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Thursday, April 11, 2013

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.

30 comments:

  1. Awesome clip. Mace Windu doesn't need a lightsaber.

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  2. The Vaapad fighting style looks wicked.

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  3. Won't want to meet that bloke in a dark alley.

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  4. A little more of that kind of fighting in the movies would have been nice.

    mood
    Moody Writing

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  5. It makes sense to add more things for Jedi to achieve.

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  6. But if it's effective, why not use it?

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  7. Hi Michael. My son and I are reading your post. Here is his response.

    "I love the Juyo Jedi because I like alien Jedis. I like how he's strong and powerful. I like how he looks like Plo Koon."

    My sons eight and he loves your theme.

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  8. The Jedi said Windu was 2nd to Yoda, but he did far better than Yoda against Palpatine. Though he did have some help with him.

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  9. I'm going to have to look up and see what Luke started studying when he turned to the Dark Side in Dark Empire. It's been so long since I read it that I don't remember.

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  10. Creating your own metal sounds like fun. Most metals I can think of are sort of grey - I think we need more in other colours.

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  11. I like that you develop everything from scratch. Congratulations! That is the hardest part....

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  12. Right on!
    Ride that sand wave...
    Roger, Roger.
    Whoosh! Mace Windu and Vaapad are awesome. :)

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  13. hell to the yes Windu could kick the emporer's arse.

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  14. Um, I know what a Jedi is...But you've completely left me in the dust with your knowledge of all things Star Wars. Though Juyo power sounds like the perfect skill for a villain, with all that malignant grace.

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  15. It doesn't surprise me that you prefer to create your own fighting styles. I would expect nothing less from you. :)

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  16. Honestly, the whole Annikan story had big issues. And I can't believe he became Darth Vader. Sorry... the fighting style is great. Another Mance...

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  17. Mace rocks! I had no idea he created his own fighting style.

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  18. That's the thing about world building--you get to focus on the things you want to build. Languages. Magic systems. Martial arts. So totally cool!

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  19. I can't believe you have all this memorized. I'm impressed!

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  20. I didn't even know there were different Jedi fighting styles.

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  21. Oooh. I like Patsy's comment of creating colorful metals. :)

    Azurite mixed with pewter = Pazurter

    :)

    Glad I could help. My work here is done.

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  22. Yanno, you ooze Geek through every pore. I say that with all due respect and awe.

    *still laughing*

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  23. I never fail to be amazed at the inventiveness of SciFi writers. I can only imagine the difficulty of creating an entire world that is believable.

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  24. I had no idea there was this Juyo style. And channeling one's inner darkness? Dangerous indeed.

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  25. Hi Michael .. I think I'd rather like to make up my own magic and potions for my storyline ... not draw on others .. but I guess we all get our creativity from others first ... and ours as our minds and thoughts develop ....

    I'm slightly lost here! But c'est la vie ... as Stephen says ..that inventiveness is almost beyond me!

    Cheers Hilary

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  26. Mace Windu!!! At least he didn't go out like a punk (like Kit Fisto did). Windu's death at least solidified Anakin going to the dark side.

    I do believe that Palpatine lost to Windu on purpose. In fact, it wasn't much of a fight.

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  27. Some days I wish I had and idea for a fantasy novel, just so I could have all the fun of inventing magic systems, too! It must be so exciting to draw up rules and races and histories!

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  28. I always felt tht Mace got the shaft in the films, that they should have let him fight. Kind of like Chou Yun Fat in the Pirates films. Defeated by Keira Knightly,the female equivalent of d bag Anakin.

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