. Especially when your on the attack, be conscious of the heights your gaining and the weight your carrying and don't be afraid to shift your weight and use it as added power."

A beat.

"Ok, so in a scenario like this...you've got a few seconds to spare before one of takes the advantage of pressing the attack. And YOU wanna be first, so press the attack on me and force me on the defense with - get this - several short strikes. Remember the objective...forcing me on the defense. Focus on that."

Kat Decoria

 

[Kat Decoria]

Kat listened as Master Jade broke down the technique, listening eagerly as the Echani in her relished the idea of learning more combat and fine tuning her combat prowess with this Jedi form. "Aye, both my Echani training and my disability have meant that I have to always keep a constant eye on balance, acknowledging my weight and overcoming difficulties." Kat confessed, she was usually shy about her disability and the fact that she had robotic legs that were significantly heavier than organic ones. It had advantages but to normally graceful and fluid Echani fighting styles, she had to adapt in ways most her peers did not. "Guess I was easing into this fight, being cautious since I wasn't sure how you would respond." Kat admitted as she adjusted her stance a little.

Romi suggested a new scenario, one where Kat could be aggressive with short sharp attacks. Kat nodded her head, letting her mind think for several long moments as she closes her eyes, picturing the various scenarios in her mind. It wasn't long in her mind, she was able to quickly think through the different combat situations, just letting her innate abilities takeover.

Shifting stance, Kat launched herself forward with her legs and started her short, aggressive attacks, twirling her staff. Started with a big strike to the Master's leg, which she styled into a jab at Romi's stomach shortly after. Switching her Lightsaber off, Kat somersaulted towards Romi's offhand side, using the pike end of her saber to take a crack at behind the knees, forcing the Master off balance. At least in an ideal world that was how it would work for the young Echani. She then ignited her saber again, striking at Romi from awkward angles, keeping on Romi's offhanded side so that the Master's Lightsaber was further from her, making it harder to defend. That was her plan at least.

Romi Jade