A familiar figure enters the Temple grounds, her hooded mask bows its head respectfully to the Temple guards as she makes her way to her normal position. Her training foils coming to her hands after she lays the holopad on the ground, but instead of Makashi, she loads up a new datadisk, a female teacher appearing before her bowing her head
(Teacher) Welcome students. Today we will discuss the fundamentals, and some basic attacks. Though we will start with a brief history to help you understand why this form is so important.
This timely lightsaber technique of employing two sabers at once can be traced back long ago to the planet of Atrisia. The dual saber technique was the product Yovshin Swordsmen. They named the saber technique after the city in which their dueling sabers were crafted, jar’kai. The blades forged by these swordsmen were crafted with explicit intent to be dual wielded. Elsewhere in the galaxy, the Royal Royale Macheteros of the Kashi Mer had developed their own dual blade style. The style was named niman. A dark cult by the name of the Legions of Lettow would employ this dual blade form against the early jedi order. The Jedi Order would later adapt the combat form into their ranks, along with jar’kai.
Both forms predated the use of sabers, however they were easily adapted to saber combat. The jedi chose to adopt the word jar’kai as a blanket term for all dual blade combat. Jar’kai was not seen as the jedi or sith a form, rather it was a technique employed in combat.
The woman tilts her head as she listens, curiously but attentive to the education of the lesson
(Teacher) With all that said, now to understand the uses of Jar’kai.
The dual saber Jar’Kai permitted a Jedi to fight with two lightsabers, one in each hand. One of the blades in the wielder’s hands was used for attacking while the other one was used for defending, such as parrying, or for more offensive power. Many Jedi train to use one of the single lightsaber forms in the hopes of gaining a basic knowledge of the dual-bladed attack, but very few Jedi ever totally mastered Jar’Kai. Jar’Kai is often combined with one of the seven Forms of Lightsaber combat to make it more effective. Jar’kai often involves a certain degree of ataru skill, but not in deep detail. Form VI is useful for developing Jar’Kai as it gives you basic knowledge of all forms to use wit Jar’Kai.
Having two lightsabers offers you the advantage, as your opponent must concentrate on two lightsabers which can attack from different angles, where a double bladed lightsaber is more predictable due to its lack of versatility.
Nods again as she considers the lesson, and how she might combine them with her Saber pike. Listening as the teacher moves forward
(Teacher) Today we will start off simple, focusing only on the left handed attacks. While we will be using both blades, the prime focus will be on attacks of the Left hand directly. Draws out twin blue lightsaber and nods Let us begin.
takes a breath and nods as she takes powers on both of her own foils and watches attentively
(Teacher) Alright now, form one. Slice at your opponents chest with the blade horizontal showing the attack easily which is very basic while keeping the other lightsaber up in place
*nods and copies the attack, keeping her blade in place and doing so three more times.
(Teacher) Alright, moving on. Form two. Sing the saber round low from right to left, slicing at both legs. Blade at an angle.
Moves through the form, copying her display, taking a bit of work to get the angle of the blade proper as she showed, then doing it again a few more times to get the feel of it.
(Teacher) Alright now, moving on. Form three. Slice at the right leg, taking the blade from left to right. shows the form calmly with ease
nodding she makes the slice with ease, this being far more simple, though still repeating it the three times
(Teacher) Alright now, moving on. Form four. Swipe the left saber horizontally from right to left, then swipe your right saber horizontally from right to left. makes a display of the movements more slowly so any student could see the form in action
Hmm. nods and moves through the forms slowly, making the strikes as directed before doing them another three times
(Teacher) Alright now, moving on. Form five. Swipe the left saber horizontally from right to left, then slice vertically upwards with the right saber. Again going through the motions, guiding the movements from a place of calm peace
follows through, moving through the forms as she follows the example, semi glad these are not as complicated as Makashi so far
(Teacher) Alright now, moving on. Form six. This ones a bit more challenging. Put the sabers in an X shape and lunge at your enemy. Then bring the blades across each other in a scissor motion. You can also do single lunges with the strong hand.
Sighs at the sudden change in difficulty as she works to complete the move, falling twice before managing to get it mostly right, only doing it right on the final of the three added attempts
(Teacher) Alright now, moving on. Form seven. Bring the saber over your head and bring down vertically onto your opponents head.
sighs in relief with the easier move, following the movement more simply, copying it three times before she moves on again
(Teacher) Alright now, moving on. Form eight. Bring the saber slicing upwards from bottom to top. going through the motion easily
copies her form, working to keep her body properly angled as she does so
(Teacher) Alright now, moving on. Form nine. Bring the saber over your left shoulder, then bring it down from top left to the bottom right, slashing at your opponents right arm.
follows this more simple strike, keeping the other in line as expected as she goes through the attack
(Teacher) Alright now, moving on. Form ten. Bring the saber over your right shoulder, then bring it down from top right to the bottom left, slashing at your opponents left arm. Same as the last, just on the other arm.
nods and follows through on the other arm. Striking with ease.
(Teacher) Alright now, moving on. Form eleven. Bring the saber behind the the left side of your body, then bring the lightsaber down horizontally on your opponents left leg. Swing the saber from right to left. showing it as she describes it
Follows the routine, watching her a bit more closely to ensure she gets the form right, nearly stumbling twice before making a better stance to complete it, doing it another three times
(Teacher) Alright now, moving on. Form twelve. Bring the saber round horizontally, slicing from left to right.
does this far more easily, since its a rather simple move
(Teacher) Alright now, moving on. Form thirteen. Another more tricky technique. Bring both the right and the left saber attacking the right side of your opponents body, the sabers should be about 1 foot apart and be horizontal. demonstrating the more advanced technique slowly a few times before encouraging the student to try
This takes several attempts, the recording seeming to delay here for the harder attack. Finally completing it after around a dozen attempts she takes a breath and nods That one was much harder…
(Teacher) Alright now, moving on, todays final lesson. Form fourteen. Bring both the right and the left saber attacking the left side of your opponents body, the sabers should be about 1 foot apart and be horizontal. Again demonstrating it for the opposite side of the body
groans at that but takes a breath and takes a few more shots at the opposite side, still hard but managing to do it a bit easier having learned more from thirteen
(Teacher) That completes todays lesson on the left handed techniques of Jar’kai, take time to study these forms and practice them. Most are simple though some are rather difficult. With patience and practice I am sure you will do well. When you are ready, you make start the next lesson. May the force be with you until then. the holopad shutting off
sighs as she begins working on her training, especially the forms she truly struggled with, spending another three hours going over every video, clip and demonstration for hours, practicing and refining the attacks as she focuses on it
