Qui-Gon's lightsaber form explains why he REALLY lost to Darth Maul in Phantom Menace

Qui-Gon Jinn lost his second duel with Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menaceand his preferred form of lightsaber combat was a major factor in his defeat. Lightsaber combat has seven main forms, with Jedi and Sith learning the basic Form I (Shii-Cho), after which most would have a personalized style favoring one of the other six forms (or a combination of them, in some cases). ). Qui-Gon Jinn's favorite lightsaber combat form was Ataru (Form IV).

Form IV – Ataru – is an aggressive and fast lightsaber form whose practitioners often use Force-enhanced acrobatics in combat. This, of course, is best demonstrated by Jedi Grand Master Yoda, who is perhaps the practitioner of Ataru, although many of the form's other users employ its signature stunts much less frequently. In addition to Yoda and Qui-Gon Jinn, some of Ataru's most notable masters are Mara Jade, Ki-Adi-Mundi, and Cay Qel-Droma. Although Ataru could be highly effective, Darth Maul was still able to exploit him in his famous duel against Qui-Gon.

Darth Maul took advantage of Ataru's greatest weakness

Ataru, like all forms of lightsaber combat, has its weaknesses. Form IV is strongest at the beginning of battle, especially when its practitioner faces a single opponent and has plenty of room to maneuver around him. The Form's greatest weakness is that its aggressive and energetic nature quickly depletes the user's stamina, making them weaker as the duel progresses.. Furthermore, closed spaces further rob Ataru of his advantages.

As revealed in sources such as Jude Watson's Star Wars Diary: Darth Maul and Ryder Windham The Wrath of Darth MaulDarth Maul recognized Qui-Gon Jinn's use of Ataru, and the Form's greatest weakness, in their brief duel on Tatooine in The phantom menace. Darth Maul exploited both of Ataru's weaknesses in his second duel with Qui-Gon on Nabooenduring Jinn's aggressive attacks and remaining largely defensive while allowing Qui-Gon to take him into an enclosed space. Even with a momentary pause, Qui-Gon did not regain his energy, and Maul finally found an opening to kill the Jedi Master.

Darth Maul was trained to take advantage of every Jedi weakness

Darth Maul was a Sith Lord in the lineage of Darth Bane. Like all of Bane's Dark Lords of the Sith, Maul was specifically trained to exploit every weakness of the Jedi Knights as he, his predecessors, and successors sought to undermine the Jedi and the Republic from the shadows. Naturally, Palpatine (Darth Sidious) and his apprentices would become familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of all seven forms of lightsaber combat and train to exploit their respective weaknesses. Darth Maul was thus able to quickly adapt to Qui-Gon Jinn's fighting style and turn him against him in The phantom menace.