Darth Vader: Encyclopedia II - Darth Vader - Lightsaber training

Darth Vader - Lightsaber training

Anakin Skywalker was trained by the Order's most promising Jedi Knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Through Kenobi, Anakin would inherit a rich tradition of lightsaber pedigree. From Master Yoda, Master Dooku, Master Qui-Gon Jinn, and Obi-Wan; Anakin's style featured elements of all the masters that made him outstandingly talented at a very young age.

Mostly trained in Form IV Ataru just like his master, Anakin found himself the test-bed for Kenobi's new-found belief that Form III Soresu was the best philosophy. Though Anakin took to Ataru well as it reflected his passion for speed and style, he showed less patience for the strictly defensive form of Soresu. Though he duly became quite proficient at it, he subtly self-instructed himself in Form V training so as to become a more offensive fighter. Form V takes the defensive principles of Soresu and converts them to offensive moves. But without first mastering Soresu, Anakin was wandering into ambitious and un-disciplined territory. Though as a padawan he was already considered one of the greatest swordsmen in the order, when compared to the absolute greats like Yoda, Dooku, Windu and Kenobi; Anakin's skill's could come off a little muddled. Lacking a specific discipline, Anakin's wild use of Forms IV and V could be both a strength and a weakness.

Ultimately he would learn his lesson against Dooku at the Battle of Geonosis. No match for the seasoned focus and skills of Dooku's Form II swordplay, Anakin lost his right forearm. Appreciative at last of how much he had to learn, Anakin spent the next three years of the Clone Wars honing his Form V skills and calling upon Obi-Wan's defensive teachings. By first mastering Soresu (as he should have been from day one) he became an impregnable fighter. He would need this defensive perfection if he were to fight Dooku again. And by going one further than his master and learning to convert this defense into the Form V offensive style at a more patient pace, Anakin would improve to a level that would rival Yoda himself.

In his rematch with Dooku at the Battle of Coruscant, Anakin employed his more deliberate approach. But he would find himself calling upon the unfamiliar powers of the Dark Side to help him overpower the old Sith lord. By defeating Dooku when Kenobi failed, Anakin seemed to have proven his mastery of the force and his place as the Greatest Jedi in the order next to Yoda himself.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Lightsaber training", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki