“This was the formal weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster. More skill than simple sight was required for its use. An elegant weapon. It was a symbol as well. Anyone can use a blaster or a fusioncutter—but to use a lightsaber well was a mark of someone a cut above the ordinary.” These were the exact words of the great Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, and truth be told you won’t find any true Star Wars fans disagreeing with that statement. Designed as much for elegance in combat as for ceremony, the lightsaber is probably the most recognized weapon in sci-fi history, the very image of which was inextricably bound with the mythos of the Jedi Order and their polar opposite, the Sith. The lightsaber has become synonymous with Star Wars and the symbol of the film series with millions of fans around the world owning a toy version or replica of it. But how many things does the average Joe know about this incredible weapon? How many know its history and the little intriguing details about it? In case you are one of those who want to learn more about them grab a bag of popcorn and check out these 25 Things You Might Want To Know About Lightsabers Before Star Wars Episode 7.
The lightsaber is the weapon of a Jedi, an elegant weapon of a more civilized age. It can be used to cut through just about anything.
Source: starwars.wikia.com, Image: Wikipedia Although use of the lightsaber is the mark of a Jedi, it is also used by their sworn enemies, the Sith.
Source: starwars.wikia.com, Image: flickr.com, Photo by JD Hancock In fact, lightsabers were essentially created by the Dark Side. The first proto-lightsaber was called a forcesaber, and was essentially Dark-Side energy channeled into a blade via crystals and alchemy. If, say, a Jedi picked up a forcesaber, he or she would run the risk of immediately and unwillingly turning to the Dark Side simply by using it.
Source: starwars.wikia.com, Image: deviantart.com There are seven forms of lightsaber combat: 1) Shii-Cho, or “the Way of the Sarlacc”; 2) Makashi, or “the Way of the Ysalamiri”; 3) Soresu, or “the Way of the Mynock”; 4) Ataru, or “the Way of the Hawk-Bat”; 5) Shien/Djem So, “the Way of the Krayt Dragon”; 6) Niman, or “the Way of the Rancor”, and 7) Juyo/Vaapad, or “the Way of the Vornskr.”
Source: starwars.wikia.com, Image: deviantart.com Each Padawan would travel with their master to the secret Jedi planet of Ilum, where they would gather the crystal for their lightsaber and construct it. The Padawans would put themselves into a tranquil state and use the Force to construct and assemble their lightsabers. This was a difficult task, as Padawans were often plagued with terrible mental visions during the process.
Source: starwars.wikia.com, Image: deviantart.com 
