Form X

[Phoenix]

Got tired of having this in my workshop. This is for Corvo's personal use and my own musing. I'm aware that I'm no swordsman. In an effort to keep this thread clear and orderly, please refrain from posting here. If you have inquiries or questions feel free to PM me or reach me on skype. Thank you.​

Form X

[OVERVIEW]
Form X is not a true lightsaber form; instead it is an entire close quarters combat system for engaging with an opponent at melee range. It incorporates swords, sabers, pistols, the Force, and unarmed strikes into one catch-all form. It was first born out of Corvo’s need to adapt and improvise in sparring matches against other Acolytes and grew into an improvised form of combat that he has mastered and is constantly honing to meet the obstacles he faces.

In many ways, Form X is similar to Form VI in that it seeks to meld aspects of the other forms into one uniform method of combat. Like Form VI, it heavily favors improvisation and adaptability but unlike Form VI its blade work is precise and demanding, not lax as in much of Form VI. Its movement heavily incorporate precise movements and redirection of the blade in order to strike where an enemy is vulnerable.

The footwork is versatile and focuses on mobility, employing pivots to outmaneuver one's enemy. Corvo’s extensive study of not only martial arts but also the art of movement has had extensive influence on his fluidity of movement and agility. It encourages constant movement that allows the combatant to stay mobile throughout the fight and to maneuver to wherever an opponent leaves an opening in order to deliver a strike. While mobility is highly used, the movements are not flashy as seen in Form IV combat and uses very few leaps, spins, and flourishes.

[OFFENSE VS. DEFENSE]
The central tenet of Form X is to never overextend oneself. Similarly to Form V, it seeks to balance offense with defense. It looks for and creates openings in the opponent’s defenses while maintaining one's own defenses. However, offensive action shouldn't be taken if it leaves one exposed or vulnerable to counterattack.

[STRENGTH VS. AGILITY]
While the balance between offense and defense is in many ways similar to Form V, the practical implementation is very different. Form X emphasizes agility, mobility, and accuracy of strikes over brute strength. While there are times that power blows are necessary, they are secondary and usually serve a tactical purpose rather than simply being used to bash through an opponent's defense. Often viewed to the outside observer as more similar to Form II in its strikes - utilizing tight, quickly redirected blade work with a single hand - it still varies from this Form in many ways and can fall back on broader slashes like those seen in Forms I and V.

[JAR'KAI]
Form X heavily implements Jar’kai, though it is a slightly unorthodox variant. While the Jar’kai aspects of Form X can often include two-saber fighting, practitioners can also commonly be found using a saber in one hand while using the other hand for physical strikes, force powers, or alternative weapons. Although it is used elsewhere as well, this is where trakata is most heavily implemented into the Form.

[OPENING STANCE]
Although the opening stance is variable, there are a few common opening stances. Corvo typically favors an opening stance adopted from Makashi wherein the blade is held down and to the side of the body facing one's opponent. This is common in two-bladed fighting. Another common position for single blade combat is similar to the Ataru opener and involves the combatant holding back the dominant foot with the saber held vertically with two hands in front of the user just to the right of the midline.

[MENTALITY]
As with any of the seven standard lightsaber forms, there is a certain mentality and presence in the Force that is commonly associated with Form X. Having originally been developed by a Dark Side user, the feelings and impressions given by those who use the Form are often described as "focused aggression." The mentality of Form X is most similar to that of Form VII wherein the combatant is fully given over to the fight and the defeat of their opponent. In Dark Siders, this is most commonly associate with malice and rage, and in those practitioners of the light, it can be a struggle to maintain balance in combat. For these reasons, it is often practiced by those who have a heavy emphasis on combat but requires a level of control in order to stay centered.