Sun djem
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- "Sun djem is the ancient term for "disarming"."
- ―Cin Drallig
In lightsaber combat, sun djem was an attack used by the Jedi that destroyed or disarmed the weapon of an opponent, the objective usually being not to physically harm the wielder.
Sun djem was a goal of early Form I duelists, as disarming or destroying the opponents' weapons could ensure victory without causing injury, which was always a Jedi objective. However with the rise of Form II lightsaber combat, sun djem became nearly impossible as Makashi duelists were well trained to prevent their own weapons being taken or destroyed.
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Methodology
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- "Not bad, you remembered to destroy their weapons first."
"I'm improving your technique." - ―Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano
There were several ways in which a duelist could perform the sun djem.
In lightsaber combat, it was common for a skilled duelist to try twisting or bashing the opponent's lightsaber from his grip with either a bind or sudden power blow, the Shii-Cho technique "disarming slash" having been developed for this purpose. Luke Skywalker was disarmed in this manner during his duel with Darth Vader on Cloud City,[1] and again during his duel with Palpatine on Byss.[2]
In such engagements, it was also common for a duelist to simply destroy his opponents weapon, cutting the lightsaber hilt in two with his own blade. Dooku utilized this method when he flicked one of Anakin Skywalker's lightsabers out of his hand and cut the hilt in two in midair.[3] Obi-Wan Kenobi attempted to apply this method against Darth Maul during their duel in the Theed Power Core, but one end of Maul's saberstaff continued functioning, allowing the Sith apprentice to keep fighting.[4] Against blaster-wielding opponents, this was standard procedure, as Ahsoka Tano demonstrated during the Battle of Teth.[5]
The sun djem could also be performed with a sudden physical attack, such as a punch or a kick. These methods were demonstrated by such duelists as Darth Bane, who punched Valenthyne Farfalla's lightsaber from his grasp before decapitating him,[6] or Anakin Skywalker, who kicked Asajj Ventress's paired lightsabers, disconnecting the weapons, before kicking one of the two hilts aside.[5] Mace Windu inadvertently utilized this method when he kicked Palpatine in the face during their duel on Coruscant, causing the Sith Lord to drop his lightsaber as he flailed for balance.[7] One of the more extreme demonstrations of physical disarming was when Anakin Skywalker seized Asajj Ventress' wrists and began squeezing one of her weapon arms in his prosthetic hand until Ventress dropped her saber.[8] A considerably more simplistic method favored by Starkiller involved simply grabbing an opponents weapon and ripping it from their grasp, a technique Starkiller often displayed against Imperial riot troopers. Uniquely, Starkiller managed to disarm Darth Vader by catching his lightsaber in midair when the Sith Lord hurled it at him.[9]
More experienced Force users even disarmed opponents telekinetically, such as when Yoda grasped Asajj Ventress' lightsabers, deactivated them while still in Ventress' hands, and yanked them from her grip.[10] Palpatine has been known to display extreme versions of this method, such as when he blasted Yoda's lightsaber from his grip with a barrage of Force lightning during their duel,[7] or when he caused the lightsaber held by Leia Organa Solo to explode in her hands.[2]
Behind the scenesEdit
In both the comic and novelization of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Obi-Wan Kenobi is shown applying sun djem against General Grievous. However, both instances contradict the movie and are outweighed in canonical value.
Mace Windu displayed his mastery of sun djem in the novelization of Episode III by slicing Palpatine's lightsaber in half. In the comic, Mace displayed another variation of sun djem by kicking Palpatine's right palm to knock away the Sith lightsaber. However, both scenes directly contradicted the movie and were outranked in canonical value.
AppearancesEdit
SourcesEdit
- "Fightsaber: Jedi Lightsaber Combat"—Star Wars Insider 62
- Jedi Abilities: Learning the Way on the official Star Wars Galaxies website (content now obsolete; backup links 1 2)
- Jedi vs. Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force
- Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Squadrons Over Corellia (Card: Sun Djem Jung Ma)
- Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game – Galactic Hunters (Card: Sun Djem)
- The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force
Notes and ReferencesEdit
- ↑ Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Dark Empire
- ↑ Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- ↑ Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Star Wars: The Clone Wars (film)
- ↑ Darth Bane: Rule of Two
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- ↑ Clone Wars Chapter 19
- ↑ Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
- ↑ Ambush
