Hmm, this is actually pretty close. Anoon is called the finest swordsman in the Jedi Order in 2 different novels (each take place less than a year before TPM). This puts him above people like Plo Koon, Mace Windu and Yoda, however, I'll let that one slip as the book was released in 2001 and Michael Reaves had no way of knowing how good Yoda was with a blade. That still puts Anoon as #2 in the order as far as swordsmen go, and he is referred to as one of the best fighters in the order. So #2 with a blade and probably top 5 overall, definitely top 10. However, Sora Bulq could very possibly have been the second best swordsman of that time, too, had he been in Anoon's shoes, and maybe even second best overall (TPM era Mace and CW Sora are close, I'd say). I say Sora takes this, both he and Anoon were lightsaber instructors at the temple but I'm guessing that Sora would be closer to Maul than Anoon was, though it's hard to tell - Anoon realized right away that he couldn't beat Maul, though that may be because he is intelligent, and just because he couldn't beat Maul doesn't mean that he wouldn't have lasted a long time in a duel with Maul. But Sora put up a decent fight against CW Mace Windu (even getting in a Force Push on Mace at one point), owned Tholme (at the end of the fight he's winning merely by using his deactivated lightsaber as a club and hitting Tholme with it) and he was beating Vos pretty badly until Vos turned back to the light with help from his fellow Jedi and caught Bulq by surprise. Yeah, Bulq likely takes this, close though.
well in terms of whos the better swordsman, id place my money on anoon
in virtually every source he appears in his skills with the saber are held in extremely high regard
for instance, from the cloak of deception:
"A Twi'lek, with slender head-tails and a heavily muscled upper body, his name was Anoon Bondara, a duelist of unparalleled skill. Qui-Gon engaged him in matches at every opportunity. For a match with Bondara, no matter how brief, was more instructive than twenty contests against lesser opponents."
from shadow hunter:
"At least she was not standing there alone. Behind her and slightly to one side was her mentor, Anoon Bondara. Master Bondara epitomized what Darsha hoped to become one day. The Twi'lek Jedi Master lived in the Force. Always still and complacent as a pool of unknown depth, he was nevertheless one of the best fighters in the order. His skill with a lightsaber was second to none. Darsha hoped that one day she might be able to exhibit a tenth of Anoon Bondara's adeptness."
from the power of the jedi sourcebook:
"darsha assant's teacher was the jedi master anoon bondara, a twi'lek jedi renowned for his skill with the lightsaber. to padawan darsha, of course, master bondara's prowess was unmatched."
anoon was also a practitioner of teras kasi, which would make him a far more dangerous opponent, given that hardly any jedi had any familiarity with the style whatsoever. from shadow hunter:
"The Jedi was obviously a master of the teras kasi fighting arts, as well, judging by the smooth way he parried and counterattacked."
and the power of the jedi sourcebook confirms that anoon was a master of teras kasi, not just a practitioner
being a lightsaber instructor, its also highly likely anoon was very proficient/had great knowledge, and perhaps even achieved mastery of multiple saber forms, or an extremely high mastery of his own, which is always a plus
so yes, clearly his technical abilities with a saber were virtually unmatched, and some of the best in the entire pt jedi order, so that coupled along with his mastery of teras kasi, and i think he may very well be able to take someone of sora's caliber in a straight out swordfight
close though
well in terms of whos the better swordsman, id place my money on anoon
in virtually every source he appears in his skills with the saber are held in extremely high regard
"A Twi'lek, with slender head-tails and a heavily muscled upper body, his name was Anoon Bondara, a duelist of unparalleled skill. Qui-Gon engaged him in matches at every opportunity. For a match with Bondara, no matter how brief, was more instructive than twenty contests against lesser opponents."
"At least she was not standing there alone. Behind her and slightly to one side was her mentor, Anoon Bondara. Master Bondara epitomized what Darsha hoped to become one day. The Twi'lek Jedi Master lived in the Force. Always still and complacent as a pool of unknown depth, he was nevertheless one of the best fighters in the order. His skill with a lightsaber was second to none. Darsha hoped that one day she might be able to exhibit a tenth of Anoon Bondara's adeptness."
"darsha assant's teacher was the jedi master anoon bondara, a twi'lek jedi renowned for his skill with the lightsaber. to padawan darsha, of course, master bondara's prowess was unmatched."
anoon was also a practitioner of teras kasi, which would make him a far more dangerous opponent, given that hardly any jedi had any familiarity with the style whatsoever. from shadow hunter:
being a lightsaber instructor, its also highly likely anoon was very proficient/had great knowledge, and perhaps even achieved mastery of multiple saber forms, or an extremely high mastery of his own, which is always a plus
so yes, clearly his technical abilities with a saber were virtually unmatched, and some of the best in the entire pt jedi order, so that coupled along with his mastery of teras kasi, and i think he may very well be able to take someone of sora's caliber in a straight out swordfight
Taking on Mace, putting up a relatively good fight, and even managing to Force Push the great Jedi Master at one point. I will admot, however, that, in the end, Mace defeats Sora by throwing some rocks at him, but then is forced to run and fight Asajj Ventress and is unable to finish Bulq off.
And I also doubt that Anoon could do this:
As you may know, Tholme is a fairly strong Jedi, who has "kept [his] dueling skills up more than most Jedi." Lightsnake (one of the members here, good debater), even believes that he is above Asajj Ventress (which I think is riduculous, but). And yet Bulq completely owns him. They hadn't been fighting for long before that, either. It's not like that was the end of a close duel, or anything.
You do have a lot of good points, however. This would be extremely close. Welcome to the forms!
Originally posted by IOU
well in terms of whos the better swordsman, id place my money on anoonin virtually every source he appears in his skills with the saber are held in extremely high regard
for instance, from the cloak of deception:
"A Twi'lek, with slender head-tails and a heavily muscled upper body, his name was Anoon Bondara, a duelist of unparalleled skill. Qui-Gon engaged him in matches at every opportunity. For a match with Bondara, no matter how brief, was more instructive than twenty contests against lesser opponents."
from shadow hunter:
"At least she was not standing there alone. Behind her and slightly to one side was her mentor, Anoon Bondara. Master Bondara epitomized what Darsha hoped to become one day. The Twi'lek Jedi Master lived in the Force. Always still and complacent as a pool of unknown depth, he was nevertheless one of the best fighters in the order. His skill with a lightsaber was second to none. Darsha hoped that one day she might be able to exhibit a tenth of Anoon Bondara's adeptness."
from the power of the jedi sourcebook:
"darsha assant's teacher was the jedi master anoon bondara, a twi'lek jedi renowned for his skill with the lightsaber. to padawan darsha, of course, master bondara's prowess was unmatched."
anoon was also a practitioner of teras kasi, which would make him a far more dangerous opponent, given that hardly any jedi had any familiarity with the style whatsoever. from shadow hunter:
"The Jedi was obviously a master of the teras kasi fighting arts, as well, judging by the smooth way he parried and counterattacked."
and the power of the jedi sourcebook confirms that anoon was a master of teras kasi, not just a practitioner
being a lightsaber instructor, its also highly likely anoon was very proficient/had great knowledge, and perhaps even achieved mastery of multiple saber forms, or an extremely high mastery of his own, which is always a plus
so yes, clearly his technical abilities with a saber were virtually unmatched, and some of the best in the entire pt jedi order, so that coupled along with his mastery of teras kasi, and i think he may very well be able to take someone of sora's caliber in a straight out swordfight
close though
You basically posted what I would have, plus a (convincing) quote from Cloak of Deception. All I can add on is that Darsha had shown "strong force tendencies even as an infant," (excuse me if the quote is a word or two off, I don't have the book with me and online hosting has failed me once again) added before the fact that she hoped one day to have 1/10th of Anoon's adaptness.
And DS, as for that quote, is was from the narrator, and Darsha recalls how there was a lecture by Yoda in which he participated in combat (he doesn't have a lightsaber, but it does go to say that Darsha very well may have seen him actually fight, and that Anoon's skills are above Yoda's even when she saw three Jedi attack and not lay a finger on Yoda).
I'd say it is a close match, but, I think the safe bet here is Anoon.
All I can add on is that Darsha had shown "strong force tendencies even as an infant," (excuse me if the quote is a word or two off, I don't have the book with me and online hosting has failed me once again) added before the fact that she hoped one day to have 1/10th of Anoon's adaptness.
And DS, as for that quote, is was from the narrator, and Darsha recalls how there was a lecture by Yoda in which he participated in combat (he doesn't have a lightsaber, but it does go to say that Darsha very well may have seen him actually fight, and that Anoon's skills are above Yoda's even when she saw three Jedi attack and not lay a finger on Yoda).