Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber form: IV or V?

I've read Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber form described as both form IV and form V. The visual dictionary for EP2 says it's form IV, but the net sources indicate form V? Anyone found a clear answer to this question?

BTW: My apologies is there is a thread for this little question. The search wouldn't work worth the Sith when I tried it earlier.


JD.

 

Essentially, Anakin's style is Form V. The only time he used Form IV was when he first fought against Dooku with two sabers. Only after Dooku destroyed one of the sabers did Anakin switch to Form V.

 

Thanks for the info, JediAlly, it's much appreciated.


JD.

 

The search wouldn't work worth the Sith when I tried it earlier.

The stupid thing never does...

 

From what I understand, Anakin uses Form V... doesn't Luke Skywalker also use the same style of lightsaber combat

 

Luke uses an improvised version of it, but was never taught the official version.

 

I always thought that Anakin studied both form's IV and V? Is that not true??

 

Obi-Wan used to use form IV, but switched to form III after Naboo. It's likely Anakin picked up a little of it from his teacher, especially in the early years when Obi-Wan was still "in transition".

 

Form IV is awesome I still consider the lightsaber fight in TPM as the best in all the movies. What's Form V?

 

As someone who's been sword trained I find it ridiculous that people (i.e. authors and the like) find it reasonable to pigeonhole fighters into distinct fighting "Forms." Any fighter worth his salt would be conversant in all available styles and use each as it became the most efficient for the situation; he/she would also be willing (and more importantly, able) to fluidly combine the different forms.

KW

 

In Jedi Outcast (and in Jedi Academy if you choose a single saber) you can swap between a "light", "medium" and "heavy" version of your saber technique mid-fight.

 

K_W: aye, it worries me too, and I only have your opinion to go on...

Couldn't we rationalize the "forms" as subsets of techniques and movements designed for specific purposes?

For instance, Form II is essentially a duelling discipline, and Form V is designed for killing stuff, and presumably includes a lot of blaster-bolt baseball...

This could also explain some of the technical problems I've heard raised about the prequel duels, particularly in TPM - Dooku (Form II practitioner) is about the only person who actually views the lightsaber as a weapon to fight other lightsabers with...

Or am I just talking complete rubbish?

- The Imperial Ewok

 

As someone who's been sword trained I find it ridiculous that people (i.e. authors and the like) find it reasonable to pigeonhole fighters into distinct fighting "Forms." Any fighter worth his salt would be conversant in all available styles and use each as it became the most efficient for the situation; he/she would also be willing (and more importantly, able) to fluidly combine the different forms.

Jack "Tony" Bobo, the fencing master David West Reynolds consulted, thought different. We know that some Jedi specialize in a particular Form and others "build their own fighting style with elements of multiple forms, although this takes special discipline". We may take the latter for granted now, after jeet kune do, but it's far from the norm in our world and especially for an order that greatly values its traditions.

Remember why David West Reynolds created the Forms: to have a bit of structure with which to discuss the symbolism and philosophy of the films' lightsaber fights.

 

On what site can I find info about this? : D

 

With all respect to Dr. Reynolds, he's an archaeologist, not himself a swordsman. Discussing the philosophy and symbolism of duels is something that, perhaps, he's not well equipped to do. I'm not saying there aren't philosophies and symbolism underlying the fights, because there are. I'm simply saying the descriptive paradigm he's come up with makes little sense to me, bordering on silly. To wit, if a fighter (or in this case, a Jedi) is trained in one "Form," he/she would, to this way of thinking, use that Form exclusively. However, as mentioned elsewhere in this thread, Anakin's "Form" changed during the fight with Dooku simply because he picked up a second saber, then immediately changed back when he lost the second saber. It just isn't that simple.

KW

 

One would think the way (forget 'form') you fight would be different with every weapon. You certainly wouldn't resort to the same tactics used with a bo-staff or tonfa as you would with a sword so why couldn't it be different when you're carrying two swords or in a double-bladed lightsaber? (essentially a staff)

It's my theory that every padawan is given 'basic' lessons in almost every style and is somewhat proficient in each but is much more proficient in one over the others.

If a padawan feels he would be best served by learning a style that specializes in deflecting blaster bolts then why wouldn't he learn that. Conversely, why wouldn't a padawan learn a style that focuses on fighting other sword wielders if they felt that that would serve them best in whatever role they envision themselves in.

 

This thread is alive, again?! See what happens when you forget to lock stuff when you're done. J/K

In all seriousness, this is an interesting discussion. I too have often found the idea of a Jedi being limited to one form odd, to say the least. You'd think that, speaking in terms of the GFFA, Jedi would be more open minded in their approach to dueling.


JD.

 

Interesting topic, if you asked Nick Gillard about Lightsaber Forms (which someone did in a HS chat a while ago) you'd get an annoyed reaction...apparently he disliked the idea that anyone would try and make up anything about Jedi fighting without consulting him first.

By the way Anakin's "Form" of lightsaber combat, though only Form V in AOTC (and Form IV with 2 sabers) will be broader around the spectrum in the next film.....expect him to fight many many different styles.

Powerful Jedi Indeed.

 

One can use a "Form" i.e., Shotokan, without limiting himself to that mindself only. This is the essence of Jeet Kune Do. As K-W rightly said, any skilled fighter can change his tactics, style, and techniques to fit his situation. Hence, Luke using Form V against Vader without learning it, due to improvisation. But then, Luke is an unfair standard for most Jedi.

 

Indeed, one cannot simply switch forms at will. Anakin probably had experience with Form IV due to his master, and the twirly, two-lightsaber style would be particularly suited to this form. However, I'm sure Anakin rarely fought with two sabers, and it is safe to presume that his basic style was Form V. Forms are inherently complex unto themselves, and there is a substantial amount of training required to master each form. Form VII, for instance, is a perfect example; it is virtually an entire mindset of fighting that cannot be changed at random. When Obi-Wan's Form III was ineffective against Count Dooku, he wasn't able to revert back to his former form or combine a melding of the two based on his strengths. No, he got a saber in the leg, and that was that... The forms were created for a reason, and I think they are a good EU explanation at that. They become pointless when one trivializes their importance.