Form III/Legends

 Form III: Soresu is the third form of the seven forms of lightsaber combat.

After Darth Maul's defeat on Naboo, Obi-Wan Kenobi decided to perfect his practice of Form III lightsaber combat, the most defensive of all of the forms, since Qui-Gon Jinn, Kenobi's mentor and Form IV (Ataru) master, fell against Darth Maul.

Form III, the Way of the Mynock, was originally developed to counteract the advancing blaster technology throughout the galaxy. Those to whom the Jedi were mainly opposed usually wielded blasters now; the Jedi needed to find a method to defend that could not be replicated or be counteracted by the Jedi's blaster-wielding enemies.

Inspired by the need to parry blaster-fire, the form utilizes motions occurring very close to the body to achieve near-total protection, efficiently expending as little energy as possible to execute these moves. This technique exposes as little body target zone open areas as is possible, making a well-trained practitioner nearly invincible. It can be observed that Jedi who practised more offensive forms have lower chance to survive a prolonged battle. Many Soresu-practitioners survived the Battle of Geonosis, thankfully to its specialization in fending off blaster-fire. At the time of the events of Revenge of the Sith, Obi-Wan Kenobi is acknowledged as THE master of Soresu.

Practitioners of Soresu comfortably remain on the defensive until their opponents make a mistake; only then do they strike offensively. Soresu can best be described as a passive form and one to be used by Masters who are extremely patient and reserved. Soresu users do not wish to fight, or harm. Even during a fight they prefer to remain on the defensive, and only when absolutely necessary will they strike.

As noted above, a master of Soresu can very well be impossible to defeat. As shown in Obi-Wan's duel against Grievous, only when Grievous's attacks come to close to him did he alter his defenses ever so slightly to go on the offensive. The result was two severed hands for Grievous. And as noted by Master Windu, Soresu is not an answer to any weakness. Vaapad was an answer to Windu's inner darkness. Ataro was Yoda's answer to his limited mobility and advanced age. Djem So was Anakin's answer to his roiling emotions. But for Obi-Wan, Soresu answered no weakness because he had none. Form III is the consummate Jedi combat form, suited only for the most complete Jedi.

It is not unreasonable to speculate that Obi-Wan at his finest could have defeated all the great swordsmen and their various styles: Master Windu (Vaapad); Master Yoda (Ataro); Count Dooku (Makashi); General Grievous (all Forms); Anakin Skywalker (Djem So); Darth Maul (Juyo/Vaapad); Emperor Palpatine (Ataro, Vaapad).

Indeed, Obi-Wan defeated three of those swordsmen, despite him being the underdog in each fight. And that, in the end, is the ultimate power of Soresu. Whereas on almost any day Obi-Wan would lose a sparring match to Anakin, Mace or Yoda, when it mattered most is when his abilities and brilliance surfaced. Great swordsmen aren't always great; they're just great when they have to be. And so, as he said just before his battle with Anakin in Revenge of the Sith, faced with an impossible situation, Obi-Wan's reply, his mindset, like the true power of Soresu, was simple: "Then I will do what I must." And he did.

Luminara Unduli and Barriss Offee were also proficient in this form.

For more Information on lightsaber combat, and a list of Sources see lightsaber combat.