If the abyss stares at you, don't blink
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
CONTENT INFORMATION
Shield Kata, a portmanteau much like that of Lightsaber and self defense is a style of sophisticated close-quarters melee combat resembling a martial arts battle that combines a shield with hand-to-hand combat along with any traditional melee weapons in an approximately 50/50 ratio. It can be seen as chain fighting, one move setting up the next, all to potentially open up a chance to end the confrontation with a shield. The difference between this and the Saber Kata, "The Way of the Guardian" is almost purely non-lethal.
The focus of the shield kata is both artistic style(to an extent) and the usage of a shield in ways that they were not designed to be used. Use of a shield in either hand (usually paired with jumping to the side at the same time), dual wielding, attacks and defenses from behind the back, as well as the use of shields both both mobile and inert are all common. Other moves can involve boards, debris, metallic shards, and just about anything else that can be worked into a combat scenario. It is often mixed with grappling maneuvers.
Like the Saber Kata was, "The Way of the Guardian" has become a staple of Vanagor's "arsenal" not because of its effectiveness but due to its simplicity, a result of often impressive instincts and physical prowess, regardless of its surrounding elements when compared to other types of martial arts and close quarters warfare. He had his father to thank for this. Like the Shield Kata, this morphs and adapts to his style, not the other way around.
"Completely geared around mastery of the weapon, regardless of the form, this method makes Connel's shield (just like a lightsaber to any other Jedi) truly an extension of himself and his very being. He already knew the basics of surviving a duel and is morphing the use of the shield to it: stay constantly moving, attack until your opponent is down (preferably from as close a distance as possible), count your moves. When out of position don't hesitate to find another angle or method of attack instead of taking the time to get back to where you were forced out of. If hit don't think about it till you're down or your enemies are, never panic and above all keep your opponent on the defensive. Once he has learned the basics the only way for him to advance in his art is through combat, so beginners don't stay beginners long, they are either downed or they become better. Once he masters this, he will truly be a magnificent sight in a battle, and prove that not all Jedi need to use lightsabers(not a negative reflection of the weapon or its user, but not all are capable to it).
The user of this ability is capable of calculating the most precise angle for targeting an opponent and predicting where to be in order to avoid counter-attack by the enemy. This, combined with good form results in the most proficient combatant of the modern age, a brawler, a martial artist, a warrior that uses lightsabers along with what he has naturally. The best combatants are still bound by a form of the Jedi Code, just like the Saber Kata, but still handle themselves in a scenario that plays to their strengths and not their emotions. Some lightsaber forms require focused use of the Force and possible domination of or by it but practitioners of Saber Kata, once a level of Mastery is exhibited counter the consequence of the lightsaber form because of the natural feel of the melee technique.
The defenses, the movements, they are designed to be so natural and free flowing thatany and all emotions are taken completely out of any equation. This is not to say that the wielder will not feel them, but that there will be no risk of being controlled by them.
TIER I Techniques:
(moves marked with dashes in the middle are chain moves)
Kick- Shield slam
Punch- Shield punch
Sidestep - Shield Slash
Shin block - Backhanded Shield slam
Joint break,
Rooted stance block - tight throw
Forearm block - body takedown
Elbow - Weapon strike
Combatative weave - Shield uppercut - whirling slash
TIER 2 Techniques:
(moves marked with dashes in the middle are chain moves)
Angle step - Knee strike - weapon strike
Open hand bash
Earthquake punch - weapon strike
Close distance - paralyzing strike
Leg takedown - backward rollthrough - weapon strike
Free hand hook - weapon strike
"1-2" punch combination - backhand strike
TIER 3 Techniques:
(moves marked with dashes in the middle are chain moves)
Combining Tier 1 and 2 movements
Misalign attack
Ocean wave sweep - Whirlwind weapon strike
Swift-Strike - Side-Step - Overhead strike
Pressure-Strike,
Water-Flow throw
Triple Strike, hilt uppercut - backstep
The Octagon takedown
Snap Throw
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Connel Vanagor himself will tell you that he wants to get over his inate fear of picking up a lightsaber. He feels that it is holding him back from taking on a Padawan, let alone one day reaching the level of "Master". He will also tell you that he will not just sit back and watch the Chaos (no pun intended) going on in the galaxy right now. It was difficult to use the Shield he had, but there was so much potential, so, he took what he had learned so far and started to adapt it to his weapon. One day, when he was more comfortable with his practice sessions, his father, the creator of "Saber Kata", Jedi Master Caltin Vanagor recorded his session in secret. That night, he made a training program out of it with his holocron, using it as an "AI". Though, he may feel like he was getting nowhere, his father saw something different, thinking back to why he created "The Way of the Saber" in the first place.
It is difficult to teach one particular Martial Art, or one particular Lightsaber form when you are proficient in several of each. It has become one of the things that make Caltin Vanagor more or less unapproachable (to which he hates). Thus as he was less and less "trying to fight" and just "fighting" the big man started to go with what he was comfortable with and not using one particular technique or form, just what made him comfortable. More and more what came along was a method that Vanagor was finding himself more and more able to teach. The first attempt was a real (censored) show, but that is okay, those things happen. So he had been working on this holocron in his free time since. The purpose of it was that once you were permitted to learn (you have to answer a specific set of questions) you will be matched up with techniques that fit your personality and body type. The method is quite literally custom made for each user. Or at least that is the hope.
That premise, with this exercise, brought about something that will not only help Connel rise up, but excel. This was something that the son could use and maybe some day, exceed the efforts of the father, with or without a lightsaber. He won't "try and hit someone", he won't "try and defend" himself. He just will.
- Intent: To create an original fighting style unique to Connel Vanagor and Connel alone.
- Image Credit: N/A
- Canon: No
- Permissions: My Subs
- Links: Teras Kasi, Rek Dul, and Broken Gate
- Holocron Name: "The Way of the Guardian" (Shield Kata)
- Alignment: Neutral
- Origin: Caltin Vanagor
- Affiliation:
Connel Vanagor
- Gatekeeper: The Keeper is the massive Jedi Master himself. If you activate the Holocron and see him, you will have to answer several questions, if you do not satisfy him, it will deactivate.
- Description: This holocron was an off shoot of "The way of the Saber" holocron. Creating a new type of style for Connel to focus on, one he can use so he will not have to improvise. Like the original "Saber Kata" this is not a specific "Martial Art" but a style perse that accentuates and compliments the physical strengths and capabilities of the student(Connel). It is not something that will enhance him or his Force Capabilities it will enhance his reflexes and instincts.
- Accessibility: Activate the Holocron and answer the questions posed honestly.
- Security: If it gets broken, then it gets broken. Otherwise if you do not answer the questions that the gatekeeper poses satisfactorily it will shut down until being reset by Vanagor himself.
CONTENT INFORMATION
Shield Kata, a portmanteau much like that of Lightsaber and self defense is a style of sophisticated close-quarters melee combat resembling a martial arts battle that combines a shield with hand-to-hand combat along with any traditional melee weapons in an approximately 50/50 ratio. It can be seen as chain fighting, one move setting up the next, all to potentially open up a chance to end the confrontation with a shield. The difference between this and the Saber Kata, "The Way of the Guardian" is almost purely non-lethal.
The focus of the shield kata is both artistic style(to an extent) and the usage of a shield in ways that they were not designed to be used. Use of a shield in either hand (usually paired with jumping to the side at the same time), dual wielding, attacks and defenses from behind the back, as well as the use of shields both both mobile and inert are all common. Other moves can involve boards, debris, metallic shards, and just about anything else that can be worked into a combat scenario. It is often mixed with grappling maneuvers.
Like the Saber Kata was, "The Way of the Guardian" has become a staple of Vanagor's "arsenal" not because of its effectiveness but due to its simplicity, a result of often impressive instincts and physical prowess, regardless of its surrounding elements when compared to other types of martial arts and close quarters warfare. He had his father to thank for this. Like the Shield Kata, this morphs and adapts to his style, not the other way around.
"Completely geared around mastery of the weapon, regardless of the form, this method makes Connel's shield (just like a lightsaber to any other Jedi) truly an extension of himself and his very being. He already knew the basics of surviving a duel and is morphing the use of the shield to it: stay constantly moving, attack until your opponent is down (preferably from as close a distance as possible), count your moves. When out of position don't hesitate to find another angle or method of attack instead of taking the time to get back to where you were forced out of. If hit don't think about it till you're down or your enemies are, never panic and above all keep your opponent on the defensive. Once he has learned the basics the only way for him to advance in his art is through combat, so beginners don't stay beginners long, they are either downed or they become better. Once he masters this, he will truly be a magnificent sight in a battle, and prove that not all Jedi need to use lightsabers(not a negative reflection of the weapon or its user, but not all are capable to it).
The user of this ability is capable of calculating the most precise angle for targeting an opponent and predicting where to be in order to avoid counter-attack by the enemy. This, combined with good form results in the most proficient combatant of the modern age, a brawler, a martial artist, a warrior that uses lightsabers along with what he has naturally. The best combatants are still bound by a form of the Jedi Code, just like the Saber Kata, but still handle themselves in a scenario that plays to their strengths and not their emotions. Some lightsaber forms require focused use of the Force and possible domination of or by it but practitioners of Saber Kata, once a level of Mastery is exhibited counter the consequence of the lightsaber form because of the natural feel of the melee technique.
The defenses, the movements, they are designed to be so natural and free flowing thatany and all emotions are taken completely out of any equation. This is not to say that the wielder will not feel them, but that there will be no risk of being controlled by them.
TIER I Techniques:
(moves marked with dashes in the middle are chain moves)
Kick- Shield slam
Punch- Shield punch
Sidestep - Shield Slash
Shin block - Backhanded Shield slam
Joint break,
Rooted stance block - tight throw
Forearm block - body takedown
Elbow - Weapon strike
Combatative weave - Shield uppercut - whirling slash
TIER 2 Techniques:
(moves marked with dashes in the middle are chain moves)
Angle step - Knee strike - weapon strike
Open hand bash
Earthquake punch - weapon strike
Close distance - paralyzing strike
Leg takedown - backward rollthrough - weapon strike
Free hand hook - weapon strike
"1-2" punch combination - backhand strike
TIER 3 Techniques:
(moves marked with dashes in the middle are chain moves)
Combining Tier 1 and 2 movements
Misalign attack
Ocean wave sweep - Whirlwind weapon strike
Swift-Strike - Side-Step - Overhead strike
Pressure-Strike,
Water-Flow throw
Triple Strike, hilt uppercut - backstep
The Octagon takedown
Snap Throw
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Connel Vanagor himself will tell you that he wants to get over his inate fear of picking up a lightsaber. He feels that it is holding him back from taking on a Padawan, let alone one day reaching the level of "Master". He will also tell you that he will not just sit back and watch the Chaos (no pun intended) going on in the galaxy right now. It was difficult to use the Shield he had, but there was so much potential, so, he took what he had learned so far and started to adapt it to his weapon. One day, when he was more comfortable with his practice sessions, his father, the creator of "Saber Kata", Jedi Master Caltin Vanagor recorded his session in secret. That night, he made a training program out of it with his holocron, using it as an "AI". Though, he may feel like he was getting nowhere, his father saw something different, thinking back to why he created "The Way of the Saber" in the first place.
It is difficult to teach one particular Martial Art, or one particular Lightsaber form when you are proficient in several of each. It has become one of the things that make Caltin Vanagor more or less unapproachable (to which he hates). Thus as he was less and less "trying to fight" and just "fighting" the big man started to go with what he was comfortable with and not using one particular technique or form, just what made him comfortable. More and more what came along was a method that Vanagor was finding himself more and more able to teach. The first attempt was a real (censored) show, but that is okay, those things happen. So he had been working on this holocron in his free time since. The purpose of it was that once you were permitted to learn (you have to answer a specific set of questions) you will be matched up with techniques that fit your personality and body type. The method is quite literally custom made for each user. Or at least that is the hope.
That premise, with this exercise, brought about something that will not only help Connel rise up, but excel. This was something that the son could use and maybe some day, exceed the efforts of the father, with or without a lightsaber. He won't "try and hit someone", he won't "try and defend" himself. He just will.
