What Is S.a.b.e.r Mcu
Bernd Manison
Saber-toothed cats (Smilodon fatalis), also known as the saber-toothed tigers or simply smilodons, are some of the most iconic ice age animals. Their claims to fame are their oversized canine teeth, which could reach up to seven to eight inches (17-20 centimeters) long! These big cats lived during the Pleistocene epoch, appearing in the fossil record about 800,000 years ago. Although they are not the only saber-toothed carnivore to live during that period, they are certainly the best-known.
Saber-toothed cats may be known as tigers or lions, but names can be deceiving! These cats are actually not directly related to modern tigers or lions. Rather, they were a unique group of animals, standing up to three feet (1 m) tall at the shoulder, 5.5 feet (1.7 m) in length, and up to 750 pounds (340 kg) in weight. They would have been somewhat similar to lions, though shorter and almost twice as heavy.
Despite the size difference, saber-toothed cats likely had some things in common with lions. To begin with, they had similar throat bones as lions, meaning they could roar. They may have also lived in packs. Some depictions show this cat as a solitary hunter, like modern tigers, but fossil evidence suggests something different. Saber-toothed cat skeletons with diseases like arthritis or healed injuries have been found. If these cats hunted and lived alone, they would not have survived injuries as they would have not been able to hunt for food. However, if they lived in a pack, where other animals could share food with the injured animal, an injury did not necessarily imply a death sentence. Perhaps the movie Ice Age got this right!
This ambush-hunting style worked well and helped saber-toothed cats to survive throughout the Americas. They spread from coast to coast, from southern Canada all the way to Peru. They even lived here at White Sands! Keep in mind that back then the sand dunes did not exist, and the Tularosa Basin was home to an enormous lake called Lake Otero. This lake attracted a number of ice age mammals, including sloths, mammoths, camels, and, of course, saber-toothed cats.
Every Jedi and Sith in the galaxy must be skilled in lightsaber combat to survive. Although the Jedi are known to rely on peaceful negotiations, that does not mean they do not understand the importance of lightsaber combat. As lightsaber fighting styles have evolved, certain methods have become outdated, yet all forms are acknowledged for their historical and practical importance. This guide covers the seven lightsaber forms, from the foundational to the most advanced, reflecting the evolution of this elegant combat form.
When learning lightsaber techniques, a Jedi or Sith apprentice is trained to recognize all seven forms of combat. Shii-Cho, also known as Form I, is the oldest and most elementary form of lightsaber combat developed by the Jedi Order. Shii-Cho is still taught to youngling Jedis because it is the most basic. This style is known to be used when all other forms of combat have failed. Because this form has such early origins, Shii-Cho is not optimized for a lightsaber to lightsaber combat and is used predominantly for defense.
Once the Dark Jedi and Sith Lords emerged, Form I became outdated and the Jedi needed a combative form that was both offensive and defense, something more equipped for a lightsaber to lightsaber contact. At this point, many switched to the Makashi form, also known as Form II or the Contention Form. This form is both graceful and calculated, relying on balance and complicated footwork to outsmart their opponent. In the Makashi form, opponents use only one hand and with this form, the user is usually able to disarm their opponent without killing them.
As galactic combat changed and blasters became more relevant, the Makashi form of fighting soon became obsolete. Unlike Shii-Cho, which is still used by Jedi, Form III, also known as Soresu or the Way of the Mynock, replaced Makashi (Form II). This form is known to be the most resilient and the ultimate expression of the non-aggressive Jedi philosophy. Obi-Wan Kenobi, a master of Soresu, was said to be able to block any strike and move with grace.
Another key reason why this method became so prominent was for its defensive tactics. A Jedi needs to be able to protect themself from all sides, and Soresu is the perfect tactic not only in a duel but to deflect any potential shots coming at the fighter. Although many Jedi fighters use Soresu, Luke Skywalker proved himself excellent at this technique while fending off Scout Troopers on Endor.
As lightsaber wielders started becoming more skilled and powerful in the force, Form IV, also known as Ataru or the Aggression Form, grew in prominence. Ataru fighting techniques date back through the Old Republic and were even employed during the Mandalorian Wars. Due to its aggressive nature, Ataru became the favored combat style for many Sith and is marked as the second most kinetically active combat form, aside from Form VII. Much of the Ataru style is affected by how skilled the fighter is with the force seeing as it heavily relies on the use of Force-assisted acrobatics.
Like Makashi (Form II), Ataru is most useful in one-on-one lightsaber combat. Relying on a combination of speed, agility, and strength, practitioners of this form are combatting on the offensive. Before the fall of the Old Republic, both Yoda and Qui-Gon Jinn were some of the most skilled Jedi in using Form IV. In Revenge of the Sith, Yoda displays his excellence in using the Ataru combatting style while fighting Darth Sidious. Ataru is not a fighting method that can or should be used by novices of the Force. It is a lightsaber tactic that requires detailed force knowledge and can only be employed by those who can become one with the force, allowing the Force to flow through them freely.
Like many lightsaber forms, this one is used by both Sith and Jedi alike although some Jedi felt that the aggression used in this form was not faithful to the Jedi way. Many large lightsaber-wielding individuals prefer to use Form V because it relies less on acrobatics than some of the other offensive forms.
Form VI, also referred to as Niman or the Way of the Rancor, was developed in order to combine many of the previous forms into one, centralized fighting technique. By combining these techniques, Form VI emerged as the first form to neither possess a signature fighting technique nor exhibit a distinct weakness, forming a balance that made it highly adaptable and favored by many Jedi.
Finally, the seventh form of lightsaber combat emerged and was referred to as either Juyo, Vaapad, or Form VII. Form VII is the last known form of lightsaber combat and is known to be the most aggressive. Jedi Master Mace Windu is the most famous Jedi known to use this form of combat because Form VII is the most aggressive and only the most Force-sensitive individuals can execute this form successfully.
In general, all lightsaber fighting styles will partially overlap with another form. Each lightsaber combat form has its own distinct look but many times, several forms of procedure will be used in a given duel or fight. When deciding which form of combat to use against your opponent, you must evaluate many things.
Many Jedi Knights are trained to fight defensively, aiming to preserve life whenever possible. Thus, when determining their method of battle, they carefully consider how to achieve maximum efficiency with minimal loss of life. When a Sith or Dark Jedi chooses a combat style, they will usually be looking for the lightsaber form that is most effective against their given opponent.
It is widely thought that the only thing that can block a lightsaber blade is another lightsaber blade. This is false. There are many materials that are impervious to a lightsaber beam. Water, for instance, is a substance that lightsabers are unable to function in if immersed. The beam will begin to sizzle, and the utility will be severed.
Another resistant material is ultrachrome. This material could block blasters, projectile weapons, and lightsaber blades by diffusing the energy across its surface. An additional restraint material is Cortosis. This is by far the most common restraint and has the ability to short and deflect lightsaber blades. Avoid these substances at all costs, or your lightsaber and performance will suffer.
When joining one of the worldwide lightsaber combat groups, certain protocols must be followed to ensure the safety of everyone in the group. Just as Jedi younglings begin to learn the art of the lightsaber in the Shii-Cho form, many groups require mastering the Shii-Cho form before engaging in more elaborate lightsaber combat forms.
E stands for experience. No matter what saber you own, the experience you have with it will be incredible. Get acquainted with your saber and learn its many quirks and elements. The more experience you have with your saber, the better your performance will be.
The Epoch Mk3 takes design inspiration from our original Epoch and puts a modern slant on the saber that started it all. The epoch Mk3 features a double shroud construction with v grooves visible in the body and emitter shroud panels. The emitter has three beautiful windows for the light to shine through, and the pommel uses a target-style sound venting pattern.
Your browser is preventing our website from loading content required for this item. In order to view this page correctly, please disable or whitelist our website for any plugin or extension that may be causing this error.
I remember years ago, when my son wanted to order the Epoch MK1. It was the first time I had seen what Saber Forge had to offer, and I really liked it. This was during the transition to the MK2 model, so when he ordered, that is what he received. He still loved it, but I think he still yearned for the MK1 that he missed out on. Now, the MK3 has captured everything that made the MK1 so unforgettable, and added the black contrast zones on the standard finish, exactly how we originally wanted on the MK1! There are so many design features (angled emitter, shine through windows, etc.) that just work well together for a saber anyone would be proud to own!
d3342ee215