Advanced Lightsaber Moves Obi-Wan Used to Beat Darth Maul and Anakin

What comes to mind first when you think of Obi-Wan Kenobi? The answer depends on who is asking and which Star Wars movie they've watched. Most fans likely think of the wise and experienced Kenobi from A New Hope. Kenobi's version had a big impact on Luke Skywalker. It helped him become skilled with the green lightsaber. This happened during the Galactic Civil War.

However, Obi-Wan is also a formidable Jedi warrior, as shown in the prequel trilogy. This is the Obi-Wan who defeated Anakin Skywalker in the renowned Duel on Mustafar by going up against Darth Maul's double-bladed red lightsaber. Let's look closely at two historical events and how Obi-Wan used strategies to defeat his opponent in each one.

Duel on Naboo: Obi One Kenobi Vs Darth Maul

When Obi-Wan faced Darth Maul in one of the most legendary fight scenes in the Star Wars canon, he was still a Jedi Padawan. His win against a more experienced opponent in this battle helped him become a Jedi Knight.

The young Padawan Obi-Wan engaged Darth Maul in combat moments after the latter used his double-bladed saber to skewer Qui-Gon. He fought hard in a tough battle.

Eventually, he was pushed into a deep hole. He hung dangerously from a ledge on the wall. Darth Maul insulted Obi-Wan by kicking his discarded lightsaber into the shaft and then taunted him from the rim of the platform above, adding insult to injury.

What transpired next was more a result of careful use of the Force than of actual lightsaber talent. Obi-Wan used his powers to do two things simultaneously. First, he pulled Qui-Gon's lightsaber towards him with his mind.

Second, he flipped over Darth Maul's head. With a borrowed lightsaber, Obi-Wan unexpectedly moved behind his adversary and split Darth Maul in two at the waist, sending both parts flying down the shaft. Whoa.

It's a lesson in the perils of arrogance above all. After using the Force to give himself an advantage over Obi-Wan, Darth Maul was caught off guard when his rival utilized the same technique.

Duel on Mustafar: Anakin Vs Obi-Wan

Let's skip the long story about what happened before the Duel on Mustafar. This duel was between Obi-Wan and his former student, Anakin Skywalker.

Following a protracted struggle across a lava river, Obi-Wan jumped onto the nearby bank and proclaimed, "I have the high ground!" as his victory.

Anakin ignored Obi-Wan's warning. He stubbornly jumped into the air.

He performed a strong leap and spin, copying the move Kenobi used to defeat Darth Maul. Well, Obi-Wan was prepared. Anakin was left with a cleanly severed left arm and legs by the time he hit the ground.

Anakin's jumping attack could have given him the advantage if done right, but he forgot to surprise his opponent. This was a move that Obi-Wan had already executed. He was fully acquainted with the trick.

In this instance, the lightsaber strike used by Obi-Wan is referred to as "mou kei," which means to cut off several limbs at once. The Jedi generally forbid using it. Given that mou kei is a pretty gory technique with a sinister undertone, it's easy to understand why. Obi-Wan may have tried to dissuade Anakin from making his plunge because he anticipated what would happen and knew it wouldn't be in their best interests.

Without question, dissecting lightsaber fights throughout Star Wars history can be entertaining and even informative. If that's your thing, we encourage you to join us on our official forum at SaberForum.com to discuss this and other topics with other fans who share our interests. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any queries about our ever-expanding selection of lightsabers and accessories.