Swordsmanship,+Shien

Forn V Shien " The Way of the Krayt Dragon, or The Perseverance Form " (By Sam)(ael) (Return to Swordsmanship)

Noteable practitioners : Cin-Drallig Anakin Skywalker Darth Vader Obi-Wan Mace Windu

Philosophy and History : To the Jedi of the ancient Republic who developed and employed the classical Form V, Shien, the form was known as the Perseverance Form. Shien was described as being well adapted to guarding against blaster fire and enemy strikes without compromising one's ability to launch powerful counterattacks, though was less effective against a single opponent. Shien was known to have existed at least as early as the Jedi Civil War. With its focus against blaster fire, Shien kept in mind that Jedi were often outnumbered by their opponents and needed to defend themselves while retaining offensive capability. The opening stance for Shien was a high guard position, with the hilt held in a two-handed grip above the user's head, and the blade angled upwards and behind the user. The dominant leg would be back, enabling powerful step-through strikes to be utilized.

There was an ancient Sith variant of this classic lightsaber form called Sith Shien. Sith Shien was known to focus on quick and aggressive attacks against the user's opponent.

Posture : The opening stance for Shien was a high guard position, with the hilt held in a two-handed grip above the user's head, and the blade angled upwards and behind the user. The dominant leg would be back, enabling powerful step-through strikes to be utilized. For Djem-So the opening stance would be either the same as the Shien opening stance or a balanced stance much like Soresu.

Shien Stylists play a slightly different Game. Their form requires being prepared for both blaster fire and melee combat and so their defenses adapted to do both. Shien, could be considered an opportunist form since it varies in it's aproach. Using flawless defence based upon Soresu to deflect blaster bolts the practitioner will sweep through poorly defended opponents with one-handed sweeps and turns and still use a powerful blow here and there to cripple an opponent or duel with another melee opponent.

(Notes to remember) -Movements are not space-limited like makashi -One-handed sweeps are used

Tactics : Shien is designed to handle a lot more opponents at once for starters. Add that all of them or only some of them could have blasters. Because of this Shien defence is much more careful and they rarely stay still.

While Shien has a habit of using the powerful blows described for Djem-So on a particularly vulnerable opponent or to quickly finnish a Melee opponent they also emphasize defense and spins.

(For a good example you should look at Anakin's form when he kills the seperatists on mustafar, or his first duel with dooku on Geonosis)

Shien mixes powerful two-handed blows with one-handed sweeping blows and a strong guard. A Shien Practitioner will step forward and strike one opponent into scrap then whirl slicing the next opponent(s) to one side then block incoming fire while advancing on the next cluster of opponents.

Because shien often has to deal with blaster fire and much larger numbers of opponents spinning and one-handed slashes happen. In fact, shien requires a greater awareness of the battle and the ability to stay moving so that blaster fire cannot get too thick. A Shien Practitioner will seem to whirl from opponent to opponent striking one after another down, kicking some, and crushing others. Because of Shien’s tendancy towards feinting a smaller blow at one opponent and then with a spin crushing a target that didn’t expect it, it remains an unpredictable and more mobile style than Djem-so. In addition, Shien also has a fast and rapid sith version that deals with delivering rapid, fast slashes that vary in strength.

(Notes to remember) -Shien moves, often taking advantage of cover from opponent to opponent maintaining Soresu Blocks. -Sweeps are used to deal with opponents (especially clusters where you can destroy many at once) -Powerful strikes are used at random or to take care of key opponents and other duelists. -Feinting and whirling strikes happen a lot in clusters. -Awareness of the whole field is required.

Unique movements : -Spinning stikes Sometimes when a Shien Practitioner sweeps they will jump using all that turn momentum to strike diagonally downward on an opponent. This is usually a 360 degree spin with the first 100 degrees covered in the sweep. While this move leaves the practitioner open to fire it is a very, very powerful and unbalancing blow since it comes partially from the side, and with more power than a strike. besides, it usually catches the unlucky target completely by surprise.

Practice :

Step 1: Defenses You will practice moving towards opponents who are actively firing on you, they you will practice strafing them and moving away from them (Suggest using tennis balls and multiple friends throwing while one behind you throws them their balls back)

Step 2: Sweeping light opponents You will practice moving towards firing opponents and then sweeping through them (Destroying multiple opponents at once) For added difficulty, do this with two clusters of opponents firing on you and learn to use one cluster as cover from the other.

Step 3: Powerful blows As Learn to combat one duelist and one firing opponent at the same time. You may start by having your opponent attack less than they would so that you can accustom yourself to it. This exercise is designed to teach youthe value of using powerful blows to quickly eliminate duelists. Also remember that you can use opponent duelists as cover from some of the fire.

Step 4: Variations Use variations of training combat with more or less combinations of duelists and firing opponents.

Step 5: Sweeps Practice in groups sweeping and turning on opponents with varied power blows and blocks.

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