Five-to-One

"Each stance carries a strength... and weakness. It is up to you to master all five of them to cover your flaws. It's only when you can seamlessly switch between all of them at once can you say you've mastered the art of the sword."

- Noname's Mentor

Fünf-zu-Eins-Schwert Discipline (Five-to-One-Sword Discipline, shortened to Five-to-One, often abbreviated as 5-2-1) is a difficult fighting style divided into five stances used by aged Hunters. Very few teach it in modern times due to how hard it is to learn.

History
Originating from the ancient city of Minerva, 5-2-1, was developed by a warrior in the early days of the battle against the Grimm. It incorporates the various kinds of sword styles developed at that time.

The training was considered incredibly difficult, and so very few managed to master it. Those that did, however, has a tendency to modify it based on what sword they specialize in. As such, a true, singular form of 5-2-1 doesn't exist in the modern days, being vastly different depending on the user who teaches it.

Technique
Similar to Grimm Chance, 5-2-1 is divided into multiple styles. However, unlike Grimm Chance, several styles are taught at once.

Aura usage is considered optional when learning 5-2-1, since it focuses more at relying on one's blade, instead of one's self. Often, it will be more beneficial to incorporate how to use one's Aura, but only very few users of 5-2-1 actually specializes in applying their Aura while using this fighting style.

5-2-1 training usually starts with the student learning to use the five stances of his or the teacher's (this depends entirely on who teaches it) choosing. At that, the student will learn the ins and outs of each stance for a month, before moving on to offense training.

During offense training, the student will learn how to attack, move and utilize each stances at it's fullest for 2 months per stance. Afterwards, another full month will be used to train the student in switching between all five stances he learned.

Then comes the hardest part of the training: Defense training. Often, a whole year will be devoted into teaching the student to use the defensive capabilities of each stance. They'll learn how to dodge, parry, and counter every possible common Grimm, ranging from a Beowolf to even a King Taijitu depending on the teacher. Many willing students stop training at this point due to how difficult it can be. However, this usually results in them having incredibly attack prowess, and no defensive skills whatsoever.

Lastly, a week will be devoted into a spar against the teacher, or if possible, fellow students, making the student learn how to use 5-2-1 against fellow humans and faunus.

By then, the student should be finished with his training. Users of this fighting style are sometimes applicable for scholarship in Beacon.

Stances
There's a total of eight stances. But the student can only learn five. No one currently exists who knows all eight at once, with most masters only teaching six at most.

Some have began to create new stances that cover the flaws of others.

Basic Stances
The starting stances. Depending on what weapon a user wields, the mentor usually teaches the starting stance, and an attack or speed focused stance. Though rare, some have learned how to use all three basic stances at once.

Staring Tiger

The starting stance. The user holds the blade with both hands in front of their chest, facing sideways. It allows for quick stabs and swift swings. However, due to how the blade is held, it leaves too much openings.

It's best used with a nodachi, which has enough range to cover it's flaws.

Roaring Lion

Attack-oriented stance. The user holds the blade with their dominant hand, and faces the enemy with their left or right side facing towards them. Due to how the sword is held, it can be slow, but any possible openings are covered. Most users generally stay on this stance most of the time. However, those using lightweight blades tend to shy away from this stance.

Used best with a sword and shield, especially a kite shield.

Lunging Serpent

Speed-oriented stance. The user holds the blade beneath their hips, similar to an iaido stance. It allows fast strokes to be performed. Masters usually never teach this to students who uses larger blades.

Perfect for katana users, having the perfect size and weight in order to utilize this style properly.

Advanced Stances
Higher level stances. Depending on how many starting stances are taught, the student must learn all three of them.

Soaring Eagle

Range-oriented stance. The user holds the blade with both hands, pointing it in front of them. It has great range and allows crowd control, making it useful for fighting several enemies at once. It lacks impact on it's strikes, often requiring quick switching from this stance to Staring Tiger for stronger, faster swings.

Users of longswords will be comfortable in using this style, due to it's size being perfect for it's wide slashes.

Idle Turtle

Defense-oriented stance. The user holds the blade with both hands, pointing it downwards. It lacks power, being only useful in parrying incoming attacks. The best way to use this is to block an enemy strike, switch to Roaring Lion or Lunging Serpent and strike back as they stagger. It's major flaw is the lack of mobility.

Zweihander users are perfect for this stance since their blade is wide and long enough to guarantee that the user will be fast enough and have enough coverage.

Raging Bull

Power-oriented stance. The user holds the blade with both hands, raising their arms to chest level. It gives fast, powerful and distant swings. Almost a perfect stance, but stamina will be an issue while using this stance, since the slashing motion often requires a lot of body movement. Very few uses it. But those that do are one of the best in 5-2-1.

Experts in broadswords tend to learn this better than most.

Master Stances
These stances are currently only mastered by ten people across all of Remnant. They're highly sought after, due to how powerful they are. All of them only know one or the other; Nobody has learned both at once... yet.

Crimson Phoenix

The first master stance. Unlike the others, it requires the user to learn how to use a second blade. The user holds their main blade in their dominant hand, pointing it outwards with their arms stretched out. The opposite is done with their second blade, holding it with their non-dominant hand and pointing them downwards.

This allows the user to use their second blade for defense, and their main blade to retaliate. Due to how they are held, it's also quite fast and covers a lot of range as well.

Azure Dragon

The final stance. The blade is held in reverse grip with user's dominant hand, making it look impractical at first glance. It's true worth is found when an Aura-user utilizes it: It's swings create shockwaves.

Those that attempts to learn it will find that it requires a lot of concentration, especially those that don't utilize their Aura with the 5-2-1.

New Stances
None known yet.

Known Users

 * Noname's Mentor (Tiger, Lion, Serpent, Eagle, Bull, Dragon)
 * Dunkelblau Noname (Tiger, Lion, Serpent, Eagle, Dragon) [Training incomplete, lacks defensive training]

Trivia

 * 5-2-1 takes a lot of inspiration from Mitsurugi's fighting style in SoulCalibur, where he can switch from three different stances.
 * In the original story, all eight stances were created by Noname, who learned them by fighting the master swordsmen across the world. Due to how overpowered it is, in the RWBY version, Noname only knows five.
 * In theory, 5-2-1 embodies the Difficult, but Awesome trope. It's hard to learn, but the benefits are there.
 * Users who wish to use 5-2-1 for their OCs should ask permission. However, there are five conditions before your OC can use it.
 * 1.Character must be above 15.


 * 2.Character uses a sword-like weapon.


 * 3.Tiger and Lion and/or Serpent are learned by default, unless your OC uses a new stance that's considered basic.


 * 4.Both master stances cannot be learned at once; It has to be one or the other.


 * New custom-made stances are allowed, as long as it's not as powerful as the Master Stances. Just tell me in the comments section.