Lightsabers 101

[Basaba Willamina]

[member="Velus"]

She looked at him and from under the helmet raised an eyebrow. Gripping the hilt of the saber with both hands when she went itno a stance she would use with her beskad only sadly she was not looking at it. The smaller dagger for her off hand was ready. A though when she stood up tall and ready for a duel even if it was practice. She could see the other one over there as a pairing between a human and togruta, there was also the master and a species she had only seen in the Asobi System. Mostly serving to help out and scout with the As-Aki for the jedi. "Are you ready?" She said it while circling and observing him.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

[member="Serana"]

Sorel noted the odd numbers and considered three options. Making a group of three was a possibility, but at this stage an over-elaboration that was more likely to confuse.

The second was to become the partner, but she would not be able to focus on how the others were doing if she did.

So she opted for the third choice and activated Kay - her reprogrammed assassin droid. "Start at the beginning but match Serana's pace." Setting up the spar in this way, it would start out slow but would speed up if Serana showed she was ready to work faster.

The droid appeared as an assassin model but had actually been used as a standard protocol droid - until Sorel rescued it. And its programming meant it would appear as quick as an average Jedi to a Padawan.

"Agreed, Master."

Even though it only spoke two words, Sorel sensed the sarcasm in the second word - but she trusted it with Serana as it activated a training saber and stepped forward to engage the Padawan.

At which point a new Jedi entered the room and there was the sound of a sigh from the droid. "Standing down," he said as he expected his Master to pair Serana with [member="Catherine Soja"]. Which she duly did.

 

[Catherine Soja]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]


Was aroudn watching noting the odd member out she stepped forward. "If somebody needs a partner I'd be willing to help Master Sorel." She spoke.

 

[Krayzen Dratos]

Velus observed [member="Basaba Willamina"], his opponent. The Ephicanthix analyzed his opponent, his subconscious entering him into a combative mode, although Velus knew that he wasn't actually his enemy. Basaba had lean muscle, so the Ephicanthix knew that he had more strength on his side, but his opponent perhaps would use his speed, and agility to defeat him.

The force sensitive activated the lightsaber, swinging it around in order to get familiar with it. Velus then remembered what [member="Sorel Crieff"] had said about the four zones of the body. He intended to focus his attacks on particularly zones, all of wish would be revealed later.

"Okay. I'm ready." he said. He noticed that he circled her, so he responded in kind, and they eventually would be in opposite positions of each other, rendering her intent of encircling him useless. He then attacked her, intending to use his strength as he sent a diagonal attack from the left waist, to right shoulder, his saber in his right hand, and his left hand having a phrik blade, ready to be used if necessary.

 

[Ery'lyn Ashaal]

Ery held up the training saber she'd already acquired in response to being offered one by her partner. She followed the other woman to an area clear of other students and activated it, twisting her hands around the hilt and adjusting to the weight of it.

When Lynn drew a blaster and suggested practicing with it first, the Togruta was fairly certain the universe was having a great laugh at her expense. First, she'd been expected to master the use of the force while in an increased gravity field and attempting to dodge projectiles. Now, she had a partner who wanted to shoot at her. Granted, the blaster had been turned down and Master Sorel was nearby, so it was highly unlikely she'd be severely injured. But if definitely seemed as if she was hitting the ground running while being chased by an out-of-control speeder in terms of her training.

"First bean bags and now blaster shots....yay." She raised an eyebrow at Lynn and shook her head, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Her mouth quirked up in a smile, attempting to reassure Lynn that there were no hard feelings. "Might as well, it's been one heck of a week. Start with zone one and work our way up?"

[member="Lynn Corerunner"] | [member="Sorel Crieff"]

 

[Serana]

[member="Catherine Soja"] [member="Sorel Crieff"]

Serana looked at the person that the jedi master had indicated for her to be abel to move with and work with. She was looking at Catherine and bucked up a little when her wings came out to let the force go under her wings and lift her up higher before the horn mounted saber started to rotate like Sorel had shown but she was using it how she had been trained. The Tripzest and saber strikes she would be able to better use. Going forward while she moved her head down for a moment.

 

[Catherine Soja]

[member="Serana"] [member="Ery'lyn Ashaal"] [member="Velus"] [member="Sorel Crieff"] [member="Basaba Willamina"]

She lifted a hand and took a training saber, once to her hand she ignited it. "Ready when you are padawan." She smiled and took a defensive stance. Her eyes watched the padawan begin to fly indicating she'd been training with the mindset of using her elevation for an advantage. That meant she had to watch the sky a tad to be sure she kept her foe in sight.

 

[Basaba Willamina]

[member="Velus"]

Basaba was looking at him and in her armor she was able to easily have those three inches and twenty pound different. THe lens of her helmet flaring as the hands shifted. The force was there but so was normal training for a fight when the grip shifted to one hand on the hilt with the other cybernetic arm free to eject the cortosis blade If she needed it. Her normal equipment missing but she let the lightsaber move and her body to catch for the blade coming at her chest. The right foot going forward and her hand clenching into a fist as she swung it around to try and strike the forearm to disable the opponent.

 

[Serana]

[member="Catherine Soja"]

SHe moved back there for a moment letting the sabers length adjust quickly. The duel phase going from the standard saber length to the three times larger so she could use her own saber and distance to make a spinning circle going around of the saber blade. Just like Joza had taught her when it came to her movements and control, then with what she knew about defending herself before she came in for a slash from the right able to reach the height of the jedi knight she had been paired against.

 

[Krayzen Dratos]

The Ephicanthix wondered how others would accept a Mandalorian Jedi to the Order. He was somewhat curious, as [member="Basaba Willamina"] did not mind displaying his cultural heritage. It was something that Velus respected.

The diagonal attack he had made to his opponent's chest had a lot of pressure on it, in an attempt to counter the opponent's enhanced strength due to his armor, and so forth. Since he naturally was more stronger than Basaba, he knew that he would also put some strength to counter Velus' brute force attack, although not as much due to his armor. It was however enough to immediately use his strength against him.

Velus would use his ally, gravity to help him, as he disengaged, in a barbaric attempt at using Trakata. Before she attacked his hand, he pivoted to her right, away from the cybernetic arm, as he went to attack Basaba's kidneys, as he sent a strike from his left, to right also in a diagonal manner.

The reason why gravity was important was because the friction created from disengaging would cause Basaba to fall down, as gravity pulled him. It was something that he had used before while wielding various melee weapons, and it had enough success that he decided it was time to use it in the duel.

The Ephicanthix hoped the attack would work, even though the lightsaber strike would be mitigated by the beskar armor his opponent wore.

 

[Catherine Soja]

[member="Serana"] As the padawan came in to strike she lifted her blade to block it before stepping back and taking a further defensive stance. Preparing to practice her Form III today some to get better with it. She'd then watch the padawans movements in the air it was less easy to read them the same way and body language changed in the air. As she moved slowly she kept her eyes on her partner.

 

[Basaba Willamina]

[member="Velus"] [member="Sorel Crieff"]

Basaba was there, letting her eyes track in the helmet and mainting the movement with her arm as she stopped. His sidestep going away from her but she had been ground. Gravity doesn't do much if your arm is the only thing moving before she pivoting bringing the blade around in her hand to go with her body. Twisting on the heel of her boots in place She brougt the saber around to go for the saber lock and push him back with the strength. Her instincts were taking over so she could move and stayed aware of the area. The speed and her movement going before slamming her foot down on the floor and letting the shockwave generator of her armor go off to make a space to stay ready and defend herself with the saber.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

The assembled Jedi were making good progress and now Sorel introduced the next necessary step. It would end the formal part of the training, and once those that participated learned these final basics, she could move on to something more exciting. Sorel in truth found the current activity interesting but she had been a Padawan once and knew how their mind’s worked.

“The Three Rings of Defense,“ she said once she called them to order. "The final part of defense that you need to Master.”

“The Outer ring is designed to guard against grand sweeping blows or attacks from range. These take longer to deliver, but are typically more powerful. The Outer ring consists of four guard positions, all with the blade held diagonally: the upper right, upper left, lower right and lower left.” Sorel demonstrated.

“The Middle ring of defense is designed to pick up quicker blows and block them, though it is also effective for blaster-deflection. The guard positions all featured the blade being held at right angles, with the upper and lower guards being horizontal, while the left and right positions being vertical.” Again she demonstrated.

“Finally, the Inner ring is the last line of defense, dangerous to be attacking or defending from. It is for use against lunging attacks, and relies on parries. It has only a single guard position, with the hilt covering your navel. Attacks are deflected by angling the blade’s tip and shunting their saber aside with the lower third of the blade, facilitating a swift counter towards the opponents chest or abdomen.”

Once more she demonstrated.

[member="Basaba Willamina"] [member="Catherine Soja"] [member="Velus"] [member="Serana"] [member="Ery'lyn Ashaal"] [member="Lynn Corerunner"]

 

[Lynn Nantaris]

Lynn's eyes widened, she wanted to start with head shots? "How about we start with zone 2 and 3, no need to start with the hardest one." She smiled and rew her other blaster and set it to the lowest setting. She double checked both before tossing one blaster to Ery so they could both practice deflecting. "Are you ready?" She waited for a response, then carefully aimed her blaster at Ery's arms. With slow movements she took single shots, giving a break between them, but as she felt Ery was comfortable, she would speed up her shots, switching randomly between the left and right arm being careful to duck or dodge any stray bolts sent back her way.


[member="Ery'lyn Ashaal"]

 

[Ery'lyn Ashaal]

Ery'lyn caught the blaster and set it to the side, near her bag. She shrugged and smiled sheepishly. "It's just been one of those weeks I guess." She chuckled and took up a ready stance, nodding to Lynn when she was prepared.

The first few shots she dodged automatically, not deflecting with the saber as she'd been shown. After an admonishing glance from their instructor, she began practicing the moves Sorel had shown them. The horizontal movement felt strange. She expected a heavy blade, not the feather-light blade in her hand.

With each deflected shot, she grew more confident, even allowing herself to smile and relax, enjoying the slight sting of muscles long unused. After a while of the practice, Ery held up a hand.

"Switch?" After all, it was only fair that they both get a chance to practice.

With the approval of her partner, Ery deactivated her saber, setting the hilt on the ground and picking up the blaster, repeating the same exercise as Lynn just had. She found the feeling of the blaster was an uncomfortable weight in her hands. She highly doubted it would ever become a weapon of choice.

[member="Sorel Crieff"] | [member="Lynn Corerunner"]

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel continued with the training, aware it was in many ways basic but none the less important – as the basics were always the grounding of good practise.

So she told them all about the Marks of Contact, and then the terminology of duelling – such as sun djem; shim; cho mai; cho sun; cho mok; shiak; sai cha; sai tok; mou kei.

Then she made those present aware of the various ready stances, including Jedi Ready; Defensive Neutral; Offensive Neutral; Center of Being.

Finally she showed them some standard moves, including Jung; Jung ma; Shun; Sai; Flowing Water; Falling Leaf; Dulon; and even Kai-kan.

The lesson concluded, Sorel encouraged those present to not neglect the simple things they had learned today and informed them that she would next time be working through the various Forms, starting with Makashi. But that was for another day.

[FIN]

[member="Ery'lyn Ashaal"] [member="Lynn Nantaris"] [member="Basaba Willamina"] [member="Catherine Soja"] @Velus @Serana