Teynara Jeralyr
Resident Sig Lord
Alternative Names: Way of the Vornskr, Ferocity Form
Juyo and Vaapad are technically two different forms - hence why they are labelled VIIa and VIIb for our purposes here - but one is built upon the foundations of the other. The original form, Juyo, was the first to be considered the seventh recognised form of lightsaber combat. The two forms share technical similarities, and are both considered Form VII, since Vaapad is the Jedi variation of Juyo, which is practised exclusively by Sith and Dark Jedi. The reasons for this are readily apparent in the nature of the Form: it requires such a deep immersion in the Force while focusing on the destruction of your opponent that ultimately the Dark Side becomes dominant within the user. The sheer kinetic energy of Juyo required it to be channelled through the use of powerful emotions which consequently ensured that Jedi adhering to their emotional methodology would be unable to use them effectively. As such, for millenia, the Jedi had awareness of Juyo but lacked the ability to use it simply because they could not adequately compensate for the psychological effects.
Thus, Juyo stands as the original Form VII, and remained alone (and considered 'unfinished' by the Jedi Order) in this respect until Jedi Master Mace Windu worked out the means by which to harness the powers of Juyo without succumbing to the Dark Side, resulting in the creation of Vaapad, as Form VIIb. Developed based along the principles of the practitioner possessing aggressive emotional traits while remaining within the boundaries of the Jedi Code, Vaapad was created with the mindset that, in order to use the technical principles of Juyo effectively, the Jedi had to give in to their own personal darkness - not only to focus the aggression felt necessary to dominate an opponent as with the Sith doctrine of Dun Moch, but it would also be necessary for the Vaapad practitioner to allow themselves to enjoy the combat - to let themselves go and immerse themselves in the combat in order to defeat their opponent. This remains within the boundaries of the Jedi Code, since it enables the Jedi to channel their inner darkness and expend it in a practical form. However, due to this, it is also an extremely dangerous form, since Jedi that are not sufficiently disciplined can risk falling to the Dark Side through use of this form, so it is only ever practised by a Master.
Since the Sith already possess that element of personality within their mindsets, Sith have the option of practising Juyo, which is essentially Vaapad without the added emotional methodology. Vaapad enables the Jedi to channel their darkness, whereas Sith are that darkness, so Juyo is therefore the technical aspects of Vaapad, without the emotional additions that came later to enable the Jedi to use it. Since this is the case, Vaapad is generally best defeated by an individual trained in the use of Juyo, since the two are equivalent to one another, although a Sith faces less risk when using Juyo than a Jedi does when using Vaapad, since Jedi can risk skirting the Dark Side, while Sith are already fully immersed in it beforehand.
As for the technical aspects of Juyo and Vaapad, the form is based upon techniques from all the other forms of lightsaber combat, especially Djem So, and as a result, it can only be learned by one trained, at least in some small part, in all of the forms of lightsaber combat, although First Niman can be excluded from that. Hence, a student of Juyo/Vaapad must learn techniques from Makashi, Soresu, Ataru and Djem-So, as well as the basic Shii-Cho. The moves are very kinetic and aggressive in nature, though are often unconnected and staccato in appearance as well as in form, which makes the form very difficult to predict. This is also the reasoning behind the name of Vaapad, which takes it's name from a predator of the planet Serapin, which has tentacles which move at such speed that they cannot be physically counted until the Vaapad itself is dead. This, in itself, is indicative of the form of Juyo and Vaapad, since the techniques are performed at a speed enhanced by the emotional motivation behind them, as well as through simple mastery of the sword arts.
Although some speculate that Vaapad died with Master Windu and the fall of the Old Republic Jedi Order, this is not, in fact, the case. The techniques of Juyo, which are the same as Vaapad, ultimately survived and, thus, to practice Vaapad, a Jedi must add the psychological component created by Windu, The dangers in this cannot be overstated, however: to immerse yourself within your own inner darkness is to touch the Dark Side of the Force and, in turn, to be touched by it. Only a Jedi with a very complete understanding of themselves and the Force to which they connect will have any chance of surviving their own use of Vaapad intact - any less and the Jedi in question will find themselves corrupted by it, turned to the Dark Side in a heartbeat if not simply reduced to insanity by the flow of Dark Side energy. Even then, the use of the Form is not without cost, as any Jedi who voluntarily immerses themselves within the Dark Side will understand. It is not to be practised or used lightly, and even then, rarely with success, so only Masters should even consider this Form.
Mindset is fundamental to a Jedi practitioner of Vaapad: they must be absolutely set on their path as a Jedi within the Light Side of the Force, and have a very rigid understanding of their own morals and personal values, as well as a strong understanding of their emotions and thoughts. Self-knowledge is absolutely fundamental to avoid being warped or turned by the effects of the Dark Side energy that Vaapad requires. Furthermore, they must be able to acknowledge the darkness within themselves: the anger, the hatred, the jealousy and everything that comes with it. They must be willing to accept their own aggressive tendencies and harness these to destructive use while nonetheless holding to the Jedi Code, and doing only what they must in defeating an adversary. Finally, they must be able to relinquish their darkness when the battle ends and reason returns. Failure in any of these areas will render the Jedi lost to their own darkness, and the consequences of that are, sufficed to say, unimaginable.
Juyo and Vaapad are technically two different forms - hence why they are labelled VIIa and VIIb for our purposes here - but one is built upon the foundations of the other. The original form, Juyo, was the first to be considered the seventh recognised form of lightsaber combat. The two forms share technical similarities, and are both considered Form VII, since Vaapad is the Jedi variation of Juyo, which is practised exclusively by Sith and Dark Jedi. The reasons for this are readily apparent in the nature of the Form: it requires such a deep immersion in the Force while focusing on the destruction of your opponent that ultimately the Dark Side becomes dominant within the user. The sheer kinetic energy of Juyo required it to be channelled through the use of powerful emotions which consequently ensured that Jedi adhering to their emotional methodology would be unable to use them effectively. As such, for millenia, the Jedi had awareness of Juyo but lacked the ability to use it simply because they could not adequately compensate for the psychological effects.
Thus, Juyo stands as the original Form VII, and remained alone (and considered 'unfinished' by the Jedi Order) in this respect until Jedi Master Mace Windu worked out the means by which to harness the powers of Juyo without succumbing to the Dark Side, resulting in the creation of Vaapad, as Form VIIb. Developed based along the principles of the practitioner possessing aggressive emotional traits while remaining within the boundaries of the Jedi Code, Vaapad was created with the mindset that, in order to use the technical principles of Juyo effectively, the Jedi had to give in to their own personal darkness - not only to focus the aggression felt necessary to dominate an opponent as with the Sith doctrine of Dun Moch, but it would also be necessary for the Vaapad practitioner to allow themselves to enjoy the combat - to let themselves go and immerse themselves in the combat in order to defeat their opponent. This remains within the boundaries of the Jedi Code, since it enables the Jedi to channel their inner darkness and expend it in a practical form. However, due to this, it is also an extremely dangerous form, since Jedi that are not sufficiently disciplined can risk falling to the Dark Side through use of this form, so it is only ever practised by a Master.
Since the Sith already possess that element of personality within their mindsets, Sith have the option of practising Juyo, which is essentially Vaapad without the added emotional methodology. Vaapad enables the Jedi to channel their darkness, whereas Sith are that darkness, so Juyo is therefore the technical aspects of Vaapad, without the emotional additions that came later to enable the Jedi to use it. Since this is the case, Vaapad is generally best defeated by an individual trained in the use of Juyo, since the two are equivalent to one another, although a Sith faces less risk when using Juyo than a Jedi does when using Vaapad, since Jedi can risk skirting the Dark Side, while Sith are already fully immersed in it beforehand.
As for the technical aspects of Juyo and Vaapad, the form is based upon techniques from all the other forms of lightsaber combat, especially Djem So, and as a result, it can only be learned by one trained, at least in some small part, in all of the forms of lightsaber combat, although First Niman can be excluded from that. Hence, a student of Juyo/Vaapad must learn techniques from Makashi, Soresu, Ataru and Djem-So, as well as the basic Shii-Cho. The moves are very kinetic and aggressive in nature, though are often unconnected and staccato in appearance as well as in form, which makes the form very difficult to predict. This is also the reasoning behind the name of Vaapad, which takes it's name from a predator of the planet Serapin, which has tentacles which move at such speed that they cannot be physically counted until the Vaapad itself is dead. This, in itself, is indicative of the form of Juyo and Vaapad, since the techniques are performed at a speed enhanced by the emotional motivation behind them, as well as through simple mastery of the sword arts.
Although some speculate that Vaapad died with Master Windu and the fall of the Old Republic Jedi Order, this is not, in fact, the case. The techniques of Juyo, which are the same as Vaapad, ultimately survived and, thus, to practice Vaapad, a Jedi must add the psychological component created by Windu, The dangers in this cannot be overstated, however: to immerse yourself within your own inner darkness is to touch the Dark Side of the Force and, in turn, to be touched by it. Only a Jedi with a very complete understanding of themselves and the Force to which they connect will have any chance of surviving their own use of Vaapad intact - any less and the Jedi in question will find themselves corrupted by it, turned to the Dark Side in a heartbeat if not simply reduced to insanity by the flow of Dark Side energy. Even then, the use of the Form is not without cost, as any Jedi who voluntarily immerses themselves within the Dark Side will understand. It is not to be practised or used lightly, and even then, rarely with success, so only Masters should even consider this Form.
Mindset is fundamental to a Jedi practitioner of Vaapad: they must be absolutely set on their path as a Jedi within the Light Side of the Force, and have a very rigid understanding of their own morals and personal values, as well as a strong understanding of their emotions and thoughts. Self-knowledge is absolutely fundamental to avoid being warped or turned by the effects of the Dark Side energy that Vaapad requires. Furthermore, they must be able to acknowledge the darkness within themselves: the anger, the hatred, the jealousy and everything that comes with it. They must be willing to accept their own aggressive tendencies and harness these to destructive use while nonetheless holding to the Jedi Code, and doing only what they must in defeating an adversary. Finally, they must be able to relinquish their darkness when the battle ends and reason returns. Failure in any of these areas will render the Jedi lost to their own darkness, and the consequences of that are, sufficed to say, unimaginable.