The Star Wars franchise as a whole is a setting that grew and evolved over time prior to the Disney takeover, and nowhere is this more true than with the classic symbol of the Jedi Order: the lightsaber. This elegant weapon for a more civilized age is such an icon of the movies that it spawned heaps of merchandise, choreography competitions, and even recognized competitions between established screen organizations, as described by ESPN.
The prequels' choreography, as created by stunt coordinator Nick Gillard, has notably been expanded upon in the franchise's many spin-off novels, video games, and comics. Gillard created the fight choreography in the prequels with the characters' physicality and personality in mind, as quoted in the Tatooine Times. However, the expanded universe, now dubbed "Legends" after Disney, expanded this idea into seven different forms of lightsaber combat, each with its own techniques and philosophies.
While not what Gillard originally had in mind, the seven forms tie in remarkably well with the characters they're attributed to, and can even serve as additional characterization for when the dialogue ends and the fighting begins. Let's take a look at each of the seven forms as described in the "Legends" continuity, and how they each serve to enhance their users' attributes.
Form 1: Shii-Cho
The basic "form" of lightsaber combat, and described in Legends material as a method aimed at letting the mystical power guide a Jedi's movements, is called "Shii-Cho". Most Jedi characters in the old continuity started their training with this form before moving on to something more specialized. When we are shown training Jedi characters, as in A new hope or Attack of the clones, this is the form they supposedly use, and the Jedi youth battling clones Revenge of the Sith, with moves that are conservative and practiced, it is generally accepted that the tutorial style is also used.
Basically, Form 1 is the term for the most grounded and basic moves seen in the prequels. The lack of elaborate moves is reserved for characters with limited screen time, or those who are explicitly at the beginning of their training.
Form 2: Makashi
Heavily inspired by fencing, and most prominently featured when Christopher Lee's character, Count Dooku, appears on screen. Using a fighting style that uses one-handed movements derived from fencing adds a sense of aristocracy to the character. From a practical perspective, the fact that the older Lee uses a sort of minimalist style of fighting allows his character to maintain a sense of prowess and even menace when going up against the more aggressive and kinetic styles that define the younger actors. Depicting his movements as deliberate and tactical, the character is portrayed as using experience and intelligence to his advantage, distracting from the limitations imposed by the actor's age.
It was established in the continuity of the "legends" that this technique was specifically designed to fight against other lightsabers, and this matches every appearance Count Dooku has in the prequel trilogy, never fighting anyone or anything that isn't a lightsaber . This is a good example of how the series' lore expansions interacted with the core films, enhancing the existing world-building with additional information that didn't conflict with it.
Form 3: Soresu
The defense technique used by Obi-Wan Kenobi has been labeled "Form 3" by the original expanded universe, and it is one of the few styles consistently depicted after the Disney takeover. This technique is about defense, lashing out only in response to an attack and maximizing the possibility of surrender rather than death as the ultimate outcome.
In the prequel trilogy, Obi-Wan's focus on defense over everything else serves as a foil to the more aggressive and dominant style used by Anakin. This added to the distinction between the two characters and painted Kenobi as an archetypal Jedi character with a commitment to peace and serenity. Having the two characters fight side by side allowed the audience to see this difference, even if they didn't realize it at first.
At Disney+ Obi Wan Kenobi, the style reappears, again serving to compare Obi-Wan and Anakin, this time as Darth Vader. The duels between Kenobi and Vader were miniature stories and an excellent return to the kind of choreography that defined the action sequences of the prequels.
Form 4: Ataru
The style that most features superhuman acrobatics and twirls is called Form 4 by Legends material, and it is particularly used by characters who rely entirely on the force. Jedi Master Yoda's battles in the prequels depicted him as constantly moving, spinning and spinning around his larger opponents in a spectacle of animation that has still not been revisited outside of fully CGI works such as The Clone Wars.
Yoda's fights are the most flashy and extreme, and it's notable that his moves are completely thought up by animators. Gillard had little advance notice of Yoda's first duel with Count Dooku and gave no input on how the old master fought.
Applied to a character, this form shows how the power turns the Jedi into superheroes. Extreme acrobatics and kinetic movements are made possible entirely by the power, and a character depicted with this fighting style is always defined by their relationship to the mystical elements of their order.
Shape 5: Djem-So
The heavy, dominant fighting style used by Darth Vader and other aggressive fighters in Star Wars became known as Djem-So. Characters using this "style" grind their opponents and dominate the scene. Seen on screen, this fighting style depicts characters using emotion and anger to their advantage. They swing hard and their intent to kill is evident with every move. This style of choreography also returned Obi Wan Kenobihighlighting the difference between Vader and Kenobi.
Characters fighting this way can also be unsettling to watch, as they're pitted against lesser opponents. The oppressive and dominant way in which the choreography is created not only serves to characterize the user, but also to visualize the power struggle between the two fighters. Having a murderous and dominant fighter take down a defensive fighter adds tension to the conflict.
Form 6: Niman
The fluid and balanced style Ahsoka uses, with her two lightsabers and back-and-forth approach, is a holdover from the prequel-era style that "legends" called Niman. This style was described as balanced between offense and defense.
Ahsoka Tano, seen in live action in the Mandalorian, uses a technique reminiscent of samurai movies, switching between attack and defense in a balanced cadence that's excellent to watch. This matches sixth grade descriptions in pre-Disney books and tie-ins.
This technique, with its mediocre approach, adds a level of flexibility to the character using it. Instead of defending themselves or enacting a murderous rampage, the character tailors their approach to the moment. It is a method that portrays characters with great balance who, like Ahsoka, transcend the categories of 'light side/dark side'.
Form 7: Vaapad
Named Vaapad by the Legends continuity, the style used by Samuel L. Jackson's Mace Windu is defined by its aggressive and direct demeanor. Like Vader's choreography, Windu's style was direct and meant to end the fight immediately, but this time without the dominance and rage that characterized the villain.
Best demonstrated in Attack of the clones, the choreography was brutally direct. Windu spends about eight seconds actually fighting in the movie, and in that time he establishes himself as ruthless and efficient. His later fight with the emperor in Revenge of the Sith was the flashiest of all the prequel fights, and it's a fight Windu ended up winning before Anakin interfered.
The characterization here is about Windu's attitude more than anything. He always got to the point, didn't say a word more than necessary, and his choreography reflected that very well. In a series of movies with a lot of very flashy action sequences, Jackson's character helped flesh out Jackson's character, despite his relatively small amount of screen time, as he was the only character who got straight to the point with their fights.
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