[member="Veino Garn"], [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"], [member="Spike Arrel"], [member="Kana Truden"], [member="Corvus Raaf"], [member="Kian Karr"], [member="Meeristali Peradun"]
Some might have thought that Phylis would make a snide comment about Siobhan wanting to learn something, but that wasn’t how the Jedi worked. Friendly to the core, she was happy that their non-Jedi passenger wanted to learn something from her. She still suspected that there would be absurd flirting about ‘showing her the proper grip’ or some such nonsense. Still, she would put up with that.
“Right, well, set your lightsabres to lowest power. We don’t want to drill a hole in the hull…or each other!”
“Soresu is a form of lightsabre combat which is primarily defensive, but can deliver a powerful counterstrike when the moment comes. The three key features of this form are; conservation of energy, movement, control.”
“Being on the defensive is not a bad thing, it makes the enemy fight on your terms. Conservation of energy is key here. Your defence is angular, deflecting and parrying with as little energy as needed. An enemy with Ataru or Juyo will seek to hack you to pieces, as with those with physical weapons, but Soresu enables to use their strength against them. Likewise with blaster bolts, this is not holobase…you’re not smacking blaster bolts back, you’re edging them away or back at your target.”
“Freedom of movement is vital. Trade space for time and position, seek the better ground. Retreating before an enemy gives no disgrace, and often emboldens them to rashness when they think you are frightened. So when an enemy attacks, give before them, but know when to take your moment.”
“Finally, control is vital. Knowing when to deflect, when to retreat, when to counter is most important. When an enemy is used to attacking, they often lose focus. That is when your counter-attack comes into play. Your blows are aimed for the extremities to disable your enemy. Only then, if needed, is the killing strike made.”
Having made her speech on philosophy, she put her thoughts into action. Her green lightsabre ignited and she took position in the ready stance. Her right hand was held back, blade parallel with her body, one leg stepped forward. From there she moved into a series of deflections, parries and retreats with unusual gracefulness. The somewhat bumbling eccentric was not to be seen whilst she was focussed.
“This is of course only scratching the surface. I urge all of you to seek me out when we return to Ossus for more instruction, or I can recommend some library texts. I am also willing to do private sessions to help teach.”
Too late she realised that Siobhan would make a witty comment to that…so hurried on.
“There is one final point. Many people, ‘experts’ and neophytes alike continue to expound how Makashi is superior to Soresu and will automatically defeat it. This is incorrect. Makashi is the counter of Soresu in a sense because it emphasises the point over the edge, deflecting your angles with the fencer’s stab. However, it is not unbeatable, it just requires more attention and care. Any questions?”
