But that is entirely speculative, Advent. Given how modern weaponry has shifted from swords and spears to automatic rifles, there isn't any reason for fencing to exist. Yet it remains a somewhat popular martial art with numerous masters and highly talented combatants. One doesn't have to have an imminent reason to practice one's swordsmanship in order to maintain it, in real life or in Star Wars.
i'm not too sure if anything yoda did during the CW would have been enough to drastically improve 800 some-odd years worth of saber/force skills. now had he done more than duel dooku once, slay droids, and block laser fire - i'd say you were on to something. but as it stands, there's really no reason for me to believe yoda's overall proficiency would have improved much beyond what it was during the time of TPM. to think otherwise is, imo, speculatory at best.
He did duel Dooku twice actually, he also dealt with some Dark Jedi as well. And I think being involved in battles with a deadly droid army is a bit more productive than meditating and teaching. Before AOTC, he would've been more devoted to training younglings, dealing with things diplomatically, etc. I think it's reasonable to say during relative peace - being the leader of the Jedi Order - there would be much more pressing issues than keeping your skills at the top of your game.
Gideon, a fencer would need to devote his/her life to his/her own art to truly be at their peak. Like, baseball teams practice a single play up to 500 times (or so my professor told us, lol!), football teams practice in the off-season/whatever it's called, and so on. If they focus on other aspects, their abilities would deteriorate. This is in real life and in Star Wars.
Like I said, the Sith returning/major conflict would require honing your skills to their best. The Sith are pretty much considered the greatest threat and there was no opposition that even came close to approaching Maul-Dooku-Sidious level. Maybe "vast" was a bit much, but I would still say he definitely improved by a fair degree.
We saw what Sidious' speed was able to do to so called master swordsmen like Saesee Tiin and Kit Fisto. So I wouldn't necessarily say that Yoda is ever more skilled than Anoon with a blade, but that he's so much faster than Anoon that he would be able to defeat him, regardless. Mace is difficult to say, because Dooku was able to defeat him before he left the Order. So his position as #2 on the Council is probably due to a mix of his saber abilities, Force mastery, and insightful wisdom.
Anoon is physically fit, he's stronger than Yoda at any rate and if you want to say he is more skilled, then so be it. He's also extremely attuned to the Force. If he is more talented though, I don't see how Yoda should be able to defeat him then.
Yoda is likely physically stronger than Anoon-until I see Anoon lifting giant, house sized guns at any rate, he's faster, with comparable blade skills at the very least, exceeds him in the Force and not for nothing was he declared the deadliest foe of the darkness in addition to fiercest and most powerful.
Anoon might hold the edge in technical skill, but in a real fight, Yoda would very likely take him down.
We're not talking about Force powers here, he's called the most powerful when all is accounted for. And he only lifts that box (which is about 12 feet in h-w actually) in an exaggerated setting. Even if he could do that normally, I don't see how Anoon Bondara couldn't (he lifts boulders with ease as a padawan and is described as immensely powerful in the Force) or how that proves Yoda has more physical strength.
Originally posted by Advent
Gideon, a fencer would need to devote his/her life to his/her own art to truly be at their peak.
Totally off-topic here, but I was a foil and saber fencer for six years, collected one gold and seven bronze medals - missed the Junior Olympics by 1 point two years in a row, and only practiced for two hours every Tuesday to do it. 😛
Yeah. I gotz skillz. Me > Dooku.
Originally posted by Advent
We're not talking about Force powers here, he's called the most powerful when all is accounted for. And he only lifts that box (which is about 12 feet in h-w actually) in an exaggerated setting. Even if he could do that normally, I don't see how Anoon Bondara couldn't (he lifts boulders with ease as a padawan and is described as immensely powerful in the Force) or how that proves Yoda has more physical strength.
When all is accounted for? That does pretty much include Anoon and I highly doubt Yoda has increased in ability so greatly in just 13 years. And as for the exaggerated setting, to my knowledge, it's still just as valid. While Anoon is immensely powerful, Yoda has him beat by quite a bit in the Force.
Also to my knowledge, Anoon only appears in two books, and a few minor sources, in all of which he's already a master.
Originally posted by EnyalusTotally off-topic here, but I was a foil and saber fencer for six years, collected one gold and seven bronze medals - missed the Junior Olympics by 1 point two years in a row, and only practiced for two hours every Tuesday to do it. 😛
Yeah. I gotz skillz. Me > Dooku. [/B]
Wow. I'm impressed.
Originally posted by SIDIOUS 66As much as I agree with you, it's that A>B>C pattern of yours which you're being lambasted for elsewhere.
Darth Maul was a Dark Lord of the Sith, trained by Darth Sidious(the greatest sith master of all).Ventress was a dark acolyte, trained by Dooku(the apprentice of Sidious).
I say Maul wins all three.
Originally posted by Tangible God
As much as I agree with you, it's that A>B>C pattern of yours which you're being lambasted for elsewhere.
No it is common sense. Darth Maul was trained to be a dark lord of the sith. Dark lords of the sith are said to be the most powerful practitioners of the dark side. Not only was he a dark lord, but also trained by the greatest dark lord of all. Put 2 and 2 together. His knowledge was surely greater than Ventress.
Ventress gets WRECKED, we're talking about a full Sith Apprentice who took on and killed one of the most powerful Masters in the Order, and then almost killed his Padawan; who I'd say is on par with CW series Anakin. Maul is at least on par with Grievous who owned Ventress and Durge at the same time. And if Durge a renowned Jedi killing invincible bounty hunter can't tip the tide in ventress' favor then she sure as hell can't beat maul single handedly. Ventress can't handle Skywalker b4 ROTS let alone the Dark Lord's hand