Combat Forms

*1. **Evasion: (Agility)** This simply means that a Kemiya will not seek to defend unless they must but will seek to avoid contact with their opponent in an attempt to force the opponent to grow frustrated and expend energy. It relies mainly on maintaining on keeping distance from the enemy and avoiding close quarters combat. This form of combat is often used by smaller and more nimble Kemiya’s and ones with much energy and athletic ability and is often used in conjunction with attack or defence tactics and can even be incorporated into a Style form by extremely talented combatants. The form has two further divides to it, wide or tight. Wide evasion is keeping as much distance as possible from the opponents weapon, while tight is making small minimal movements to dodge the opponent. This tactic is risky but far more economical than wide evasion. Wide evasion relies on consistent movement from the Kemiya using it and can even be used in conjunction with the environment, gaining height and putting obstacles between the combatants. This form has no attack, or defence, with the mentality on staying alive and avoiding direct contact with the opponent. This form is mainly used in short bursts as it is a physically demanding form of combat to employ but tight Evasion can be used for longer spells. It can be used with either defence or attacking forms of combat, mainly with attack forms, by moving into better positions to attack your opponent when they are attacking, in the hope of exploiting the vulnerability of attack. This form is best suited against attackers, as already mentioned. It is not well suited against Form 2 or Form 3 users. Form 2 users will rarely attack and even when they do they will immediately retreat into defence mode. Form 3 users will be too quick to counter attack and a Form 1 user will have to be very fast and accurate to be able to dodge a counter attack. It is also not suited against Form 6 users as the unpredictability of a Form 6 user, will make a Form 1 user unsure of what move to make in time to avoid injury. The strength of this style can be that it can frustrate a mentally weak opponent and can also be used to gage an opponents strengths and weaknesses and most importantly, fighting style. As mentioned it can also be used with attack forms to exploit sloppy attacks. Weaknesses are that it can’t be used against mentally stronger opponents for long, if at all. It is physically demanding in itself and should only be used in short bursts but the length of time depends on the sub form used, and mainly only to frustrate an enemy or gage their strengths and weaknesses, and should not be used as a singular fighting style against any opponent. It is not suited for combat against multiple opponents, unless mastered to the nth degree and even then, it must be coupled with another fighting style to have any hope of winning a fight. This style also is hard to use, if at all in a small confined space as movement is limited and direct opposition is the only option. Opening stance, weapon behind back laid horizontal at waist level.*

*2. **Defence: (Resilience)** Like tactic one this style focuses on defence and aims to make the Kemiya’s defence unbreakable as the objective is the same, to tire out the opponent. This tactic relies on good balance and strength of will.  It is used by Kemiya’s with strong mental prowess and those with patience against those with equal or greater physical strength. The idea of this style is to be like the rock in the river and the opponent be the river itself. To have them break themselves on the rock. A Form 2 user will not seek to attack at all and will maintain defence at all times, in an effort to wear down a stronger opponent. What a Form 2 user wants, to have their opponent attack and attack and develop into a slugging match, to draw the fight out. This form is mainly paired with Form 4 as Form 3 incorporates both attack and defence. The idea being that a Form 2 user will break an opponent and then move into to attack the weakened opponent. This Form is best used against Attackers and Style fighters. The Form 2 user must basically shut down a Form 6 users sword motion and maintain the defence at all times against an attacker. However an immensely skilled Form 6 user can find a way through a Form 2 users defences, but this would need to be coupled with a user, who hasn’t fully mastered Form 2. It can also be used against Form 3 opponents but a Form 2 user must attack in order for their to a counter attack. The Strength of this Form is that it uses very little initial strength, in that the attacker will use up their strength much faster than a defender will. It can also be used as a mental tool to frustrate an opponent if they fail to break down the defences. This Form can also be used against multiple opponents but this also depends on the skill of the Form 2 user and the skill of the opponents. The weaknesses of this form is that there is no attack and the mentality of it, is focused on survival, not victory. This is a weakness at first, but can turn into a strength later in the fight. It can also be overpowered by much stronger opponents who have greater control of their personal piece or greater mastery of more attacking style Combat forms. A Form 2 user must ensure they don’t fall victim to being trapped in a small space. Not as much as weakness as Form 1 but is still something for a Form 2 user to bare in mind as an attacker will press on the attack consistently and a Form 2 user will usually give ground to an opponent. Opening stance, weapon held with hilt up and weapon pointing down in diagonal direction*

*3. **Counter: (Speed)** This links from defence but is only employed by fast and more cunning Kemiya’s as they seek to attack just as their opponent does, hoping to exploit the lack of defence when an opponent attacks. It can be used in a few ways. One of which is to make a direct block against an opponents weapon and move into an immediate counter attack. This style would be used more by stronger Kemiya’s who can strongly block and strongly attack. This method can be used effectively against Form 4 and Form 6 users as a strong block diffuses the kinetic energy of an opponents attack and leaves them having to recommence an attack to regain that energy lost. Another method of counter attack is to make glancing blocks. This is a blend of evasion and counter attacking. A Kemiya will seek and move to avoid contact, but will in fact make sure, their blade hits their opponents sword to ensure no injury is caused and will move instantly into a counter attack, maintaining ones own kinetic energy into a strong counter attack. This method is more used by worn down Kemiya’s who cannot directly oppose a stronger attacking Kemiya through defence tactics alone. This style is best suited against attackers, as the name suggests, it’s a counter attack, in response to an attack itself. It is not as effective against Form 6 users as it Form 4 users, as Form 6 incorporates counter attacks in itself and could end up into a slugging match of attack, defend and counter. The strength of this style is that it is incredibly effective against most styles of combat and is versatile because of its combination of defence and attack. It is the most likely to succeed in scoring hits as more counter attacks can come unexpectedly and very swiftly rather than a straight forward attack. It can also be used against stronger opponents and can be paired with other forms of combat for a more effective fighting style. The weaknesses are that it requires a highly cunning and highly skilled fighter to use this style to its greatest extent to be able to follow up a block into an immediate attack. It is almost ineffective against Form 2 users, despite how quick the counter attacks. A counter attack will also be less likely to score a killing blow and will more the likely only result in glancing blows, as most counter attacks are reflexive and will require a sloppy attack or an immensely well timed block to move into a killing blow move. It is also not well suited against multiple opponents as no time will be given to counter attack, only against single opponents. Opening stance weapon pointing at down at the ground with the arms shoulder to the opponent*

*4. **Attack: (Aggression)** As it states this form relies on attack with little or no defence and is meant to keep an opponent on the defensive and off balance in hope that sheer aggression and power can overcome the opponents defence. The user implements powerful yet focused and accurate strikes and is mainly used only by physically and mentally powerful Kemiya’s. Kemiya’s will try and maintain the attack at all times, despite consistent loss and gain of kinetic energy. However if an attacker was smart they could maintain kinetic energy by making glancing blows, but this would be more akin to a style fighter. The attacker will try and batter down an opponents defences. As strong as this form is, the other forms of combat have methods to counter attacking tactics. Form 1 users can evade and frustrate an attacker in short bursts. Form 2 users can maintain defence and wear down a Form 4 attacker. Form 3 can counter attack a Form 4 users attacks. Form 6 users can redirect an attackers blade, defend and counter a Form 4 users sword. Form 4’s greatest opposing Form is Form 2. Form 3 is also effective against a Form 4 user, but it must be used correctly. The strengths of this Form is that it is designed to overwhelm an opponent’s defence and batter them into defeat quickly. And this can happen if the Form 4 user is strong enough and facing a much weaker opponent. The weakness being that its open to counter attack from a skilled opponent and even more vulnerable to use against mentally stronger opponents using Defence or even more nimble and agile Kemiya’s, who use Evasion tactics which would lead to unnecessary expenditure of energy, but not for long. Form 4 users will also use up their strength faster than other Form users but depending on the strength of the Form 4 user, this could drag out into a slugging match. Form 4 users also rely on their aggression and can be overcome by calmer and more focused Kemiya’s using Form 2 or Form 3 tactics. This form of combat is employed by Kemiya’s while in darkness form on a higher scale. They will fight as a berserker and can even ignore grievous wounds. Opening stance is weapon held straight at opponent, point outwards*

*5. **Smart:** (**Intelligence)** This is not so much a form of combat on its own but is something a Kemiya should be taught, to try and fight smart and gain and maintain the advantage in combat, such as, using misdirection strikes, maintaining high ground, using the environment or gaining positions to strike at an opponents vulnerable points. It is used mainly with counter tactics and is often used with a Kemiya’s Alchemic skills, though this can be seen as a cheap tactic in melee combat unless agreed by both Kemiya’s as a form of battle*

*6. **Style: (Grace)** This is a difficult and dangerous form of combat but most effective and graceful as well. Kemiya’s are normally arrogant and egotistical and seek to show off but when it comes to battle they are serious warriors. This form of combat is itself a form of showing off with the performance of acrobatic manoeuvres and quick and precise strikes. Foot and body movements are often not necessary but do look skilful and graceful. This style of combat should only be used by elite Kemiya combatants who can perform these stylish moves without leaving openings which is the possible weakness of this style. If performed correctly however, this style can be extremely effective in dodging weapon strikes and placing the Kemiya in a good position to attack, defend and counter attack. It is an excellent blend of the first 4 styles of combat as mentioned. Form 6 users, usually fight one handed, using the other hand for balance and possibly even for physical attacks. The style itself is more akin to a fencing style, using one touch blocks, followed with an immediate counter attack then a shift in position with a stylish move to either attack or defend. Form 6 users will use a combination of glancing blows and wide sweeping arcs, depending on the tactics of the opponent or the wishes of the user themselves. It can be used well against the first 4 styles. Against Form 1, the unpredictable nature of a Form 6 users style makes it hard for a Form 1 user to know which move to make. It can dance past, or even through a Form 2 users defence, but it would depend on the Form 2 users strength and skill. It can almost be drawn equally against a counter attacker, again depending on the skill of both opponents. It can be used well against an attacker, but only a weaker attacker and not a stronger one. The Strengths of the style is that it looks excellent when used correctly and can in fact intimidate an opponent quickly. It uses all 4 Forms of Kemiya combat into one style.  The style itself relies on maintaining motion of the sword and can engage up for four opponents at once. It also uses less energy then a Form 4 user but doesn’t save as much as a Form 2 user. The style also relies on redirecting the opponents blade and removing it from play before stepping in and making the killing blow.  The weakness of this style is that it is incredibly difficult to master and requires years and years of training. It can be over come if not mastered correctly and should never be used unless mastered accordingly. It cannot be used against stronger opponents. If a Form 6 user is facing a stronger opponent and the fight is allowed to drag on, the Form 6 user will be worn down from the fighting and will be unable to redirect their opponents blade, and thus creates a great weakness and cannot be fully utilised. If not fully utilised…it should never be used. As mentioned, a strength of this form is the maintaining of motion of the sword. If the sword is stopped, the motion is stopped and must be recommenced but this can be countered with shallow strikes, letting their blade slide off any blocks or parries that are made against them but this requires getting very close to an opponent, a move that could be countered, depending on the opponents tactics. Another possible weakness of this form is that the user must be continually moving to use this style to its maximum potential and thus when instigating an attack, it is either very hard or impossible to stop, leaving the user vulnerable to an opponents simultaneous attack.Opening stance is legs wide open with weapon pointed to side (Depending on strongest hand)*

*7. **Power: (Willpower)** This is another difficult form to master but is by far the most effective. This form is the use of special attacks from the Kemiya’s metal piece, E.g. (Silver Cut, Silver of Destruction) The form can only be used by strong Kemiya’s who have completely mastered their metal piece and ones who have mastered the exampled special abilities. Some Kemiya’s can even call upon the souls of their metal to enhance their physical abilities but can very quickly wane and the longer its used, the longer it will take for the souls to regain their power and doesn't give as much of a physical increase as the Darkness form but is far less costly. Opening stance is simply the weapon held up over head*