Tutaminis

Tutaminis was an umbrella title used by the Jedi Order to classify Force abilities related to energy absorption. Designated as one in a family of Control abilities, tutaminis techniques were taught to Jedi Initiates within the Jedi academy throughout the history of the Order. While taught to all Jedi during the days of the Galactic Republic, it was a rare feat to be capable of dissipating concentrated energy such as what makes up a blasterbolt or lightsaber blade. While it was named and practiced by the Jedi Order, tutaminis was not restricted to use by Jedi. In fact, most Force-based groups and Force-users in general learned to use or at least control some of the abilities taught at the Temple.

Overview
The skills associated with tutaminis all related to the idea that, through the Force, a Jedi could draw potential harmful energy into their bodies and diffuse it or channel it away completely. Viewed as a starting point for further study in the Force, the Council of First Knowledge designated the study of tutaminis to be taught during the very first classes at Jedi academies. While the basics were expected to be mastered upon graduation from the academy, development of these skills would come over an entire life time; for a Jedi was never done learning. In addition to deflecting energy weapons, this ability could eliminate the harmful effects of other energy based Force powers such as Force lightning. With additional effort, after absorbing a blaster bolt or Force power the user could utilize the absorbed energy to heal his or her wounds or manifest other Force powers. Tutaminis has also been described as a "non-harmful Force drain".

Accompanying skills
As the basis of many abilities, tutaminis included many skills that were given proper or common names within the Jedi Order. Other abilities stem from this skill but were more personalized and not taught throughout the entire academy, if at all. Many skills, such as a simple body shielding or as advanced as catching and/or dispelling a lightsaber blade with one's bare hand, were all considered applications of tutaminis.

Mastery in self-protection would include the capability to encase oneself in an energy field that could drain energy from incoming attacks. This ability would make the bearer invulnerable to a wide range of attacks until the user discontinued its use, or it wore off when the user became fatigued.

Notable uses throughout history


While practiced by all Jedi during the Old Republic and essentially all Force-based cults to some extent, there were many individuals that excelled in this particular skill and are worthy of note. A member of the Jedi Order, not unlike many of his family members, Jedi Master Nejaa Halcyon developed this skill so as to make up for his lack of telekinetic abilities. A virtuoso with the Force, Halcyon showed great talent in using Tutaminis to absorb, redirect, and utilise energy discharges, often converting the energy he absorbed to utilise telekinetic powers that were usually beyond his talents. Nejaa Halcyon's abilities in this power were such that he was able to catch lightsaber blades with his hand, an extremely rare talent that was also exhibited by Satele Shan who fought in the Battle of Alderaan during the Great Galactic War. Halcyon's descendent, Corran Horn, later demonstrated similar talents, using the power to absorb heat energy from a volcanic spring on Yavin 4 to momentarily bolster his telekinesis. Horn later utilized this ability to absorb the shock from a stun baton while aboard the Errant Venture. He then demonstrated the full extent of his talent while on Courkrus, where he absorbed the energy from a series of explosions and redirected it to project a powerful Force Illusion. . He also demonstrated advanced use of the talents during the Yuuzhan Vong War while on Bimmiel. Anakin Solo also demonstrated this variation of Tutaminis when trapped on Yavin 4 later in the war.

Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, Grand Master Yoda, and Master Revan were able to catch Force lightning with their bare hands. The latter two could also deflect Force Lightning back to its source. Master Yoda used this ability to deflect a blast of Force Lightning from Count Dooku back at him on Geonosis. Revan used this ability to deflect a powerful barrage of Force Lightning back at Darth Nyriss, incinerating her with her own power in the process.

On Mortis, the changeling identified as Son was also capable of using this ability, which was noted as he blocked Anakin's lightsaber strikes with his arms without much effort. Father was also able to exhibit this ability, holding Anakin's lightsaber by the blade without damage to his hand, before forcing it back into its hilt. The final member of The Ones, Daughter, was able to deflect and absorb lightning of the Son, which was so powerful it was crimson red. The Daughter also caught one of the lightning blasts and hurled it back at the Son.

In addition, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker were both able to block blaster bolts with their bare hands, a talent he later displayed after his fall to the dark side of the Force when he absorbed Han Solo's blaster shots during their meeting on Cloud City.

Galen Marek was also able to use this ability in his desperate battle against Palpatine, though the amount of physical damage he sustained, if any, is unknown. Marek's clone was also able to use this ability in his duel with Darth Vader, when he absorbed physical lightning and redirected the attack against the Sith Lord, defeating him.

Behind the scenes
In terms of game mechanics, the ability to absorb energy adds more points to the users Force pool when absorbing an attack. Force absorb manifests in the game as a blue aura, although this is likely an interface mechanic to allow the player to know when the power is active. In computer games, this Force power appears under different names: In Dark Forces: Jedi Knight and Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, the power is called Force absorb, while in Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, the Force power is called as Force absorption.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
 * Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan
 * Hope
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes
 * Star Wars: Clone Wars
 * Jedi Trial
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
 * Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
 * ''Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (novel)
 * Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor
 * I, Jedi
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II
 * Heir to the Empire
 * Dark Force Rising
 * The Last Command
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
 * ''Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption
 * Dark Tide I: Onslaught
 * Edge of Victory I: Conquest
 * Traitor
 * Betrayal
 * Invincible
 * Riptide
 * Star Wars: Legacy 30: Vector, Part 11
 * Overlords
 * Altar of Mortis
 * Ghosts of Mortis