Description of Form 6 Lightsaber Combat: Niman

Niman, also known as the Way of the Rancor, was the sixth of the seven classical forms of lightsaber combat. Niman was, in essence, a balance of the various specializations of every other form. Thus, Niman had no significant weaknesses, nor did it have any prominent advantages. Overall, Niman did not require the user to be particularly gifted in terms of physical strength or stature, and was designed as a simple, yet effective form for Jedi who preferred to spend more time developing their skills in perception, political strategy, or negotiation. For this reason, Niman is often referred to as the diplomats form, and allowed a Jedi to, in the words of the Jedi Battlemaster Cin Drallig, “achieve true harmony and justice without resorting to the rule of power.”

To compensate for the lack of intense bladework, Form 6 encouraged the integration of Force powers into combat. Of course, in the hands of a skilled practitioner, Niman had the capacity to be just as deadly as any other form, however, because it was utilized primarily by Jedi Consulars and Diplomats, who seldom found themselves in full-out combat, Form 6 was generally considered to be but the foundation from which prospective duelists could branch out and study other forms – most commonly, Jar’Kai. Ultimately, success in Niman was entirely dependent on its user, and required an enhanced level of creativity, improvisation, situational awareness, and force ability. According to Cin Drallig, if a duelist dedicated himself exclusively to the mastery of Form 6, he/she could expect to study the style for at least 10 years.

One of Niman’s most notable practitioners was the fallen-Jedi turned Sith-Lord, Exar Kun. Exar Kun pursued an abnormally aggressive variant of Form 6, focusing less on the usual moderation of the form, and more on overpowering the enemy through brute strength. During his apprenticeship under the renowned Jedi Master Vodo-Siosk Baas, Exar Kun excelled. However, as a young man, he developed, quote, a near obsessive curiosity towards the forbidden knowledge of the dark side. Even as a young apprentice, Kun possessed the ability to defeat his master, which he did several times during their sparring matches. With a single blade, Kun was a deadly opponent, often referred to as one of, if not, THE, most skilled lightsaber duelist of his era. However, with his innovation of the double blade and his victory over his former master Vodo-Siosk Baas, Kun was hailed as a tactical genius by friend and foe alike.

Kun’s formidable prowess in combat was bolstered by his ability to randomly adjust the length of his double bladed lightsaber, often catching his enemies off-guard, and by his ability to predict his enemies actions through the Force, and respond accordingly. Ultimately, Niman was a perfect fit to his multi-faceted method of attack, and provided the base for Kun to develop into a near unstoppable force.

Jedi Battlemaster during the era of the Clone Wars, Cin Drallig taught hundreds, if not thousands of Jedi the basics of lightsaber combat. Although proficient in every form, Drallig showcased particular talent in forms 1 and 6, Shii-Cho and Niman respectively. During Order 66, Cin Drallig and his apprentice Serra Keto were responsible for the deaths of countless clones, and together, successfully managed to hold the Jedi Temple’s upper level defenses. However, when he was inevitably faced against the Dark Lord Vader himself, Drallig was unable to defeat the raging Sith Lord, and was cut down.

Other notable Form 6 practitioners included Zez-Kai Ell, Vrook Lamar, Darth Maul, Darth Krayt, and even Obi-Wan Kenobi, albeit to a lesser extent.

Versatile, moderate, and almost entirely in line with Jedi philosophy, Niman was effectively the “jack of all trades” fighting style - the amalgam of the previous 5 forms, and allowed its users to be well suited for any encounter. And that is the way of form 6.