Form II - Makashi

The ultimate refinement of lightsabre-to-lightsabre fighting became Form II, advancing the precision of blade manipulation to it's finest possible degree and producing the greatest dueling masters the galaxy has ever seen. Sith expecting to battle a Jedi, find Form II a powerful technique.
Practiced by: Count Dooku
 

Form III - Soresu

The third great lightsabre discipline was first developed in response to the advancement of blaster technology in the galaxy. As these weapons spread widely into the hands of evil-doers, Jedi had to develop unique means of defending themselves. Form III thus arose from "laserblast" deflection training. Over the centuries it has transcended this origin to become a highly refined expression of non-aggressive Jedi philosophy. Form III maximizes defensive protection in a style characterized by tight, efficient movements that expose minimal target area compared to the relatively open style of some of the other Forms. True Form III masters are considered invincible. Form Three is the one that requires the greatest connection with the Force, which is one of the reasons this form is popular with Jedi Knights. The other reason being that the vast majority of weapons raised against Jedi are blasters.
Practiced by: Obi-wan Kenobi
 

Form IV - Ataru

Form IV is the acrobatic Form, heavily emphasizing Jedi abilities to run, jump, and spin in phenomenal ways by using the Force. Masters of Form IV incorporate all of the ways in which the Force helps them go beyond what is physically possible. Their lightsabre combat is astonishing to watch, filled with elaborate moves in the center of which a Jedi may be all but a blur.
Practiced by: Yoda, Qui-Gon Jinn and Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi.
 

Form V - Shien, later known as Djem So.

During an era when Jedi were called upon to more actively maintain the peace in the galaxy, Form V arose alongside Form IV to address a a need for greater power among the Jedi. Jedi Masters who felt that Form III could be too passive for developed Form V. A Form III master might be undefeatable, but neither could he necessarily overcome his enemy. Form V focuses on strength and lightsabre attack moves. This Form exploits the ability of the lightsabre to block a blaster bolt and turns this defensive move into an offensive attack by deflecting the bolt deliberately towards an opponent. A dedication to the power and strength necessary to defeat an enemy characterizes the philosophy of Form V, which some Jedi describe by the maxim "peace through superior firepower." To some Jedi Knights, Form V represents a worthy discipline prepared for any threat; to others, Form V seems to foster an inappropriate focus on dominating others.
Practiced by: Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader
 

Form VI - Niman

In the time of Palpatine's Chancellorship, Form VI was the current standard in Jedi lightsabre training. This Form balances the emphases of other Forms with overall moderation, in keeping with the Jedi quest to achieve true harmony and justice without resorting to the rule of power. It is considered the "diplomat's Form" because it is less intensive in it's demands than the other disciplines, allowing Jedi to spend more time developing their skills in perception, political strategy, and negotiation. In practice, Form VI is a combination of Forms I, III, IV, and V. Young Jedi spend their first few years studying Form I and then a year or two with each additional Form before completing their training. By comparison, a Form VI master will spend at least ten years studying only that Form after completing basic Form I training. Form VI well suits the modern Jedi's role in the galaxy, in which a Knight overly trained in martial combat might be at a loss to resolve a complex political conflict between star systems. However, full masters of other Forms sometimes consider Form VI to be insufficiently demanding.
Practiced by: Diplomatic Jedi.
 

Form VII - Juyo, later known as Vaapad

Only high-level masters of multiple Forms can achieve and control the ultimate discipline known as Form VII. This is most difficult and demanding of all Forms, but it can eventually lead to fantastic power and skill. Form VII employs bold, direct movements, more open and kinetic than Form V, but not so elaborate in appearance as Form IV. In addition to very advanced Force-assisted jumps and movements, Form VII tactics over-whelm opponents with seemingly unconnected staccato sequences, making the Form highly unpredictable in battle. This makes for a much more difficult execution than the graceful, linked move sequences of Form IV. Form VII requires the intensity of Form V, but much greater energy since that focus is wielded more broadly. Form VII draws upon a deeper well of emotion than even Form V, yet masters it more fully. The outward bearing of a Form VII practitioner is one of calm, but the inner pressure verges on explosion. Form VII is still under development since so few can achieve the necessary master to advance the art, or even knows of its existence. Most people who do study this Form are Sith, or Dark Jedi. Vaapad is considered an advanced version of Form VII (Juyo).
Practiced by: Mace Windu, Sora Bulq, Depa Billaba.

 

Form VIII - Sokan

This form of lightsabre combat was developed by the ancient Jedi Knights. It combined the kinetic motions of Form IV combat with tactics that allowed for mobility and evasion. Originally created during the Great Sith War, Sokan involved quick movements and tumbles, as well as swift strokes of the lightsabre aimed at an opponent's vital areas. Battles which involved Sokan techniques could range across large amounts of terrain as combatants worked to maneruver their opponent into a vulnerable position. Form VIII is a minor Form, not considered part of the seven main techniques.
 

Form IX - Shien

Not to be confused with the old Form V, the Shien style of fighting is unique, with a Jedi holding their lightsabre horizontally. The tip of the blade was pointed at the opponent, and was swung in a quick arc as the Jedi punched their sword-hand at their opponent. Form IX is another minor Form.
 

Form X - Niman (two blades)

Not to be confused with the old Form VI, the Niman style of fighting is unique, allowing a Jedi to wield two lightsabres at once. One blade was always used for offense, while the other could be used for parrying or for additional attacks. Although many Jedi trained in the Niman style to gain basic knowledge of a two-bladed attack, very few ever mastered it completely. This is the third minor Form.
 

Dun Möch

This was the Sith lightsaber combat doctrine of totally dominating an opponent's spirit by whatever means possible. Dun möch usually involved verbal taunts and jests that exposed an opponent's inner doubts and weaknesses. Other forms of dun möch involved the use of the Force to hurl heavy objects at an opponent during combat, distracting the opponent from the true battle.

Su Ma

Su ma or "rotation" is a move in several forms, but none so much as in Form IV. There are jung su ma (spinning 360 degrees), ton su ma (somersaults) and en su ma (cartwheels). These are also called for short jung ma, ton ma, en ma.

Shun

This was the term used by the Jedi Knights of the Old Republic to describe a one-handed grip on a lightsaber, which is then spun through a 360-degree arc (jung su ma) to gain speed for an attack during lightsaber combat.

Sai

Term used by the old Jedi Knights for a Force-assisted jump, employed to evade an attack on the legs during lightsaber combat.

All the Forms involve the same "marks of contact," target objectives organized as categories of damage lightsaber-wielders can inflict upon their opponents. In the names of the marks, the language of the earliest Jedi sages has come down unaltered to us today. The ancient traditional marks of contact help focus a Jedi's attacks and defences on a few clearer categories rather than diffusing awareness across an infinite number of possibilities.

Sun Djem

Sun Djem means disarming. It was a goal of early Form I masters, since destroying an opponents lightsaber could win victory without causing injury - always a Jedi's aspiration. However the advances of Form II soon made sun djem nearly impossible since combatants trained studiously against having their weapons taken or damaged.

Shiim

Any kind of wound with the edge of a lightsaber blade is shiim. An inconclusive mark of contact, shiim is considered inferior to other marks of contact that decisively end a battle. Its appearance thus expresses struggle with a powerful opponent.

Shiak

Jedi tradition considers shiak (stabbing) an honourable method of inflicting serious injury since it causes the least amount of visible injury on an opponents body. Shiak can thus express Jedi respect for an opponent and the Living Force even as it delivers a fatal blow.

Cho Mai

"Cut hand". Cho mai instantly ends an opponents ability to use a weapon but does not kill, making cho mai a preferred Jedi move. The precision of cutting off only a hand is considered the mark of a superior lightsaber master.

Cho Sun

"Cut arm". Cho sun (dismembering), cutting off an opponents entire weapon arm is a move lacking in the precision and elegance of cho mai, but cho sun is the move most often necessary under surprise combat conditions when no chances can be taken.

Cho Mok

Cho mok (maim) describes the cutting off of an opponents leg or, in the case of non-humans, other limbs or appendage such as lekku (head tails).

Sai Cha

Sai cha, from the ancient words for "separate" and "head" describes the chilling Jedi ability to behead an opponent in a flash of the lightsaber. Jedi commit sai cha only when battle is at its most deadly serious and threatening, or when an opponent is considered extremely dangerous even to a fully trained Jedi.

Sai tok

Jedi consider the bisection of a living opponent's body a form of butchery, a desecration to be avoided if possible. The savage extreme of sai tok is thus normally used only against battle droids. Sai tok represents a potentially Sith-like desire to destroy one's enemy, whereas the Jedi goal even in combat is an inner focus of defeating the danger of the opponent rather than hating them and wishing utter destruction upon them. Obi-wan Kenobi resorted to sai tok to kill Darth Maul, the brutal move resulted from Obi-Wan's rage at Maul's murder of Qui-gon Jinn.