Juyo and Vaapad

Mace Windu demonstrating
the Vaapad fighting style.

In my own writing, I like to create my own metals, my own magic systems, and my own races. I suppose that fighting styles are up there too (demons do not go quietly into the night). Here's one from the Clone Wars that caught my eye and probably answers the question that always nagged me: Could Mace Windu defeat the Emperor if Anakin hadn't been a douchebag? The answer is "Yes" because Mace Windu was not only one of the most powerful Jedi, but also the creator of the Vaapad fighting style.

Juyo/Vaapad, a.k.a. "The Way of the Vornskr" is the seventh of seven forms recognized as canon for lightsaber combat by the Jedi Council of the Old Order. Juyo itself was described as the most vicious form of lightsaber combat and was said to involve significant internal focus on the part of the user. Members of the Sith, such as Darth Maul, employed Juyo without reservation. You guys remember how awesome Darth Maul looked, right? Well that's Juyo.

Mace Windu created the style Vaapad from Juyo. He explained it as a state of mind rather than just a fighting style, allowing the wielder to channel his own inner darkness into the duel, and accept the fury of the opponent.

"Six there were for generations of Jedi. The seventh, is not well-known. Powerful form it is. Deadliest of all. But dangerous it is, for its master as well as its opponent. Few have studied. One student alone, to mastery has risen."
                                                          --Yoda

Here's a clip from the 2003 Clone Wars that shows Mace Windu

just being completely awesome. The animation is poor but it's 

really fun to watch. You can kind of see the makings of the 

C.G.I. Series that aired on Cartoon Network years later.

Witnesses of a true practitioner of Juyo say that it is filled with both fury and malignant grace. Skilled combatants of Juyo were said to be able to eviscerate a lone enemy. It's use was controversial among the Jedi Order as many felt it violated the "there is no emotion, there is peace" tenet of the Jedi Code. Have a great Thursday and may the Force be with you.

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