The Pace Of Learning (Kimchi)

[Jenno]

His time back at the temple had not been so pleasant. The council meeting had yielded some results, but not the complete backing he had hoped for. More of the seated members had spoke up in support of his Blades, some of them even seemed eager to join, and Vreem would not be afraid to ask them.

But currently he was walking idly through the halls with a Jedi Master who had returned to the temple with him. Twi’lek Master Neura Ven had fought by his side at Rhen Var; she had been injured during their assault upon the interdictor-class ship. Upon his orders she had stayed out of the battle on the planet due to her injuries, but now she was almost back to perfect condition. It was amazing what kolto and a bit of Jedi healing could do.

Vreem was talking quite casually with Master Ven upon the outcome of the meeting and potential plans for the Blades in the upcoming weeks. Now that the Jedi were going to be seeking information, that meant they could focus more on maintaining the front lines, and the foothold in the Outer Rim, which wasn’t going to be easy. Despite the scale of the Republic’s forces there was a great deal of politics involved in amassing its forces, and that was not Vreem’s area. He only prayed to the Force that the Chancellor would be able to move the slow-paced cogs of the Republic war machine in a much faster manner. If not, they would most probably lose the Outer Rim within the year, he speculated.

So much of his daily routine was to do with war now. His decision to fight had resulted in a drastic change in his lifestyle; he lived and breathed talks of battle, logistics and strategy. Gone were the days of gentle smiles to smaller students as they tried their best to become accepted Padawans of the Order. This conflict had come at a much easier time in his life, he had no idea how it would impact the younglings and padwans. Though for the time being, whilst it remained on the Outer Rim, the students of the temple would rarely hear much of the war, and know even less of it. But who was to say things would stay the same.

The pair found themselves walking through some of the training areas within the temple. With night creeping towards them most of the younger students were no longer inhabiting the space, instead they were off preparing for sleep or relaxing with those in their clans. So when they stumbled upon a tiny figure practicing a lightsaber kata, Vreem was quite surprised. The Jedi Lord froze in his stride; Master Ven stopped upon the sight of this and followed his gaze.

Vreem recognized the student as she trained. There were few that size who could move with such speed and grace. It had been a while since he had last seen Taeyeon Juso, before he had been stranded upon Korriban, and long before he had donned the battle armour which he currently wore. As he instinctively entered the room, he could spy no trace of a padawan braid within her hair. Strange, she was of viable age; he would have expected someone so determined in their studies to be snapped up straight away. But then, few could predict how each Jedi would approach their selection of a padawan.

She came to the end of the kata as Vreem and Neura stood a few meters away, both born in battle armour. Vreem had adopted a small smile whilst Neura had her natural look of displeasure. “Master Ven, meet Taeyeon Juso, one of my former students when I was still an instructor, Taeyeon, meet Master Ven, a member of the ‘Blades’, as we have been dubbed.” He moved a few steps closer. “Your technique and precision seems to have improved greatly young one, I doubt this is the only night for which you have stayed up in order to practice. Are you still able to beat the stronger members of your clan with your speed?” He smiled to her, she reminded him much of himself when he was a youngling, only he had lacked the strong drive she used in order to overcome the challenge before her. He had discovered that much later in his lifetime.

[Death by Kimchi]

The night drew steadily and surely, approaching with a calm placidity that Taeyeon had grown so used to over the years. Though each day held its unique trials, its varying tribulations, every night inevitably followed the same familiar routine. Or so it was for the average youngling. After a hard day’s work of training and studying and sparring, a child’s natural inclination would be to relax and settle down. Perhaps spend some time socializing with their peers. Crack a few jokes about the kid who accidentally knocked over his plate of food with an ill-advised use of the Force. Do anything and everything to settle down and calm one’s mind as you prepare to retire for the evening.

But such thoughts were trivial. Fleeting. No, the young Taeyeon had high aspirations. Aspirations that would not, could not be risked by frivolity and foolishness. Though you couldn’t tell by watching the younglings go about their lives, there was a war going on. And who knows just how long it may last or how far it may reach. Whispers among the adults suggested that the Sith have returned, the significance of such news lost among the daily activities of the young.

These children were far too busy dreaming… fantasizing of how one day, they’ll be the best the Order had to offer. They wished to be strong, skilled, and learned. But Taeyeon was not to be satisfied with dreams and wishes and infantile fantasies. She knew that reaching one’s potential took far more than simply wanting it. You had to strive for it. You had to struggle for it. You had to fight for it. And some day—sooner rather than later, should recent events bear evidence enough—you may have to lay it all on the line in order to preserve that which you stand for.

Such pragmatism was rare amongst the youth of the galaxy. But it was this very pragmatism that kept Taeyeon from drowning in a sea of lethargy. While the other younglings communed with one another every night, easing into a state of relaxation, the small child kept her mind alert and her body ready. Though she was no padawan yet, she was confident that her day was fast approaching. And once it came, she wanted to be prepared… If there were ever a time the Order needed its best and brightest, it was now. And Taeyeon Juso had no intention of being left behind.

So it was with an unquenchable appetite for improvement that the girl practiced every night. And tonight would be no different. While the katas she was performing were basic in function, her form possessed a grace and fluidity opposite of what her size would imply. In spite of her short stature, Taeyeon swiftly dashed to and fro, the luminous green beam of her training saber slicing through the empty air in a flurry, each strike’s swiftness matched only by its precision.

Three, six, two, three… The girl’s inner voice kept track of every strike, associating each number with the area of the body her attack was aimed toward, just like her instructors had taught her. Strike the left elbow, slash the left knee, followed by a strike to the right shoulder and a swing at the left wrist. A basic combo designed to disarm and subsequently slow down an opponent, perfect for use against larger adversaries. And to Taeyeon, just about everybody was a larger adversary.

After executing several similar combos with just as much poise and alacrity, the youngling reached the end of her kata, unaware that she was no longer alone. It wasn’t until she had powered down her training saber that she realized she was being watched.

Recognizing the voice that would echo forth, Taeyeon turned to face the two Jedi. It had been a few years since she had last seen Jedi Master Vreem Took… Given her age, it was as a lifetime ago. Yet still she held close to her heart the lessons he had instilled within her as her instructor. It was due in no small part to this man that she was able to rise through her clan’s ranks, undeterred by stronger younglings. He helped her realize the value of speed and skill, and that brute strength could be overcome by one’s wits and dexterity.

Though smiling was never in her nature, the child could not help but feel her lips curve into a delighted grin at the sight of her old instructor. But the presence of the Twi’lek Master helped the girl remember where she was, and the sight of the pair in battle armour gave testament to where they had been—and more than likely will again be heading. As Vreem introduced Master Ven, Taeyeon bowed respectfully.

“An honor to meet you, Master Jedi.” The girl rose and stood before the Masters, keeping her posture perfect, in respect of the adults in front of her. Vreem then went on to comment on what the two elders had just witnessed. Fortunately, his words were those of praise, causing a swell of pride within the youngling’s mind, and once again drawing the slightest of smiles from her lips. Hopefully the two hadn’t noticed. While she was anything but humble when among her peers, Taeyeon always tried to maintain decorum whenever addressing older Jedi. Especially when confronted by such an audience as a pair of Masters—one of whom being a member of the Council, no less.

“I-indeed, Master Took… If I may be so bold to say… I believe I am still ranked number one in my clan, in both lightsaber combat as well as unarmed.” Again, Taeyeon kept her visible expressions in check, making sure not to let her ego get the best of her. “But… such ranks mean little beyond the sparring room. I still have much to learn.” Indeed, though her eloquence and skill were both impressive considering her youth, the youngling was under no illusions that she was anything but just that—a youngling.

“I for one am glad to see you after all this time.” As her deep brown eyes drew toward their battle armour, Taeyeon’s curiosity was piqued. “Pardon me for my candor, but... How goes the war on the Outer Rim?”

[Jenno]

Master Ven bowed her head slightly in response to Taeyeon’s greeting. Vreem had known the Jedi Master for a number of years now, she was a deadly combatant, but not particularly keen on conversing with others. She took quite a while to warm up to people, but she was a truly loyal companion. So perhaps her response, or clear lack thereof, may have dissuaded the young Taeyeon somewhat, Vreem knew it was simply how Neura acted.

He smiled slightly at the youngling as she spoke of still being ranked number one in her clan. His older instincts were beginning to kick in at the same time, a mixture of praise and caution formed in his mind. He had seen this girl relentlessly pursue the idea of becoming better than the rest of her clan, regardless of her small stature; she possessed an almost unnatural level of determination for someone her age. He remembered as she took his advice to heart, becoming gradually becoming more and more successful in her bouts with the other younglings of her clan until she stood above them all.

“As a youngling, amongst your peers, it is quite a significant position to be in, and one that takes no small amount of skill or dedication to achieve. Others will look up to you, seek to beat you or become like you. Remember, Taeyeon, that aiming to better yourself should be the goal, not to become the best, that way you can express humility amongst your peers, a trait which is what many potential masters may look for in a prospective student at the top of their class.” The words of guidance still felt familiar to him. He’d never been in a position to receive such words as a youngling as he didn’t stand out quite so much for his talents back then; he’d lacked the ambition that Taeyeon possessed.

But still, despite the brief return to handing out advice within the confines of the Temple, Vreem couldn’t but help feel as though the sensation was somewhat lacking now, with the events taking place throughout the Galaxy. And now his mind led him towards the question that the young girl had asked him. His smile lessened slightly, war was no happy matter, and whilst he wished she could remain ignorant to the war, and that he could as well, failing to properly respond to her question would be demeaning and counter-productive.

But still, the question caused him to pause for a moment, and he re-adjusted one of his arm guards. “At this point in time, it’s too early to properly predict and certain outcome. There is still a lot of information we need to gather, and preparation for the Republic forces to make, not to mention the fact that we are still in need of more Jedi to join the cause. And now the council finally believes in what I once warned them about. I do not wish you to stir up panic with this news as I only recently divulged it to the council, but the Sith have returned. It is perhaps something for you to bear in mind as your future amongst the Jedi is coming to a pivotal moment.”

“We don’t know about their true size or strength, or about who leads them. But they have powerful members amongst their ranks, and the cunning to attack Jedi regardless of their opinion of the war. The future is certainly a difficult thing to grasp at this time.”

He shifted his gaze, internally shaking himself back to where he was and who he was talking to. His smile picked up again. “But enough of the war, how about I show you a few tricks? And a bit of insight into a form that might interest you, my personal favourite, Makashi?” He asked the youngling.

[Death by Kimchi]

“Humility…” At this, Taeyeon’s eyes lowered slightly as she momentarily contemplated his words. Despite her youth, the child possessed a respectable degree of self-awareness—a natural byproduct of her constant struggle for self-improvement. She knew enough of herself to realize that, of all her flaws, pride was, perhaps, her most prevalent. It begged the question… was it her pride that has thus far kept her under the radar of the apprentice-seeking Jedi? While she was still the youngest of her clan to be without a master, she had always assumed she would have been one of the first ones picked as soon as she had come of age. But a year past ten, and here she was. She was confident enough in her skills… but perhaps, in a bitter twist of irony, it was this self-same confidence that kept her from progressing. “I shall meditate on your words, Master Jedi.”

The youth lifted her gaze once more to meet her elders’. As Vreem spoke, Taeyeon couldn’t help but notice the stoic stance of the Twi’lek at his side. This Master Ven… though she seemed cold and aloof, Taeyeon, in some way, understood. She herself had never been a people person, preferring to keep her eyes on the goal in front of her rather than be distracted by trivial sentimentalities. Master Ven was obviously not as friendly or forthcoming as Master Took, but Taeyeon could understand that. She could respect that.

The tone of Vreem's voice changed as he began to speak of the war, a topic which swiftly and surely caught the youngling’s full attention.

“The Sith?” So the rumors are true, then… In that case, perhaps I can… The girl shook her head. The only exposure she had to the Sith was from the limited parcels of knowledge her instructors were willing to impart during her classes, as well as whatever history she was able to dig up from the archives during her free time. She knew of them, of course. She knew what they were. She knew they were dangerous. But she had never actually laid eyes on one, nor felt the dark influence of their presence. But were the things she had heard accurate, she could only imagine what kind of peril would be brought on the galaxy should the Republic fail against them.

This quickly led to the warning Vreem had apparently given the Council… From the sound of it, they were only now starting to act. Taeyeon didn’t quite know what to make of this. With the significant amount of influence he had made as one of her previous instructors, Taeyeon had always looked up to Vreem with a great deal of respect and admiration. His wisdom had always been self-evident, his insight invaluable. When his role as instructor came to an end, his admission to the High Council only served to elevate his status in the young girl’s mind. That they would entrust the man with such a position, only to subsequently heed his words with so little respect… It made no sense.

But the girl quelled her thoughts on the matter, as Vreem diverted the direction of the conversation away from the war. What he would say next, the child hadn’t expected. As he made his offer, Taeyeon once again found herself giving the slightest of smiles. It had been a while since she had the chance to train with her former instructor. As a Council member, he had no obligation to take the time to share some of his techniques with a mere youngling. That he would make such an offer to her… it was an opportunity she would have to have been crazy to let pass by. Indeed, it was an incredible honor.

Not one to take such a chance without due gratitude, Taeyeon gave a respectful bow toward Vreem. “I would be honored, Master Jedi.” The elder Jedi mentioned the form that he would show her, piquing the youngling’s interest.

“Makashi… Form two… The Way of the Ysalamiri.” The girl recited this bit of knowledge more for herself than for any type of showmanship. Indeed, she had done her homework. While it was standard procedure for all younglings to learn the very basics of every lightsaber form, Taeyeon had always taken the initiative to do as much extracurricular research as she could. Though she had not been able to physically practice any of the forms past what was taught during class, she nonetheless studied each one at a theoretical level. Growing up in the Order, to her, was an academic process. One that she was admittedly obsessed with, and one that she strove to excel at, thus far to great success. Such an attitude had its perks, apparently enough, as the tiny youngling prepared herself for a personal lesson from the great Jedi Master Vreem Took…

[Jenno]

(OOC: Sorry for the lateness, was going to do it after staff stuff was done, but due to real life, staff stuff isn’t done and I think it’s not fair to make you wait much longer. Hopefully this post will make up for it a bit.)

At the mention of humility, Vreem noticed how the youngling’s mind fell into the pit of contemplation. It was good that with the skill and ability she possessed, Taeyeon still had the intelligence and wisdom to look in upon herself and reflect. He could hand out the greatest advice in the galaxy, but it would be all for nothing if the message didn’t get through.

But he had promised the youngling a lesson, and he certainly did not hope to disappoint. With a smile on his face he looked at the Jedi Master accompanying him. “Master Ven, if you’d be so kind as to help me in a demonstration.” She looked at him for a moment, he could tell she was not so easily inclined to teach as he perhaps was, but she submitted to his request without any verbal protest. As the twi’lek Jedi Master began to remove her outermost robes, Vreem removed his lightsaber from his waist and looked down at Taeyeon.

“Now, you’ve most likely gone over the basics of this form, read about what it is that makes Makashi the style it is, but I shall cover them briefly anyway. Before we even consider the use of the blade, you must make sure you are able to use your legs.” He lifted his body onto the tips of his toes, to over-exaggerate the posture for a moment before falling gently onto the balls of his feet. “One of the key aspects to Makashi is the use of footwork; you must learn to become comfortable with your body’s centre of balance whilst upon the balls of your feet. When an opponent comes at you, you need to be able to dodge quickly” he quickly paced a number of steps to the side, avoiding an invisible attack, “and then at the greatest opportunity, you need to press forward, attacking your opponent once an opening reveals itself,” he moved towards his invisible attacker with heated intent before falling back into a casual stance.

“If you can develop your footwork to quickly avoid, without exerting great amounts of energy and allow your body to set itself up for a counter-attack, then you can quickly outmanoeuvre your opponent, and allow yourself to get into the perfect position to attack.” Master Ven was stood waiting now; she took hold of both of her lightsabers and adjusted the power of blades to a much more practical training level. Both yellow blades sprung to life as she took her stance. Adjusting his own blade to a similar strength, Vreem stood facing her. “Makashi is a very sophisticated form, and it is traditional to salute your opponent before facing them. Of course, if your opponent doesn’t much care for such traditions, then it is best to forego them if you do not wish to give them an advantage.” He ignited the emerald blade of his trusted lightsaber and flicked the blade up towards his face and then back to the side before bringing it in front of him and pointing it to the ground, more particularly aimed to Master Ven’s feet. He was upon the balls of his feet. “Notice that my blade points towards the direction of my opponent. Each movement of the blade is crucial, speed and precision are your greatest tools when using Makashi, if you allow excess movement to enter into your style, you give your opponent a greater advantage with each motion of your blade.”

“Remember that when your opponent attacks, you must judge the strength of their strikes, as well as the speed at which they move, slower, heavier strikes generally provide you with the opportunity to parry your opponent’s blade and move in for an attack. Master Ven, if you would.” The Jedi Master nodded, and with a slow movement, stepped forward slashed down towards Vreem’s neck. The Jedi Lord raised his blade and caught Master Ven’s strike so that it glanced off to the side and then he continued to move towards her and slid his own blade easily towards her own neck. They had moved at somewhat exaggerated pace in order to show how the basic of the movement worked. The two Masters stepped apart back into their standard guards.

“As you can see, the basis of the movement is to shift your opponent’s centre of balance, doing so allows you to create an opening which you can then take advantage of. If your opponent is using faster and weaker strikes, a good tactic to use is to gradually attempt to expose an opening as they attack. I think one more demonstration will suffice, we will move faster, try and keep your eyes upon my movements Taeyeon.” He smiled to the youngling before facing Master Ven. He nodded, she attacked.

It was not a simple heavy strike like last time, she was using both of her blades now, which meant Vreem was initially forced to defend, he had to keep his focus on Ven’s attacks and allow the force to influence his movements, help predict where she would strike next. Her attacks were persistent, Vreem kept his feet moving as he raced to meet her strikes, parrying her blades when he could, she had great control of her blades, but her strikes gradually began to slow, giving him more opportunity to attack. When he saw the opening he took it, as she was moving to attack again, Vreem surged forward with a burst of speed, catching one blade towards the hilt and knocking it to the side and then bringing his lightsaber back to catch the descending blow of her second blade, but he made a slight movement to the side and parried her strike to the floor before stepping in, lightsaber held across Master Ven’s body. Once they had held their positions for a moment, they broke apart; both deactivated their lightsabers and bowed to one another.

“Thank you Master Ven. I’m sorry to have kept your time; I shall contact you later if you wish to see to your affairs.” She bowed, silent in her response, and then bowed to Taeyeon, before taking her robes and leaving.

“I hope you were able to keep up a bit young one, we were trying to make sure you would be able to observe our movements. That was simply a demonstration, I can assure you that even with the use of Makashi, Master Ven is a very difficult opponent to face.” He retained his smile as he continued. “Now, are there any questions you have about Makashi or what I have shown you so far? Once they’re answered I’d like you to try taking the stance and defend against a few attacks.” Perhaps he would get scolded for teaching her Makashi; younglings weren’t supposed to train in any of the forms other than Shii-cho until they had been accepted as a master. But Vreem was enjoying teaching Taeyeon, and now he’d get to see how she managed now that the large part of information had been thrown upon her. He’d be able to see what she could remember, and what she could handle.

[Death by Kimchi]

(OOC: Heheh, now I'm the one making you wait. :P)

Taeyeon listened to Vreem’s words attentively as he began to explain the basics of Makashi. Were she the average youngling, she would have probably let her mind drift off as he spoke of something that she already knew. But Taeyeon was most certainly not average… At this point of her young life, the girl understood the value of repetition. It was an excellent method through which to transform mere reference material into second nature. After all, in the heat of battle, one didn’t have time to stop and think about what their next course of action should be. Hesitation can spell the difference between a victory and a loss. And hence it was crucial to condition oneself properly, and to commit lessons learned not only to memory, but to one’s very subconscious behavior. And so the youngling clung to Vreem’s every word as keenly as the very first time she had heard them.

As the two Masters began to accompany Vreem’s words with a physical demonstration, Taeyeon kept her eyes fixed on their movements. She was as a sponge, eager to soak in as much knowledge as she would be capable of. Vreem’s words and actions served to reinforce the brief lessons that her instructors had taught her, while simultaneously enlightening the youngling even further. The footwork, the graceful movement, the calculated pattern of parry and strike… It didn’t take long at all for Taeyeon to notice the similarities between Makashi’s technique and that of the martial arts that she so often employed.

It was interesting… Years ago, Vreem had been the one to influence the fledgling child to adapt her fighting technique to make use of her small size, ultimately resulting in an increased focus on speed and precision. It had been this input that had enabled her to find the means to propel herself to the top of her clan. Without his advice, she may have never experienced the amount of success that had since come to define who she was. Now, years later, here he was, once again revealing the techniques of a style so accentuated by the use of one’s speed and grace. Though such an intricately detailed style was surely not for everyone, to Taeyeon, it just made sense. Vreem Took… The man truly was an incredible Jedi Master. Whether it was through the Force or by mere coincidence, he always seemed to know the exact type of training necessary to unlock her potential. Taeyeon could only hope that, the day she is taken as a padawan, her Master prove themselves half the teacher as this man. Even after years of absence, he seemed to simply understand her.

The Masters’ next demonstration was quite a bit faster than their first, and if Taeyeon hadn’t known any better, she could have mistaken it for a genuine fight. The ferocity with which Master Ven rained blow upon blow was almost palpable, the youngling watching in silent observation as Master Took was forced to backpedal. But despite being apparently forced onto the defensive, the Jedi Lord kept his movements refined and poised. As he aptly defended against the Twi’lek’s strikes, Taeyeon made mental notes about his posture, noting the relation between his footwork and where he positioned his blade in reaction to his attacker’s. Soon enough, Master Ven began to slow down, ever so slightly, and Master Took capitalized. His counter-attack was swift and precise. In what seemed to be one smooth, flowing motion, he altered the arc of her attacks, ultimately knocking the blades out of the way before placing his own across her body in mock victory.

Taeyeon continued to watch as the two Masters exchanged bows, and gave one of her own as Master Ven made her leave. “I can assure you that even with the use of Makashi, Master Ven is a very difficult opponent to face.” At this, Taeyeon gave a nod. “Indeed… Her use of Jar’Kai was phenomenal.” Though having just met her, the youngling could not help but hold a great amount of respect for the Twi’lek Jedi Master. Wielding two lightsabers seemed like such an impractical idea to the young girl, yet Master Ven had proven herself quite capable with them.

Vreem then opened himself to any questions Taeyeon had. And she had many. “Master Took… I have noticed that Makashi practitioners tend to favor the use of a single hand. While this undoubtedly allows for greater precision and flexibility… how does one deal with an opponent that employs an aggressive style such as Djem So? Is not parrying with a single wrist folly when dealing with the superior kinetic force of a blade held in two hands? Or would dodging be the only valid recourse?” Indeed, while dodging had its uses, it was not always practical, such as within confined spaces or when cornered or surrounded. And one could only do so much parrying against a skilled, aggressive opponent.

“And what about when faced with multiple adversaries? Your performance against Master Ven’s use of Jar’Kai was brilliant. But what should one do when you have several attackers to worry about? Or even blasters?” Taeyeon looked up at Vreem like a curious student would to her teacher.

Once Vreem had finished answering her questions, Taeyeon nodded, and promptly took her stance. A skilled duelist for her age, she was already very familiar with the concept of centering one’s weight. Always ready to utilize her small stature to take advantage of speed, she placed her feet appropriately. The youngling ignited her training saber and brought its green blade to her face, emulating Vreem’s salute before similarly pointing it toward the ground, aimed toward an imaginary opponent’s feet. “Like this?” The child held her stance, her deep brown eyes peering up toward the Jedi Lord inquisitively as she awaited his input. Though she was rarely lacking in confidence, it didn’t matter whether or not she thought she was doing it right. It was the teacher’s opinion that held value. Always the perfectionist, Taeyeon wanted to make sure her stance was impeccable. She would accept nothing less.

[Jenno]

(OOC: I once again apologise for the excessive amount of time it’s taken me to post this response.)

“Very insightful questions Taeyeon.” It was quite impressive that she was so inquisitive at this stage; often younglings would simply nod and take on the word of a master without thinking beyond it. The capacity to do so at this age was... refreshing. “When it comes to the way lightsaber styles interact with one another, a lot of it is situational and very much down to the individual. Often for Djem So, you find that whilst the use of two hands allows for a great amount of power behind an attacker’s strikes, they are also much slower than the movements of Makashi. Of course, it is never a simple case of one style overcoming another, whilst you must bear in mind the qualities upon which different styles draw their strength, it is also imperative that you learn to focus upon your opponent, so that you can sense the strength and speed of their movements.”

“Lightsaber combat is also a lot about knowing your own strengths and weaknesses. Most of all, it is about knowing your limits. Once you can calmly assess yourself, you can push your mind and body to greater heights. Know the style you wish to pursue, and train in the areas of that style which will allow you to move with more than just a polished technique. In the case of Makashi, speed, precision, focus and balance will be your greatest assets; with years of dedication you can learn to overcome those who use stronger attacks by becoming fast enough and skilled enough to turn the situation to your advantage. But, that is something that you will learn as your training in Makashi progresses beyond the basics. Until that time, simply keep in mind that if you are ever confronted with a stronger opponent, remember the essence of your style, and use it to exploit a weakness within your opponent’s movements.”

Vreem looked down at the youngling. He was enjoying this experience, it had been so long since he had instructed someone in the ways of Makashi, those exposed to his teaching of the style were certainly very few. Perhaps with these words to start Taeyeon on the path of Makashi she would go on to great success in the style, the Jedi Lord very much hoped so. “When it comes to multiple opponents and blaster fire, these are the two greatest weaknesses of Makashi and ones that only a select few are likely to overcome in a century. Whilst the severity of one’s exposure to these weaknesses can be lessened, Makashi is very much about focusing on one’s opponent in order to react with the greatest possible speed. However, such focus quickly loses its effectiveness when it needs to be applied to multiple opponents and excessive blaster fire.”

“Should you ever come to use Makashi on a mission, you must remember these weaknesses and do not brazenly believe that you can overcome them, because even the greatest masters of the form struggle to combat these aspects. At such a time you must rely upon your core teachings of Shii-Cho in order to successfully overcome the situation, or another form which may be more applicable. I hope my answers have been sufficient and provoked some thoughts for you to meditate upon later.”

As she performed the salute and then took her Makashi stance, Vreem was quite impressed; she had done a good job observing him and had applied it quite well. However, he saw some slight issues that could be addressed. “Try adjusting your footing, you seem slightly off balance and uncomfortable. The stance will likely hurt after a while as your legs probably won’t be used to it, but for now you should be able to find the position that feels comfortable, that will help you move around much easier.”

Vreem affirmed his grip upon his lightsaber. “Okay Taeyeon, remember what you know about the style and recall my movements from earlier, I’m going to throw a few strikes, I want you to try and defend them as best you can using Makashi.” Taking a Shii-Cho stance, Vreem’s first strike came sweeping upward from the ground, heading towards the left side of the youngling’s torso. Once she had responded, he would take his original stance again before stepping in and bring an attack down from above towards the right side of her neck. For his final attack he took a Makashi stance and lunged directly inwards, throwing a strike to the centre of her torso.

His movements were slower and more deliberate than they would be in a real combat situation. His lightsaber was still on a training setting but he didn’t want cause any harm to the youngling, and with it being her first real attempt using the style she would need the slower speed in order to come up with movements in response to his own that were of the Makashi style. Vreem was hopeful of this young student though.