By David Lawson (Grey Knight)
gryknght@hotmail.com
This document was written to help the modelers, animators and coders involved in SWTC
understand the mechanics of lightsaber combat. As such, it provides step-by-step
instructions and illustrations to clearly illustrate the basics of combat with
lightsabers. Those of you with these weapons at home should practice in front of a mirror,
though I would strongly suggest you find a Master to whom you can apprentice (you might
want to try the Dagobah System, though that was a long time ago in a galaxy far, far
away….)
All humor aside,
these techniques are real. Using them with metal swords, toy lightsabers or even wooden
swords can cause real injury. Please be careful…
In the original Star Wars movies, and the new trailers for Episode 1, lightsabers are
used as if they were "katana" or samurai swords. The exception, of course, is
Darth Maul's double-ended lightsaber that he uses like a "bo" or pole. George
Lucas has said that we haven't really seen true lightsaber fights - so far he has shown us
an old man, a half human cyborg and an untrained boy.
Ironically, a
lightsaber has no "edge" so is therefore capable of cutting at any angle or
direction and would be just as effective on the upstroke...witness the stroke in which
Vader removes Luke's hand in ESB. However, I guess Lucas could not find anyone skilled in
the use of a lightsaber, so he turned to someone who knew how to use katana. This is not
as silly as it sounds. Even though the lightsaber has no edge, applying a fighting
technique as if it did would actually give more power to your blows. Nick Gillard, weapons
choreographer for APM, says he has combined kendo, fencing, tennis and almost anything
else to develop his ‘Jedi Style’ I suspect more Ken Jutsu than kendo, but I'm
being pedantic...(kendo is the sport of Japanese sword fighting. A
special, blunt bamboo sword is used and all strikes are centered on armor strong points to
avoid seriously injuring participants. Ken Jutsu is the real martial art, uses a real
katana and all strikes are intended to kill.)
There is much discussion amongst Star Wars fans about how a mass-less blade would be
used (see http://www.synicon.com.au/sw/ls/sabres.htm)
Observation of the
movies leads some theorists to argue that there is more here than meets the eye. They
argue that while the blade has no mass, the method of creating the blade generates a
gyroscopic action. This would actually make the blade very difficult to move (ever tried
waving a chainsaw about?) The result of a gyroscopic action is that a very slight movement
would result in a wild swing plus the familiar hum as the field compensates. In order to
control this the user must use a lot of their physical strength to control it.
The blade also does
not effortlessly cut through materials, but requires effort - different amounts for
different materials. In other words, although the handle and blade are comparatively light
in weight, you have to throw a lot of weight behind it in combat. Again, this is not
unlike katana, which are remarkably light for such dangerous weapons.
In oriental martial arts, all energy comes from your center of gravity, about 50mm (2
inches) below your navel centered inside your body. This is the point about which all
energy moves. Unless you are moving, this point is almost still except when moving up or
down. When you apply force you move this point down. In other words, all moves start by
moving this point up then down as energy is expended.
Most Japanese
martial arts also make heavy use of the voice using a yell that accompanies all aggressive
strike called "kiai." This loud shout causes the diaphragm to contract, forcing
air out of the chest and adding structural strength to the body.
If your feet pass each other they should move in little arcs, coming first in toward
the other foot before arcing out to their final position. More often your feet will not
pass each other, as the leading foot needs to stay in front for the combat system to
remain effective, especially against another Jedi.
Move the foot
closest to your opponent into position first, then pull the other foot into position as
fast as possible to avoid being off balance for too long. The feet should slide or
skim the floor so that you are never really off balance. If the foot is lifted at all it
is usually the heel that lifts leaving the toe to skim the surface. There are similar to
silent stalking techniques used by Ninja and North American natives, where all movement is
toe-to-heel rather than the usual heel-to-toe.
An interesting note
is that most samurai and apparently Jedi also, wore long flowing robes to conceal their
footwork, as it gives away their next move.
Most actions are taken with the lightsaber held in both hands, the lower, left hand
does all the work while the right guides the blade. Interestingly enough, there is no left
handed grip in Japanese martial arts. In fact, a left hander actually has a slight
strength advantage with a slight loss of directional control with this grip. Vader
switched his grip when fighting Kenobi in ANH, probably for cinematic reasons, but it
could be that he wanted to gain a psychological advantage over his old Master, who would
certainly be well familiar with his normal fighting techniques.
The proper grip is
firm, yet relaxed until just before the moment of contact with your opponent's body. Then,
the grip tightens, not unlike wringing water from a towel, as the wrists transmit the
final snap of power into the blow in a kind of whipping action.
The following are based on a mix of Batto Jutsu, Kendo and Arnis. Batto Jutsu is a combat art using katana and was last used in combat by Japanese officers as recently as WWII. I used Kendo and Arnis as the basis for blocks, as you can block with bamboo swords and rattan stick, but a katana should never be used in that way. There are other Japanese sword arts, which may be of interest when animating the Dark Jedi, such as Iai Justsu, which is the art of cutting someone down as you draw your sword. While there is no sheath for a lightsaber to be drawn from, Kenobi executed a "quick draw" move in the cantina in ANH. I suggest that some of our Dark Jedi could energize their sabers with a stroke that could injure if you get too close to them.
Lightsabers have a long reach, and therefore start their blows from above the head. This is where the energy comes from. You have to be careful with blows coming from below as you may contact the ground, or yourself! In order to allow energy to flow easily, all moves must form flowing circular arcs. This means that Return to Ready Position will be a smooth arc from where you finished the previous move.
Each move assumes we start from the Hasso Ready Position, so they often move through another ready position before actually striking your opponent. In some cases these alternate ready positions could also act as blocks. In addition I end each description with "Return to Ready Position". In most cases this is simply moving of the hands back to Hasso but several will also require an adjustment in foot position. In others I mention returning to Hasso through another position, usually a block. In combat this will make some moves better than others, depending on which side your opponent is standing. Some strikes will also take longer to execute, which will make their use more dangerous.
I have also included the Japanese words for each position or move - maybe we should convert these words to a Star Wars language to add some flavor? The moves are demonstrated by Ben - my young apprentice (they always come in twos - a master and an apprentice...)
Lightsaber is off. Hold in both hands, right hand above left, and bring handle up
vertical to the face as though you were going to kiss it. You see this from Obi-Wan Kenobi
before Vader finishes him off in ANH.
[DEVELOPERS NOTE: Like Kenobi, Jedi may do this if fatally wounded, so this animation may
be needed. It will also be used in the initiation ceremony on Thalkos.]
This was Vader's favorite ready stance and appears to be so for the younger Kenobi and
Jinn in APM images released to date. There are at least 5 alternative ready stances, but
this one seems most dynamic and has real fighting benefits. Many serious martial artists
use the same stance. It's not as "classic" as the centre position, but is
considered more powerful as most other ready stances block your view of your opponent's
feet.
Left foot is
forward on centreline of the body with knee bent, right foot is back and slightly bent
with feet flat on ground and heels about 3 foot lengths apart. Weight is balanced between
both feet, hips are rotated to face forward. Lightsaber is held at shoulder level to the
right side of your head just behind your ear with blade vertical, tilted slightly backward
and slightly to the right. Shoulders are rotated slightly to your right and upper arms are
horizontal.
Rotate hips to left and swing hands across body to place handle just below your face
and slightly forward. Tip of lightsaber is almost fixed in space. Rotate hands, again with
tip almost stationary, until handle is above head level with blade almost horizontal above
your head. This will result in your shoulders dropping and both knees bending.
Note: Blade should not be horizontal, but sloping with tip higher than handle. Your lever
action is greatest closer to the handle so you need to keep the tip up to allow you enough
power to deflect the blow.
Return to Ready Position through Center Ready Position.
Similar to previous move but the block goes to your right. This time your hips rotate
to the right as your hands move to just above head height to the right of your body. The
blade is again almost horizontal with the tip slightly elevated.
Return to Ready Position
Block Left
Drop hands across your body to your left side at waist level rotating your hips
strongly to the left just as you contact your opponent's blade. Blade is almost vertical
with tip forward and handle slightly further out to your side.
Note: From the front the blade should just be to one side of your body.
Return to Ready Position through Block
Right.
Swing hands across your body towards the left side then drop your hands to your right
side at waist level. Rotate your hips strongly to the right just as you contact your
opponent's blade. Blade is almost vertical with tip forward and handle slightly further
out to your side.
Note: From the front the blade should just be to one side of your body.
Return to Ready Position.
Pull left foot back parallel to your right foot. Drop hands and swing blade out and
down across your body to your left side at chest level whipping the blade and rotating
your hips strongly to the left just as you contact your opponent's blade. Blade is almost
vertical with tip forward and slightly further out to your side.
Return to Ready Position
Pull left foot back parallel to your right foot. Swing hands across your body towards
the left side then across your body to your right side at chest level whipping the blade
and rotating your hips strongly to the right just as you contact your opponent's blade.
Blade is almost vertical with tip forward and slightly further out to your side.
Return to Ready Position
Left elbow lifts over head bringing upper arm almost vertical and bringing both hands
to centerline of body behind head with blade horizontal. At the same time slide your left
foot to your left and bring your right foot up then circle out to about 3 foot lengths
apart, square to your opponent, arching you back and raising your power as you move. Swing
down bending your knees and lowering your center of gravity to add power as you strike
your opponent. Swing through until your elbows act as a brake on your stomach.
Note: the left hand is doing all the work here, your right hand is merely steering all the
force from your left. This move is rarely used in combat, except for dispatching an
injured opponent, as it leaves you wide open to attack.
Return to Ready Position by moving your left foot first then
sliding your right foot back into position while holding you lightsaber in Center Ready Position.
Drop tip back and down, push hands to upper right of head and lift left elbow above
your head with blade almost horizontal above your head. Step forward with right foot
placing it on centerline, heels about 3 foot lengths apart. Swing lightsaber forward and
downward at 45 degrees slicing across your opponent's body from shoulder to hip. Arms are
fully extended and blade is almost horizontal at point of contact. Swing through and allow
your elbows to act as brakes by hitting your body (this stops you hitting the ground or
yourself.)
Return to Ready Position through Block
Right.
Drop tip back and down swinging left arm up and across your face bringing your hands to
the left side of your head with blade almost horizontal above your head. Bring right foot
up almost touching your left foot then step forward with your left foot, heels about 3
foot lengths apart. Swing lightsaber forward and downward at 45 degrees slicing across
your opponent's body from shoulder to hip. Arms are fully extended and blade is almost
horizontal at point of contact. Swing through and allow your elbows to act as brakes by
hitting your body.
Return to Ready Position
Rotate hips and shoulders to your right rotating your right foot, on its heel, out to
your right side, perpendicular to your centerline. Swing tip back and down dropping hands
down to your chest level with blade horizontal behind you. Shift most of your weight onto
your right foot and swing your left foot to your rear so that both feet are about 3 foot
lengths apart and square to your opponent. Swing the blade horizontally across your body
like a baseball bat, leading with your left elbow as you slide your left foot to the left.
As you make contact with your opponent's body shift your weight to your left foot and
rotate your hips strongly to the left. Follow through but avoid going beyond your left
shoulder. The right foot can pivot on the ball, but avoid lifting the heel - it means
you've gone too far.
Return to Ready Position through Block
Right.
Pull your left foot back in towards your right then slide it out to your left until it
is about 3 foot lengths apart from your right foot. Rotate hips and shoulders to your left
while dropping your lightsaber tip back and down swinging left arm up and across your face
and your hands down to your chest level with blade horizontal behind you. Rotate hips and
shoulders to your left rotating your left foot, on its heel, out to your left side,
perpendicular to your centerline. Shift most of your weight onto your left foot and swing
the blade horizontally across your body like a baseball bat, leading with your left hand.
As you make contact with your opponent's body shift your weight to your right foot and
rotate your hips strongly to the right. Follow through but avoid going beyond your right
shoulder. The left foot can pivot on the ball, but avoid lifting the heel - it means
you've gone too far.
Return to Ready Position
Rotate hips and shoulders to your right rotating your right foot, on its heel, out to
your right side, perpendicular to your centerline. Swing tip back and down dropping hands
down to your side to point tip at ground, elbows almost locked a little like a golf swing.
As the tip comes forward slide your left foot forward and move hips forward, rotating left
and leaning into the blow as the blade swings up and across your opponent. Arms are fully
extended at point of contact and hips rotate strongly to the left as you cut through your
opponent's body from hip to shoulder and follow through. Blade ends up almost vertical
with tip out to the left and arms fully extended.
Return to Ready Position through Block
Right.
Pull left foot back beside your right foot, drop tip back and down swinging left arm up
and across your face bringing your hands to the left side of your head with blade almost
horizontal above your head. Rotate hips and shoulders to your left rotating your left
foot, on its heel, out to your left side, perpendicular to your centerline. Swing tip
around and down dropping hands down to your side to point tip at ground, elbows almost
locked a little like a golf swing. As the tip comes forward slide your right foot forward
and move hips forward, rotating right and leaning into the blow as the blade swings up and
across your opponent. Arms are fully extended at point of contact and hips rotate strongly
to the right as you cut through your opponent's body from hip to shoulder and follow
through. Blade ends up almost vertical with tip out to the right and arms fully extended.
Return to Ready Position.
Move your hands to the Center Ready Position. and
thrust the blade into your opponent's chest bending the leading knee to drop your center
of gravity. Lean forward into the thrust.
Note: This move is rarely used against a skilled opponent, as it is very easy to block and
counter.
Return to Ready Position
This was the older Kenobi's preferred ready position. Not surprising really, as it
requires the least movement to react, especially with a blade that can cut in any
direction. In other words, it's better for an older Jedi because it protects him by
allowing a longer reaction time.
Left foot forward,
right back, weight balanced between feet. Hips and shoulders are square to your opponent.
The lightsaber is held in front of you, both hands centered on your body with your left
hand is 4 inches in front of your navel. Both elbows are slightly bent. The tip of your
lightsaber is at your opponent's throat.
Lightsaber twirling and other similar moves are overly flashy and indicative of the young Obi-Wan's recklessness. He will have a lot of close shaves as a result of this!
With simplicity and ease of use in mind I have tied the various potential lightsaber moves into keys that fit naturally into the combat environment. There are no additional keys required for this over those already in the Q2 engine. All that is needed is a switch that changes the following bindings when the lightsaber is ignited, perhaps this could be "L" (close to the keypad) to toggle the saber on or off…otherwise it simply toggles when the player selects it.
The following keys use the regular movement keys and the fire/crouch/jump keys. The benefit is this system can be used with keyboards, joysticks, gamepads and three button mice. I have used the Q2 config file bindings in the table below.
| BINDINGS | "+attack" (Fire) | "+movedown" (Crouch) | "+moveup" (Jump) |
| No move key | Center Ready | Crouch | Jump |
| "+forward" | Chop | Thrust | Jump Forward |
| "+back" | Jump Back | Lean Back + Center Ready | Jump Back |
| "+left"` | Slice Left | Upper Cut Left | Block Low Left |
| "+right" | Slice Right | Upper Cut Right | Block Low Right |
| "+strafe left" | Swing Left | Block Up Left | Jump Left |
| "+strafe right" | Swing Right | Block Up Right | Jump Right |
Note: When the player runs with the lightsaber they do not fight, so the run key has no effect. I know you can do this in other game systems, but this is not realistic - nor is it seen in the Star Wars movies. We may want to consider animating a fancy saber swing when the player runs and jumps such as the twirl from Obi-Wan as seen in the Trailer.
If you want to learn more about lightsabers, there is a good technical reference, linked through theforce.net at: http://www.synicon.com.au/sw/ls/sabres.htm
Copyright David Lawson and the SWTC project. March 31, 1999