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| Tweet Topic Started: Jul 20 2012, 06:24 PM (36 Views) | |
| MaiMizzu | Jul 20 2012, 06:24 PM Post #1 |
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There is no emotion; there is peace. This principle guides all meditations and interactions with all others. It reaffirms the Jedi ideal to act without recklessness, and to view the actions of others through the pure lense of the Unifying Force. There is no ignorance; there is knowledge. Those who don't understand this basic precept are quick to fear, and fear is the path to the dark side. The Archives represent the greatest collection of knowledge in the galaxy. There is no passion; there is serenity. A subtle extrapolation of the first precept, this reminder to act dispassionately in every deliberation extends to personal obessions and is a reminder not to elevate the self above the mission. There is no chaos, there is harmony. Those who cannot see the threads uniting all life view existence as random and without purpose. The Jedi perceive the structure and the will of the many galaxies. There is no death; there is the Force. All things die, but the Force lives on. As beings who exist as shades of the Force, the end of our existence is not to be overly mourned. We are part of an energy larger than ourselves, and we play roles in the cosmic fabric that outstrip our incarnate understanding. 3 Pillars of the Jedi: Force, Knowledge, Self-Discipline Empty Meditation, Rising Meditation, Moving Meditation Jedi Service Corps: Agricultural, Medical, Education and Exploration The crystal is the heart of the blade. The heart is the crystal of the Jedi. The Jedi is the crystal of the Force. The Force is the blade of the heart. All are intertwined: The crystal, the blade, the Jedi. We are one. Cortosis, unltrachrome, neuranium, phrik (last two rare) Damage Or Destroy A Weapon Sun djem (“sun jem”) Sun djem (disarming) was a goal of early Form I masters, since destroying an opponent’s lightsaber could win victory without causing injury – always a Jedi aspiration. However, the advances of Form II made sun djem nearly impossible, since combatants trained studiously against having their weapons taken or damaged. Wound Shiim (“She-eem”) Any kind of wound with the edge of a lightsaber blade is shiim. An inconclusive mark of contact, shiim is considered inferior to other marks that decisively end a battle. Its appearance thus expresses struggle with a powerful opponent. Stab Shiak (“She-ack”) Jedi tradition considers shiak (stabbing) an honorable method of inflicting serious injury since it causes the least visible injury to the opponents. Shiak can thus express Jedi respect for an opponent and the living Force even as it delivers a fatal blow. Cut Off Weapon Hand Cho mai (“cho my”) Cho mai instantly ends an opponent’s ability to use a weapon but does not kill, making cho mai a preferred Jedi move. The precision of cutting off only a hand is considered mark of a superior lightsaber master. Cut Off Weapon Arm Cho sun (“cho sun”) Cho sun (dismembering), cutting off an opponent’s entire weapon arm, is a move lacking the precision and elegance of cho mai, but cho sun is the move most often necessary under surprise combat conditions or where no chances can be taken. Otherwise Maim Cho mok (“cho mock”) Cho mok (maim) describes the cutting off of an opponent’s leg or (in the case of non-humans) other limb or appendage such as lekku (head-tails). Behead Sai cha (“sigh cha”) Sai cha, from the ancient words for “separate” and “head”, describes the chilling Jedi ability to behead an opponent in a flash of the lightsaber. Jedi commit sai cha only when battle is at its most deadly serious and threatening, or when an opponent is considered extremely dangerous even to a fully trained Jedi. Cut Body In Half Sai tok (“sai tock”) Jedi consider the bisection of a living opponent’s body a form of butchery, a desecration to be avoided if possible. The savage extreme of sai tok is thus normally used only against battle druids. Sai tok represents a potentially Sith-like desire to destroy one’s enemy, whereas the Jedi goal even in combat is inner focus on defeating the danger of opponents rather than hating them and wishing utter destruction upon them. To use the Force, the Jedi must remain at harmony with it. To act in dissonance depletes one's power. The Force is created and sustained by life. The Jedi acts to preserve life. To kill is wrong. Yet it is often necessary to kill. The Jedi may kill in self defense or the defense of others. You may kill, if by doing so, life is preserved. But you must know, always, that killing is wrong. When you kill, you commit a crime against the Force. Though you may know that you do so for the greater good, and the greater good justifies your act, you must also know that the death remains as a stain upon your soul. The Jedi does not act for personal gain of wealth or of power. You must act to gain knowledge; to sustain freedom, life and learning; to defeat those who would impose tyranny, death and ignorance. Sometimes, wealth or power is needed to achieve the Jedi's goals. Money is required for the purchase of goods; power is required to obtain the help of others. To achieve one's goals, a Jedi may obtain wealth or power, but is not interested in it for its own sake, and will surrender it once those goals are achieved. Jedi never acts from hatred, anger, fear or aggression. A Jedi must act when calm, at peace with the Force. To act from anger is to court the Dark Side, to risk everything for which Jedi stand.~ The Jedi knights are sworn to valor Their hearts know only virtue Their lightsaber defend the helpless Their might upholds the weak Their words speak only the truth Their wrath undoes the wicked Behavior Self Discipline – One of the keystones of Jedi behavior is self discipline, and Jedi Masters instruct their students in this tenet very early. Most of the lessons are no different from those taught to ordinary children, but as the student progresses, so does the complexity of the lessons. The Jedi student learns that self discipline is far more important to a person who can wield the Force than it is to those who cannot even feel it’s touch. Conquer Arrogance –Jedi are special, but their ability to access the Force does not make them better than other people. A Jedi is a Jedi mostly because someone else has taken the trouble to teach him. A Jedi Knight is a Jedi Knight only because his or her Master determines that he cannot teach his student anything further. A Jedi Master is a Jedi Master only because he has discarded his own sense of self importance and embraced the will of the Force. As Master Dooku explained to a class of Jedi students: “The acceptance of others is not a guarantee. Like everyone else, a Jedi is accepted or not based on his behavior. The Jedi who believes that he is more important than others only determines that his opinion is to be ignored”. Conquer Overconfidence – Many young Jedi students, on learning of the limitless potential of the Force, come to believe that they can accomplish anything. They take on tasks that are too big for them, not realizing that the Force is only truly limitless to those who have limitless understanding. Scores of Jedi have died as a result of overestimating their control of the Force. Master Vodo-Siosk Baas spoke of overconfident to his student, Exar Kun: “Overconfident thinking is flawed because the Jedi does not take all possibilities into account. He may understand the task at hand, the support of his fellows and the ramifications of his success, and he may have even planned for unanticipated factors – but he has failed to understand his own capabilities. He has planned only for success, because he has concluded that there can be no failure. Every Jedi, in every task, should prepare for the possibility of failure.” Conquer Defeatism – The opposite of overconfidence is defeatism: the belief that no effort, no matter how great, can possibly succeed. Though this might seem contradictory to the goal of conquering overconfidence, it amounts to a question of priorities. A Jedi should plan for success first, and failure second. The Jedi who plans excessively for failure expects to lose. Indeed, the Jedi who approaches each task as though failure is the most likely option puts forth only minimal effort – enough to say that he or she tried. Master Yoda once said: “Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try.” Conquer Stubbornness – A Jedi should be willing to accept defeat if the cost of winning is greater than the cost of losing. Master Rekpa De, who taught basic lightsaber training at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant while Yoda was still just a Jedi Knight, told his students: “Do not see a lightsaber duel as a choice between winning and losing. Every duel can have many, many outcomes. When you concentrate solely on winning – in lightsaber duels as in everything else – you sully your victory. Winning becomes worse than losing. It is better to lose well than to win badly. And it is always better to end a duel peacefully than to win or lose.” Conquer Recklessness – Young Jedi in particular are always ready to ignite their lightsabers and plunge into battle, reach out impulsively with the Force to move heavy objects, or trick the minds of the weak willed; such Jedi lack self restraint. They perceive a goal and rush towards it, heedless of unseen dangers or other options. Master Wiwa told her first student: “Learn to recognize when speed is not important; move at your own pace at all other times. It is not necessary to always strike the first blow, to provide the first solution, or to reach a goal before anyone else does. In fact, it is sometimes vital to strike the last blow, to give the final answer, or to arrive after everyone else.” Conquer Curiosity – It is unseemly for a Jedi to probe unnecessarily into the business of others. All beings are entitled to their privacy, and intruding gives the clear message that the privacy of others can be sacrificed to satisfy a Jedi’s curiosity. Using the Force to discreetly uncover the secrets of others might be occasionally necessary, but it should never be a matter of course, for it causes distrust of the Jedi in general. Master Odan-Urr said: “Use the Force to satisfy the will of the Force – not to satisfy your own curiosity.” Conquer Aggression – Master Yoda was fond of saying to his students: “A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack.” Jedi, especially while they are still training, confuse the meanings of attack, defense and aggression. A Jedi cannot attack without aggression, especially if he or she acts without recklessness, hatred or anger. A Jedi can even kill in self-defense if his or her opponent leaves them no choice. However, these occurrences should never become commonplace. To conquer aggression, even in combat, a Jedi must explore every other option – including surrender – before resorting to lethal force. The Jedi who regularly employs lethal force courts the dark side. Conquer External Loyalties – After the Battle of Ruusan, Master Hoche Trit said: “A Jedi is a Jedi, first, foremost and only. For a Jedi to divide his attention between the will of the Force and the will of others is to invite disaster.” Every Jedi must strive to excise external distractions from his life. For this reason, the Jedi Order takes potential students while they are still too young to have formed relationships and forbids them from forming relationships later in life. A Jedi may not marry without the special dispensation of the Jedi Council. A Jedi may not take a political appointment or accept gifts that are not necessary to his mission. A Jedi’s loyalties must be to the Force, to the Jedi Order, and to himself, in that order. Conquer Materialism – Jedi keep few personal possessions. Not only are such belongings a distraction from the study of the Force, but once a Jedi becomes a Jedi Knight, his or her missions may take him or her far away on short notice, and numerous possessions become burdensome. Consequently, few Jedi keep more than what they can carry on their person. In the words of Master Kagoro: “I wear my robe so that I am warm, I carry my lightsaber that I am safe, and I keep enough credits for my next meal, so that I am not hungry. If the Force wants me to have more, it finds a way of letting me know.” Responsibility Once a Jedi learns self discipline, he or she can begin to accept responsibility for their actions. No Jedi who shuns responsibility should be trained, and no Jedi who embraces responsibility should be denied training. Practice Honesty – Honesty is the first responsibility of the Jedi. A Jedi can allow others to believe incorrectly, lead others to incorrect conclusions by playing on their suppositions, or stretch the truth if the situation demands it. A Jedi must always be honest with himself, his Master, and the Council. The Caamasi Jedi Knight Surenti Kil’qiy spoke wisely when he said: “Let there be truth between your heart and the Force. All else is transitory.” A Jedi is honest with his beliefs and his motives finds responsibility to be almost second nature. Honor Your Promises – A Jedi who makes a promise should always be prepared to keep it or, failing that, to make amends. Thus, a Jedi should never make a promise he is not certain he can keep. Before making a promise, a Padawan learner should consult his Master, a Master should consult the Council, and the Council should meditate on the will of the Force. As Master Thos-Mes Drei said: “Deliver more than you promise. The best way to be always certain of this is to deliver much, even when you promise nothing.” Honor Your Padawan – Every Master has an awesome responsibility to his Padawan learner in bringing him to the end of his training. A Jedi Master must always remember that a Padawan is an individual who deserves respect. A Master should not reprimand his Padawan in public, nor punish the Padawan for disagreeing with him. On the other hand, the Master should praise his apprentice when he does well, especially in the presence of others. Doing this builds the Padawan’s confidence and strengthens the bond between Master and apprentice. Honor Your Master – By the same token, a Padawan should endeavor to show respect to his Master at all times. Especially in the presence of others. A Padawan should not disagree with his master to the point of argument. In discussions with others, a Padawan should address only his Master unless he is directly addressed. In all other wats, the Padawan should defer to the Master and not invite censure. This spares the Master the burden of apologizing to others for the Padawan’s behavior. Honor The Jedi Council – Although the Jedi Council embodies the ultimate authority in the Jedi Order, it cannot be everywhere at once. Therefore, when the Council sends a trusted Jedi on a mission, the Jedi speaks fort the Council. This is an awesome responsibility, and no Jedi should abuse this trust. The Council must answer for the Jedi’s words and actions, and it shows tremendous disrespect to put the Council in an untenable situation. Master Yoda, on being invited to join the Council, said: “Now must I keep the word I made when only a Jedi Knight I was – a promotion, this is not.” Yoda meant that when Jedi make decisions, the Jedi Council must ratify and uphold those decisions. Thus, a Jedi Knight should never make the job more difficult for himself or the Council than necessary. Honor The Jedi Order – A Jedi’s every action reflects on the Order. Good deeds serve the reputation of the Order, but poor behavior does incalculable damage. Every Jedi should try to remember that each person he or she meets might never have encountered a Jedi before. How he behaves establishes a first impression of the Jedi, as a whole, in the person’s mind. Master Odan-Urr reflected: When a Jedi behaves badly in public, an observer might think, ‘if this Jedi is representative of the whole Order, then plainly no Jedi is worthy of respect’. On meeting a second Jedi, who behaves better than the first, that same person might think ‘does this say that half of the Jedi are good and half bad?’ On meeting a third Jedi, who believes as well as the second, the person thinks, ‘was the first Jedi an exception, then?’ In this way, only by the good behavior of several Jedi can the public be certain that the poor behavior of one Jedi was unusual. Thus, it takes many Jedi to undo the mistakes of one.” Honor The Law – For the Jedi to protect peace and justice, they must be bound by those same tenets. No Jedi is above the law. A Jedi may break the law if he feels it is necessary, but he must then be prepared to accept the consequences of his crimes. Because the Jedi Council does not generally send Jedi out into the galaxy to be arrested and imprisoned, Jedi have a responsibility to the Council to avoid situations that leave no choice but to break the law. Fortunately, the Republic tends to understand the exigencies of Jedi missions and is usually willing to overlook so called ‘victimless crimes’ a Jedi might perpetrate in pursuit of his mission. Jedi on missions outside the Republic’s reach, on the other hand, must be careful. Crimes committed in the Corporate Sector, for example, fall under Corporate Sector jurisdiction, though the legal process is generally slow enough that defense representation from the Republic has time to arrive. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Hutt space is more problematic in that the Hutts have little conception of ‘due process’. A wrongdoer (or perceived wrongdoer) can expect a swift and sever punishment. Paradoxically, the Hutts admire daring and resourcefulness, and unless a crime is particularly sever (by Hutt standards), they are liable to forget all about it if the culprit survives long enough to escape their grasp. The main danger in Hutt space lies in committing a crime that provokes the Hutts (or even a single Hutt) to hire bounty hunters to bring the culprit back – alive or dead. Honor Life – A Jedi should never commit murder, for any reason. When confronted with a life or death struggle, however, a Jedi may have to kill to complete his mission. This act always is always unfortunate, because deliberately ending a life strengthens the dark side. However, if the cause is justified – If the Jedi is protecting others, serving the will of the Force, or even acting in self defense – then the light side is equally strengthened. A Jedi should spend some of his daily mediations reflecting on every life he has taken, until he knows that the loss of life was necessary. As always, if a Jedi is unsure of the will of the Force, he should consult his master or the Jedi Council. A Jedi should assume that any sentient life he takes is no cause for concern. When a Jedi finds that he doesn’t care that he has killed, then he finds himself on the path to the dark side. Public Service While the Jedi exist to study the ways of the Force, they are allowed to exist because they serve the public interest. Were they unable to use the Force – indeed, if the Force did not exist – the Jedi would go on serving, because that is their mandate. The fact that the Force is real, and that the Jedi are it’s most devoted practitioners, only strengthens their resolve to use it in the service of the common good. Duty To The Republic – The Republic and the Jedi Order are not the same, and the Jedi hold no authority in the Republic. Nevertheless, the Jedi serve the Republic. The Jedi act to preserve the Republic, to uphold it’s laws and ideals and to protect it’s citizens, but they hold no rank in the Republic hierarchy. The Jedi serve when asked and stand aside at all other times. This arrangement between the Jedi and the Republic is so old that no one can remember how or why it came about. Render Aid – A Jedi is obliged to assist those in need of aid whenever possible, and must be able to quickly judge the priority of doing so. Saving one life is important; saving multiple lives more so. This tenet does not require a Jedi to abandon other goals in every circumstance, but the Jedi must do his best to ensure that those in need of aid receive it. Defend The Weak – Likewise, a Jedi should strive to defend the weak against those who seek to oppress them, from one person suffering at the hands of another to an entire race held in thrall. A Jedi should always remember, though, that not all might be as it seems. The customs of other cultures should always be respected, even if they offend the Jedi’s moral and ethical code. In every case, though, the Jedi should carefully consider the ramifications of his actions. Master Marspa once visited Nal Hutta with his student, Imina, on a diplomatic mission. While there, they observed numerous acts of brutality directed at the slaves of the Hutts, though Master Marspa said nothing. Later, Marspa and his apprentice visited Ord Mantell, where they witnessed a shopkeeper beating a servant. This time, without hesitation, Master Marspa stepped in and restrained the shopkeeper. Afterward, Imina expressed confusion. “Master, you stopped that shopkeeper from beating his servant, but on Nal Hutta, we saw many, many acts far more heinous. Yet there, you did nothing. I do not understand.” Master Marspa sighed. “Were it within my authority on Nal Hutta, I would have set every last slave free and personally escorted them back home to their loved ones, far from Hutt space. But to interfere with the culture of the Hutts on their home-world would have been to pass judgment on them on behalf of the Republic. The Republic Senate knows that slavery goes on in Hutt space. When they decide to do something about that, I will support them wholeheartedly. On the other hand, slavery is not legal on Ord Mantell. For that shopkeeper to beat his employee was simply an unnecessary display of dominance. Were the Republic aware of his actions, they would have acted immediately. I am sad there is a difference between the two, but it is nor out place to correct the discrepancy.” Provide Support – At times, a Jedi must stand aside to let others render aid or defend the weak – even though the Jedi could perhaps do a better job. The Jedi should assist by word or by action as required by the situation, offering advise only when asked for, warning when necessary, and argument only when reason fails. Otherwise, the Jedi must remember that he wields a marvelous and potent tool in the Force, and should be ready to use it on behalf of a good cause. Nature Of The Force Path Of Darkness Does the Force use the Jedi, or the Jedi use the Force? To use the Force, one must be at harmony with it. Only when calm, at peace, can one act with assurance of control. When one is at harmony with the universe, one acts as one must to maintain harmony. The will and the Force are one; the actor and the acted upon, the same. There is no contradiction: there is unity. That is the path of Light. There is another - the path of Darkness. The universe is an angry morass of power. To release that power, one must harness one's basest emotions: hate, anger, fear, aggression. By releasing one's own anger, one releases the anger of eternity. Only when filled with hate, can one perform the most hateful of acts. The will and the Force are one. That is the choice of the Jedi: serenity or hatred; peace or anger; freedom or tyranny; learning or power; the Light or the Darkness. Because the use of the Force and the way the Force uses its user are one, the choice is inescapable. A Jedi who starts down the path of the Dark Side will forever be dominated by it. That is why the Jedi must follow a strict code. Nature of the Force From lifelessness came life; from dead matter came spirit. With life came perception: the perception of beauty and ugliness, serenity and fear. The Force grew strong as life grew stronger. Life is the universe's way of perceiving itself; the Force is the strength of its perception. As life grew, evolved, became more sophisticated, there came intelligence - and with it, the capacity of understanding. Intelligent beings questioned the universe, and when they were clever enough to ask the questions in the right way, the universe answered. The Force became stronger, more sophisticated, as intelligence spread and sapient's knowledge of the universe deepened. Yet the nature of the Force is hidden and subtle. Questions about the nature of matter and energy are more easily answered. Intelligent beings developed a high technology by understanding of physical law - yet understanding of the universe's mystical nature lagged behind. Intelligent beings built advanced cultures which were cold, cruel, ignorant of the beat of reality's heart. So stood the galaxy, until the rise of the Jedi. They studied the Force; they took first few steps on the road to universal harmony. As their mastery deepened, as their fame spread, and as their works began to bring harmony and freedom to the galaxy, they were betrayed. For the Force is not itself good or evil; it is a reflection of nature, and nature itself can be cold and cruel. Evil ones can harness the force to their will - and, by doing so, lose something of their humanity, becoming virtual avatars of the Dark Side of the Force. For the Master of the Dark Side, as for a Master of the Light, it cannot be said whether one controls the Force, or the Force the Master; to ask which is the actor and which the acted upon is a question of no meaning. It was inevitable that some would use the Force to slake their base lust for wealth and power. The Dark Side is easy and seductive; the first successes brought thirst for more. A Jedi’s greatest ally Jedi's use of the Force is his greatest skill and most difficult achievement. The Force is a powerful field created by all living things; it surrounds and penetrates the entire galaxy ...but it does not fall to everyone to use it as a source of insight and power. A Jedi from the beginning must do what most men cannot; develop a sensitivity to this Force. He must actually feel it, feel his oneness with it, feel it tangible flow through him, then his conscious awareness must join the Force so that the knowledge through the Force will become his own. At some point a Jedi learns to abandon reliance on his own mind and its effort. He learns to stretch out with his feeling, to let go of his limited idea of himself, and to move with the deeply instinctive levels of his being. By listening, by becoming peaceful, by turning his attention to the Force, he finds that place where his individuality is joined to the knowledge and power of the universe. At some point a Jedi becomes one with the force. It consumes him, penetrates him, makes him part of all living things. The Dark Side Unlike the Light Side of the Force, which embraces the whole, the entire focus of the Dark Side is the self. The appeal of the Dark Side is its very destructiveness and its isolation. Those who seek power for selfish reasons find comfort in its narcissistic gaze. The Dark Side emphasizes aggrandizement of self to the exclusion of others. In this way, rage and anger are turned into sources of strength. Many are attracted to the Dark Side because its selfish nature allows great and showy deeds. The ease with which power is summoned belies its danger, for anger and hatred consume the individual even as one dominates one's surroundings. Ultimately, the Dark Side rejects the very celestial nature of life itself. To the Jedi, the Force is not a part of their existence; it is their existence. To a student of the Dark Side, this is incomprehensible. It is not uncommon for Dark Side students to go into the wilderness, much as their Light Side counterparts do. The crucial difference is that the Light Jedi goes into the wilderness to commune with the wild. The Dark Side follower goes to separate himself from the community of life. There, in isolation, a Dark Side follower can perfect his or her own oneness with the Dark Side, and revel in that corruption. Yet in the Dark Side are anger and hatred and isolation and...fear. That fear drives the Jedi to isolation, jealousy and desire to be the most powerful of all. This very predatory nature sparks battles of dominance when several Dark Jedi or Dark Side Adepts gather. Sometimes these are violent confrontations, other times they involve subtle mind games or diplomatic discussions; but make no mistake, there will be some attempt to assert control over each other. The violent nature of the Dark Side often leads to betrayal and bloodshed. Not only does this fratricidal tendency discourage long term cooperation among Adepts, it has also hindered the passing of knowledge. Whereas the Jedi and other servants of the Light Side have established great libraries and oral traditions to advance their work and educate succeeding generations, those of the Dark Side have few such institutions. Many never record their knowledge for fear it may aid an enemy. Others are too arrogant to allow others to learn from their mistakes. The Living Force The Unifying Force Think Back to Qui-Gon Jinn. He was a teacher in the Living Force, instructing his young Padawans to focus on the here and now, rather than on the future or the past. But this focus was not the popular methodolgy among the Jedi, and even Obi-Wan beleived his master's methods foolish. The Living Force lent Qui-Gon strength and insight beyond his brethren, though his ability to see future events or learn from the past was lessened. He himself would admit that he needed more focus on the past and future: the Unifying Force that the Jedi Council Symbolized. The Living Force is an elite, powerful walk that is taught very rarely, for few wish to learn it. Those who do learn the Path of the Living Force, often as not, are viewed as Rogues by their comrades on the Jedi Council, and as such, often go off alone, or with a Padawan and some other companions, as Lone Jedi Masters, who valiently attempt to right all the wrongs of the galaxy, no matter the cost. The Jedi Council rules the Jedi Order with an iron fist. Uniformity and Solidarity are their ways. Tradition and Strict Adherence to the Jedi Code have kept the Order strong throughout the centuries and millennia, and variance and spontanaeity are frowned upon here. Only the "Rogue" Jedi Masters who favor the Living Force over the Unifying Force defy the Council's edicts, often at their own peril. Those who follow the living Force look at every life, no matter its size or importance in the grand scheme, as just as valuable and important as all the other lives in the galaxy combined. The good of the few is just as important to the Living Force's Followers as the Good of the Many. Such a view often brings followers of the Living Force into conflict with the Jedi Council. The Jedi Council symbolizes the Unifying Force. To them, more than any other group, EVEN the Galactic Senate of the New Republic, is left the questions of morality and duty when weighing life against life. To them, grievous thought it can sometimes be, The good of the larger number of people outweighs that of the fewer numbers. This allows them to deal effectively with every situation they are faced with. The Living Force gives its adherents clarity of thought and concentration and vision, unmatched in all other Force-disciplines. This is the advantage I listed above in the "Balance of the Force." It is such incredible co-ordination and speed that make the Jedi Knight the most feared warrior in the galaxy. Though lacking the ability to center in so completely on the Moment that those who follow the living Force posses, the followers of the Unifying Force can drop into a deep meditation in which they are at one with all other Jedi in the area, sharing senses at will, and gaining one prep defensively each Jedi as their collective powers strengthen. As followers of the Living Force, these Jedi always remain super-charged, as they are deeply in touch with all living things, and with the life-force itself. With the power of the Unifying Force, the Jedi Council and the Jedi Order can stand together, and in combat, have the ability to bestow on one of their comrades one prep, one time, no matter when or where. One of the possible failings of the Living Force's Adherents is their immense compassion for all things. This compassion and caring is a great weakness when confronted with the Dark Side, for the Dark Side will latch on to any and all emotions, and in this case, the followers of the Living Force are more likely than their companions on the Council and in the Order to fall to the temptation of using Dark Powers to help others. In contrast, those Jedi who adhere to the Unifying Force are much more able to control their emotions, focusing always on the larger picture than on the lives of individuals, and though to some these Jedi may seem cold or even cruel, it is this constant control of emotion that keeps the followers of the Unifying Force safer from the temptations of forbidden power than their Living Force friends and colleagues Only Masters of the Living Force May Become "One With the Force." and the ability to move at impossible speeds, and achieve co-ordination above even most other Force Users. Attuning to the Unifying Force provides ALL Jedi within the room. This power is known as the Jedi power of "Force Harmony." Lightsaber Dueling En-Guarde Stances Fighting Stances Traditionally, the Japanese art of kendo uses a stance where the feet are parallel, with the right foot forward, a few inches separated from the left. The weight is carried on the balls of the foot, and any forward motion is initiated by springing off FROM the rear (left) foot. (NOT by throwing the forward (right) foot out). Now, the older art of kenjutsu often employed wider stances, with the feet at an angle from one another. This was to compensate both for uneven ground, and for the weight of large battlefield weapons. Lightsaber users tend to use loose, rather static stances, more reminiscent of the kenjutsu style. This would NOT because of the weight of the weapon. If the swordsman is balanced, aware, upright and hold the centre with his blade, then there will be NO need to 'bob' and 'weave'. Whenever you duck or flinch, or twist yourself out of position, you slow your techniques down and make yourself vulnerable. Footwork The Japanese arts employ two main types of footwork: - The first is similar to ordinary walking, putting one foot ahead of the other alternately. The feet are kept close to the ground, sort of gliding, so that if your motion is interrupted, you are always in a position to stop and be balanced. This footwork is used when closing large distances to the opponent. - The second type places one foot ahead of the other, often the right ahead of the left, and keeps the feet on that order. The forward foot moves forward a little, then the rear foot moves up the same amount, retaining the original stance. Classical western fencing also employs a similar footwork, to keep the body in the same orientation to the opponent. This type of footwork is employed in close fighting, where distances moved are shorter, and balance is more important than speed over the ground. Any fighting art requires balance and control. Excessive motion is kept to a minimum and the orientation of the body to the opponent is kept at an optimum at all times. Both Hollywood and Hong Kong film producers have often tended to corrupt fighting arts of all sorts, using deliberately big, slow and clumsily unbalanced motions, because they are easier for the untutored eyes in the audience to follow. The Japanese themselves have had a sort of 'on-stage' sword style for hundreds of years - used by actors in the common kabuki theatre. These exaggerated motions bear only the slightest relation to the real techniques, which often look disappointingly 'plain' and repetitive to the untutored viewer. I assure you however, that the smaller, faster and more controlled motions are by far the more effective. En-Guarde Positions All sword arts, from all cultures, have had 'en-guarde' positions. A position, a stance, an attitude, with which to present the sword in readiness. These positions provide maximum opportunity to act and react to the opponent. The nature of the lightsaber, being closest to the Japanese weapons, lends itself to their style of 'en-guarde' positions. Indeed, an analysis of the known duels demonstrates most of the classic Japanese positions in use. Japanese en-guarde positions are called 'kamae'. They entail not just a physical position but a mental and emotional stance as well, so the word 'attitude' is a better description that just 'stance'. Force using Jedi would also be highly aware of their emotional states, and those of their opponents, so the comparison with Japanese sword positions is even stronger. They are not always static positions. Any 'kamae' can be used in transition. That is, during the fluid motions of the fight, the sword moves from one position to another THROUGH these positions. Imagine you have raised your sword above your head ready to strike, but paused because the opportunity was no-longer there, you are now in a 'high' kamae (Jodan). Imagine you have made a big downward cut, but missed. Your sword is now pointing towards the floor. You are now in the 'low' kamae (Gedan). If your sword is in Gedan, the low guard, and you turn your body to the left 180 degrees, BUT LEAVE YOUR SWORD WHERE IT IS, then you end up in the 'hidden' guard .. Waki, where your sword is held low, to your right, pointing at the ground behind you. To deliver a downwards cut, you would raise it up to over your head (the Jodan position) and then strike down to the Gedan position. See? Chudan - The basic position is the 'middle guard'. The sword is held pointing towards the throat of your opponent. The hilt is slightly in front of your stomach, and the point angles up at 30-45 degrees. All cuts may be made from this position. This is the most powerful position, as when it is correctly held, it presents the ultimate defense. Your opponent must get past your central position or he/she will impale themselves on your point. Classical Kendo techniques often revolve round methods for 'tricking' your opponent into surrendering this 'centre' position. When you see two masters jostling each others swords in this position, they are 'playing-for-centre', for the opportunity to attack. This attitude is 'level', that is there is nothing in it to indicate your emotion or intention to your opponent. We see Lord Vader and General Kenobi dueling in this manner. Gedan - The low guard. The hands are in the same position, but the sword is lowered to point at the opponents knees. This is a weaker stance, it is often used to tempt the opponent into attacking. It is a submissive position, designed to look weak. Classic Kendo has no upwards cuts to make from here, and so this stance is rarely used (the only direct technique available is an upwards strike with the back of the blade to knock the opponents weapon aside). Older Japanese techniques might rotate the grip and generate a slightly diagonal upwards cut at the opponents hands. Lightsaber, of course, have no edge, and they can be used to cut in any direction, so an upwards strike is just as dangerous, although it would not be as powerful. Lord Vader severs Luke's wrist with an upwards cut, using the 'back' of his blade. Jodan - The upper guard. The sword is held over the head at about 45 degrees. The bottom of the handle points to the opponents eyes. This is a very aggressive stance ... there is very little time required to launch a downwards attack. It takes advantage of the MASS and MOMENTUM of the physical blade. However, this stance limits the techniques available, and makes your movements more predictable to your opponent. Lightsaber users NEVER seem to employ this stance as a static en guarde ... the mass less blade is too quick to use, and a crossways slash across the belly could be used before the Jodan-player could react. As a result, Jodan is only seen in transition, in a split-second pause before a downwards attack. Luke Skywalker makes use of this technique. Lord Vader rarely uses this attack, as his large helmet and stiff shoulder armor make an over-the-head stance very clumsy. Hasso - The shoulder stance. In ancient times, Japanese Samurai wore very ornate helmets and large shoulder pads. As a result it became almost impossible to hold the sword over the head in Jodan. An alternative kamae was developed in which the sword was held upright, NEXT to the head, over the shoulder. The hands were held beside the jaw, and the elbows pointed downwards. Hasso is as aggressive a stance as Jodan, but seems a little more calm, and has more options available, as the hands are nearer to the body. This stance could be taken on either side of the head, though the right side was the more common. Lord Vader employs this stance very often, as his armor similarly restricts his movements. Almost 90% of his cuts are launched from a hasso position. As with Jodan, lightsaber users tend to use this stance in transition. The exaggerated motions of the mass less blade together with the clumsy 'Americanization' of the movements tends to make this classic posture look more like a baseball swing. (just look at the jokers posing on the front cover of almost any ninja video!) Waki - This is the hidden stance. The sword is held low, on the right side, with the blade pointing at the ground behind you. It is VERY rare in modern sword arts and always was! It is VERY slow to use, and requires that the opponent is in a blind unthinking rage. Even then it needs superb timing. It can be seen in the classic 1950's Akira Kurosawa movie "The 7 Samurai", used by a great sword master against the aggressive Jodan position of a very upset opponent. Whilst it is a 'standard' kamae, and is taught in the curriculum (or kata) is almost never used except in transition. If you are in the low Gedan kamae, and turn your body 180 degree to your left, leaving your sword where it is, you end up in Waki. Similar difficulties with regard to upwards cuts apply here, as in Gedan. All force training follows a hierarchy of steps: Control, Sense, and Alter. You must learn control of your own abilities, before you can truly sense the Force. Once you have mastered sensing the Force surrounding you, you can use the force to perform actions and alter the events and objects around you. |
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1:57 PM Jul 11