Originally posted by LordOfTheLight
Yeah, and as has been repeated time immemorial, anybody can Tk, lift etc. anybody when the opponent hasn't countered with a gesture. There are no "barriers" at all in canon, only counters through gestures.
I don't think, that gesture is needed. Vader could choking without a gesture. Perhaps against Force push.
Anyway, Force guard / barrier pretty much exists, I think. But if you're discracted, your guard/barrier is lowered. That's in my opinion the reason, why Dooku was capable of owining Kenobi with the Force - he overhelmed in a saber lock and thrown off-balance. Kenobi was discracted and lowered his guard. Dooku, Kylo Ren lowered their guards against their masters, as it would be a challenge if they would not - it's a maseter's right to punish his apprentice.
Force "defenses" exist, yeah, but you "have" to gesture for them.
I mean, this is illustrated as clearly as it can in TCW. Check out Anakin's fight with Ventress.
We are talking about defense here, not offense. And Vader's tier of force power and mastery is higher than someone like Dooku's( as it rightfully should be, he's got more potential, and much better Sith training). If I had to guess, I'd say that Vader is midway between Dooku and Palpatine.
To my knowledge in canon, nobody has repelled force based attacks without a gesture.
That said, you are also right, of course.