The opening stance of MakashiFor the curious, this section will deal with how fencing and sword combat evolves as time progresses. A brief analysis of individual fighting styles developed in the future will help to educate and broaden present-day fencing horizons.
The first discussion will be a seven-part series on the various styles of fencing used by the Order of Jedi Knights, as taught by the Jedi Temple.
Form II: Makashi, also known as The Way of the Ysalamiri, or The Contention Form, was the second form of the seven forms of lightsaber combat.
The opening stance of Makashi
With the invention of lightsabers, the need for another form arose in sword-to-sword combat, since the elegant blade of light, much lighter than a steel sword, could be wielded with greater precision and speed. Thus, Makashi was born. It is similar to the original fencing styles of the smallsword in that it is elegant and extremely fast, relying on precision and speed rather than force. Practitioners of Makashi often used only one hand when wielding the blade to allow for more options and speed. The handle of a Makashi-wielder's blade is often at a curved angle; Count Dooku's lightsaber is one notable example. Like the pistol grip, it allows optimum placement for thrusts and often quick cuts. It uses feints and disengages to set up for a single killing thrust, requiring precise timing and intense concentration. Footwork is also similar to fencing in that it often followed a single line to optimize balance. This footwork is used so that a Makashi opponent can quickly isolate and eliminate his enemies one by one while retreating from being overwhelmed.
Opening stance: A low guard held slightly cocked and to the side with one hand, with feet planted shoulder width apart and balance centered low. The thumb would point at the lightsaber blade, and the blade is controlled primarily with the first two fingers, while the others provide grip and support.
salute: The lightsaber is brought perpendicular to the face and then flourished by cutting an 'x' in the air.
contentious opportunity: recognizing and exploiting the weaknesses in an opponent's defense.
parry and riposte: the duelist deflects an incoming blade at an angle and then responds with a quick counterstrike.
Makashi was created for the ultimate in single lightsaber combat, and is often viewed as one of the greatest of the seven styles. It was created before blasters were common, and thus is often less effective at deflecting blaster bolts than many other styles, since the blade moves in primarily thrusting patterns rather than circular whirling arcs. Its defense, rather, is almost solely against blades. Furthermore, it becomes much more difficult to use when faced with multiple opponents, though users would often compensate by simply using proper footwork to isolate opponents or by using two blades. Its greatest weakness is that it simply cannot generate the raw power necessary to adequately counter and deflect brutal, powerful strikes that were the hallmark of some of the later styles of lightsaber combat, most norably form V.
The most widely known practitioner of Makashi during the Clone Wars was Count Dooku, or Darth Tyrannus, and his infamous curved lightsaber. With it he was able to defeat four jedi at once, and often duel others to a standstill as a student of Yoda. The Sith quickly became fans of Makashi, and many Sith Lords mastered the art. Asajj Ventress, Dooku's apprentice, also wielded Makashi, choosing two blades instead of one. Jedi Master Shaak Ti also practiced Makashi in a mixed form with other styles.
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