Jedi Kung-Fu?

Enola Straight · Post by **Enola Straight** » 2003-02-18 06:50pm

AFAIK, Jedis only enter into battle with a lightsaber.

In AOTC, Obi-Wan could not get his saber in a fight with Jango Fett, and ended up basically wrestling him...and not beating him.

In TPM Quai-Gon manages to back-hand punch Darth Maul, and Luke manages to level a kick to Darth Vader's chestplate in ROTJ.

Suppose some odd technobabble situation comes up...say, Jedis enter a room with a suppression field which neutralizes blasters and lightsabers...press the button or squeeze the trigger, and nothing happens.

Don't the Jedi use some kind of hand-to-hand martial art in situations where swordplay is not feasable?

Kerneth · Post by **Kerneth** » 2003-02-18 06:54pm

Given that Yoda mentioned the Jedi were horribly overconfident in the PT, I'd guess not. In the EU, though, the Jedi are starting to train in barehanded as well as lightsaber fighting. Corran teaches some of his fellow students CorSec hand-to-hand techniques as a prelude to lightsaber training, and in the last NJO book Jaina Solo is training in hand-to-hand with Jagged Fel.

Darth Fanboy · Post by **Darth Fanboy** » 2003-02-19 05:25am

I wonder what it would be like if a Jedi learned Jeet Kune Do?

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2003-02-19 05:35am

Darth Fanboy wrote:I wonder what it would be like if a Jedi learned Jeet Kune Do?

What's that??

Robert Treder · Post by **Robert Treder** » 2003-02-19 05:41am

It's the fighting style that Bruce Lee developed. IIRC, it was the world's first 'freeform' martial art. Also, it kicks ass.

Kerneth · Post by **Kerneth** » 2003-02-19 09:44am

I don't know anything about Jeet Kune Do, but there are several martial arts that emphasize the ability to do serious damage to or outright kill yor opponent in a very brief period of time. The Israeli "krav maga" (sp?) and Indonesian "pentjak silat" (which also covers weapons use and thus might result in some VERY interesting lightsaber techniques, though as far as I know silat doesn't use swords) come to mind. With Jedi reflexes and precognition, obviously, any martial art would be extremely effective.

Coaan · Post by **Coaan** » 2003-02-19 11:02am

Given that Jedi often can survive into 60's and 70's....perhaps a style of combat that is 'soft' but in no means any less offensive when mastered.

By soft I mean not using muscle or as yoda put it 'crude matter' but focusing and lashing out with the energy produced...using this method, often referred to as Shotokai...I've seen 70 year olds best guys fifty years younger with absolute ease..

Hard is when you focus on his much strength you can use in any given situation....usually people who use this style are burnt out after they pass 30

shotokai is basically about defending and blocking attacks with both hands and feet where you can, never used in attack...often you hear that a good defence is the best offence...in this case, it is. By redeflecting the energy and strength an opponent uses to attack you, you can effectivly manipulate his body against him with the right set of blocks...it would fit in well with the Jedi's ethos of 'Only attack as a last resort'

Cyke · Post by **Cyke** » 2003-02-19 12:10pm

It would make a lot of sense if Jedi unarmed combat arts (if any) focused on defense, with styles like real world shotokai or aikido.. it would sort of mirror their view on use of the Force as a weapon.
Of course, the prequel trilogy revealed that (most) Jedi aren't the masterful warriors we once conceived them to be, and that their reputation even in the Star Wars galaxy makes them out to be... not even close.

Btw, many silat styles incorporate the use of the keris, a wavy bladed short sword.

Keevan_Colton · Post by **Keevan_Colton** » 2003-02-19 12:12pm

Cyke wrote:It would make a lot of sense if Jedi unarmed combat arts (if any) focused on defense, with styles like real world shotokai or aikido.. it would sort of mirror their view on use of the Force as a weapon.
Of course, the prequel trilogy revealed that (most) Jedi aren't the masterful warriors we once conceived them to be, and that their reputation even in the Star Wars galaxy makes them out to be... not even close.

Btw, many silat styles incorporate the use of the keris, a wavy bladed short sword.

I think you mean a kris...a wavy bladed dagger.

Coaan · Post by **Coaan** » 2003-02-19 12:22pm

Newbie!

*jabs with stick*
Get 'em lads!

Coaan · Post by **Coaan** » 2003-02-19 12:46pm

Cyke wrote:It would make a lot of sense if Jedi unarmed combat arts (if any) focused on defense, with styles like real world shotokai or aikido.. it would sort of mirror their view on use of the Force as a weapon.
Of course, the prequel trilogy revealed that (most) Jedi aren't the masterful warriors we once conceived them to be, and that their reputation even in the Star Wars galaxy makes them out to be... not even close.

Btw, many silat styles incorporate the use of the keris, a wavy bladed short sword.

At any rate, Shotokai is meant for use with a Katana, the katas used are exactly the same when using a sword as a pose to just hands, though you only actually get to start learning of the sword when you pass 1st Dan

Post by **weemadando** » 2003-02-19 09:16pm

Jeet kun do would be interesting, but I think that Shootwrestling would be far better.

However, if its going to be in a movie, you can guarantee that the fighting will be more ridiculous than capoeira.

Stuart Mackey · Post by **Stuart Mackey** » 2003-02-20 04:29am

Well if a Jedi were put ina situation where they did have to go to unarmed combat they would be sensible to do as any self respecting army does, depending on the mission at hand. Nutralise the enemy as quickly as possible, and get your weapon back. Anything less is pure BS.

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2003-02-20 03:10pm

The Jedi must know some kinda matrial art. That was a pretty nifty kick Obi hit Jango with in mid air.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2003-02-20 03:13pm

I would think that to handle a sort like weapon you would need to be in fairly fit and flexible shape. One assumes that they learn some kind of martial art.

Besides, to think that what amount to warriors for the most part, would not learn any unarmed combat is pretty stupid. Even considering Jedi arrogance.

Silver · Post by **Silver** » 2003-02-20 06:14pm

Minor nitpick, but Obi-Wan wasn't exactly losing to Jango on the landing platform. Jango ended up losing his flight advantage and his weapons, and that was after Obi got blasted by Slave 1.

Jim Raynor · Post by **Jim Raynor** » 2003-02-20 06:17pm

Don't they have a martial art called Teras Kasi?

Darth Garden Gnome · Post by **Darth Garden Gnome** » 2003-02-20 06:23pm

Yeah, there was a video game made out of it. Han Solo knows it too, apparently he picked it up in bar-brawling. Anywho, I don't think Jedi are knowledgable in Teras Kasi. Otherwise he should've really beat on Jango good. Not that, after getting shot all to hell by missles and lasers, whipchorded and dragged for a little bit, he didn't take down Jango with some well-placed kicks anyways.

Dooey Jo · Post by **Dooey Jo** » 2003-02-21 04:46am

Perhaps all Jedi are ninjas? That would have been cool...

Slartibartfast · Post by **Slartibartfast** » 2003-02-21 10:13am

If the game is any indication, Teras Kasi involves beating your opponent in the head repeatedly with the first blunt object you can find.

Coaan · Post by **Coaan** » 2003-02-21 10:16am

Slartibartfast wrote:If the game is any indication, Teras Kasi involves beating your opponent in the head repeatedly with the first blunt object you can find.

Medieval fighting styles?

Eleas · Post by **Eleas** » 2003-02-21 11:35am

Robert Treder wrote:It's the fighting style that Bruce Lee developed. IIRC, it was the world's first 'freeform' martial art. Also, it kicks ass.

Jeet Kune Do is not a specific martial art. It's a rules set, a philosophy. For lack of a bette words, it's a formless form.

Stuart Mackey · Post by **Stuart Mackey** » 2003-02-21 07:15pm

Coaan wrote:
Slartibartfast wrote:If the game is any indication, Teras Kasi involves beating your opponent in the head repeatedly with the first blunt object you can find.
Medieval fighting styles?

Let me assure you, medieval fighting was considerably more sophisticated than that.
http://www.thehaca.com/about.htm

Kurgan · Post by **Kurgan** » 2003-02-21 09:57pm

Well, considering a simple "suppression field" that stopped blasters and lightsabers wouldn't necessarily stop the Force, I would think that would be enough to let a Jedi or Sith hold his own in a fight.

But that's just a guess... ; )

Cool link btw, info wise.

Lord_Xerxes · Post by **Lord_Xerxes** » 2003-02-22 05:12am

Darth Garden Gnome wrote:Yeah, there was a video game made out of it. Han Solo knows it too, apparently he picked it up in bar-brawling. Anywho, I don't think Jedi are knowledgable in Teras Kasi. Otherwise he should've really beat on Jango good. Not that, after getting shot all to hell by missles and lasers, whipchorded and dragged for a little bit, he didn't take down Jango with some well-placed kicks anyways.

I don't think that's what Solo knows, because from what I understand, Teras Kasi involves the use of the Force. There was a character in that game that particed it though. Arden Lynn I think.