The Initiate is seen spending about twenty minutes doing warm ups. Various squats, lunges, arm and leg rotations, even jumping jacks as she loosens up before taking a breath, pulling out a datadisk, she enters it into a holopad and turns it on. Drawing out her foil she rolls her neck
(Teacher) Welcome to Ataru, please make sure to limber up if you have not already as this is a very demanding form. Let us start with basic philosophy and understandings. The master practitioners of Form IV make extensive use of acrobatic maneuvers often thought not physically possible by using the Force to guide their motion. In order to master Ataru, a Jedi must be able to control his anger, because if he doesn’t, his combat becomes aggressive and leads to the Dark side. Even the most skilled Jedi, have difficulties controlling their anger in such a situation. Ataru users have to concentrate and make their move wisely due to the terrible consequences.
In dire situations, Form IV practitioners use the Force to aid in their acrobatics. Spinning, jumping and running very high and very fast, masters of Form IV are sometimes only seen as a blur. In order to achieve the acrobatic prowess, amazing reflexes and physical punch of this form, a Jedi Master would
focus on the Force, letting it flow deeply throughout his entire physicality, even allowing him to overcome the limitations of old age. Due to its aggressive nature, it is an effective form to use against single enemies; however, it leaves the user open to attacks from multiple opponents; therefore, it is wise to use Ataru in a duel, but not in open warfare. Ataru users can best be described as whirlwinds of destruction. Emotional control is key, as is letting one’s emotions fly free. This is not a contradiction.
Practitioners of Ataru are always on the offensive, attacking with wide, fast, and powerful swings. Form IV practitioners constantly call upon the Force to aid in their movements and attacks. By allowing the Force to flow throughout their body, they can overcome their physical limitations, and allow them to perform amazing feats of acrobatics, such as somersaults and back flips, not only for attack, but also to evade their opponents attacks/strikes.
Those who use Form IV could move at amazing speeds and could rain strong blows jumping and attacking through the air. Powerful and lightning fast spinning attacks could be utilized from all angles, either from ground or air. A master in Ataru combat could appear like a blur to their opponents, attacking from all directions, from the front, the sides, overhead, or behind. The Force not only allowed them to perform amazing athletic feats, but it also helped guide their actions and movements in combat. However, due to its aggressive nature, a user could become reckless and sometimes leave him/herself open to counterattacks.
This form is also probably not as effective for prolonged combat, as the nature of Ataru can greatly tax the body.
Nevertheless, Ataru proves to be an effective combat form when used properly. A Jedi skilled in Ataru fights with amazing grace and eye-blurring speed, using Force-assisted acrobatics and maneuvers to attack his opponents with powerful swings and offensive flourishes, never staying in one place long enough for their opponent to mount a proper counterattack.
nods quietly as she listens, absorbing the wisdom imparted by the Master
(Teacher) Ataru is a very demanding form. it is easy to become fatigued during Ataru. You must learn to conserve energy, not putting more effort than is needed to defeat your opponent. Trying to hit your opponent as hard as possible is unnecessary, you aim is just to get a hit to them.
Mmm, I suppose that does make a great deal of sense.
(Teacher) Let us begin with attack form one. Putting the lightsaber over your head, in line with your spine, bring the saber down, slicing vertically and end with your hands at waist height with the blade in front of your face. Be advised that using this form does leave you rather unguarded while doing so. begins displaying how to do the technique
nods and copies the form, carefully aligning herself to match, struggling a bit as its more twisting then shes used to, but eventually catches on
(Teacher) Form two. begins the form calmly Spin round clockwise, bringing the saber behind your back, arcing the blade round your back, your arms should cross over your head, finally ending in a horizontal slash at your opponents right arm. Following through with a flourish
Huh…watches the move twice more before repeating it carefully, managing to finish with his flourish
(Teacher) Form three. Spin round anti-clockwise, bringing the saber behind your back, arcing the blade round your back, your arms should cross over your head, finally ending in a horizontal slash at your opponents left arm.
Falls over twice trying this with a grunt. Though takes a breath and gets up and tries again. Completing the attack routine Gods, that one is hard! doing it several more times to get the feeling for it
(Teacher) Form four. This is one of the two most common attacks used in Djem So. They are basic and can be done very fast. Holding the lightsaber so the handle is in front of your chest but about six inches away from it, bring the lightsaber down to your left, keeping the handle near your chest at all times. going over the form slowly and carefully to allow it to be seen in full
Adjusts her grip on the handle, taking a breath and slowly moves through the attack routine, taking several breathes as she moves through. Keeping herself loose and limber as she does
(Teacher) Form five. Repeat form four, but going down to your right. displays such calmly
Oh…well…repeats the prior move, while adjusting to her right instead
(Teacher) Form six. Crouch down, bending both knees and strike your opponents leg. A quick display
Simple enough! easily copies the ability and looks for the next lesson
(Teacher) Form seven. When about one meter away from your opponent strike at them and spin round, then strike at their hip. brief display for understanding
hmm, alright copies the move Seems a bit risky in my opinion.
(Teacher) Form eight. Strike high, aiming for the head, then spin and aim for the leg. Again shows how to do it
nods following through A lot of spinning in this one. Seems a bit dangerous personally.
(Teacher) Form nine. Spin and crouch at the same time striking the legs. Simple and quick display
Like I said, lots of spinning. follows through though, making the strike quickly
(Teacher) Form nine. Spin around twice with the lightsaber sticking out horizontally at waist height. another casual display of the ability
You are going to make me dizzy. trips twice trying to complete it, a bit dizzy before taking a moment to focus and slowly completes it Called it…
(Teacher) Form ten. Spin so your body is on its side, with the saber at an angle above your head aiming at your opponent, then land on your feet. a more direct and focused show of the lesson
tries three times falling not so gracefully before managing to pull it off oof…can see why Knight Selkin said to make sure to limber up…waves off a concerned guard that she is alright, getting up and doing it several more times with a breath
(Teacher) Form eleven. Crouch down, bending both knees and strike your opponents leg. simple with a light flourish
At least were done spinning…follows the form with more ease
(Teacher) Form twelve. Putting the lightsaber over your head, in line with your spine, bring the saber down, slicing vertically
and end with your hands at waist height with the blade in front of your face. guides through the motion simply
Alright, not too hard doing so as well in time with the teacher
(Teacher) Form thirteen. This is one of the two most common attacks used in Djem So. They are basic and can be done very fast. Holding the lightsaber so the handle is in front of your chest but about six inches away from it, bring the lightsaber down to your left, keeping the handle near your chest at all times. A quick example, then one more slowed down
nods slowly as she follows through, keeping careful and calm
(Teacher) Form fourteen. Repeat form thirteen but bringing the lightsaber down to your right. quick show of how to change it
nods and adjusts to the right simply enough
(Teacher) Form fifteen. Bring the saber behind your back, keeping the blade horizontal. The handle should be just below shoulder height. Bring the saber round quickly slashing at your opponents arm. Swinging through the form
Ah not too hard. easily moving along with this one
(Teacher) Form sixteen. Bring the saber behind your back, keeping the blade horizontal. The handle should be just below shoulder height. Bring the saber round quickly slashing at your opponents arm. another simple display
nods as she follows through the form, mentally glad these are easier then those last few
(Teacher) Form seventeen. When about one meter away from your opponent strike at them and spin round, then strike at their hip. simple show
nods Back to spinning I see…following through even with the commentary
(Teacher) Form eighteen. Strike high, aiming for the head, then spin and aim for the leg. Shows where approximately to strike
takes a breath and does the strike, spin, then low strike to the leg
(Teacher) Form nineteen. Spin and crouch at the same time striking the legs. does the spin themselves wit the strike
Huh…alright. does so as well You seem to love spinning.
(Teacher) Form twenty. This technique is often referred to as the propeller attack. Spin around twice with the lightsaber sticking out horizontally at waist height. shows themselves
Yeah, I can see why. taking a breath and does the move, thankfully not overly complicated
(Teacher) Form twenty one. Also known as the corkscrew, this technique is a fair bit harder. Spin so your body is on its side, with the saber at an angle above your head aiming at your opponent, then land on your feet. takes a moment and pulls it off flawlessly
Stares for several minutes replaying it over and over before taking a breath. The guards get a grand display a dozen times of how not to do the corkscrew, though each time she gets up, dusts herself off and does it again. Strongly determined to get it right. After about twenty minutes of determined effort, she finally pulls it off. Then repeats it several more times to ensure she has it down
(Teacher) Ataru is one of the most demanding forms. Yet its abilities pay off in the end. This will require a great deal of practice to incorporate into a more naturally flowing routine. Take time and be patient and remember to stretch before any practice. With hard work and dedication to your training, this will be something you can do with little thought. May the force be with you.
Letting out a breath she takes an hour to meditate and focus, breathing through the struggle she had, a moving meditation using Makashi, she moves with grace and ease. Though eventually she goes back to practicing, watching and repeating the datadisk several times over the day. Playing it where she struggles repeatedly to go over how they do it and watching how the teacher does it before doing it again herself till she feels more comfortable in the flow of it, then starting to practice incorporating it into other attacks. Mixing in Makashi, Jar’Kai and other abilities before stopping to rest and put the holopad away.