Shien

Shien was a form of Jedi lightsaber combat. Followers of this form practiced an unorthodox method of holding the lightsaber to perform long, sweeping strikes to take down several enemies at a time.

Description

The variant form known as Shien is a rarely seen style that, while effective, is almost a topic of controversy among lightsaber masters due to the drastically different grip taught by practitioners of the form. The style calls for the Jedi to hold the lightsaber horizontally with the tip of the blade out away from the body, and all strikes are made by sweeping the arm forward as though throwing a punch while whipping the blade forward quickly in a broad arc. Adi Gallia was one of the few Jedi around the time of the Clone Wars known to actively practice the form, as was the Anzati Jedi called Nikkos Tyris. It may also have been used by Vader's apprentice during The Great Jedi Purge.

While a strike from a combatant using this style could be difficult to anticipate and stop, Shien was not particularly effective in a lightsaber duel. The attack movement is rather limited and defense on the part of the wielder is practically non-existent, as it puts the wrist in a weak position to stop a blow with any power behind it.

Not to be confused with the standard Form V variant of Shien.

Behind the scenes

Ronhar Kim possibly using Shien against treacherous Senate Guards.

• Much confusion arose when Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords indicated the name of Form V was Shien. Later sources proved that the fifth form had two different styles, Shien and Djem So, much like Form VII had Juyo and Vaapad respectively.
• Ronhar Kim is also another possible candidate for use of this form, as he utilizes a reversed grip and wide swings several times.
• Quinlan Vos is also a possible practitioner of Shien, as he is often pictured holding his lightsaber in reverse grip.
• Vader's secret apprentice uses a reversed grip in some sources, making him another possible Shien user.

• Obi-Wan Kenobi is also a possible user of Shien, utilizing a reversed grip in both the Episode III: Revenge of the Sith comic adaptation and the comic Old Wounds. However, he is not shown with a reversed grip in the Episode III movie, which outweighs the comic in terms of canon value, and Old Wounds is as yet non-canon, Kenobi's use of the style is in dispute.
• It is also possible that this form was used by the Jedi snipers in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant during the Clone Wars. There is no known canon to confirm this suspicion, other than the distinctive grip of their weapons as seen in the Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (video game).