Form II / Legends Form II , also known as Makashi , The Way of the Ysalamir i , or The Contention Form , was the second of the seven classic forms of lightsaber combat . Developed for the purpose of lightsaber - to - lightsaber combat , to address the failings of Form I , Makashi was the most dueling - centric of the seven classical forms . Relying on precision and efficiency over Shii - Cho ' s wild , sweeping motions , Form II allowed an initiate to defend themselves against an opponent with minimal effort , while placing a heavy focus on avoiding disarmament . Makashi was described as elegant and focused , and was based on balance and footwork to outmaneuver opponents . Fluidity , precision , and economy of motion were relied on , rather than strength , with Form II bladework heavily utilizing jabs and light cuts rather than hack and slash movements . Overall , the form was at its fore when engaged in combat against a single enemy duelist . However , after the Hundred - Year Darkness saw the destruction of most of the galaxy ' s Dark Jedi , the chances of a Jedi encountering a lightsaber - wielding opponent began to decrease drastically . In the intervening years , the Great Hyperspace War and the Old Sith Wars began and ended in fits and starts , which caused the appearance of Dark Jedi and Sith to take on a sporadic pattern . This , combined with the increasing availability of blaster technology , resulted in Jedi encountering ever - increasing numbers of blaster wielding opponents , but only rarely encountering enemy duelists . As Makashi had been designed strictly for blade - to - blade combat , it lacked an effective means of combating enemies with projectile weapons . Due to this oversight , Makashi lost a great deal of its practical applicability , and over time it faded into relative obsolescence . It would eventually be supplanted by Form III , which was both the most defensive of the seven forms and designed specifically for blast - deflection . However , the style would see a return to prominence during the New Sith Wars , a thousand years of off and on warfare which saw the rise and fall of numerous Sith organizations . After the Battle of Ruusan concluded these wars , the style once again faded from popular use and never regained any widespread practice amongst the Jedi . Description . Of the seven forms , Makashi was the most akin to bladed weapon dueling , developed during an era where engagements with Darksiders and rogue Jedi became an almost routine activity . Form II ' s primary purpose was to serve as a counter to the first form , Shii - Cho , by relying on precision swordplay to counter Form I ' s sweeping movements , with a heavy focus on preventing disarmament , the primary goal of Form I . The early levels of Makashi were devised to provide a defense against an opponent ' s blade , allowing an initiate in the style to defend himself with minimal effort , but needing to be paired with a more offensive style to score a winning blow . The higher levels of the form proved considerably more effective . Form II bladework encouraged precision and efficiency over power , using jabs , parries and light cuts rather than slashes , blocks and chops . The blade manipulation required for this form was very calculated , requiring intense focus and expert timing . It was described as elegant , powerful and precise , relying on feints to confuse and trap opponents . These refinements allowed a user of the form to attack and defend with minimal energy expenditure . Makashi also placed a great deal of emphasis on footwork in both attack and defense . The footwork of Form II practitioners commonly followed a single line , front and back , shifting the feet to keep in perfect balance as the practitioner advanced and retreated . Makashi was a style based on balance , on back - and - forth charges , thrusts , and sudden retreats . Makashi practitioners were also uncommonly adept at defending themselves from Force - based attacks . These elements combined to create a form that was extraordinarily effective for lightsaber combat against a single opponent . Form II emphasized fluid movement and anticipation of a weapon being swung at its target , and so required very smooth motion of both the blade and the body , and practitioners often wielded the blade one - handed for a greater range of movement . With a skilled practitioner , the results were deadly . In fact , masters of the form often seemed so relaxed when employing it that they appeared to be dancing . Makashi duelists also trained themselves to avoid enslavement to form , as such devotion opened the practitioner to be defeated by unpredictable tactics — what Count Dooku dubbed " the unforeseen " . However , for all its effectiveness , Form II was not without its weaknesses . As it was designed to combat enemy duelists rather than enemy gunmen , it provided poor blast - deflection training . While this was ultimately the reason for the style ' s decline and eventual obsolescence , it could be overcome through skill and practice . Also , Makashi was most potent when used against a single opponent , and was reduced in effectiveness when fighting groups of adversaries . However , skilled practitioners could still fare very well against multiple foes ; Dooku could engage up to three opponents with little difficulty , relying on his footwork to outmaneuver them and take them one at a time ; Asajj Ventress compensated by wielding dual - blades . However , the greatest flaw of the Makashi system of combat was its inability to generate kinetic energy in its application ; the focus on precision and blade control hampered an adherent ' s ability to generate momentum in both offensive and defensive maneuvers . This meant that a duelist who possessed a sufficient level of physical strength could potentially overwhelm a Makashi practitioner , shunting aside strikes from the form ' s precision offense and simply bashing through it ' s evasive , footwork - oriented defense . This lack of physical force left Makashi practitioners vulnerable to duelists utilizing more contemporary forms , which emphasized power and brute strength . This weakness was especially pronounced against practitioners of the Djem So variant of Form V , as the style was based almost entirely around fast , strength - oriented swordplay . However , this weakness could , to varying degrees , be compensated for with rigorous strength training or cybernetic augmentation . Additionally , as demonstrated by Dooku ' s numerous victories against power duelists during the Clone Wars , simply utilizing a strength - oriented style against a Makashi practitioner was no guarantee of victory . Known moves and maneuvers . Being a style geared towards efficiency , Makashi adherents relied on balance and economy of movement , preferring to refrain from the leaps and acrobatics common to Form IV . The Form II opening stance was a single handed low guard . The saber would be held in the strong hand of the user , and held at his side , the blade pointed down , and the feet would be shoulder width apart . Some faced their opponent side on , so the blade was pointed in their direction . The lightsaber hilt would be held with the thumb pointing down the length of the blade to allow for smaller , tighter , more accurate movements of the saber . The rest of the fingers wrap around the hilt holding it tightly , but not so tight as to limit the fluidity of the movements . The typical Makashi flourish consisted of rapidly moving the tip of the blade in an X shaped pattern through the air , often following the Makashi salute . The salute was not an attack or maneuver but a challenge to an opponent . The saber was held in one hand , brought up vertical directly in front of the practitioner ' s face , then swung down in a Makashi flourish . Makashi duelists were typically skilled in the application of two Marks of Contact ; the " Sun djem " and the " Shiak " . In a marked difference from the Shii - Cho " disarming slash " maneuver , which was a power attack designed to rip an opponents weapon from his grasp , the typical Form II applications of the " sun djem " were precise attacks directed at the weapon itself , often destroying it or even burning through an opponents fingers to disarm them . Applications of the " shiak " were a natural result of Form II footwork and swordplay , all of which followed a single back and forth line , and was seen as an indication of skill and control . Two Makashi maneuvers were the " contentious opportunity " and the " Makashi riposte " . The " contentious opportunity " was based around recognizing and exploiting an opening in the opponent ' s defense before swiftly moving to strike the exposed enemy . The " Makashi riposte " was similarly designed to slightly alter the angle of an opponent ' s attack before quickly retaliating with a counter strike . Makashi Weapon Specifications . Due to Form II ' s emphasis on blade manipulation , and its many fluid one - handed moves , Makashi practitioners often wielded lightsabers that were specialized for such use . The most prominent weapon for this purpose was the curved - hilt lightsaber . These weapons were used because the curved hilt fit better into the palm , granting better blade control and allowing for greater precision and strength . In addition to this , wielders often created highly decorated weapons , and occasionally included blade - guards , as shown with Dooku ' s lightsaber . The other , considerably rarer , weapon type was the Lightfoil , a specialized type of lightsaber used by the Mecrosa Order . Original lightfoils were built with small handles for exclusively one - handed usage , and were much better balanced than typical lightsabers , allowing for greater precision . However , curved lightsabers and lightfoils were not the only weapons that Makashi could be effectively utilized with ; Qui - Gon Jinn , Shaak Ti , Kento Marek , and Darth Vader all wielded lightsaber with standard hilts , and Asajj Ventress demonstrated the ability to utilize the style with a saberstaff . Applications . Count Dooku was one of the finest practitioners of Makashi in his day , mastering the form at its highest levels . Dooku personally emphasized emotional levelheadedness and tactical know - how over the rage - fueled frenzy many of his opponents , and even some of his students , relied on , examples including Asajj Ventress or General Grievous . He demonstrated precision and elegance in his bladework , with a pin - point accurate and unpredictable offense reinforced by an almost effortless defense , all drilled and practiced to the point of being instinct . He relied on feints to entrap his opponents , and footwork to outmaneuver , basing himself around balance and mobility . Dooku would use these skills to work his way around opponents , deflecting and evading their attacks rather than trying to meet them head - to - head . His skill with the style marked him out as one of the greatest swordmasters produced by the Jedi Order , and the Form ' s rarity provided him with an edge against most duelists , who simply were not prepared for the finesse and precise movements of a form bred for lightsaber dueling . Dooku ' s practical application of the form was exemplary ; his skills were surpassed only by Yoda , and only Mace Windu was credited as Dooku ' s equal . On Geonosis , Dooku demonstrated many of these skills against Obi - Wan Kenobi . His efficient defensive maneuvers left the Jedi ' s swift slashes looking exaggerated and overdone , while Kenobi struggled to catch up to the Count ' s precise ripostes and unpredictable feints . During their initial duel , many of Kenobi ' s parries and blocks missed Dooku ' s blade completely , forcing him to retreat . Kenobi was ultimately brought down by light , though damaging cuts across his left arm and thigh . However , despite Dooku ' s absolute mastery of Form II , he was still prone to one of the style ' s weaknesses ; the lack of kinetic power . Perhaps the most notable demonstration of this was during Dooku ' s fateful duel with Anakin Skywalker and Obi - Wan Kenobi ; Dooku was simply unable to generate the necessary power to evenly match Skywalker ' s preferred form , Djem So , nor to penetrate the defenses of Kenobi ' s Form III . The sheer , raw power of Form V wore down Dooku ' s defenses , physically exhausting him and draining his reserves of Force power . This weakness , combined with Dooku ' s age and Skywalker ' s overwhelming skill and power , resulted in Dooku ' s defeat . Another Form II practitioner active at this time was Asajj Ventress , one of Dooku ' s students . Developing her skills under Dooku ' s tutelage , her eventual prowess as a duelist enabled her to hold her own against up to three adversaries with little difficulty , demonstrated during her mission to Ruul . Her skills even advanced to the point where she was able to defeat Kit Fisto , disarm Obi - Wan Kenobi , and hold her own for a limited time against Mace Windu , all three of whom were Jedi Council Masters . However , Ventress was no master , and while she demonstrated both elegant bladework and sophisticated footwork , her form lacked refinement . Rather than practice emotional levelheadedness as Dooku did , she often grew impassioned and fought with animal rage . While this angry onslaught enabled her to engage , and even defeat , some of the best Jedi duelists of her day , Darth Sidious believed it could also compromise her tactical planning abilities . During her earlier years , she lacked the physical strength necessary to compensate for the inherent weaknesses of both Makashi and dual - blade combat . Her attacks lacked power , as shown by both Dooku ' s casual defensive moves during their bout on Rattatak , and her retreat before Anakin Skywalker ' s frenzy of power attacks during their duel on Yavin 4 . However , she eventually developed the strength necessary to compensate for this weakness , demonstrating the ability to hold up simultaneous bladelocks with multiple duelists at a time . Ventress was initially heavily reliant on her extra blade , and was left at a disadvantage if deprived of it , though she eventually overcame this with time . Practitioners . Form II ' s primary niche was among Jedi duelists who engaged Darksiders , or conversely , Darksiders who engaged Jedi . Examples of such combatants include Kreia , who later taught the Jedi Exile the basics of the form ; Rance Lussk , the top student at the Sith academy on Odacer - Faustin ; or the Sith apprentice Fohargh , who was trained by the Sith Blademaster Kas ' im . However , following the final battle of Ruusan , Makashi was left obsolete ; the dueling - centric form lacked proper blast - deflect techniques to make it a practical fighting method against criminals , and the number of active lightsaber - wielding Darksiders to engage was practically nil . Nevertheless , Form II was still taught among the Jedi , with proponents such as Skarch Vaunk praising the mental discipline it instilled . In fact , the Jedi - held Mid - Year Fete featured classical Makashi duels between the various participating swordmasters , ensuring the styles continued survival and use . Furthermore , the attitude towards the styles obsolescence was disputed by notables such as Obi - Wan Kenobi , who argued that the idea that there were no enemy lightsaber duelists to combat was mere wishful thinking . Despite this , by the time of the Clone Wars , few practiced the form , the most notable being Dooku . Like Skarch Vaunk , Dooku argued Makashi ' s continuing relevance was due to the discipline it instilled , and held it among the highest of fighting forms . Other Jedi masters of Makashi included Dooku ' s former Padawan Qui - Gon Jinn , famed Jedi Battlemaster Cin Drallig , and Jedi Council Master Shaak Ti . Yoda was also known to have mastered the form , as he is a master of all forms of lightsaber combat , but his use of it was not seen and he preferred Ataru . As Darth Tyranus , Dooku trained both Asajj Ventress and Grievous in Form II . Makashi evidently became one of Grievous ' primary fighting methods , as many of his opponents commented on Dooku ' s influence in his technique , and he passed this training on to his IG - 100 MagnaGuards . During the Great Jedi Purge , the Sith Lord Darth Vader featured many elements of Makashi in his personalized Djem So variant , taking advantage of his cybernetically augmented strength to overcome Makashi ' s prime weakness . The Jedi Knight Kento Marek also included elements of Makashi in his bladework , though his understanding of the style was limited . Vader ' s apprentice , Starkiller , was versed enough in Form II to recognize it in Vader ' s technique during their duel . The Jedi Knight Jax Pavan also received Form II training at some point , applying some basic Makashi moves and tactics against Aurra Sing in combat . Makashi , like the other six forms , would eventually be rediscovered by the New Jedi Order . Behind the scenes . Makashi was first described in the , but while its specifications and history of the form were heavily expounded upon , it was never referenced by name . However , the article in Star Wars Insider 62 , written by David West Reynolds and fencer Jack " Stelen " Bobo , identified it as Form II lightsaber combat . The proper name of the form , " Makashi " , as well as its alternate titles as the " Contention Form " and the " Way of the Ysalamiri " would be specified in later sources . There are also Jedi and Sith who are theorized to practice Makashi based on descriptions and comments about their fighting techniques . Examples include Valenthyne Farfalla , whose fighting style was described as elegant and clean , demonstrating perfect form , and Tholme , who was complimented by Dooku for keeping up his dueling skills and favoring the old ways . Another likely practitioner of Makashi is Sora Bulq , based on statements in the official Databank . Xanatos is described in " " to have fought with " economy and grace , " indicating that he may have studied Makashi . In the epilogue of " " , Darth Sidious writes that Darth Maul " is an elegant fighter . Precise . " Thus , Maul would ' ve adopted a few tenets of Makashi into his fighting style . Makashi , 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 .