Form I / Legends Form I , also known as Shii - Cho , The Way of the Sarlacc , or The Determination Form , was the first of the seven forms of lightsaber combat . This combat form was developed during the transitional period within the Jedi Order from ancient metal swords to more contemporary lightsabers . Shii - Cho was intended to cater to these new weapons , establishing the basic motions and target zones utilized with a lightsaber . As Shii - Cho was effectively an experimental combat form , and was created prior to the emergence of Dark Jedi and Sith Lords , it did not address the issue of lightsaber - to - lightsaber combat , and was quickly replaced by Form II . Despite this , Shii - Cho continued to find a niche as a training form , with almost every Jedi duelist receiving some instruction in it , and including elements in their own combat styles . Shii - Cho was considered an effective fall - back option when no other form or combat style would do . In combat , Form I lightsaber combat was wild and raw , relying on deliberate tactics and being primarily aimed towards disarming rather than injuring foes , in keeping with Jedi philosophy . Basic initiates in the style demonstrated rather clumsy performance , though in the hands of a master , Shii - Cho was fluid but highly randomized and unpredictable . History . Original lightsabers were unstable and cumbersome weapons , used merely for ceremonial purposes , and requiring no specialized fighting methods for such usage . However , as lightsaber technology developed and they became usable in combat , a combat form tailored to make use of the advantages offered by lightsabers and compensate for their weaknesses became needed . Thus , the first form of lightsaber combat was developed . As the most ancient style of lightsaber combat , Shii - Cho was developed during the transition period from swords to lightsabers . Lightsabers were wielded in a manner similar to swords , so many of the maneuvers , such as attacks or parries , remained unchanged , as the key principles of the old sword - fighting methods continued to be incorporated . The simplicity and persistent methods of the form led it to being dubbed the " Way of the Sarlacc " and the " Determination Form " . As Shii - Cho was developed prior to either the emergence of Dark Jedi or Sith Lords , it was not created with lightsaber - to - lightsaber combat in mind . Despite this , it was the preferred form of such groups when they began appearing , as it was quite simply the only option . As lightsaber duels between practitioners of the Force became increasingly common , Form I was judged as being inadequate for the task , leading to the development of the second form of lightsaber combat ; also known as Makashi . Despite the development of a combat form tailored to lightsaber dueling , Shii - Cho was not rendered obsolete . Its simplicity and basic focuses left the form ideally suited for basic training , and it was used to provide initiates with an early introduction to lightsaber combat . Shii - Cho remained an effective form of combat for thousands of years , its simplicity making it a good fallback option when no other form would do . However , a true master of the form could use it in both lightsaber combat and battlefield situations to great effect , as demonstrated by Kit Fisto on numerous occasions . Description . As Shii - Cho was an extension of traditional sword - fighting styles , it retained the basics of attacks , parries , and body zones established by such ancient methods . Shii - Cho fostered an emotionally - heated mindset , which resulted in the considerable temptation to execute combat with lethal intent , requiring great restraint to exercise the form without going too far . Despite the pull to kill , the style was designed for the purpose of disarming without seriously injuring . Shii - Cho swordplay was simplistic and raw . In the hands of a master , the bladework was described as " like watching water flow over the falls . " However , less adept practitioners displayed much more basic and somewhat clumsy performance . In combat , Form I encouraged deliberate tactics , calling for continuous , step - by - step advancement while cutting off the opponent ' s angles . Shii - Cho was specialized towards engaging multiple opponents , the wide , sweeping motions being ideally suited towards attacking numerous adversaries . However , Form I was not as useful against single opponents , as such enemies had complete mobility and could find a weakness in Shii - Cho ' s comparatively clumsy bladework . Training and practice . As the most simplistic form , Shii - Cho was the first form taught to initiates within the Jedi Order . Form I training provided the basic knowledge of the sword - fighting principles and blast - deflection skill that was required for practice of all the other forms . In order to teach students to draw upon the Force rather than rely on their senses , early level Shii - Cho blast - deflect training was conducted with a blindfold , forcing the initiate to rely upon his instincts . Later training was conducted through the use of sequences and velocities , the continuous repetition making the moves instinctive reflexes . These training regimens were carried over to all following lightsaber combat forms , which used similar methods . Known moves and maneuvers . The basic rules of attacks , parries and body target zones were established by Shii - Cho combat . Shii - Cho also had two methods of combat which determined how these moves were executed ; Ideal Form and Live Combat Form . Ideal Form 1 was mainly used in sparring , and all the moves and maneuvers were executed at perfect horizontal / vertical angles , with and being perpendicular to one another . The Live Combat Form was much more functional , the attacks being diagonal strikes at each respective body zone , the goal being to increase speed and reduce actual movement . The body target zones were numbered as follows ; 1 - head , 2 - right arm and side , 3 - left arm and side , 4 - back , 5 - right leg , 6 - left leg . Shii - Cho philosophy emphasized victory without injury and as such , the " sun djem " mark of contact was traditionally employed by Form I practitioners . Keeping with the use of " sun djem " , one of the attacks utilized by Form I practitioners was referred to as the " Disarming Slash " , consisting of a strike directed at the opponent ' s weapon in an attempt to rip it out of their grasp . Another of the techniques utilized by Shii - Cho was dubbed the " Sarlacc Sweep " , a wide sweeping attack in which the duelist struck against multiple enemies . Other maneuvers included the basic Form I horizontal slash . Applications . Among the skilled warriors who utilized Shii - Cho in combat were Lucien Draay and Meetra Surik . Draay was trained by the failed Jedi Haazen , who took over due to the neglectful behavior of Lucien ' s mother , Krynda . Despite Haazen ' s lack of power or skill , he was able to mold Lucien into a formidable duelist , proven when Lucien took on the four Seers Raana Tey , Feln , Xamar , and Q ' Anilia simultaneously in a group sparring match and beat them all . However , Draay was not invincible , as shown during his final confrontation with his former pupil , Zayne Carrick , whom Draay tried to kill after falling under Haazen ' s influence when the latter ' s identity as a Sith Acolyte was revealed . Despite Carrick ' s comparative lack of skill , and his self - described " awkward " relationship with the Force , he was able to match Lucien blow for blow and hold him off . However , Lucien ' s skill was still enough that Carrick could not defeat him , and Carrick only survived because he managed to convince Lucien to back down . As for Surik , she received training in Shii - Cho during her time in the Jedi Order . However , after she left the Order in the aftermath of the Mandalorian Wars , she cut herself off from the Force and accordingly " forgot " all her knowledge regarding it , including her skill in Shii - Cho . As she began reawakening to it , she instinctively regained her skills with Form I . Her application of the style was highly versatile , applied with numerous weapons . She used the form in a manner that allowed her to fare well against multiple opponents , but not to detract from her ability to deal with a single adversary . A Form I specialist who lived during the Clone Wars was Kit Fisto , who was credited as one of the best duelists in the Jedi Order . His mastery of the form was advanced , and he applied it in many battles and duels , always with his trademark smile . He went head to head with many of the most dangerous adversaries of the Clone Wars and survived . A notable opponent was General Grievous , whom Fisto proved able to hold his own against and nearly defeat , as Form I ' s specialization against multiple foes was well - suited to holding off the four lightsabers Grievous ' bizarre mechanical anatomy allowed him to wield . Fisto ' s quick thinking and speedy reflexes enabled him to recognize vulnerable body zones on his opponents and react immediately , as shown when he cut off Grievous ' legs and later one of his hands during their duels . His versatility with Shii - Cho was such that he could ably apply it towards the usage of dual - blades , or even lightwhip s . However , Kit Fisto was not without his weaknesses . Form I was ideal when heavily outnumbered and effective against many opponents , but a single opponent was able to find flaw in it , and this proved to be Kit Fisto ' s downfall . Against Asajj Ventress on Ord Cestus , he simply wasn ' t quick enough with his blade to deal with the Makashi specialist , and Shii - Cho was considered weak against Form II in any case . His final battle against Darth Sidious ended with Fisto ' s death , as — despite Fisto ' s own power and skill — he simply wasn ' t able to compete with Sidious . However , Fisto managed to last longer than his fellow combatants , Agen Kolar and Saesee Tiin , being able to block several of Sidious ' vicious blows before falling . Obi - Wan Kenobi commented Form I was wild , raw , and deadly , requiring much emotional heat , and Kit Fisto noted how hard it was to control the pull of Form I , disabling opponents rather than killing them . However , Kenobi sometimes did infuse elements of Shii - Cho into his swordplay , including the rematch with Count Dooku onboard the " Invisible Hand " . Dooku himself described Shii - Cho swordplay as " deliberate as a lumberdroid , moving step by step , cutting off the angles , clumsy but relentlessly dogged . " Notable practitioners . As Shii - Cho had been in existence for millennia , and was used to provide early training in lightsaber combat , almost all lightsaber duelists received some level of training in it and included aspects of the form in their own fighting methods . Other than Lucien Draay , Meetra Surik , Obi - Wan Kenobi , and Kit Fisto , Shii - Cho had many advanced and / or specialist practitioners . In more recent years , the form was mastered by the Jedi swordmaster Cin Drallig along with the other six forms . Grand Master Yoda and Swordmaster Mace Windu were also proficient in its usage , as they were said to have fully mastered all the seven forms of lightsaber combat . Master Kirlocca of the Almas Academy was also credited as having mastered Form I . Kento Marek was a Shii - Cho practitioner , and his son , Galen Marek , also known as Starkiller , maintained a familiarity with the form , able to recognize it in his opponent ' s technique . Dooku himself had sufficient knowledge in Shii - Cho that he personally trained General Grievous and his IG - 100 MagnaGuards in the style . Darth Vader incorporated elements of Shii - Cho into his personal variant of Form V , and his son , Luke Skywalker , received instruction in basic Form I velocities during his early training under Obi - Wan Kenobi . Shii - Cho , like the other six forms , would eventually be rediscovered by the New Jedi Order . Behind the scenes . Shii - Cho was first described in the " " article in " Star Wars Insider 62 " , written by David West Reynolds and fencer Jack " Stelen " Bobo , identified it as Form I lightsaber combat . The proper name of the form , " Shii - Cho " , as well as its alternate titles as the " Determination Form " and the " Way of the Sarlacc " would be specified in later sources . While every Jedi - trained duelist would have received training in Form I , there are few specialist practitioners . However , there are some individuals theorized to be adherents , Sora Bulq , based on statements in the official Databank , which credits him as a master of all known lightsaber forms , though Shii - Cho isn ' t explicitly mentioned . Shii - Cho , along with the other lightsaber forms , appears in " Star Wars Galaxies " as part of moves and techniques employable by Jedi characters . This has not been clarified to be canonical . Shii - Cho shares some similarities to real life Kendo , Japanese sword fighting , with the main targets being the body and head .