The way of the sword. ((Semi-private))

[Kenrath]

Xander kneeled in the center of the room, his eyes closed, and his mind headed towards clear. Around him in a full circle were six other padawans all doing the same thing only facing towards center. Facing Xander, it was going to be one heck of a training session based on king of the ring.

Xander started in the center. One by one a padawan would engage him. If they scored a hit on him they would be the new king. If they couldn't then Xander would remain awaiting the next padawan to try.

It was not a method he had seen used a lot be Jedi at the academy so far but it had it's purpose. While it may look like madness it had a clear cut method. To mix saber training with engaging multiple opponents either at once or in quick succession.

 

[Kal'n Drasco]

With his eyes closed in meditation Kal'n knelt at the edge of the circle. Like the other Padawans around him he was focusing his mind and readying himself for the grueling engagement ahead. Granted, the power of the sabers would be turned down low to prevent anything but a minor burn, still...Kal'n was not a fan of getting burned at all.

Kal'n, lost in thought, wasn't sure how much time had passed between when they had all arrived and between now. Opening his eyes he turned his head from side to side to peer at the other Padawans around the circle. Might as well be me.He thought as he stood and stepped towards [member="Xander Stanforth"].

He spoke no words, instead he reached to the side and pulled forth his lightabser. He stopped a couple paces infront of Xander and took up a basic Shii-Cho stance, the form all Jedi were trained in.

 

[Kenrath]

Xander smiled. He hadn't opened his eyes yet but the force always warned one of danger.

"Patience is supposed to be a virtue of Jedi yet here you are itching to be the first to engage."

He opened his eyes slowly standing and looking at [member="Kal'n Drasco"] not yet pulling his saber.

"No matter some times action is unavoidable."

Xander pulled his saber assuming a Makashi stance looking at the Padawan. The rules were simple score a hit and become the new king of the ring.

"You may engage when ready."

 

[Kal'n Drasco]

"I...uhh." Kal'n had nothing to say to Xander's words on patience. He was here for a duel, was he not. Kal'n looked around for a moment at the others. Then taking a moment to reaffirm himself he let out a deep breath and studdied Xander's stance. Makashi, it was a form that Kal'n had a limited understanding in. It was also the perfect counter to Form I. Tch. Of course he knows Form II, why wouldn't he?

Deciding not to abandon the stance right away Kal'n came forward, igniting his lighsaber as he led in with his right foot. He swung with both hands, from his right to left, which if it wasn't blocked, would strike Xander at chest-level along his arms. Of course, knowing he was at a disadvantage Kal'n had to assume that his basic strike would be either parried or simply avoided. Still....maybe Xander was terrible at Form II, perhaps he was just learning and Kal'n would win on his first attack?

There was always hoping, right?

[member="Xander Stanforth"]

 

[Kenrath]

Xander simply side stepped the strike made by [member="Kal'n Drasco"] leaning back slightly as he did. His saber in his left hand Xander ignited it thrusting forward towards the padawan's chest in response before flicking his wrist the blade twirling around aimed at the man's right shoulder. Xander would follow that up with a bend of his elbow the blade changing course coming around the padawan's body to his left shoulder.

It was a very short but quick basic sequence targeting three different spots in quick succession. Makashi was his form of choice not only for it purpose in engaging an opponent wielding a light saber but for the flexibility that came with quick and fluid attacks. If done properly it kept your opponent guessing and on the defensive.

 

[Kal'n Drasco]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Nope. Xander wasn't terrible at Form II and Kal’n quickly found himself on the receiving end of lighting quick strikes from [member="Xander Stanforth"]. Perhaps it was Kal’n’s own doubt when he attacked with something so basic that made his attack easier to avoid or maybe it was simply the inherent disadvantage Shii-Cho users faced when placed against a Makashi practitioner? Kla’n decided that it was likely a combination of all of the above.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Still, Kal’n did have some skill in Form II and the basic routine that Xander attacked with provided some measure of comfort as Kal’n scrambled to block. Literally scrambled. With his own attack easily evaded and the weapon out wide he couldn’t bring his blue bladed weapon around fast enough to block Xanders attacks.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]So he threw himself to his left, aided by the Force. It was not the sort of graceful roll one might expect from a Jedi. Rather it was unorthodox and with little form. But, it was effective. Kal’n rolled along the ground, bouncing off of a shoulder as he came to his hands and knees, lightsaber having been deactivated during his dangerous maneuver. Despite how silly the whole thing looked Kal’n couldn’t help but smile.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]He would move to push himself back up and if given the time, dust himself off. “That was some quick blade work there.” He commented, once again settling down into a basic Shii-Cho stance. [/SIZE]

 

[Kenrath]

Xander held his ground as [member="Kal'n Drasco"] rolled. Waiting until the man was on his feet against Xander smiled giving him a nod.

"Whenever you are ready."

It defeated the purpose for Xander to press the attack. Inherient in being the King of the Ring was to defend that status. The longer the other man took to engage the longer his position was secure and the more time he had to recover if need be.

Xander slowly rotated his wrist in a complete circle before coming back to center his right hand join his left on the hilt of his weapon. He was more than curious to see what the padawan would do next. Would he continue with single sweeping attacks or would he adjust.

 

[Kal'n Drasco]

"Right. Of course, back to business I suppose." Kal'n gave [member="Xander Stanforth"] a half smile and began his approach, slow circular steps to his left and his opponents right. His mind raced with the possible counters he could use, as a practitioner of Makashi himself Kal'n had a pretty good idea of what would and wouldn't work, or at least what the advantage and disadvantage was with the style.

Sticking with Shii-Cho would spell his own defeat, Makashi was made to pretty much counter Form I. He could switch to Makashi but his own skills were still extremely rudimentary, he would likely be defeated even faster than if he stuck with Form I. He clicked his tongue against his teeth and finally decided on what needed to be done.

Kal'n opened himself to the Force, filling himself with it and used to enhance what he would do next, increasing his strength and speed. Kal'n switched stances then, dropping the basic Shii-Cho stance and instead took to the air above Xander, his force augmented body spinning to strike down hard at his opponent as he attempted to pass over him by way of a font-flip.

With a shift in stance came the shift in mentality. From Shii-Cho to Ataru, Kal'n decided that there was enough space to use the highly acrobatic and aggressive form. He also knew that Makashi had a weakness in that it couldn't generate enough kinetic force to stand up to the powerful strikes of Ataru. Of course, where both students stood in their skill level with each would be the real deciding factor.

 

[Kenrath]

Xander watched his fellow Padawan circle turning to keep the other man centered in front of his focus. It was like a dance combat was. Match your opponents movements and you maintain focus.

When [member="Kal'n Drasco"] dropped his stance Xander tightened his grip on his saber taking advantage of the telegraphed move to drop into a crouch and slide forward on his knees. His saber came up horizontal impeding the stick coming. As he passed underneath Xander turned sliding his right knee further out pivoting on the ball of his left foot. As he came out of the turn Xander planted his left foot springing up kicking out with his right to plant his foot into the Padawan's back as he landed.

If it worked it should send Kal'n crashing into the Padawan in front of him.

 

[Kal'n Drasco]

Kal'n watched upside down, in the air, as [member="Xander Stanforth"] passed under him. His opponent had slid forward and under the attack, a wise decision. Kal'n would complete his rotation and come down lightly on the balls of his feet. Attuned to the Force as he was, still using it to increase his physical capabilities in the way that Ataru demanded his right hand and arm were moving at a blinding speed as Xander moved to try and kick him in the back.

Truthfully Kal'n had expected some sort of lunge, that Xander to use the sort of thrust that Makashi was known for and try to put the tip of his blade into his back. But no, Xander had done something that Kal'n thought far more foolish. Without tuning to look and instead trusting in the Force, he did what was not unlike the basic drills all Younglings underwent when they finally learned how to use a lightsaber and deflect blaster bolts with out using your vision. You had to feel with the Force, let it guide you.

So Kal'n, using his right hand he quickly flipped his weapon in a reserve grip and swung his arm up and behind him. The idea was too simply connect with the Xanders outstretched and kicking leg. If Xander followed through he would very likely make contact with Kal'n's back and send him stumbling forward but not before he felt the painful sting of the powered down saber striking. Had this been a real fight and connection was made the result would be one much shorter leg for Xander.