Form II: Makashi (Powerstaark)

Makashi, also known as 'the way of the Ysalamiri' or 'the contention form' was the second style of lightsaber combat.

Makashi was famous for its grace and precision. It was a style that relied largely on balance so practitioners had to keep shifting their feet back and forth when attacking or retreating. Users often held their lightsabers in one hand to allow a greater range of fluidity though they did use both hands sometimes too. Makashi was an effective style to use against Ataru users. However Makashi was designed for lightsaber combat and was therefore less effective against blaster wielding enemies. It also wasn't a good match up for the brute strength of Djem So since Djem So practitioners could use the strength of their blows to knock the Makashi user off balance and thus gain the advantage.

Stance and maneuvers

Makashi users often saluted their opponents as a way of challenging them. They would rais the lightsaber in front of their face while holding it in one hand with their feet shoulder width apart, then whirl the blade and drop it to low guard with the blade pointed diagonally towards the ground. The low guard position was the styles opening stance.

Makashi maneuvers were precise cuts and stabs instead of wide slashes that would leave them open to a counterattack. One of the styles maneuvers was known as 'Shiim' where the user would cut their opponents lightly either as a taunt, an act of desperation, or an attempt to immobilise the opponent through pain.

One of Makashi's techniques was called the 'Makashi Riposte' where the user would slightly alter the angle of an opponents attack before swiftly retaliating with a counter strike. Another technique called the 'Contentious Opportunity' was a tactic of recognising and exploiting an opening in the opponents technique and then striking them through that opening.

As mentioned above Makashi was effective against Ataru users. A Makashi user could send an attack at the Ataru users feet and if the Ataru user tried to flip over the user they could stab the blade up and burn out their spine. Feints were also often used in Makashi.

Practitioners

Count Dooku, also known as Darth Tyranus was the best known master of Makashi. He used it in all of his duels but unfortunately for him even his mastery of the style was unable to stand up to Anakin Skywalker's mastery of Djem So and Skywalker outmaneuvered and killed the Sith Lord.

Shaak Ti was also a master of Makashi using it in a personalised mix with Ataru making her one of the finest swordfighters in the Jedi Order. In fact she was probably, with the possible exception of Luminara Unduli, the finest swordswoman in the Jedi Order.

Count Dooku's former Padawan, Qui-Gon Jinn was also a master of Makashi in addition to his expertise in Ataru. As he grew older Qui-Gon began using Makashi more often since Ataru actobatics would tire him out. However he continued putting elements of Ataru into his style which unfortunately led to his death at the hands of Darth Maul.

Cin Drallig and Sora Bulq were also experts at Makashi in addition to most of the other lightsaber forms. Even Piell also used Makashi to some degree. The evil Sith Lord, Darth Sidious had also mastered Makashi.

Asajj Ventress was known for using a two bladed variant of Makashi. Luminara Unduli claimed that her technique was 'unrefined, ameturish, sloppy' but that taunt proved to be almost fatal for the Jedi Master. Quinlan Vos also learnt a few maneuvers from Makashi while he was one of Count Dooku's Dark Acolytes. Darth Vader put elements of Makashi into his fighting style but he lacked the grace and precision of most Makashi practitioners.