As the dork who's written the most Site canon regarding Teras Kasi, let me link you some of my thoughts:
A long-winded blather about it.
Teras Kasi is not discussed in excruciating detail, and makes only a few appearances in canonical material of note. It seems to be treated like an odd mix of shaolin (focus on mental discipline, and quick, agile striking techniques) and Xingyiquan (animal naming conventions) in a culturall sense, including the obsession with Monastic culture. The original writers claim it's based on Penkac Silat, a Filipino martial style that is often includes multiple points of contact (elbow strikes transitioning to palm strikes as the opponent is pushed away, for example) and also includes a monastic style, priamrily taught by the Bortherhodo of Palawa, an esoteric order that is in a position of mistrust of the Jedi (they hold them accountable for the destruction of their home world a long time ago). The Brotherhood was primarily based out of Bunduki, a world home to many people, that was once conquered by the Epicanthix several centuries back.
The main 'rules' of Teras Kasi seem to be as follows:
- All of the canonical terms are written in Finnish. My own translations of canonical terms such as "Grinning Nexu" or "spinning rawl" required the occasional odd cognates.
- In general, force-sensitive Practictioners tend to channel force nergy through their bodies in qigong stylized approaches. This mostly focuses on agility and physical enhancement, but in one case, a rather unique gammorrean practitioner could increase his size slightly with said energy and expel it as a fiery blast from his throat, shrinking him back down and draining himself. Multiple practitioners could 'levitate' and move gracefully through the air in a manner used in kung fu movies.
- There are both heavy and light styles of the form. While it is primarily designed to be used unarmed, most practitioners tend to integrate a weapon of some variety into parts of the form. Often, a weapon used is one native to the practitioners own culture (A Tusken using a Gaffi stick, a Gamorrean using an axe).
- While tournaments and sparring sessions respect the honor of one-on-one combat, fighting dirty is not frowned upon in a combat situation.
- The Salai Kasi, a secretive order including Kit Fisto's uncle, Naead Fisto, was established among some Tears Kasi practitioners who were also force-sensitive. The curent head of this order is none other than Vorhi Alestrani, who hides out on a secretive monastery on Cerea, when he's not trying to drink away everything that depresses him. Okay, that's not a rule, it's a plot point, but there you go.
Another popular unarmed form frequently discussed in Star Wars is the discipline of Echani martial arts. Echani fighting is very formal in its instructive methods, and heavily invest in the culture of Eshan. It's known for being graceful, and is often used by military training programs. The Emperors guards and many imperial specialists were trained in these forms. Echani fighters often uses swords and pikes as well as unarmed training.
[member="Darth Ophidia"] mentioning Rattatak reminded me of Asajj Ventress, which reminded me of another place combat is taught and learned: The Arena. While Some masters learn their form in Monasteries and in rigorous military training, others learn to fight in front a live audience of crazy people. Gladiators often wield weapons that are somewhat impractical in a duel, but have style over substance, and some adopt styles meant to tame rather than kill--killing talent is a waste of resources, to some Arena Masters. Chapions of the Arena often take pride in their accomplishments, and aren't afraid to prove themselves in some way. However, most of them are not meant for stealth or subtlety--although there are exceptions. The largest gladiatorail games I'm aware of are held by the Geonosians, the Hutts, and certain severely bellicose planets (Rattatak and Gommorrea both enjoy large organize brawls.)
In addition to mystical, sporting, and military traditions, some societies learn to fight without naming their style, but have a specific method their race prefers to fight. Geonosians capture rather than kill, and their use of disabling weaponry such as electrified nets and grappling staves. Wookies use a martial form that relies on their incredible strength. Ewoks as a species favor tribal guerrilla tactics. Although, some are more directly aggressive. The Tusken Gaffi stick, Nightsister Chain Scythes, and Sith Swords are all examples of weapons built and defined by a culture, each with a definitive style of being wielded.
So, to answer your question, the place to start when building a character who's all about the combat is to ask the big question: "Where and how did you learn to fight like that?" Vorhi learned from a bunch of monks. [member="Fabula Caromed"] learned from wookies. Mystics, sages, warlords, champions, crimebosses, it's a whole galaxy of people learning how to whup some backside.
Good luck, have fun, and remember:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAwWPadFsOA[/youtube]
