Form IV / Legends Form IV , also known as Ataru , the Way of the Hawk - Bat , or The Aggression Form , was the fourth of the seven forms of lightsaber combat . The history of Ataru stretched back through the Old Republic , to at least as early as the Mandalorian Wars , where it was commonly employed by Jedi of that day . Ataru continued to be a common form among the Jedi in the latter stages of the Republic , and was also known to be employed by the Sith . An aggressive style , Form IV was fast - paced and effective against single opponents , though weaker in prolonged combat and confined spaces . Also , it was not recommended for use against opponents wielding blasters . Ataru was characterized by Force - assisted acrobatics , such as somersaults and leaping strikes , both for attack and defense . Another characteristic of the form was its fast , powerful strikes from multiple directions . Notable users of this combat form during the Old Republic included Yoda and Qui - Gon Jinn . The New Jedi Order preserved knowledge of Ataru , and Jedi Masters such as Luke Skywalker , Mara Jade Skywalker , and Kyle Katarn all employed it . Description . Ataru was an aggressive combat form relying on a combination of strength , speed , and agility . Due to this , it was also called the Way of the Hawk - bat or the Aggression Form . Practitioners of Ataru were always on the offensive , attacking with wide , fast , and powerful swings . Form IV practitioners constantly called upon the Force to aid in their movements and attacks . By allowing the Force to flow throughout their body , they could overcome their physical limitations — including old age , as was the case with Master Yoda — and perform amazing feats of acrobatics , such as somersaults and backflips , not only for attack , but also to evade the slashes and strikes of their opponents . Jedi utilizing Ataru needed to incorporate all the Force powers that involved surpassing normal physical ranges of motion , speed , and agility in order to be successful . Running , jumping , and spinning were all emphasized in learning the elaborate kinetics of the form . Those who used Form IV could move at high speeds and could rain strong blows , jumping and attacking through the air . Powerful and quick spinning attacks could be utilized from all angles , either from ground or air . A master in Ataru combat could appear like a blur to their opponents , attacking from all directions — the front , the sides , overhead , or behind . The Force not only allowed them to perform athletic feats not possible otherwise , but it also helped guide their actions and movements in combat . Applications . Ataru proved to be an effective combat form when used properly , and was common among Jedi during the Mandalorian Wars . It was well - suited to close combat , particularly against single opponents . Due to its speed and agility , Ataru was recommended for use by Jedi with the ability to enhance their speed and stamina with the Force . Because it was such an aggressive style , Ataru was not generally optimal for use against multiple opponents , and it was somewhat ineffective against blaster fire , particularly from multiple foes . Despite those weaknesses , Jedi Padawan Obi - Wan Kenobi and Jedi Master Qui - Gon Jinn were able to employ this form with great success during the Battle of Naboo against numerous B1 battle droid opponents . This form was also considered not as effective for prolonged combat , as the nature of Ataru could greatly tax the body . Ataru practitioners were advised to withdraw if they were unable to win after a devastating burst of Ataru attacks . Fatigue was theorized to have been a contributing factor in Qui - Gon Jinn ' s defeat on Naboo at the hands of Sith Lord Darth Maul during the latter stages of the Battle of Naboo . In fact , ever since their brief fight on Tatooine , Maul knew that Ataru would be the Jedi Master ' s undoing . Another contributing factor in Jinn ' s death was the requirement of open space for the kinetic acrobatics of Ataru . Without ample space to move in the Theed Royal Palace reactor core , Jinn was deprived of the key element in his defense , and thus could only attempt to block Maul ' s incessant barrage of Form VII strikes . This event influenced Kenobi — after his Master ' s death , he changed his preferred form to Soresu , the most defensive of all forms . Through the Force , Yoda was considered to have mastered Form IV to its highest level . He used it in almost all of his battles , and his mastery of the style caused others to describe him as virtually unstoppable against most opponents , including Separatist battle droids , despite his small size and advanced age . His moves in his duel against Count Dooku on Geonosis during the Battle of Geonosis were revealed on close examination to be a fast - paced demonstration of the standard components of Form IV . Each action flowed from one to another in the smooth transitions characteristic of Form IV . In addition , three kinds of rotation , called " su ma " , figured prominently in his style : " jung su ma " ( spinning ) , " ton su ma " ( somersaults ) , and " en su ma " ( cartwheels ) . These three moves represented the three possible axes of rotation in three - dimensional space . Together with Force - enhanced jumps , the rotational " su ma " moves composed most of his style , making the Grand Master exemplary of Form IV mastery . At one point prior to the Clone Wars , Yoda was known to give demonstrations of the form in use , some of which were recorded on databook s in the Jedi Temple . Yoda also employed Ataru against the clone troopers on Kashyyyk and Coruscant at the conclusion of the Clone Wars when the Jedi Purge began . Despite its weaknesses to blaster fire and multiple opponents , Yoda ' s mastery of the form was such that he was able to defeat the clones . Dooku stated that he understood " every weakness of the Ataru form , with its ridiculous acrobatics , " given his many sparring sessions with Qui - Gon Jinn . Dooku ' s Form II would counter Ataru by launching a series of thrusts toward the enemy ' s legs to draw the opponent into a flipping overhead leap , so that Dooku could burn through the enemy ' s spine from kidneys to shoulder blades with his Makashi attack . The Count applied this tactic against Obi - Wan Kenobi , who blocked Dooku ' s blows with Soresu , on board the Separatist flagship " Invisible Hand " during the Battle of Coruscant . Moves and maneuvers . The opening stance for Ataru was a balanced two - handed guard : holding the lightsaber vertically with both palms , either on the right or left side of the body . One technique employed with greater effect by Ataru users was the Hawk - Bat Swoop . When utilized by Ataru practitioners , it was intended to allow a combatant to quickly strike their opponent without giving them a chance to react , and then escape before they had a chance to retaliate . Another move that Ataru users could use effectively was dubbed the Saber Swarm , where numerous short strikes were aimed at the adversary to force a defensive posture . Ataru wielders were able to execute this combination with particular skill . Both the Hawk - Bat Swoop and the Saber Swarm were related to the Falling Leaf technique , and they gained in popularity during the New Sith Wars . Practitioners . Besides Yoda and Qui - Gon Jinn , other notable practitioners of Ataru were Jedi Masters Tott Doneeta , Zez - Kai Ell , Kavar , Vrook Lamar , Some of Revan ' s Jedi Crusaders also practiced Ataru . Ki - Adi - Mundi , Cay Qel - Droma , Aayla Secura , Shaak Ti , Vandar Tokare , and Quinlan Vos ; Jedi Battlemaster s Skarch Vaunk and Cin Drallig ; Sith Lord Darth Maul ; Sith Blademaster Kas ' im ; and Dark Jedi Set Harth . The Sith Lord Scourge used Ataru to defeat two Sith acolytes of Darth Xedrix on Bosthirda . Obi - Wan Kenobi was also a practitioner of Ataru , but proceeded to study Soresu following the death of his Master , Qui - Gon Jinn , on Naboo . General Grievous and his IG - 100 MagnaGuards also learned Ataru from Count Dooku . As a Padawan , Anakin Skywalker studied Ataru briefly , as it fit his flashy , bold , and aggressive personality — he would later use those same traits to become a skilled Form V practitioner . Anakin applied the two - lightsaber variant of Ataru against Count Dooku on Geonosis during the Battle of Geonosis . Because neither Ataru nor dual - wielding were Skywalker ' s most effective styles , Dooku broke through it easily , forcing the young Padawan to switch back to his standard Form V . Circa 1000 BBY , Jedi Padawans were discouraged from practicing Ataru , as their youthful energy was considered prone to sloppy execution of its cadences . However , by the waning years of the Old Republic , Padawans would spend a year or two studying each Form from II to V , including Ataru . During the Clone Wars , both Obi - Wan Kenobi , who had mastered Ataru in addition to his expertise in Soresu , and Anakin Skywalker often applied some of the Ataru acrobatic moves , despite their mastery of Soresu and Djem So , respectively . When dueling Dooku on the " Invisible Hand " in the Battle of Coruscant , Obi - Wan Kenobi started the duel using Ataru stances and techniques to mislead the Sith . Ahsoka Tano practiced Ataru in a training session with Skywalker , shortly before the Battle of Bothawui . Weequay Jedi Sora Bulq as well as Lannik Jedi Master Even Piell also practiced Ataru , in addition to other saber forms . Piell ' s apprentice , Jax Pavan , would also learn Ataru , along with the other forms , during his Jedi training . Nautolan Jedi Master Kit Fisto was another practitioner of Form IV . After his transformation and defeat on Mustafar , Darth Vader included elements of Form IV in his personalized variation of Form V , such as during his second duel with Jedi Master Roan Shryne . Vader ' s secret apprentice was also familiar with Ataru , and his personal droid PROXY attempted to emulate the form , albeit without the aid of the Force , which the apprentice found to be a notable weakness . The usage by the apprentice was displayed in both single and dual - saber variants . The New Jedi Order would learn of this form , along with the others , from knowledge gleaned from the book " " , holocrons and recordings , particularly the Great Holocron which included a recording by Cin Drallig explaining lightsaber forms . Kyle Katarn and Jedi Knight Alema Rar , among others , were trained in the use of the fourth form of lightsaber combat . Grand Master Luke Skywalker also had knowledge and skill in the use of Ataru , as did his wife , Mara Jade Skywalker . Skywalker learned the form from Yoda and passed it on to his students , teaching them to embrace it not as a weapon of first use and to use both their weapon and their body in practicing Ataru . Behind the scenes . Ataru , along with forms II , III , and VII was first mentioned in " " , but little information was given about the form other than a brief description of it , and listing Anakin Skywalker as a known practitioner . Along with the other six classical forms , it was fully fleshed out and described by David West Reynolds in " " after the release of " Episode II " , as part of " Star Wars Insider 62 " . Reynolds was aided in this work by fencer Jack " Stelen " Bobo . In the , " Labyrinth of Evil " , and " " , " Ataru " is misspelled as " Ataro " . In " " , it is mistakenly stated that Obi - Wan is " a master of the Jedi lightsaber style known as Ataru , in which deflection is prized above aggression . " Though Obi - Wan did know Ataru , this statement totally contradicts Ataru ' s true form , as it is not very good for deflecting blaster bolts and is one of the most aggressive of the seven forms . The dictionary likely refers to Form III instead . Ataru , along with the other lightsaber forms , appears in " Star Wars Galaxies " as part of moves and techniques employable by Jedi characters . This has not definitively been clarified to be canonical . It is possible that the Jedi Exile was trained in the use of Form IV after her return from exile . However , it is also possible that she was a Jedi Consular and learned the Force forms instead . Ataru also is featured in a non - canonical appearance as part of Yoda ' s inclusion in the fighting game " Soulcalibur IV " , as Yoda wields Ataru in combat against other characters .