Faction Talk to the Open Hand [NJO]

[Aaran Tafo]

Location: New Jedi Order Temple

It was good to be back. Even after the reconstruction, the temple still felt the same. Despite the new coat of paint on some of the walls, the foundations still remembered what had transpired here. Centuries of training, focus, discipline and harmony echoed through the restored halls. Able to be clearly felt by those with the patience to listen. For those devoted enough to draw strength from the ages past.

The Temple was an oasis of tranquillity in an otherwise chaotic galaxy. A place devoted to learning, peace and veneration of the Force. Where those who could feel the Universal Energy Field could train their gift and reach their full potential.

"I appreciate your aid in this Padawan." He said, crouching down as he began to strech out his legs in preparation for the day's lesson. Noting the presence of Ariana Du Couteau . One of the few Force Sensitives that he was aware of that made the conscious decision to use nothing more than her own hands and feet to fight as opposed to the more traditional weapon of a Jedi.

The Lightsaber was a mighty tool, versatile in both offence and defence, but like all material objects, it was but a trapping. A tool that can be taken away or lost. Especially in the heat of battle. Most Jedi were trained in the basics of hand to hand combat. How to subdue their foes while causing minimal damage. But aside from the occasional refresher course, not many would specialise in martial arts.

Hell, even he was guilty of this. There was a time in the past where he used to rely on his hands and feet to fight. When his first saber was destroyed in an attempt to teach him to have a greater reliance on the Force to aid him over something as seemingly impractical as a deadly blade of plasma.

This lesson was just as much for himself as it would be for his students.

"Are you mostly self taught? Or do you have a teacher now?" He asked, moving his weight from one leg to the other as he awaited the first wave of students. Jedi of all stripes who might find an interest in either brushing up on their skills, or learning something new. All were welcome.

 

[Ariana Du Couteau]

Ariana Du Couteau, Jedi Padawan
Location: Jedi Temple, Coruscant
Action: Get a Lesson Plan Set Up
Outfit

Ariana slowly stretched her left arm, attempting to go as far back behind her as possible, her biceps and muscles along her shoulder sighing in relief. She had not expected to assist with actual lessons, even lacking her dominant arm; the young Du Couteau never envisioned herself as one day a teacher. Or in this case, a teacher’s assistant. Which regardless was something that Ariana hadn’t expected either, maybe perhaps as an example at most, but never actively part of any lesson plan.

Turning her head to address Master Tafo, she shook her head once, “No I wasn’t self-taught, far from it actually.” She replied with a slight uneasy smile. “-My father instructed me in the ways of both the Force and Martial Arts, more specially the ways of Bakuuni.” She explained quickly, scratching the back of her head with her left hand.

“And well currently. . . .” Ariana paused, with a solemn shake of her head, “-I have no other Instructor.” She added. It was a simple, and yet painful truth, but the reminder alone was not the only thing that caused the gnawing ache in her heart. The very bandages that covered her left arm and hand were a reminder of her father, his patience and dutiful dedication to instruct her in the ways of the Force. She still remembered how she accidently set ablaze an entire section of rose bushes, oh how the whole house was up in arms. She smiled inwardly at the memory.

“So, Master, what is the lesson plan you have in mind for Jedi new to the ways of any form of Martial Arts?” She asked, her attention shifted back towards the present reality. Ariana had plenty of experience floundering during her first few lessons of hand to hand combat. She still hadn’t returned the favor back to her punching bag after all these years.
​

|| Aaran Tafo | @Open ||​

 

[Aaran Tafo]

There was the slightest nod in response to her admission of not having a teacher anymore. The implication was clear, that said he was surprised that her father was the one who taught her martial arts. He always thought the former Senator of Empress Teta was far too..... delicate for that kind of activity. Granted, they were from a planet that had a long standing warrior tradition. But the Jedi still had a hard time imagining someone who seemed so focused on being impeccably dressed ever having that much dedication when it came to martial combat.

But, people would always surprise you.

"Know that the wisdom of the Order is open to you." He said, tone gentle as he offered his own condolences. Whenever she was ready, she could seek out another instructor, or if she simply needed to find others to talk to regarding her father's passing, she'd find many an open ear in these halls. A Jedi was never alone, they had the Order around them and the Force itself to draw wisdom and strength from.

"As for the lesson plan. We're going to go over a reintroduction of the basics. Get people back into the swing of using their hands and feet." He explained, now standing up fully as he began to move his arms similarly to his assistant, stretching out his biceps.

Granted, if anyone decided to spy in right now, they'd probably assume that Ariana was the teacher and Aaran was the student. As unlike the Du Couteau, dressed up in respectable attire that would not be out of place in the most distinguished of Atrisian dojos, Aaran was clad in a simple short sleeved t-shirt and baggy pants that restricted as little movement as possible.

Hell, even his hair was tied back only in a loose ponytail as opposed to her own immaculate braids. A striking contrast between the pair.

"Then we move on to a few demonstrations of some of the fancier things the Force can allow a Martial Artist to do. And work on getting people started on the basics there." He explained, gesturing to a few odds and ends that were placed neatly in a corner. Everything ranging from sticks, staves, wooden planks, stone bricks and even small blocks and sheets of durasteel.

"My hope is to drum up some interest for those who might want to study martial arts in a greater degree than what the Order would typically teach."

There was a sharp pop as the last few joints snapped into place, a sigh escaping the Jedi as they stood up straight again. "It would be nice to have some sparring partners as well. I’m getting rusty without people to practice with. I'll admit that I was surprised to hear someone else favoured this approach. Most Padawans focus on their sabers over the basics."

Ariana Du Couteau @Open

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Coruscant, Jedi Temple
Tags: Aaran Tafo , Ariana Du Couteau ​

Jasper knew why he went to go duel. It was kind of his one gimmick, something that he was decently good at. Martial arts was definitely out of his wheelhouse. It’s reliance on Force techniques made it particularly more difficult for someone like him to pull it off… but something weird had been happening lately ever since Tython. Jasper felt as if he was perhaps becoming more in tune with the Force, even if only by a little. Maybe he was just tricking himself into thinking that. Whatever the case was, there was no harm in trying.

"As for the lesson plan. We're going to go over a reintroduction of the basics. Get people back into the swing of using their hands and feet."

Jasper listened intently as the lesson plan was laid out. It helped that he knew the instructor. Aaran Tafo had been the master he met on Tython, and they had a few other encounters since then. Still, Jasper was beginning to realize just how out of his league he was. The other padawans oozed confidence, no doubt some having pleanty more experience in the field of hand-to-hand combat. It was shaping up to be a long day.

 

[Ariana Du Couteau]

Ariana Du Couteau, Jedi Padawan
Location: Jedi Temple, Coruscant
Action: Converse about Martial Arts
Outfit

Ariana nodded somberly, but she understood there was a time and place for these types of discussion. Memories will remain, but making new ones requires me to be present. She stretched her arm forward, already understanding the point of the day’s lesson. The thought of engaging someone with closed fists and using one’s own body as a weapon can be a foreign concept for many. She began to learn at quite a young age, physical confrontation was just as normal a concept to her as it was reading or writing.

My brother never really got into it as much as I thought, Ariana’s only slight regret of not getting him much more invested than simply swinging around a lightsaber. Though that would be more due to her own lack of skill with said saber. Ariana continued to nod along with Master Tafo’s explanation. While she wasn’t entirely certain that simply showcasing Force Techniques would be enough, Ariana agreed that a much more direct approach to address the lack of basics was the proper step forward.

“I myself was a tad surprised too to see many people's interest simply focus on one singular style of Martial Arts. But I guess with the standardization of military training for untold trillions of soldiers, solely focusing on perhaps two or one styles, other disciplines simply don’t get enough time in the light.” Ariana mused.

At least that way any Padawan or Jedi would understand what was the whole deal behind learning martial arts, if not, close quarter hand to hand combat. Her eyes caught the sight of another Padawan, one that Ariana somewhat remembered but couldn’t place the name exactly. Ariana waved at him, gesturing to him to get a tad closer to both her and Master Tafo.

“Hello. My name is Ariana." She introduced herself, bowing her head once before lifting it back up quickly. "-and have you ever done anything like Martial Arts before? Or would like a small but quick introduction?” Arian asked to Jasper directly, earnest in her curiosity but also the excitement of possible sparring and practice partners had begun to entice her slightly.
​

|| Aaran Tafo | Jasper Kai'el | @Everyone ||​

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Coruscant, Jedi Temple
Tags: Aaran Tafo , Ariana Du Couteau ​

“Hello. My name is Ariana." She introduced herself, bowing her head once before lifting it back up quickly. "-and have you ever done anything like Martial Arts before? Or would like a small but quick introduction?”

Jasper made his way over to properly speak to the two, quickly thinking of how to answer.

“N-not really,” Jasper admitted. “An introduction would be nice.”

Jasper had very little hand-to-hand experience. He had punched someone before, but the duelist could barely classify that as a martial art. He really only knew blades. Still, he was trying to branch out and learn new things. Lana had told him he needed to be more experimental. Besides, after Empress Teta, Jasper wanted more versatility in a fight, not just a lightsaber.

“I’m Jasper, by the way,” the duelist introduced himself, “Master Tafo already knew that though.”