Everything Star Wars Canon Revealed About Jedi Padawans

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Introduced the idea of ​​Jedi Padawans to Star Wars canon, and here’s everything that’s been revealed since. Until George Lucas introduced the idea of ​​Padawans in prequels, Jedi-in-training were simply referred to as “apprentices.” Since then, viewers have learned that there are six ranks among the Jedi:

• Initiates, children brought into the Jedi Temple after they were discovered

• Younglings, in training to become Padawans

• Padawans, the apprentices

• Jedi Knights, who passed their trials

• Jedi Masters who have successfully completed a Padawan’s training

• And Jedi Grandmasters, the most revered of them all. Yoda is the Jedi Grandmaster of the prequel era

But what exactly is a Padawan? When does a youngling become a padawan, and how? These questions, and many others, are explored in detail in Canon.

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At what age does a Jedi become a Padawan?

Truly wonderful is the mind of a child

The tricky thing about Jedi apprentices is that their graduation to higher ranks is determined by skill level and the passing of certain trials rather than age alone. Some youngsters train for longer than others, depending on their skills and ability to learn. After completing a series of trials that typically occur in their early teenage years, younglings officially become Padawans.

Padawans are generally in this training stage for about a decade, usually more. Obi-Wan Kenobi was 25 when he took his trials to become a Jedi Knight, while Anakin Skywalker was considered very young when he was knighted at age 19. Vernestra Rwoh was a special case, becoming a Padawan very early and becoming A knight in an age. Amazing 15 years old.

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How is a Padawan chosen for a master?

Not a one-size-fits-all process

The relationship between a Padawan and their Master is incredibly special and important. The formative years of training are what shape a youngling into an effective JediSo it is crucial that a student is learning from the right teacher. Sometimes, the choice is a matter of the Jedi Council pairing a master with an apprentice who shares a compatible mindset or skills. Anakin Skywalker took on a Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, without ever meeting his new apprentice.

Other times, Padawans can be chosen by specific Jedi Masters who feel connected to a certain Youngling, such as in the case of Yoda and Count Dooku. Doku and his friend, Sipho-Dias, are both younglings at the same time, and both are eligible to be taken as Yoda’s apprentice. It was the Grandmaster who finally made his choice, surprising both young Jedi.

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The Jedi code forbids training more than one Padawan at a time

Undivided attention only

When Qui-Gon Jinn asks to train a newly discovered Anakin Skywalker as his Padawan, he is denied the opportunity on the grounds that he cannot take on another apprentice while he is still training Obi-Wan. In fact, Yoda calls this idea “Impossible” before Qui-Gon claims that Obi-Wan is ready to graduate to the rank of knight. Their current Padawan would have to have graduated before a Jedi could take on their next Padawan.

The reasoning behind limiting each Jedi to a single apprentice is clear. When building the master-padawan relationship, both Jedi need to be able to fully trust and rely on one another. Every master needs to be able to pay close attention to their PadawanConsidering still attention to the needs and weaknesses of their learning without any abatement.

If a Jedi Master wanted to take on another Padawan, they would have to wait until their first graduated.

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The lord-padawan bond explained

Closer than just a teacher and student

Padawans and their masters form an incredibly special bond. Obi-Wan and Darth Vader maintain part of this bond even years after their connection was meant to be dissolved. During his time as a Padawan in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the ClonesAnakin comments that Obi-Wan is the closest thing he has had to a father. After renouncing all personal ties to his family and training one-on-one for over a decade, it’s no wonder that a Padawan would bond so completely with their master, and vice versa.

The bond between Padawans and their masters is more than one of those personal relationships that the Jedi shun. The Jedi shared a strong bond with each other through the Force, learning each other’s inner workings and creating an almost tangible connection. They are able to sense each other’s presence and moods, even after years apart. Beyond their Force connection, years of training and meditation together allow them to know each other better than anyone else.

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Padawans are taught to specific Jedi, but can be assigned to anyone

Kind of like being on-loan

Just because a Padawan has a certain master doesn’t mean they can’t work with others. throughout Star Wars: The Clone WarsAhsoka Tano is often seen working with Jedi Masters besides Anakin, although she was assigned as Anakin’s Padawan.

This strategy also works as a way to use other masters as “substitute teachers” when necessary. As Grand Master, Yoda was always important to the Jedi Council and often had responsibilities to see. While Count Dooku was his Padawan, he sometimes sent Dooku to study alongside his friend, Sipho-Dias, under the tutelage of Jedi Master Lene Costana.

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Padawans served as “commanders” during the Clone Wars

Not too young for battle

Youth has never meant unworthy in Star Wars. Still, it may come as a surprise to realize how young some of them were during their time in the Clone Wars. Not only did they fight in the galaxy-wide conflict, but they also served as “commanders,” leading clone troopers into battle and discussing strategies with the higher-ranking Jedi.

This was not to say that Padawans were not protected by their masters when it came to particularly dangerous missions. They could be denied access to certain information or clearance for certain missions if the Masters stationed above them deemed too dangerous for such a young Jedi. When a supervising master was unable to accompany a master on dangerous missions, that Padawan often remained stationed on Coruscant.

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A Padawan must go through a “JD trial” to become a Knight

They must prove themselves first

Before graduating to the rank of Jedi Knight, a Padawan must complete a series of trials. The trials would prove to the Council that they are ready for the responsibility and power of being a Jedi Knight. This usually happens when a Padawan is a young adult, although there are some special cases in which the trials take place while the Padawan is still a teenager. The trials include a test of skill, courage, flesh, spirit and insight. Each trial shows an important aspect of being a Jedi, showing that the Padawan taught these lessons to them.

In some cases, a Padawan may undergo a particularly trying experience that their Master may approve of as their trials. Anakin Skywalker’s Jedi trials were unconventional, as he and a few others were allowed to count his combat experience at the Battle of Geonosis as all five of his trials. Ahsoka would be knighted as a result of her role in the Clone Wars if she chose to join the Jedi Order.

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The Padawan braid is removed at the knighting ceremony

More than just a haircut

The Padawan braid originated in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom MenaceWith Obi-Wan Kenobi as his first model. The braid was grown behind a Padawan’s right ear, growing longer while the rest of the hair remained short. When they were ready to take their trials, most Padawans had brides reaching their shoulders. Padawans without hair, such as Ahsoka Tano, wear silk beads instead.

Although it is not seen in Star Wars After fighting, a Padawan would have their braid ceremonially cut off by their master’s lightsaber when they were reborn. If a Padawan could not graduate to the rank of Knight for some reason, their braid or silka beads would be removed. When Ahsoka left the Jedi Order, she left her silk beads with Anakin, who held on until he saw her during the Siege of Mandalore.