Lightsai

Background
The Lightsai was, in the ancient times of the Old Republic, considered 'The Ultimate Weapon of Defense' to a Jedi Knight or Sith. In the First Sith War, it was a common off-handed weapon that had its own unique fighting style, with a reputation of being the only Jedi weapon that could disarm another Jedi (or Sith), within a matter of moments after a duel started.

But as the Sith grew silent and thought extinct, the need to carry such a weapon died out and its unique style of swordplay went extinct as well. Not only that, but the knowledge of constructing them also became lost to Jedi History.

Construction
The Lightsai, at its core, was firstly designed with a shoto frame. This gave the weapon its small blade length. But what made the Lightsai so difficult to construct, was figuring out how to get two smaller blades to form from its sides.

Another speculation as to why this 'Ultimate Weapon of Defense' died out of popularity and knowledge, was due to the fact that it took a Jedi several attempts to overcome this construction problem, and sometimes a good six months to complete.

Some Jedi designs used three blade emitters in a single lightsai, so that if one emitter was cut off, the other two blades could still function in the fight. Other Jedi preferred special beam splitters that they created themselves, to separate the light into specially designed chutes, to create their unique blades.

However, because of the style of fighting, another obstacle Jedi had to overcome, was finding metal alloys that could resist lightsaber blades. At least, in so far as the outer hull of the weapon went. For a lightsai would be sliced apart easily, if a Jedi performed any basic Trap maneuver.

Cortossis was the main alloy that Jedi scrounged for, for this specific weapon. And only in areas of the hilt where the blade emitters needed protection and stability, such as the Guard (which also protected the hands from sliding up into the blade itself).

Because the lightsai took so long to create and some of the materials were very hard to come by, it was very rare Jedi wielded two of them. But in some of the ancient Jedi Knight Trials records, Padawans that constructed just one of these weapons successfully, often passed the Trial of Skill (even though that one is traditionally a test of swordplay in itself).

Lightsaber Forms
Because of the defensive nature of the Lightsai, for Jedi that used them for main weapons, Form III (Soresu) was the preferred lightsaber form. Though small stature sentience of the Jedi Order have used lightsais in Form IV (Ataur) as well. And those rare few that chose to wield two lightsais, took a bit of Form VI's (Niman) training regimen to better handle dual-blade combat. However, there is no mandated form one must learn to master this weapon, but some forms favor the lightsai more than others.

Firstly, the lightsai's unique style of fighting, revolved around a 'Circle of Defense'. The smaller one wields the lightsai around their body, the the stronger the defense against blaster bolts and multiple blades, most importantly. This is why most lightsai practitioners will prefer Soresu over all other forms.

Lightsai practitioners also focused on parries and diverting, rather than blocking enemy blades with brute force. Momentum and speed, not strength, is the key to mastering this weapon and overpowering your opponent. This often meant adapting to the situation when ever opponents used brute force and slams against the lightsai practitioner. A Jedi of this art form, had to use their entire body to evade, parry, and divert attacks, just as much as the blade did.

Soresu, known for using the Force to energize and sustain Jedi for long bouts, gave the strongest tactical advantage to the lightsai. Against Sith or other Jedi, this weapon forced your advisory to keep a bit of distance from you, because of your Traps and your Stuns. This meant forcing your opponent to engage in a longer battles, which played to your favor, as a Form III practitioner.

The reason why some Ataru practitioners preferred the Lightsai is because the few that chose to wield two of this weapon, were able to incorporate acrobatics as a more practical means of evading/diverting blaster bolts. Lightsai flaring also looked more artistic in Ataru as well. Which was essential for the Jedi's defenses. Training to twirl the lightsai around one's hands helped create the impenetrable defensive barrier of a Jedi, especially against blasters. This is also why the lightsai duelist will often learn Forms III and IV, because both forms tend to complete the training regimen of a successful lightsai duelist.

The only flaw to favoring Ataru more than Soresu, with this weapon, is that if the wielder is not short-of-stature, making more aggressive moves in lightsaber combat is more difficult because of the short length of the blades... Which is the same argument for any of the other aggressive forms.

However, the rare few that have the discipline to train ten years to master the Niman form, will vow upon death that their form is best for dual-wielding the lightsai, as it is fair in defense and offense. The only flaw with this theory, is simply that Nimen practitioners relied on the Force as much as dueling, and the blade work typically falls apart for the lightsai user. They are far less defensive when that happens, and are more vulnerable to multiple blaster fire, but they gain the ability of having a free-form that is more aggressive, versatile, and adaptable for just about any situation (outside of massive blaster fire).

To that end, Niman has been seen as the Jedi's 'Fatal Flaw' of Geonosis, since no Niman practitioner survived the first battle of the Clone Wars. So it is highly unlikely that the surviving Jedi of the Jedi Purge would want to combine the lightsai with this particular form (at least to mastery). More so since their main enemy are Clone Troopers, and Niman practitioners are vulnerable to multiple blaster fire.

Signature Combat Style
Most notably, the butt of every lightsai was made slightly larger in diameter, compared to the rest of the hilt, and had a flat bottom for a knob. The reason for this was so the knob stunned opponents more effectively by hitting them in the nose, stomach, or other vulnerable areas of the body. Such stunning blows with the lightsai became known as "Nahst" maneuvers, relying on blinding speed and dexterity to hit another lightsaber opponent, once the dualist made a successful Nahst hit.

Switch-Trap
Another signature combat tactic used with the lightsai, was the Switch-Trap. It was given its nickname from many lightsai users wielding shotos, and surprising unsuspecting opponents by flipping switches on their hilts. This turned on the lightsai modes and perplexed the opponent instantly. And taking advantage of the opportunity, the lightsai user would trap the opponent's blade between his blades and jerk the enemy hilt away (or cut it in half) within a matter of seconds.

Basic Traps
Basic Traps were tactics taught to use momentum as the driving force of a successful disarming. Traps worked when the practitioner picked the most strategic moments to let their opponents drive an attack. And using the momentum of their opponent's against him or her, the lightsai duelist would wedge the enemy blade between theirs. Once caught, the lightsai duelist would use a sudden jerk in the opposite direction to free the opponent's blade (sometimes slicing the enemy hilt in half).

X-Trap
When the lightsai duelist finds themselves in a need to use strength against strength, they would typically use a second blade to lock and ensnare an enemy blade completely. Sometimes this was called for because the wielder did not have enough momentum in a Basic Trap attempt. Other times, this technique was used because the opponent studied the lightsai duelist's fighting patterns enough to anticipate them and counter act.

Either way, once the enemy blade was locked in, the lightsai duelist used his/her own strength in an attempt to break the hold of his opponent. If the lightsai duelist had strong wrists, they could force so much pressure on their opponent's wrists, that the opponent would drop his weapon, or weaken their hold. Once the hold is weakened, the lightsai duelist flicks their wrists above their heads and disarms their opponent.

Blade Wall
Blade walls were the most difficult to master, for the lightsai enthusiast. It starts by learning to fight in four circles of defenses, starting with the widest circle and moving inwards. Blade walls can serve to guard unarmed bystanders, using more wide and open flares around the group, rather than the body. While smaller flaring circles are geared to keeping the individual Jedi safest.

Either purpose, blade walls are supposed to look like the Jedi has a thousand blades spinning about them. If the blade wall is not a blur of lights to the naked eye, then one is not mastered, and there are holes that would expose the duelist to blasters.

Summery
Essentially, the Lightsai is purely a defensive weapon. One mastered in this weapon, can hold the line for retreating allies. They can outlast most other Jedi in lightsaber combat simply by trapping opponents' blades in theirs.

What a lightsai practitioner cannot do, is take on five Sith Lords and hope to win in swordplay. They do well one-on-one against Force Users (possibly two) and will go for the kill at the moment their opponent is at the brink of exhaustion.

To be on even footing, do not fight in their closest circles of defense. You will lose your blade every time, because there is no counter to Blade Trapping. If you force the lightsai practitioner to fight at your level, then it becomes a test of Your skill, not Theirs.