Learning Niman

[JMocks]

When Josh learned that his Master was the Sword Master of the Jedi Order, he couldn't help but grin. If it was one area that he wanted to excel in, it was lightsaber combat. His goal was to become a Jedi Guardian within the Order. More specifically, a "Jedi Peacekeeper" as they called themselves. Josh was outside the Temple on Ossus. In the garden area. He stood tall, feet spread just outside shoulder length, hands behind his back.

He had his eyes closed. He was thinking about everything in his life. From the brutal murder of his mother by his father, becoming a Bogan then defecting, hoping to find the light. He stayed calm. If he was to become a Jedi, he would have to put the thoughts of his mother behind him. There is no emotion, there is peace. And that is what he was searching for. He could feel Master Karasu approach.

 

[Will]

Huang strode into the sunlight, the light of midday illuminating his pale skin. He turned his fearsome gaze on the newest student under his tutelage. The former bogan, turned Jedi. Huang did not fully trust the boy. He trusted none who had walked the path of darkness. But the council deemed him trustworthy. Huang would make his own opinions. His hand rested on the pommel of his blade.

''Padawan Drake. I have been told your former master was insufficient for your training. I shall be taking over. However, I need to know what you have already been taught, How much you've already been moulded.'' Huang intoned as he circled the boy, before coming to a stop in front of him.

 

[JMocks]

"Master Karasu," Josh said with a bow. "I've been taught the lightsaber forms Shii-Cho and Juyo. I know the basics of Ataru and Makashi. I also know a couple of Force powers. Most notably Force Sight and Force Cloak as a Bogan. Is there anything else you wish to know, Master Karasu?" Josh asked, fixing his gaze upon the man.

 

[Will]

((My bad, thought I'd replied!))

''A lot then. Interesting. So, you know the basic powers? Good.''

Huang unbuckled his sword, resting it against a pillar.

''Give me your blade.'' He held out his hand. If they were to train, Drake would not be allowed the blade until he had passed, and become a knight of the order.

 

[JMocks]

"As you wish, Master," Josh said as he unclipped his sword belt, handing it to Huang. As he did so, he felt naked. He had been with a weapon since joining the Bogan. And now, he was weaponless. It felt; weird. None the less, he did as he was told. Obedience was a must for a Jedi.

 

[Will]

((Sorry, you know what weekends are like for us uni boys. :CHappy))


Huang took the lightsabre, hovering above his outstretched palm, rotating slowly. He scrutinised the weapon meticulously. The weight, the shape, even using his advanced senses to examine the internals. All without physically touching the weapon. He saw it as a taboo to touch another Jedi's weapon. He placed it to the side, nodding to himself. He took a training sabre from his robe, seeming to slip small pieced of metal into the grip. He was simulating the weighting of Drake's blade. He then handed it to Drake.

''Use this until I pass you. Which form do you feel you are most competent in?''

 

[JMocks]

Josh took the lightsaber and thought about Huang's question a bit. He then answered, "I would have to say, Shii-Cho. Considering that is the basic lightsaber form taught. However, Juyo would be a second as I started learning that right after Shii-Cho, Master," he replied.

 

[Will]

Juyo. Excellent. The form Huang had learned first, the one he still held in favour.

''And which form do you wish to learn the most, padawan?''

Huang crossed his arms, scrutinising the boy. Even a natural stance could tell Huang to what form he would be suited.

 

[JMocks]

"The form I wish to learn the most is Niman; a balance of all the forms. Eventually, I would like to master Niman. But if you think I would be best in another form, Master, please enlighten me," Josh said as he stood with good posture in front of Huang.

 

[Will]

Niman would certainly suit. Even from the minuscule shifts in weight as he stood still, Huang could tell what forms the boy would naturally fall into. Niman certainly overshadowed his posture, but there were hints of Juyo there. Perhaps when he had mastered Niman...

''Good. Now then, we shall train. We'll start simply, with the opening stance. Position yourself thusly.''

Huang took his training sabre, and ignited it, the silver blade spewing from the hilt. He gripped the blade in both hands, his dominant foot sliding forward, heels slightly off the ground, kneed bent slightly. His blade rose up over his head, pointing into the air, slightly back.

 

[JMocks]

Josh did as he was instructed. He took the training saber and ignited it. With the saber humming, he gripped it with both hands. He then slid his dominant foot, his right, forward just so slightly. He then picked both heels up off the ground, with the pressure applied to the arches of his feet. Once that part was complete, he slightly bent his knees, raising his blade, and slightly pointing it back.

"How is my form, Master," he asked, waiting patiently for Huangs' reply.

 

[Will]

Huang circled the padawan, scrutinising his posture. Using the force, he moved Drake, making the posture correct. These movements only occurred over tiny distances, but the overall effect meant that the position seemed more natural. Drake would feel more comfortable, and later parts of training would become easier.

''Now. I want you to drop to the floor, and then bring yourself up and assume the stance.''

 

[JMocks]

"As you wish, Master," Josh said as he turned off his training saber, dropping to the floor.

After sitting on the floor for a while, he finally rose, igniting his lightsaber again. With the saber humming, he gripped it with both hands. He then slid his dominant foot, his right, forward just so slightly. He then picked both heels up off the ground, with the pressure applied to the arches of his feet. Once that part was complete, he slightly bent his knees, raising his blade, and slightly pointing it back.

As he did this though, he remembered the corrections Huang made to the stance with the Force, so he wouldn't have to correct him again. As he stood in the stance, it felt more natural like Huang said.


((OOC: Kali advanced me to Knight. So I guess this is just about learning Niman?))

 

[Will]

''Good. You relax into it. Now. I want you to return to the stance, no matter what. This stance...is a platform. From here, you can defend or attack, charge or stand your ground. It is the most important thing for you to learn.''

The force swirled around Huang's fingers, gathering at his behest. With the flick of his wrist a force push knocked the padawan back.

 

[JMocks]

As Josh stood in the Niman stance, Huang used the Force to do a small Force Push. Just enough to knock the Knight out of the stance. When the Force Push did hit him, he controlled the stumble, then retook the Niman stance just like before. Ready to attack or defend again.

 

[Will]

Huang repeated the process over and over, drilling the movement and form into his mind. Then, Huang brought out his own training sabre again.

Again, the silvery blade spewed from the emitter. He took up a Niman stance himself.

''The advantage of Niman is its ability to be flexible. You can bend the form to your needs. It gives no edge in battle, but takes nothing from you either. It is balanced. Now. Defend.''

Huang charged forward, ducking low before rising, training sabre slashing up in a huge arc.

 

[JMocks]

Josh did as he was instructed. He stood in the Niman stance, and was ready to defend himself. Huang drew his training sabre, ignited it, then charged him. He ducked low first, then rose with his sabre coming up with him, creating a huge upward slashing arc. To defend himself Josh took his sabre and turned it horizontal, to block the upward attack by Huang. Their sabres met, crackling and hissing once they did.

 

[Will]

Huang noted Drake's motions, his body shifting, so that, rather than bladelock, Huang's hands dipped, becoming vertical, so that the sabre slipped up, the blade pointing down. As he did so, he whipped the blade around his head, turning the motion into a slice aimed to cut diagonally into the right of Drake's head.

 

[JMocks]

When Huang went to counter Josh's block, he quickly had to react to the new attack aimed for his head. Taking his sabre from the horizontal position, he thrusted his arms out, and up towards the right to block Huang's incoming attack. With his block in place, he decided to try an attack of his own. Once their blades touched, he quickly dipped his sabre vertically behind his back, spun to his right, while quickly slashing towards Huang's midsection.

 

[Will]

Huang's sabre moved, almost languidly, his wrist rotating and elbow rising to cause the blade to jut vertically downward, thwarting Drake's attack. Huang pushed, knocking the knight back, as his wrist rotated back to a normal position.

He came at Drake again, his lightsabre slashing up and across Drake, from his right hip to left collarbone.