Department of Combat Tactics:Hand-to-Hand Combat

1 – Introduction

Well met, brethren.

In this course, you will be immersed in the many varied styles of personal combat. You will see the differing philosophies and attitudes toward combat, and how they lend themselves to each unique art. You will come to understand much more than the simple strikes and blocks that may make up the motions and you will see how it is not the effectiveness of the Art that makes the fighter strong, but the strength of the fighter that makes the Art effective.

Note: To fully comprehend the lessons of this course, you will need to have read and understood the Hand-to-Hand Combat Guide. This comprehensive manual has in-depth information relating to the Arts discussed within, information that will have to be digested and understood in order to complete this course. This will not be a simple answer hunt, nor a condensed re-teaching of the guide itself, but rather a supplement.

The Hand-to-Hand Combat Guide can be found here: http://www.darkjedibrotherhood.com/dbjedi/guide_hand.php

A quick study guide and flow chart can be found here: http://handtohandguide.darkjedibrotherhood.com/flowchart.jpg

2 – Basic Forms

Ostensibly, there are some arts that are easier to attain training in than others. One can find a Dulon Studio in almost any city with a Starport, yet you can spend a lifetime hunting a teacher to instruct you in Verdanaian. While more commonplace, the arts that are easiest to train in are those with the broadest curriculum. Appealing to wide audiences to keep their studios running, many of these arts have reverted to almost ritualized combat, that is to say, ‘effective under more controlled circumstances’.

However, there is no reason to discount the strength of will and dedication of one who has spent long years to master even the most commercialized Art. These are forms built on combat effectiveness, and when trained correctly are quite formidable, even if broad in scope. In the terms laid forth in the Hand to Hand Guide, these broad forms are considered ‘Basic’.

Dulon’s maneuvering, striking, the evasive lessons of Kartranin and the broad curriculum of Hapan are all building blocks for later lessons and more complicated arts.

3 – Advanced Forms

Many martial artists will start their path in one of these arts, learning the basic physics of how their body works best: how to throw a punch, how to avoid a blow, how to escape from a choke. Most will attain some degree of proficiency in the Art and grow stagnant, not needing or seeking perfection. They often develop ego in the belief that their school is the best, and that they need not study other arts. And that close-mindedness can cause people to forego more effective techniques.


This is not the Way.


Those seeking more specific instruction, those who wish to specialize further in the arts of combat will move on with their training, seeking arts that enhance their own personal strengths and minimize their weaknesses. These arts are more difficult to find, often requiring a substantial amount of time or just fantastic luck to even begin training.


Many of these are racial secrets, hidden lessons of privileged castes on far away worlds. The Shyarn’Ado of the Cereans, Iridonian K’thri, Gungan Paonga, Geonosian Petranaki, and Bothan Jeswandi are examples of secrets rarely shared outside of their races. The more militaristic K’tara and Jakelian are still difficult to find, but not nearly as culturally xenophobic.


These arts, sometimes called ‘Advanced’, are often spoken about in hushed wonder. Exotic combat styles that are used by strangers seem to achieve nearly miraculous results, adding to the legend and mystery of the art. Once beginning training in the arts, many of the mysteries seem to fade away, replaced with the very difficult training. Building on the foundations laid by their years in more common arts, the adherents will grow more and more focused on their skills, more in tune with their own selves and how they can use themselves to best effect, and less vague in their mastery.

4 – Elite Forms

But even these arts do not represent the pinnacle of martial arts. Even after years of study, the enterprising and most aggressive seekers of knowledge will discover arts of a more rarified flavor. Arts that underground action holos mention, arts that even masters may have discussed briefly before dismissing the subject as legend. Many have spent years chasing rumors of a master of these arts, only to find frauds.


These arts, referred to as ‘Elite’ in the Hand-to-Hand combat guide, hone the fighter’s spirit and skill to a razor edge. Pursued with such fervor that only one who seeks to truly master themselves can muster, these adherents pour their all into their training. No tourists are permitted in the halls of these instructors.


Teras Kasi, Jar’kai, and Echani are relatively popular, considering their popularity in media. But