Martial Arts

Oftentimes, the weapons you are constantly trained to use as an extension of your body are not next to you when you need them. Either through surprise, the effect of combat, or just dumb luck, you are left facing an adversary without your blaster by your side.

This is when knowing a martial arts discipline come in handy. The Stormtrooper Corps has authorized the following skill paths for your fields of study. Each takes a significant investment in time and attention to master, some more than others. That said, when the moment arises when you stand alone against an enemy, you'll be glad you took the time to learn one.

Echani

Echani is the martial arts style that became the official technique of the Imperial Royal Guards. It is thought to have its origins in the style practiced by the Sun Guards of Thyrsus, but Palpatine had experts modify the original techniques to make them more deadly. The brutal Echani style is full of jabs, chops, kicks, and other quick and dangerous strikes, focusing on deadliness over finesse.

Haruu-gai

This martial arts style is the synthesis of centuries of training in freefall combat. The central tenets revolve around the concepts of maintaining center of gravity and focus, and on getting in the first strike.

K’tara

A martial arts style favored by Imperial and New Republic Special Forces units in order to maximize damage to an opponent while minimizing the amount of noise made during the attack. K’tara focuses on short, quick motions. Most maneuvers begin from the set position and move within a small rectangle framed by the target’s shoulders and hips. A soldier using the K’tara style can quietly disarm an opponent and reduce him to unconsciousness within a few seconds of combat, attracting little attention. This martial arts style emphasizes stealth.

K’thri

K’thri is a special martial arts style that dates back to the days of the Old Republic, but has survived into modern times. The style gained popularity in many parts of the Galactic Republic as a type of sport. Professional athletes competed to see who had the greatest mastery over the style, with some competitors garnering great wealth and fame from their success. The style is somewhat flashier than others, since its practitioners were often entertainers as much as martial artists. The K’thri style focuses on speed and rapid, fluid attacks, with wide sweeping motions accompanying quick jabs and a good deal of fancy footwork.

Kha-still

For some, the direct approach is best, using an attacker’s might to beat down an opponent. However, there are those that fight smarter, instead of harder. Practitioners of Kha-still excel at the art of controlling an opponent’s action using guile, and the art of combat. By tricking on opponent into altering their defenses, they gain the upperhand regardless of size. This involves a complicated series of feints and space to move in and is not a close combat style. The danger lies in an opponent discovering the bluff and turning the tables on the martial artist.

Kinet-do

Kinet-do masters are able to take down opponents larger and stronger than they are by using an opponent’s force against them. This martial art style is popular among elite police and security units who need to take an opponent out of a combat situation without causing them serious harm.

Rek'dul

Rek'dul is the name of the fighting style used by the Jensaarai during combat. While many of its maneuvers do not involve the use of a lightsaber, its style is meant to complement and be used at the same time as a lightsaber. The style requires that the lightsaber hilt be held like a dagger, blade down and angled at the ground towards the ground, opposite hand on the pommel of the weapon to manipulate it. The style also requires that the blade stay angled toward the rear of the fighting stance, in essence pointing the blade away from an opponent, but adding leverage for longer strikes. This style was taught by Nikkos Tyris, and appears to be a combination of Sith martial arts and the lightsaber-dueling style of many Old Republic Jedi.

Shadow Arts

When the Eleven Elders of the People began their crusade for vengeance against those who had ruined their dream, they knew that it would take a specially skilled warrior in order to exact proper revenge, and provide a useful skill as a mercenary. Through study and discipline, they crafted a martial arts style that fit their close-combat preferred mode of fighting. This new martial arts style, which they dubbed "Shadow Arts" after their organization's name, is taught to each Mistryl warrior for use in the field. Focusing on quick subdual and disarmament, the use of Shadow Arts is what makes Mistryl so attractive as bodyguards. The quickness of the maneuvers, as well as their effectiveness in eliminating sources of danger, create a famed method of protecting themselves and their charges in the most rapid manner possible. These skills are now, in rare locations, taught to non-Mistryl as a combat art. Techniques focusing on grappling and parrying or diverting attacks are concentrated elements.

Stava

The Noghri fighting style known as Stava has spread throughout the galaxy. Unlike some species-specific martial arts (eg. Defel Hunter style), the Noghri have been able to teach their particular style of fighting to Humans, Twi’lek, and even Wookiees. The style is very physical, often bringing the combatants into close contact. Stava combat utilizes full-body tackles, throws, and full-arm blows, as well as the powerful jabs and snap kicks commonly used in instances where close combat is ineffective. Stava is a quick and dangerous style, and in unarmed combat an opponent using it can often act before the target has a chance to react.

Teräs Käsi

The martial arts form known as Teräs Käsi is an extremely rare ancient art. The form’s origins are found on the world of Bunduki in the Pacanth Reach, populated by a near-Human species known as the Epicanthix. The Followers of Palawa are a secretive sect of hermits that guard the teachings of Teräs Käsi. It is unknown whether or not the Followers created the martial arts style, but nearly all Teräs Käsi masters learned the style by journeying to Buduki to learn from these keepers. The name Teräs Käsi actually means “steel hands,” referring to the damage and toughness of the martial artist’s unarmed attacks. The style focuses on power and strength, including varying levels of damage depending on the force that is applied to the attacks. The style is unique, and masters are few and far between.