TOPIC: light whip combat

Just posted a question about light whips under another topic. Got me wondering a few things though as to what the ruling is (if any ) on light whips?

Are they allowed in academy/ranked combat
Whips v whips / whips vs sabers

How do you actually defend against a whip attack?
Would be intrigued as to any members' thoughts/experience on facing or using whips.

(ps. Just to say, I am in no way ' whip obsessed. Ok' )

Few Jedi used a whip as a weapon and only a handful of Sith did. It's a very difficult weapon to master because of the flexibility of the "blade" which makes it more complicated to not maim yourself when wielding it.
Also, it's a slow weapon, you have to "reload" your hit by swinging the whip behind and then forward, leaving enough time for any skilled lightsaber opponent to enter your defenses and down you.

However, in the hand of a skilled warrior, it can literally take your opponent's weapon away, allows you to deflect several blaster bolts at the same time and with the help of the Force, can be a very efficient way to hurt, maim, severe a limb or kill someone, even with a skilled opponent.
Finally, I would say that its main advantage is that it shows up so rarely in fights that you actually take your opponent by surprise.

With a quick Google search, I found out that SF does have a lightwhip!

I would think that the lack of control, especially of the last few inches of the whip, would make these weapons taboo, just as any "chain" or roped weapons are banned from use in most sparring, LARP, or SCA types of events or leagues. They maybe allowed in some events but under highly controlled conditions. It may be OK for choreographed fights with the right protective gear but I would be shocked to see it in an actual duel (with any sort of rules, that is). I am new to the light saber hobby but I was once in the SCA, have LARPed, and have many years experience with various Kenjutsu forms and I would not want to face someone, in even a friendly fight, with a weapon over which I did not feel they lacked good control.

Because of the physics of the whole thing you could block a swing and the tip could curl and hit in lots of unpredictable places. With a solid "blade" the chances of it ending up where it shouldn't on a block, while possible, are far less likely. The other factor is you can control the speed of a solid weapon, a flexible weapon takes very little force at the "handle" to get incredible speeds at the opposite end, it is what makes things like nunchucks so deadly, or the sting of a towel used as makeshift whip snap so much. What may seem like a light flick could become a wicked strike with the business end of a flexible weapon.

To each their own, but while I thing some choreographed work with one would be cool, you'd never find me dueling one unless I was armored from head to toe with really good eye protection.

Hi Hellrazoromega,
That's exactly my point in asking the Q! The unpredictability aspect. And whether any ruling for or against has been made for duels.
Having 'Larped' myself as one of the older guys, I'd always be aware of excitable kids not pulling their strikes as is rule.
Even though the blurb states the whips aren't to be 'cracked' due to delicate fibre optics, one mistake or over eager swipe could be disaster. Like you I would NOT want to face off against one, or even use one as I'd be terrified of causing someone damage. But choreographed, with planning and timing by people who knew what they were doing would seem the best use for these items.

Faethien wrote:

To the best of my knowledge, Lumiya is the only known Sith/Jedi to use a Lightship which Luke and Mara countered with not only their regular sized lightsabers but also with an off-hand "shoto" lightsaber.

Sith Lady Gittany, from the whole Bane storyline, used one as well.

I grew up with bullwhips in the house, I am afraid I would Crack one without thinking about it and break the fiber optics. (obviously why they say not to Crack them)

I imagine with their long reach, and ropey nature, it would be unfair for dueling. "Oh look, you tried to block but it really just wrapped my whip around your blade and you loose. Oh, nice flourish, now my whip has wrapped down your arm and you lose."
with actual lightsabers or in a real fight of blade vs whip it may be different, but I think with dueling it would go to the whip almost always. Especially since most people don't practice to duel a whip.