The temple guards spot the young initiate back at it again, after leaving the temple she simply moved to the side of the building setting down the holocron and activating it, not yet drawing her Lightsaber, just actively listening as a female twilek appears before her and bows her head
Teacher: Welcome, if you have turned on this holocron then you are here to study Shii-cho. So let us first dive into the mental aspect of Shii Cho. This would be Predictions. It is important to try to predict your opponents next moves and plans in order to avoid falling into traps. It is useful for a beginner to practice slow duels so they can see where their vulnerable points are to exploit, this makes it easier to predict attacks.
For example.
Your opponent makes an attack with basic attack stance six.
You parry it with Basic Parry six. This leaves your right side open to attack and so chances are your opponent’s next move will attack your right side. An attack to your right side will also be the easiest option for your opponent to attack.
Your opponent, as predicted, makes a Diagonal Attack stance two. In which you parry this move with Vertical Parry two, leaving your left side open, and so on.
Teacher: Next we will cover the Saber lock. A saber lock can be either defensive or offensive. Both opponents lock their lightsabers together and both try to push through the others defenses, often using the opportunity to glare at their opponent. Dark Side users often take the opportunity to mock and jeer at their opponent.
Teacher: Activates a blue saberstaff Now we will begin with the basic attacks of Shii-cho, this lesson though is specifically catered to those with a saberstaff, if you have the wrong holocron please speak to your Archivist. Now then take the first stance, ensuring you are not gonna cut your leg off. makes the stance perfectly, ensuring the student can see it perfectly Also I must state and cannot stress this enough, please be aware of where both sides of your blades begin and end, stabbing another student due to your negligence will not be excused because you didn’t account for it.
Nods as she takes the stance, examining the footing and exactly how the saberstaff is held. Matching the grip and footing to the teacher with a slow breath
Teacher: Let us begin with Vertical slash attack one. Putting the saberstaff 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. Slowly shows how to do so with a saberstaff, the movements only barely changed to adapt to the saberstaff
nods as she glances around her, nothing near as she stands in the field before going through the stance, focused on following the teachers guidance, repeating it a few times before nodding to the teacher via holocron
Teacher: Very good, lets move to Horizontal slash attack two. 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 right arm. again going through the motion slowly for the student to see, again slightly modified to adjust for the second blade
Following through the motions, she finds the differences between a basic lightsaber and a Saberstaff definitely there, though with the advanced guidance, she slowly works through the changes and adapts to them
Teacher: Very good, Diagonal Hit attack two, With the handle at chin height and the blade vertical in front of your face, bring the blade down at your opponents right arm. Again going through it as she had the others, always adapting for the saberstaff and guiding the way to use it properly
nodding she moves through the attack, following the minor adjustments for the saberstaff as she works. Focused and attentive while still keeping aware of any movements around her to prevent accidents.
Teacher: Very good. Horizontal Slash attack three. 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. This proves easier and provides a double slash as the Saberstaff cuts through the air
Hmm, I see then nods as she follows through matching the swing of the saberstaff, cutting through the air
Teacher: Very good, Diagonal Hit attack three, With the handle at chin height and the blade vertical in front of your face, bring the blade down at your opponents left arm. Remember to adjust the blade so that you do not cut yourself in half with this technique. Moving the saberstaff so its a bit more out on the side rather then direct center
Yeah, that would entirely suck. copying the attack, though definitely makes sure the second blade is out past the side.
Teacher: Very good. Horizontal Slash attack four. This attack is just Attack 2 or 3, but aimed at your opponents back, and should only be done if the back is open for such an attack. Moving through the second and third horizontal attacks as if aimed at someones back
nods repeating both forms again, even if not entirely necessary
Teacher: Moving on, Basic Attack five. Bring the saber behind your back, keeping the blade horizontal. The handle should be just below shoulder height. Bring the saber around quickly slashing at your opponents leg. moving through the motion, keeping the blade careful not to slash herself in the process
nods and follows through the attack, being just as cautious.
Teacher: Very good, one more now. Basic Attack six, 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 leg. following through as before
nods completing the move with her with ease
Teacher: Very good. Those are the attacks covered in Shii-cho, we will now move on to the defensive part of Shii-cho. Let us begin with High parry one. Hold the handle with one hand above and in front of your head, arm stretched out. The blade should be horizontal. This will block any vertical slashes attacking the top of the head. With a saberstaff this will also guard your back and help against multiple enemies as it will for many of the parries and blocks. shifts herself to stand in the form, to parry the incoming invisible blade
nods and moves to do the same, blocking the invisible blade from striking
Teacher: Very good, now onto Diagonal Parry one. Hold the saber high with the handle at shoulder height. The blade should be diagonal. This can be done to either the left or right side. does the movement with ease, showing on both sides without any hesitations
follows through the parry, finding these very easy even with the Saberstaff
Teacher: Very good, parry two, Start with the handle at chest height and the blade vertically upwards. Then swing the blade down so the blade swings to the left and ends up pointing down almost vertical in front of your right arm or side. Makes the stance easily As you see, with the saberstaff, it creates an upper body defense as well, which is extremely beneficial for a saberstaff wielder.
nods in approval at the upper body defense before taking the stance in practice eventually nodding to continue
Teacher: Very good. Vertical Parry two, This simply involves keeping the handle at waist height and moving the saber to defend your right arm. Shows simply flicks of the wrist to twist the blade in line to defend the right arm
That one really is easy. copying with ease
Teacher: Very good, Diagonal Parry two, With the handle at chin height and the blade vertical in front of your face, bring the blade down defending your right side. again making the very simple maneuver with the saberstaff which still guards the upper portion of the body
nods as she follows through with the parry, lining it up accurately with the teachers
Teacher: Very good, Basic Block Parry three, Start with the handle at chest height and the blade vertically upwards. Then swing the blade down so the blade swings to the left and ends up pointing down almost vertical in front of your left arm or side. Again displaying the ability, making it very easy to follow
nods as she again follows through with the ability
Teacher: Very good, Vertical Parry three, This simply involves keeping the handle at waist height and moving the saber to defend your left arm. very simple display much like the right side
follows through with flicking her wrist to guard the left arm
Teacher: Very good, Diagonal Parry three. With the handle at chin height and the blade vertical in front of your face, bring the blade down, defending your left side. Showing the same as before, just the opposite side
nods as she moves through the motion on the left side rather then the right
Teacher: Very good, Overhead Parry, Bring the saber over your head with both hands so that the saber is vertical, with the blade parallel to your spine. This can be critical for back attacks. Though again, mind that while the blade is being brought up, the bottom blade can act as an attack in front of you, so again be aware of your second blade. going over the parry slowly, showing how the bottom blade comes up
nods firmly noting that and after ensuring no one is behind her, she makes the overhead parry carefully
Teacher: Very good, Basic Block defense five, Start with the handle at chest height and the blade vertically upwards. Then swing the blade down so the blade swings to the left and ends up pointing down almost vertical in front of your right leg. makes the movement which is very simple and easily managed
nods and follows through with the block
Teacher: Very good, Basic Block defense six. Start with the handle at chest height and the blade vertically upwards. Then swing the blade down so the blade swings to the right and ends up pointing down almost vertical in front of your left leg. same as before except on the left leg rather then the right
again following through on her left side
Teacher: Very good, Kai Kan Drop Stance, defending the body. Hold the blade horizontal with the handle to the left of your head at shoulder height. The blade should run just in front of and below your chin. holds the blade in the defensive stance, though with the saberstaff it tends to guard both sides perhaps a bit better
nods as she takes the stance approvingly
Teacher: Very good, that completes the lessons of Shii-cho, as always make sure to practice and always be sure of where your second blade is. If you have any questions please seek out a Knight or Master to assist you.
bows to the Master who then disappears as the holocron turns off before spending the next few hours going over the stances again and again, slowly speeding up and gaining momentum. Eventually a bit cold and tired from the long exercise, she picks up the Holocron and delivers it back to the Archivst with a polite “thank you” and heads to relax