Originally posted by Blaxican Hydra
I woudl do Makashi as well, but I would master it to the point were I WOULDN'T get my head cut off by a teenage punk.
Dooku had mastered it to the highest degree. I could be wrong but didnt he also modify it to his liking. But lets face it, there is no beating a pissed off Anakin.
Form I: Shii-Cho or The Determination Form was the first of the seven forms of lightsaber combat.
As the weapons technology of the lightsaber was developed, the need for a form of combat arose. Thus Form I, also called Way of the Sarlacc, was born. Shii-Cho was the most ancient style of fighting, ancient sword-fighting traditions held key principles of blade combat that were implemented by early Jedi Masters in the rather basic technical tactics of Form I.
One of the marks of contact, sun djem, was a goal of early Form I duelists, as disarming or destroying the opponents' weapons could ensure victory without causing injury, which was always a Jedi objective. However with the rise of Form II, sun djem became nearly impossible as Makashi duelists were well trained to prevent his / her own weapons being taken or destroyed.
The opening stance for Shii-Cho seemed to be the basic defensive stance; both hands clasping the lightsaber pointed down at a 45 degree angle from a high starting position.
Form II: Makashi or The Contention Form was the second form of the seven forms of lightsaber combat.
After Form I's proliferation as a saber combat technique, Form II, or Way of the Ysalamiri, came about as a means of lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat. It was described as being very elegant, powerful, and requiring extreme precision, allowing the user to attack and defend with minimal effort, often wielding the blade one-handed for greater range of movement and fluidity. The form relied on parries, thrusts, and small, precise cuts—as opposed to the blocking and slashing of the other forms. It required very fluid movements of both the blade and the body. Form II countered sun djem, the goal of early Form I masters, by well trained in preventing disarm and weapon destruction.
By the time of the Second Sith Civil War, on 3951 BBY, a master of this type of lightsaber combat was the Dark Lord Darth Nihilus.
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 were 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 were relied on to defeat one's opponent and with a skilled practitioner, the results were extremely potent.
When ranged weapons such as blasters came into play or more than one opponent was present, however, the advantages of this form became somewhat obsolete. During the time of the Clone Wars and many centuries preceding it, the Jedi Order seldom practiced this technique. There was, if at all, so little lightsaber-to-lightsaber and melee combat involved in a Jedi's life that many in the Order didn't bother to teach and/or learn it as it was thought impractical. During this era, Niman and Ataru were the more popular fighting forms being taught and learned. Makashi, however, was very common during the younger years of the order, before the advent of blasters, when melee weapons were abundant. To most Jedi, Makashi did not seem to have much use; however, to a Sith or Dark Jedi, learning and mastering Makashi would have been a goal.
The drawback of Makashi was a relatively lower level of defense against blaster bolts. When fighting a stronger opponent, a Makashi user also needed be careful not to try and match them power for power. As mentioned before, Makashi users relied on timing and precision in both movement and blade manipulation, often wielding the blade one-handed, waiting for the opponent to tire for an easy victory. Thus, they were not able to generate as much kinetic power as the two-handed slashes as in Djem So.
Dooku was a master of Form II to the highest degree, fighting with the precision built into the ancient technique. The handle of his lightsaber was curved, allowing for better manipulation of the blade during parries and thrusts. This was apparently common during the early years of the Republic, when many of the Jedi used the Makashi form. When Darth Tyranus wielded this form, it devastated the Jedi; the system of Jedi training immediately before and during the Clone Wars did not prepare many of them for the finesse and precise movements of a form bred for lightsaber dueling.
Makashi was also one of the forms taught to General Grievous by Dooku himself. Jedi Master Cin Drallig, the legendary lightsaber instructor, was another candidate of Makashi.
Makashi users were elegant, precise, calm, confident, even arrogant (as befit Dooku's personality). Form II users were supremely confident in their chances for victory, and often looked relaxed when they were fighting, or even appeared to be dancing.
Form III: Soresu, the Way of the Mynock, or The Resilience Form was the third form of the seven forms of lightsaber combat.
Form III was originally developed to counteract the advancing blaster technology throughout the Galaxy. Those to whom the Jedi were mainly opposed usually wielded blasters, and the Jedi needed to find a method of defense that could repel normally overwhelming volleys of blaster fire.
The opening stance of Soresu was spread-out, with the saber hand drawn back but the blade pointed towards the opponent, and the other hand in the same direction with a two-finger gesture.
The third form of lightsaber combat utilized motions that occurred very close to the body, in an attempt to achieve near-total protection and expend as little energy as possible while executing moves. This technique minimized the body's exposure, making a well-trained practitioner nearly invincible. Followers of Soresu comfortably remained on the defensive until their opponent left an opening that a Soresu practitioner usually could exploit in multiple ways. Soresu was best described as a passive form of combat, and one that was used by those who were extremely patient and reserved.
Due to the emphasis on defense training, Form III involved preparation for prolonged battles so that the user would be able to learn as much as possible about their opponent or opponents whilst engaged in possibly deadly combat. Also, by being more capable in lengthy battles, a Soresu user was in a position to gain control of the situation and provide multiple options for the duelist; such as the choice to either kill, disarm, or even reason with their opponent. Many Soresu practitioners survived the Battle of Geonosis, thanks in part to its specialization in fending off blaster fire. In fact, all Jedi probably had to be trained in some minimal amount of Form III when they were younglings and/or Padawans to prepare them when fending off blaster-wielding opponents, while well trained users could survive even when surrounded by multiple attackers. Soresu's greatest power lay in the endurance and control a practitioner eventually developed. Masters of the form left no opening for their opponents to take advantage of, while waiting for the eventual lapses in their opponent's own defense.
Jedi Master Mace Windu noted that, unlike any of the other combat styles, Soresu was not an answer to a particular type of weakness. Vaapad was an answer to Windu's inner darkness; Ataru was Yoda's answer to his limited reach and advanced age; and Djem So was Anakin Skywalker's answer to his boiling emotions. Towards the end of the Clone Wars Obi-Wan Kenobi was acknowledged as "the master of Soresu" by Master Windu. It was because of this fact that Kenobi was chosen by the Council as the Jedi best suited to defeat General Grievous due to his Mastery of Form III. Soresu was considered the consummate Jedi combat form in that it embraced a passive way of life and a literal expression of the Jedi's tenement to defend rather than attack.
Even though a truly focused master of Soresu was nearly unbeatable due to a strong defense posture, there was more guarantee of survival rather than victory. Initiates in Form III were known to be more than capable when defending themselves from attack, but might have lacked the experience to trap an opponent in their own offense. Since the defensive tactics of the form included guards and parries that were very close to the body, even a master had to keep a strong focus on his or her actions as small lapses in an otherwise strong defense left little room to avoid injury. As the most prominent Soresu master of his time, Obi-Wan Kenobi was known to be almost invincible in fighting numerous combatants and defeating some of the most dangerous foes when seeming so close to defeat. Yet during his first direct confrontation with Count Dooku during the Battle of Geonosis, his normally impenetrable defense was outmatched by Dooku's Makashi, possibly due to the advantage of Makashi in blade-to-blade fight and Dooku's vast experience in fencing. It was not favorable for a Jedi General to be in a lengthy fight while his troops were left alone on the battlefield, but this was usually unavoidable, as it was when Master Kenobi had to leave his regiment of troops in his drawn out pursuit of General Grievous. Upon Kenobi's second confrontation with Dooku at the Battle of Coruscant, he had improved his Soresu to the point where he was able to effectively render Dooku's attacks ineffective, and was only defeated when Dooku used his superior strength in the Force to gain the upper hand.
The key to truly mastering Soresu may concern the concept and philosophy of Soresu, instead of its combat moves. Kenobi, despite his highest mastery of Soresu, applied Shii-Cho elements and Ataru acrobatics into his swordplay, as witnessed by Dooku onboard the Invisible Hand. By combining his knowledge of Ataru and his mastery of Soresu, Kenobi's swordplay proved to be an unique style: one with the defensive principle and protective ability of Soresu, plus the simplicity of Form III, the mobility of Ataru, and the deep connection and concentration within the Force, another key Ataru principle which allows Kenobi to handle any situation.
Soresu was a very favorable form of combat for Jedi until the Great Jedi Purge. The defense and control it allowed a practitioner made for suitable outcomes in favor of the user when faced with hurried opponents who left themselves vulnerable to counterattack. It was best for warding off blaster fire and multiple opponents as a trained user would be able to defend even outside their visual range. However, its defense required a very large amount of focus from the wielder and even a momentary fault in concentration could have meant the user's defeat. Jedi with less focused minds would usually abandon this style of combat to capitalize on the benefits of other styles that required less dedication to prolonged fighting. Jedi who mastered Soresu were known to be the most successful when dealing in situations when a quick victory was not favorable to total understanding and calculated action.
Form III, the "Way of the Mynock," was inspired by the need to deflect Blaster bolts. It is very defensive; it has no aggressive qualities. Form III utilises motions occurring very close to the body to achieve a nearly total protection, efficiently expending as little energy as possible to execute those moves. This technique exposes as little body target zone open areas as is possible, making a well-trained practitioner nearly invincible. Testimony to this is the fact that Ben Kenobi, a Form III master, only falls when he chooses to let Darth Vader kill him.
Form IV: Ataru, Way of the Hawk-Bat, was the fourth of the seven forms of lightsaber combat.
Form IV, or the Aggression Form, was one of the more popular fighting forms in the Jedi Order for many centuries, during and preceding the era of the Clone Wars.
Jedi Masters Yoda and Qui-Gon Jinn were considered to have mastered this form of combat. Other notable practitioners of Ataru were Cin Drallig, Quinlan Vos, and his former Padawan, Aayla Secura. Obi-Wan Kenobi was also a practitioner of Ataru, but proceeded to study Soresu following the death of his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, at Naboo.
The opening stance for Ataru is holding the saber vertically beside them either on the right or left.
As a Padawan, Anakin Skywalker also studied Ataru as it fitted his strong and aggressive personality; he would later use those same traits to become a fine Form V practitioner. When Anakin applied Jar'Kai tactic against Count Dooku on Geonosis, his swordplay was actually based on Ataru moves. Because neither Jar'Kai nor Ataru was Anakin's mostly trained style, Dooku broke through it easily with a masterful sun djem, forcing the young Padawan to switch back to his standard of Form V.
During the Clone Wars, both Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker often apply the useful Ataru acrobatic moves, despite their mastery of Soresu and Djem So respectively.
Darth Sidious also used a variant of this form, combining stabs and thrusts into his attacks.
Ataru was an aggressive combat form relying on a combination of power, speed, and grace.
Practitioners of Ataru were always on the offensive, attacking with wide, fast, and powerful swings. Form IV practitoners constantly called upon the Force to aid in their movements and attacks. By allowing the Force to flow throughout their body, they could overcome their physical limitations (including old age, as was the case with Master Yoda), and allowed them to perform amazing feats of acrobatics, such as somersaults and backflips, not only for attack, but also to evade their opponents attacks/strikes.
Those who used 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. Howevever, due to its aggressive nature, a user could become reckless and sometimes leave him/herself open to counterattacks.
This form was also probably not as effective for prolonged combat, as the nature of Ataru could greatly tax the body. Fatigue may have been the chief reason that Qui-Gon Jinn was defeated by Darth Maul, though his old age may have also played an important role in his fatigue. This event had a profound effect on Kenobi—after his master's death, he decided to perfect his practice of Form III: Soresu, the most defensive of all forms.
Nevertheless, Ataru proved to be an effective combat form when used properly. Jedi skilled in Ataru fought with amazing grace and eye-blurring speed, using Force-assisted acrobatics and maneuvers to attack their opponents with powerful swings and offensive flourishes, never staying in one place long enough for their opponents to mount a proper counterattack.
Through the Force, Yoda takes Form IV to its highest level. Master Yoda's astonishing moves in his epic duel against Count Dooku may be revealed on close examination to be a masterful demonstration of the standard components of Form IV. His moves flow from one to another in the smooth transitions characteristic of Form IV. In addition, three kinds of rotation, called su ma, figured prominently in his style. They were jung su ma (spinning), ton su ma (somersaults), and en su ma (cartwheels). These three moves represented the three possible axes of rotation in three-dimensional space. Together with Force-enhanced jumps, the rotational su ma moves composed most of his style, making the Grand Master the ultimate example of Form IV.
Count Dooku stated that he understood "every weakness of the Ataru form, with its ridiculous acrobatics". Dooku's Makashi would counter Ataru by launching a series of flashing thrusts toward the enemy's legs to draw the opponent into a flipping overhead leap, so that Dooku could burn through the enemy's spine from kidneys to shoulder blades with his Makashi attack. The Count applied this tactic against Obi-Wan Kenobi onboard Invisible Hand, who blocked Dooku's blows with Soresu.
The master practitioners of the "Way of the Hawk-Bat," make extensive use of acrobatic manoeuvres often thought not physically possible. Qui-Gon Jinn and Yoda were both masters of Form IV, as shown in their duels against Darth Maul and Count Dooku, respectively. In dire situations, Form IV practitioner use the Force to aid in their acrobatics. Spinning, jumping and running very fast and very high, masters of Form IV are sometimes only seen as a blur. In order to achieve the acrobatic prowess, a Jedi Master would focus on the Force, letting it flow deeply throughout his entire physicality.
Form V: Shien/Djem So or The Perseverance Form was the fifth form of the seven forms recognized as canon by the last Jedi Council for lightsaber combat.
Form V or the Way of the Krayt Dragon was a powerful style developed by Form III practitioners that preferred a more offensive style, since the defensive nature of Form III often led to dangerously prolonged combat. Djem So evolved into a combat style by combining the defensive maneuvers of Soresu with the more aggressive philosophy/tactics of Makashi.
Aayla Secura, Cin Drallig, Anakin Skywalker, who later became Darth Vader, and his son Luke Skywalker were all confirmed Form V practitioners.
The opening stance of Djem So is both hands on the saber handle, with the blade raised high above the head.
Shien and Djem So are stated as two different styles, but due to their similarities they both fall under the category of Form V. Shien was better at dealing with blaster bolts while Djem So was better at lightsaber dueling, as it needed a higher level of physical strength and aggressive moves. It is known that Anakin Skywalker mastered both styles.
Darth Vader created his own variant of Form V, where he would use only one hand to strike and defend, and hold the other casually by his side. This was the case during his duel with his son on Bespin.
Form V came into existence by taking the defensive skills derived from Form III and quickly channeling it into offense. A common example used to illustrate the difference is that that while Form III combatants effortlessly deflected blaster bolts, Form V practitioners excelled at redirecting the blaster fire back toward the opponent. This action simultaneously defended the user and efficiently injured the enemy. Form V emphasized strength and power over your opponents. Many Jedi disapproved of this philosophy. Some in the Order may have felt that this lightsaber form led too quickly to violence, instead of diplomacy when dealing with disputes, and because it appeared to call for the physical domination of an opponent, which is counter to Jedi beliefs.
Using a combination of blocks and parries derived from Soresu and Makashi, a Djem So user had a proper foundation in terms of defense against both blaster and melee attacks. However, while a Soresu user stayed on the defensive and only counterattacked when necessary and when an opening appeared in his opponents defense, a Djem So practitioner was not so measured or patient. After defending an attack by an opponent, a Djem So stylist would follow with an attack of their own. While Makashi relied on precise and small cuts of the blade, Djem So utilized series of flourishes and attacks that included wide two-handed swings and powerful overhead/over-shoulder slashes. Unlike Soresu, Djem So required the user to not only counterattack, but press the assault, combining Force-enhanced strength with powerful blade combinations, to overpower and overwhelm an opponent's defenses.
Djem So is best represented by Anakin Skywalker in his second battle with Count Dooku toward the end of the Clone Wars. During the duel, Count Dooku is surprised and shocked when he realizes that Anakin is now a Djem So practitioner, and "as fine a one as he has ever seen." During the battle Anakin attacks Dooku, using his entire body including his arms, shoulders, legs and forward momentum to overwhelm Dooku with brute strength. In fact, when he blocks a blow from Skywalker, the sheer kinetic power generated by Anakin during this battle was so great that it was able to force Dooku's own crimson blade down onto his shoulder, wounding him. Count Dooku himself has noted that his elegant Makashi could never generate enough kinetic power to match Djem So strength-to-strength. During this duel as well as the duels between Luke Skywalker and his father Darth Vader, we can see that it was common for Djem So users to lock their swords and use their strength to drive their opponents back and corner them into a more vulnerable position.
Luke Skywalker is a very special practitioner of Form V. On Bespin, Luke revealed that he was an extraordinarily gifted duelist after only one brief session with Obi-Wan Kenobi three years before, and a short time of study with Yoda. Nevertheless, Luke was able to hold his own against Darth Vader for a time. After that fateful duel, Luke studied some lightsaber skills from Kenobi's journal and greatly advanced in his abilities. Without a Master, it was Luke's unparalleled aptitude which contributed in such an impossible advancement. Onboard the second Death Star, Luke showed his true talent by mirroring Darth Vader's own Form V technique and responded with his own furious demonstration of Form V's raw power. Observing swordsmen such as Palpatine might be astonished at such instantaneous learning in a lightsaber duel. Finally, Luke was able to duel Vader on an even footing, and defeated the experienced Dark Lord of the Sith.
Djem So stylists are often moving towards their opponents, striking with each forward step. Since Djem So utilizes strength and power into each of its strikes, it requires the user to generate that power with their entire body, footwork, and forward motion. It also makes their movements predictable and fairly rigid, as they would constantly charge ahead towards their opponents. Another weakness in this form is that its aggressive style can also lead to carelessness or even recklessness, as they're so caught up in the attack that a user undermines his/her own defenses.
Despite its controversies, Djem So proved to be an effective combat style, utilizing the parries and defensive techniques of Form II and III, but with a ferocious style all its own.
The philosophy of Djem So not only emphasized strength and power in defeating an opponent, but more importantly on action. This made it a more favorable combat form for Jedi who wanted quick resolutions and favored "aggressive negotiations." Bold, powerful, fearless, and confident are also traits used to describe practitioners of Djem So. The style itself was supposedly the most aggressive form of lightsaber combat, though Mace Windu's mastery of Vaapad may very well compare in terms of aggressiveness; indeed Vaapad tapped the Force so intensely that Jedi trod perilously close to the dark side to sustain it.
Lightsabers belonging to Form V practitioners generally have a solid casing either as a whole or in multiple sections for maximum protection against power surge deterioration, and a heavily shrouded blade emitter to designate separate facets of the blade for either offensive or defensive purposes.
Form V is a powerful style developed by Form III practitioners that preferred a more offensive angle. The defensive nature of Form III dangerously prolonged combat. The maxim "peace through superior firepower," encompasses the philosophy of Form V, also called the "Way of the Krayt Dragon." Anakin and Luke Skywalker are both practitioners of Form V. Form V focuses a bit on having defensive skills, but channelling defence into offence. The example is commonly used that while Form III combatants effortlessly deflect laser bolts, Form V practitioners excel at redirecting the laser bolt toward the opponent.
The "Way of the Rancor," Form VI was the standard style at and around the time period of the Clone Wars and the Great Jedi Purge. This combat discipline is often called the "Diplomat's Form." In fact, all of the Jedi using Form VI were killed at the Battle of Geonosis. Form VI attempts to balance all elements of lightsaber combat, combining the Forms that came before into a less intensely demanding combat style. The result is that the users' skill in each individual area of lightsaber combat is only moderate.
Form VII: Juyo/Vaapad was the final form of the seven forms of lightsaber combat.
Dubbed the Way of the Vornskr or The Ferocity Form, Juyo was originally considered an incomplete form for millennia. Generally
viewed as undeveloped and rarely used by the Jedi and the Sith, Juyo was not seen as one of the main forms until it was further
developed by Jedi Master Mace Windu, who completed it with his Vaapad fighting style, thereby finally completing Form VII. (In 22
BBY, Palpatine noted that he had only ever heard of six forms; Mace's reply indicated that this had been the case—until he finessed
Juyo into Vaapad.) It is popular belief that Windu's technique was inspired by the flailing movements of the Vaapad creature of
Sarapin, a beast which at one point made an indelible impression upon the Korun master - it was said to be impossible to tell how
many tentacles a Vaapad had until it was dead.
The opening stance for Vaapad was the upper body, including hands, being drawn back while still holding the lightsaber pointed
towards an opponent. Another ready stance of Vaapad consisted of a constant near-invisible weave of lethal energy generated by
slashes of a whirring lightsaber blade.
The most challenging and demanding of all forms, Form VII required intense focus, a high degree of skill, and mastery of other forms.
Only a few Jedi ever mastered Vaapad fully: Mace Windu, Depa Billaba and Sora Bulq, who instructed Quinlan Vos in a few of its
basics. Sora Bulq helped Windu develop Vaapad, but Bulq proved too weak to master the flow of the light and dark sides of the Force
generated by the use of the technique, and fell to the dark side. Mace Windu noted that Vaapad mastered Bulq, not the other way
around. Depa Billaba, Windu's Padawan, similarly fell to the dark side when combining Vaapad with the rigors of war. Before her fate
was sealed, Mace noted that Depa's bladework had already surpassed his Vaapad. General Grievous used his technical prowess to
copy Vaapad to a degree when he fought Mace Windu on Coruscant, though due to his lack of Force sensitivity, he could not truly
master it. But it was possible that Grievous had already learned the moves of Juyo, as Dooku noted that Grievous and his guards
mastered all the seven classic combat forms.
Intrepid, somewhat direct movements were used in combination with advanced techniques involving Force-powered jumps and
motions. Form VII did not appear as fancy as Form IV, as there were not moves like twirling and flipping, but the technical
requirements were much higher. Vaapad used seemingly free-wheeling and open movements, but with utter control on the part of the
wielder. In Windu's duel with Palpatine, Windu constantly had his arms spread wide, torso open to stabbing motions by Palpatine, as
though Windu was daring him to strike. While appearing reckless on the surface, Windu knew exactly what he was doing. The end
result, if practiced correctly, was a very unpredictable lightsaber style. The staccato swings and flow of the form made it seem as if
the attacks were not linked—but in reality, it was merely confusing the opponent.
Form VII demanded the emotional and physical intensity of Form V, but it much more effectively controlled it—if mastered. Form VII,
when fully mastered, resulted in extraordinary power.
However, Vaapad bordered on the edge of falling to the dark side, as it channelled one's anger and darkness into the attack. Only
Windu's mastery and concentration on the light side prevented him from succumbing to his own anger, which is why Vaapad was
rarely practiced and very dangerous. As noted above, the only other known practitioners of Vaapad, Sora Bulq and Depa Billaba both
fell to the dark side of the Force. Darth Maul, a Sith Lord who appeared to have mastered Juyo, was so immersed in the dark side,
yet so much in control of his anger that he could employ his own deadly variant of Juyo without fear. Coupled with his martial
prowess, Darth Maul used this variant to defeat several skilled Jedi, including Master Qui-Gon Jinn. However, Darth Maul only devoted
to the Form's physical focus, thus he remained silent during the duels on Tatooine and Naboo. Maul desired pure physical victory,
rather than the "higher" Sith tradition of Dun Möch, which could dominate the opponent's spirit through taunts that expose inner
doubts and weaknesses.
With that said, Vaapad was not just a fighting style. It was a state of mind and a power. The state of mind required that a user of
Vaapad allow himself to enjoy the fight. He had to give himself over to the thrill of battle, the rush of winning. Vaapad was a path that
led through the penumbra of the dark side. The power of Vaapad was simple: it was a channel for one's inner darkness; and it was a
reflecting device. With strict control, a Jedi's own emotions and inner darkness could be changed into a weapon of the light.
Vaapad was also described as "a superconducting loop," with the user on one end and the opponent on the other. It was able to take
the powers of the opponent and reflect it back at them. In his fight with Palpatine, Mace Windu used the Chancellor's own speed and
hatred against him, reflecting it back against the Sith Lord and using it as his own power. Also, when Palpatine unleashed his Force
lightning on Mace, the Jedi was able to use his lightsaber, with the power of Vaapad, to reflect the lightning back at him. However,
because Palpatine was probably a master of the Sith variant of Juyo as well, he fed the power of Force lightning with his own pain,
thus intensified the energetic attack despite his suffering.
The power of Vaapad was quite incredible: it was at once a form of lightsaber combat, a state of mind, and an actual tangible power.
To use it required great mastery, discipline and, above all else, purity of heart and spirit. Vaapad users were intense, focused and
introverted. There were even signs of pent-up hostility in them.
New information suggests that Mace Windu's creation of Vaapad was less a true "creation" of a form, and more a refinement of a form
that, because of its difficulty, remained largely unused. Around the time of the Jedi Civil War, Juyo was already the lightsaber form
relied upon by the greatest of the Jedi, indicating that Juyo was indeed a complete and effective form for millennia before Mace Windu
finessed it with Vaapad, although it was also possible that the ancient Juyo masters and their skills became the casualties of war. It
was believed that Vaapad died with Mace Windu, as he was the last Jedi to have mastered it (disregarding Depa Billaba, whose fate
after the enaction of Order 66 is still unknown; although Quinlan Vos knew some of its moves, his proper training of Vaapad had never
begun). After the final destruction of Palpatine, it was presumed that the whole Form VII died with him.