Var Shek

Var Shek (literally "death hand") was the name of a Sith martial art practiced in the empire, and by some descendants of the Sith species even after the Battle of Yavin.

Var Shek, unlike Echani fighting styles, was extremely ruthless and brutal, designed to quickly kill or incapacitate an attacker. Unlike the use of the lightsaber, it had no higher cultural or philosophical connotation; it was developed by Massassi warriors and lesser Sith Lords, to combat enemies on the battlefield at close range. The style relied heavily on powerful hand techniques and low kicks; though higher kicks were taught for flexibility and muscle training, in actual combat kicks above the groin were very rare. It also incorporated footsweeps, throws, and takedown techniques. Groundwork in Var Shek was limited, as the aim was to kill an enemy outright rather than force him to submit.

Training in Var Shek was intense, and involved a good deal of physical conditioning, both of striking surfaces (hands, knuckles, shins) and surfaces of the practicioner's body that he might expect to be struck (stomach, thighs, and, again, shins). As it had no cultural background, Var Shek lacked "forms" in the sense of long series of prearranged moves, though novices were taught basic techniques with counters as partner drills. Instead, training was split almost evenly among drills, body conditioning, and partner practice (both on individual techniques and free sparring). Individual variations in the style were encouraged, as it was designed exclusively for practical use. In traditional Var Shek training, students occasionally killed each other in sparring practice, though this was usually discouraged.

Unlike Teras Kasi, Var Shek was taught widely to the non-Force sensitive, and by the time of the Great Hyperspace War was required training for all Massassi warriors. It proved especially useful for Sith engaging Jedi at close range, especially if one or both had been deprived of a lightsaber. "Unfair" advantages were considered more than fair by Var Shek practitioners, and those heading to battle often wore spiked gloves, shin and groin armor, and the like.

Like all aspects of Sith culture, Var Shek faded to near extinction following the defeat of Naga Sadow and the subsequent obliteration of most of the Sith Empire. In modern times, the greatest master of Var Shek was Tak Sakaros. Realizing that his pool of students was greatly diminished and training fatalities would not be acceptable, he refined some training measures to ensure that his students survived.

Other practitioners, all students of Sakaros himself, were:
 * Astariax Drago (basics)
 * Kartok
 * Khrado Ragnos
 * Khrado, Marquand, and Tariun Sakaros
 * Rin Sakaros
 * Ye'keb Millennium (basics)