Makashi
Pronunciation - Mah-kah-she
Form II was developed from Form I, as a means of lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat. Makashi executes swift, elegant, powerful and accurate techniques, while using as little energy as possible. When mastered, the user can execute extreme precision offensive and defensive moves with minimal effort, while the opponent tires themselves with their Form.
The techniques of Makashi require small, swift cuts, parries and lunges. The blade manipulation required for this Form fequires much focus and training, but when mastered this Form can be devastating to lightsaber weilders.
Feints would also be commonly used to confuse or set-up their opponents for a trap, a tactic that Count Dooku commonly used in his duels during the Clone Wars. Precise footwork and movements are required for maintaining proper distance from the opponent during defense and/or when moving in for an attack. The blade manipulation required for this form was very refined and required intense focus. Timing, accuracy, and skill, rather than strength are relied on to defeat your opponent and with a skilled practitioner, the results were extremely potent. However, if against more than one opponent this form becomes fairly obsolete.
Mental Aspect of Makashi
As with all forms, there is a certain degree of mental ability in Makashi. When in combat you have to be completely focused on the combat and the area around you, always looking for a gap in your opponents defenses, a weakness to exploit - while being aware of your own weaknesses and making sure they don't be exploited.
Feints
A faint is a fake attack used to divert your opponents attention allowing you to exploit a gap in their defences. Always be thinking of feint techniques and how you will exploit the position your opponent is in when you have executed the feint.
Distance
During Makashi you must always be analysing your distance from your opponent, predicting what his next move will be and being the correct distance from him when he executes his move.
Timing and Accuracy
Timing and accuracy are very important in Makashi. With good accuracy and timing you can exploit even the smallest open areas in your opponents defences.
Conserve Energy
Your techniques should become fluid, almost like you are dancing. You must learn to apply the right amount of force behind each stroke so as not to tire yourself out. Makashi is about speed and ccuracy, not about strength - so you should not be wasting energy trying to hit your opponent as hard as possible.
Attack
Makashi attacks are very swift and accurate, yet allow the user to conserve as much energy as possible. Each attack does not need much power and is more focused on accuracy. Many attacks are one handed, because you can not put as much power into the attack that way.
Vertical Slash - Attack 1
Puting 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. This move is quite powerful but does leave your body vulnerable for a short while.
One Handed Verticle Slash - Attack 1
Holding he saber in Makashi Stance, swing the saber round behind you so it swings up and arcs over at your opponetns head. This move should be smooth and should follow through if you can.
Diagonal Hit - Attack 2
With the handle at chin height and the blade vertical infront of your face, bring the blade down at your opponents right arm.
Diagonal Slash - Attack 2
Using one hand, bring the lightsaber over your left shoulder and slash diagonally at your opponents right arm. The lightsaber should finish pointing down by your left leg.
Diagonal Hit - Attack 3
With the handle at chin height and the blade vertical infront of your face, bring the blade down at your opponents left arm
Diagonal Slash - Attack 3
Using one hand, bring the lightsaber over your right shoulder and slash diagonally at your opponents left arm. The lightsaber should finish pointing down by your right leg, across your body.
Double Attack - Attack 3 + Attack 6
When in the Makashi Stance, swing the saber round with one hand to the left, then arc it round behind your back, rising so you slash at your opponents left arm, but follow through, arcing the saber back round your back, but lowering the blade so it hits your opponents left leg.
Basic Attack - Attack 5
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.
Diagonal Slash - Attack 5
From the Makashi Stance bring the saber in an arc, sweeping the blade round from the right, over your head and slashing round at your opponents right leg.
Basic Attack - Attack 6
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.
Diagonal Slash - Attack 6
From the Makashi Stance bring the saber in an arc, sweeping the blade round from the left, over your head and slashing round at your opponents left leg.
Defence
Defence for Makashi involves techniques both one handed and two handed. Strength is more important with the defence so Makashi defence techniques are often two handed.
High Parry 1
Hold the handle with one hande above and infront of your head, arm stretched out. The blade should be horizontal. This will block any vertical slashes attacking the top of the head.
One Handed High Parry 1
This is similar to the High Parry, but with one hand.
Diagonal Parry 1
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.
Basic Block - Parry 2
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.
One Handed Basic Parry 2
Similar to Basic Parry 2, but with one hand.
Vertical Parry 2
This simpy involves keeping the handle at waist height and moving the saber to defend your right arm.
One Handed Verticle Parry 2
This is similar to Verticle Parry 2, but you use one hand.
Diagonal Parry - Parry 2
With the handle at chin height and the blade vertical infront of your face, bring the blade down right arm, defending your right side.
Basic Block - Parry 3
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.
One Handed Basic Parry 3
Similar to Basic Parry 3, but with one hand.
Vertical Parry 3
This simpy involves keeping the handle at waist height and moving the saber to defend your left arm.
One Handed Verticle Parry 3
This is similar to Verticle Parry 3, but you use one hand.
Diagonal Parry - Parry 3
With the handle at chin height and the blade vertical infront of your face, bring the blade down left arm, defending your left side.
Overhead Parry 4
Bring the saber over your head with both hands so that the saber is vertical, with the blade parallel to your spine.
One Handed Over Head Parry 4
Siimilar to the Overhead Parry 4, but this technique uses one hand.
Basic Block - Defence 5
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.
One Handed Basic Parry 5
This technique is similar to Basic Block - Defence 5, however the user only has on hand on the handle.
Basic Block - Defence 6
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.
One Handed Basic Parry 6
This technique is similar to Basic Block - Defence 6, however the user only has on hand on the handle.
Kai Kan Drop Stance - Defence 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.
One Handed Kai Kan Drop Stance - Defence Body
Similar to the Kai Kan Drop Stance, hold the saber so the blade is horizontal just below chin height. Hold the handle at the left hand side.