#form iii

Which is cool because it continues the main principle of the Jedi's relationship with a lightsaber. It is a tool of combat, but it cauterizes wounds and is the last resort after talking and negotiation. It's to defend a Jedi's life and those around them.

By shooting a blaster you are choosing to do damage and to kill or harm. A Jedi can only deflect what's being shot at them. They can only use long range if they are defending and send it back to their attackers.

I could go on forever about how lightsaber forms developed, each form making up for a weakness of a previous form.

It's so interesting Obi-Wan becomes a Soresu Master. Obi-Wan sees the weaknesses of Ataru (he can't get to Qui-Gon, and Qui-Gon's energy is spent when they fight Maul), and Djem So (Anakin's arm is taken because although there's more defense in Djem So than Ataru it's designed to leave holes so you have room to attack and use an opponent's attacks against them).

Niman is the jack of all trades form that doesn't give any big advantage, but also makes up for the previous disadvantages of the offensive forms. It also uses room for Force pushing and hand to hand moves. Obi-Wan dabbles with this, but it's as he's mastering Form III, dropping offense, but coming at it with an understanding of Niman.

Because Soresu was meant for blasters foremost. That's what it's built on. So he looks at Niman, a form built to make up the flaws of all the offence forms and comes back to Soresu with this in mind. He doesn't need to make up for offensive flaws. Perfect Soresu isn't about offence. What he needs to do is expand his shield for close quarters lightsaber combat. He uses hand to hand aspects and force use of Niman so that even if he loses his saber he can still carry on with defense and draining his opponent. He can use Ataru leaps to get out of the way of a heavy blow, he can use Djem So's to use his opponent's attacks against them to tire them more. He basically modernises the classic form. It isn't Niman because Niman is still an offence form and his Soresu isn't a new form because it is only building logically of the concept of defense and using modern techniques to strengthen it.

At least that's what I think he does. Considering he's fought the most individual Darksiders and Sith out of all the Jedi at that point (Maul, Dooku, Ventress, Savage) it makes sense that that's the direction he goes, and it's the full version of it we see during the Mustafar duel where every step he's giving ground and able to counter what comes at him from the environment and Anakin's fierce Djem So.

People laugh about the high ground being an unimpressive incline after all the force leaps done previously in the duel, but Soresu is about wearing your opponent down not only physically, but mentally. Making them frustrated is a big part of it.

Anakin could have jumped to the side, but Obi-Wan at the advantages position would be able to move quickly and have a huge energy advantage having his saber moving down, gravity taking some of the energy he would expend, while Anakin would be working against gravity. Obi-Wan's shield would be even worse with the slight incline.

Obi-Wan is hoping Anakin will stop and talk, but Anakin sees Obi-Wan is going to keep defending and that if Anakin loses his energy he'll lose the duel. Also, Obi-Wan is KNOWN for defeating Maul when Maul had the high ground so there's arrogance too. Anakin believes he is strong enough to completely overpower his disadvantage.

Obi-Wan tells him not to try it because what Anakin is doing is completely exposing himself to a stike which, unlike Maul, Obi-Wan can clearly see coming.

The choice to use Mou Kei (cutting off several limbs at once) actually makes a lot of sense in that situation with the development of his Soresu. Anakin is right handed and at this point his arm is mechanical. Cutting it off wouldn't actually stop him. He could switch to his left and he wouldn't be stunned by pain, so Obi-Wan takes off his left, but there's still the problem of the prosthetic. Severing the legs completely stops Anakin's mobility.

I don't think he was actually thinking that through in the moment, I think Mou Kei was instinct. By jumping Anakin has gravity on his side. If he gets through he will kill Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan could have sliced off his head or at his torso, but he automatically went non-lethal.

Anyway I just find it all fascinating.

Also tragic because I have always felt Obi-Wan's shield was made for Anakin. He wanted to defend and protect Anakin while Anakin attacked and together they would be unstoppable. I'm sad that we didn't get to see the full effect of it with Dooku, but Dooku is good at throwing big heavy things with the Force. I guess I could point out Obi-Wan tries to get Dooku while he's distracted with Anakin and it leaves himself open to the Force choke which means Obi-Wan breaks out of his Soresu and leaves an opening. Dooku also uses the Force against Obi-Wan throughout the battle to break his stance.