Stances
All strength and propulsion in the martial arts starts in the feet. The stance is important in fighting, as it not only provides balance but also the energy to be placed into an attack. It is the basis upon which all lightsaber combat is placed. It involves footwork, the alignment of the legs and torso, the straightening of the back, and the loosening of the arms so that they can snap into the desired position. Keys to good stances include: allowing the rear foot to be the main source of propulsion, keeping the knees bent, keeping the back straight, and constant, calm breathing.


Jedi Ready
The most basic of all Jedi stances - also called "basic neutral" - this one employs stepping back with the dominant foot and drawing the lightsaber so that it is parrying on the dominant side. Weight is distributed evenly between the feet. It is natural that the dominant shoulder be rolled slightly back. The hilt of the lightsaber is held down level with the waist with the tip of the lightsaber pointed at or slightly over the head of the target. This stance is similar to the chūdan-no-kamae in kendo, except in the kendo form you step forward with the dominant foot as you draw the blade.

In Episode I, Obi-Wan Kenobi always used this stance when drawing his lightsaber, and hastily moved into it as well. This shows how undisciplined he was as a Padawan. His feet shifted oddly so that his rear foot was not in a straight line pointing forward, his back was hunched forward (this reduces balance as well as the flow of energy to and from the internal organs), and he held the point of his lightsaber so high that it partially obscured his vision. It is possible he is attempting an aggressive forward stance. By Episode II, he has changed more so into his former master's style.


Neutral Forward
Very similar to Jedi ready, except that the dominant foot is forward - identical to chūdan-no-kamae - with the lightsaber hilt close to the waist, the blade pointed to the enemy. Slightly more weight is on the front foot than the rear, which means that the dominant leg is still the one that propels the attack.

Anakin uses this stance in Episode II. He centers himself by setting his stance and swinging his blade slowly from behind his back, over his head, down centerline of his body, and settling the lightsaber in place.


Defensive Neutral
A good defensive posture, defensive neutral is ready for any occurrence but is also non-threatening. The dominant foot is drawn back and pointed approximately forty-five degrees out to the side. Approximately sixty-percent of the weight is on the back foot. The dominant shoulder is rolled back as the blade is drawn. The lightsaber is held vertically next to that side of the head, in the pocket created by the shoulder. This form is almost identical to the hassō-no-kamae stance found in kendo.

In Episode I, Qui-Gon Jinn uses this stance when drawing his lightsaber. His form is almost flawless, showing the years of training and discipline spent acquiring his skill. He holds his lightsaber back in such a fashion that his eyes are able to scan a wide forward arc, looking for targets and watching attacks. With his long legs, he is able to hold his feet wide, ready to spring forward at a moment's notice. In Episode II, Obi-wan has followed in his master's footsteps and picked up this stance, and in Episode III when he is fighting Anakin just before Anakin jumps on to the same platform you see Obi-Wan using the stance.


Defensive Back
The best defensive posture in sword combat, defensive back is difficult to penetrate, but also difficult to launch an effective attack from. The hilt of the blade is raised high towards the face, the point of the blade pointed diagonally down at the ground. The dominant foot steps back at about a forty five degree angle from your front foot. Your dominant foot supports about 60% of your weight. From this position slashing strikes aimed at the torso can be easily blocked, and stabbing strikes can be quickly parried with wide, sweeping moves from which the defender can quickly move forward into a better stance. Another advantage of this stance is that the blade can be quickly swung all the way around the torso to block attacks from all directions. This is similar to the "Ox" and "Hanging guard" positions of the medieval longsword.

In Star Wars: Clone Wars, Anakin Skywalker assumes a very flashy form of this stance after he and Obi-Wan Kenobi dispatch an entire squad of droids in Chapter 2.


Aggressive Neutral
A very threatening stance similar to the Jedi ready stance. This involves standing with more of the weight on the front foot rather than the rear. The arms are held so that the hilt of the lightsaber is in line with the solar plexus, and the point of the lightsaber is directed at the target's head. The distance from the body to the lightsaber is greater than most stances. This form is not very useful in conventional combat, but is very deadly in lightsaber-on-lightsaber combat. Darth Sidious uses this when he is fighting Mace Windu. Obi-Wan briefly enters this stance twice when fighting with Greivous on Utapau, probably as an attempt keep his own morale up by doing something flashy as though the fight is just a game. The presence of his index and middle finger together with the rest of his offhand enclosed in a fist suggest an uncanny similarity to Tai-chi sword.

Combined with the elegant, flowing, and swift motions of Form II, this stance allows Count Dooku to keep his guard up while pressing the attack. Even when facing Anakin Skywalker when Anakin was armed with two lightsabers, Dooku is able to gain an advantage by keeping his enemy at arm's length.


Aggressive Back
A more radical stance than most, aggressive back is a low posture from which a swift attack can be launched. The back foot is pointed out almost ninety-degrees from the body and is holding over eighty-percent of the weight. The front foot is extended forward, almost straight. The lightsaber is held on the dominant side, right beside the head, its blade facing directly forward. Like aggressive neutral, this stance is only useful for taking on a single enemy armed with a lightsaber, especially since it obstructs view of the right side of the body.

This is Obi-Wan's stance from Episode III. He uses it mainly in facing General Greivous, alternating at times with aggressive neutral. This leaves him open to attack from surrounding droids, but he realizes the danger is minute in scope to giving Grievous one inch of advantage. Darth Sidious also uses this stance often during his fights against Masters Windu and Yoda.


Aggressive Forward
This stance is fairly simple, and involves holding the lightsaber above the user's head, with the blade facing behind them. It allows the user to easily block a high attack or start a strong downward slash.

This stance is used by Darth Sidious at the beginning of his fight with Yoda. During their duel on Geonosis, Darth Tyranus and Anakin Skywalker also use this stance. Anakin again employs it in his rematch with Dooku in Episode III. Mace Windu also uses this stance in his duel against Darth Sidious.