Form III/Legends

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

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, and the Jedi needed to find a method of defense that could not be replicated or counteracted.

Inspired by the need to parry blaster-fire, the third form of lightsaber combat utilized motions that occurred very close to the body, in an attempt to achieve near-total protection and expend as little energy as possible while executing moves. This technique minimized the body's exposure, making a well-trained practitioner nearly invincible. Followers of Soresu comfortably remained on the defensive until their opponents make an mistake, or provides an opening in their attack, and only then will they strike offensively. 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 master of the Form IV (Ataru) combat style), fell against Darth Maul. Soresu was best described as a passive form of combat, and one that was used by Masters who were extremely patient and reserved. Soresu users did not wish to fight or harm. Even when forced into combat they preferred to remain on the defensive and strike only when absolutely necessary.

It was observed that Jedi who practiced more offensive forms of combat had a lower chance of surviving a prolonged battle. Many Soresu practitioners survived the Battle of Geonosis, thanks in part to its specialization in fending off blaster-fire. In fact all Jedi probably had to be trained in some minimal amount of Form III when they were younglings and/or padawans. Towards the end of the Clone Wars Obi-Wan Kenobi was acknowledged as "the master of Soresu" by Master Windu.

Master Windu noted that, unlike any of the other combat styles, Soresu was not an answer to a particular type of weakness. Vaapad was an answer to Windu's inner darkness; Ataru was Yoda's answer to his limited reach and advanced age; and Djem So was Anakin's answer to his boiling emotions. It was because of this fact that Obi-Wan was chosen by the council as the Jedi best suited to defeat General Grievous, due to his Mastery of Form III. Soresu was considered the consummate Jedi combat form, in that it embraced a passive style as well as allowing the user to just "be himself."

It can be argued that a master of Soresu could be nearly impossible to defeat in an actual lightsaber duel. It does not possess the power or fearlessness of Anakin or Luke Skywalker's Form V. Nor does it have the precision or grace of Count Dooku's Makashi, or the ferocity and speed of Yoda's Ataro. Soresu's greatest power lies in it simplicity and elegance. Its this simplicity that makes Soresu users difficult to defeat as they are able to fend off an aggressors strikes without ever allowing an opening for their enemy to pentrate their defenses. Their simple technique/style allows the user to stay within themselves and to never give their oppenents an advantage.

There has been a common belief among many Jedi that Form III flaw is in that it is merely a defensive form of fighting which allows for prolong combat. In fact this belief led Form III users in the past to create Djem So lightsaber combat, which maintained much of the same defensive manuevers and parries as Form III, but added powerful counterattack and swings in order to overpower and defeat their enemies.

A Soresu user stayed perfectly centered not just in his/her stance and movement, but also in mind and in the force. This allowed the user to predict the movement of blasters bolts and the attacks of his opponents. Soresu relied on economy and efficiency in body and blade movement. The user would keep their blade close to their body and could block a flurry of melee strikes (and blaster fire) without ever moving their blade a millimeter more than necessary. By keeping the blade closer to the body they could wield it with such defensive velocity that they could cover their body from all angles of attack, without any wasted motion or energy. It would be a mistake however to think of a Soresu user as merely a passive or even weak fighter. Though it is true that Soresu users are patient and will strike when their opponent has made an mistake, its not the only time they will strike.

During the Clone Wars the most prominent and effective user of Soresu was Obi-Wan Kenobi, as mentioned earlier he is considered as not a master, but "The Master" of Soresu. In his battles with sword masters such as General Grievous and Count Dooku, he not only showed the great defensive speed of Soresu, but much like Form V philosophy he also turned defense into offense. Druing their second encounter each deflection of Dooku's attack was followed by repostes, strikes, and stabs with the same speed that Obi-Wan uses for defense. In his epic battle with Grievious, Obi Wan's mastery of Soresu allowed him to survive an onslaught of 4 lightsabers all coming at different speeds and angles and when his defenses were about to be overwhelmed, he is able to adjust the angles of his defenses/parries to disable two of Grievous' mecahnical hands and eventually defeat the cyborg.

Obi-Wan was the most prominant Soresu practitioner of his time, and through him one can see the true nature of Soresu. A Soresu user may be able to better survive almost any situation or opponent, but a true master of Soresu can use their opponents aggressive actions against them, by striking them before their offensive blow can land. This is mirrored not only in his battle with General Grievous, but by the first battle between Obi-Wan and his former apprentice Anakin Skywalker. Despite Skywalker's skill and tremendous power, when he tries to kill Obi-Wan with an aggressive strike he also leaves himself open to a parry that allowed Obi-Wan to cleave both his legs and left arm.

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