Obi-Wan Kenobi was one of the most skilled and respected Jedi Masters in the Star Wars universe. He was trained in the Jedi Order from a young age and went on to train Anakin Skywalker and Luke Skywalker, two central figures in the saga. Obi-Wan was an adept lightsaber duelist who utilized the third form of lightsaber combat, Soresu.
Obi-Wan’s Fighting Style
Obi-Wan Kenobi favored a highly defensive fighting style that allowed him to outlast his opponents. Soresu relied on tight bladework and subtle dodges to provide maximum protection, allowing the practitioner to frustrate and wear down aggressive attackers. This form fit Obi-Wan’s patient and focused nature perfectly.
As a Soresu specialist, Obi-Wan chose defense over offense in combat. He carefully deflected blows rather than attacking openings. Against blaster fire, Obi-Wan would simply angle his lightsaber to send bolts harmlessly away rather than reflecting them back at the shooter. This minimized collateral damage and protected innocent bystanders.
Against other lightsaber duelists, Obi-Wan used quick and small movements to conserve energy. He let his opponents tire themselves out against his impenetrable guard. When the opening came, he would use brief counter-attacks to wound or disarm foes rather than going for the kill. This measured approach allowed Obi-Wan to defeat more reckless duelists without compromising his Jedi ideals.
Advantages of Soresu
There were several key advantages to Obi-Wan’s choice of Soresu as his primary combat form:
- Strong defensive coverage – Tight bladework provided excellent protection against both ranged and melee attacks.
- Energy efficiency – Small economical motions prevented fatigue over prolonged duels.
- Patience – The defensive mindset allowed the user to analyze opponents and wait for openings.
- Minimized aggression – Deflecting blows rather than countering helped restrain offensive instincts.
- Reduced collateral damage – Careful deflection of blaster bolts protected innocent bystanders.
These benefits allowed Obi-Wan to overcome dangerous opponents without compromising his Jedi values or ideals. The exemplary protection of Soresu synced perfectly with Obi-Wan’s calm and clever fighting style.
History of Soresu
The origins of Soresu date back thousands of years before Obi-Wan’s time to an unnamed Jedi Master. This Jedi recognized the need for tight defensive techniques when engaging multiple opponents, particularly attackers wielding blasters. Refining these defensive concepts resulted in the creation of Soresu.
In the subsequent centuries, Soresu became the preferred style of Jedi who favored patience and discernment over brute force techniques. As the Jedi found themselves facing increasingly more blasters, Soresu grew even more valuable. Jedi like Obi-Wan realized Soresu’s potency against ranged attackers and fully committed to mastering the form.
By the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi was considered one of the greatest Soresu practitioners. His skills proved vital throughout the conflict as Jedi were forced to regularly confront large numbers of battle droids and other blaster-wielding foes. During this period, Obi-Wan dueled and defeated some of the most dangerous villains of his era thanks to his Soresu mastery.
Notable Soresu practitioners
In addition to Obi-Wan Kenobi, some other prominent Jedi also specialized in Soresu:
- Qui-Gon Jinn – Obi-Wan’s master was highly skilled with Soresu defensive techniques.
- Plo Koon – This Jedi Council member used Soresu effectively against dangerous criminals.
- Shaak Ti – Her technique demonstrated the potency of Soresu even against lightsabers.
- Kanan Jarrus – This Jedi survivor of Order 66 passed Soresu skills to his apprentice.
These Jedi helped prove the enduring usefulness of Soresu from the days of the Old Republic through the dark times of the Empire.
Famous Duels Showcasing Obi-Wan’s Soresu Skills
Throughout his career as a Jedi Master, Obi-Wan frequently demonstrated his formidable Soresu talents in combat with a wide range of dangerous enemies, including:
Darth Maul – The Phantom Menace
After slaying Obi-Wan’s master Qui-Gon Jinn, the Sith Lord Darth Maul proved unable to overcome the young Padawan’s staunch Soresu defenses. Obi-Wan outlasted Maul’s furious assault before slicing the Sith in half.
Jango Fett – Attack of the Clones
Bounty hunter Jango Fett’s dual blasters and wrist gadgets were no match for Obi-Wan’s masterful blaster deflection techniques, allowing the Jedi to emerge victorious.
General Grievous – Revenge of the Sith
Wielding four lightsabers simultaneously, General Grievous presented a dire threat. But Obi-Wan simply exhausted the cyborg with impenetrable Soresu guarding before exploiting an opening.
Anakin Skywalker – Revenge of the Sith
Despite Anakin’s aggressive Djem So style, Obi-Wan’s defensive stamina allowed him to survive the Sith Lord’s assault long enough to gain the winning advantage.
In all these fateful duels, Obi-Wan’s Soresu skills were critical in overcoming deadly opponents without compromising his Jedi code.
Teaching the Next Generation
In addition to utilizing Soresu himself, Obi-Wan also passed knowledge of the form down to the Jedi he trained.
Obi-Wan instructed Anakin Skywalker in Soresu basics, though Anakin gravitated toward the more aggressive Form V. Still, the Soresu grounding helped temper some of Anakin’s reckless battle instincts.
Decades later, Obi-Wan’s Soresu teachings also aided Luke Skywalker’s Jedi training. Luke combined Obi-Wan’s defensive techniques with more acrobatic Form IV skills learned from Yoda. This hybrid style helped Luke survive his fateful duel with Darth Vader.
By sharing his Soresu expertise, Obi-Wan Kenobi helped shape the combat abilities of the next generation of Jedi. The Jedi Master’s patience and discipline in teaching would inspire students of the Force for generations to come.
Conclusion
Obi-Wan Kenobi chose the lightsaber form Soresu as the foundation of his combat style due to its defensive resilience and energy efficiency. As one of the preeminent Soresu masters of his era, Obi-Wan demonstrated the form’s effectiveness against blasters, multiple opponents, and even highly aggressive lightsaber duelists. His skill with Soresu was a key factor in many of Obi-Wan’s most famous battles during the Clone Wars and Galactic Civil War periods. Beyond its usefulness in combat, Obi-Wan’s dedication to studying Soresu also represented his commitment to patience, mindfulness and restraint as a Jedi Master.