Ahsoka simply modified Star Wars with its ‘Bokken Jedi’ line, right here’s why

What are ‘Bokken Jedi’ in Star Wars? One of many actual joys of watching Ahsoka is experiencing the methods through which Dave Filoni and his inventive group are subtly altering what it means to be a Jedi within the galaxy far, distant.
On this spin on Star Wars, the truth that Sabine just isn’t Pressure-sensitive doesn’t stop her from working in direction of being a Jedi. We’ve seen loads of the most effective Star Wars characters wield the Pressure all through our rewatches of the Star Wars films so as, however the Ahsoka forged are bringing one thing totally different to the desk.
The newest shift comes from a single line in Ahsoka episode 6, through which Baylan Skoll refers back to the thought of ‘Bokken Jedi’ all through the galaxy. That must be value digging into, proper? So what’s a Bokken Jedi, and have we met any of them earlier than? Let’s seek the advice of the archives on the Jedi Temple and discover out every little thing we are able to in regards to the Star Wars collection‘ latest revelation.
What’s a Bokken Jedi in Star Wars?
A Bokken Jedi is somebody educated to make use of Jedi strategies exterior of the normal construction of the Jedi Order, with ‘bokken’ referring to the picket coaching swords we’ve seen these characters use.
In the true world, a bokken is a picket sword – usually product of oak – utilized in Japanese martial arts coaching. Given how steeped Star Wars has at all times been in samurai concepts, this connection is clearly one thing that has at all times fascinated George Lucas. We’ve seen characters, together with Sabine Wren, practice with bokken in each animation and live-action.
In Ahsoka episode 6, Baylan Skoll and his apprentice Shin Hati are discussing Ezra Bridger. Skoll says Bridger is “too younger” for them to have crossed paths, including: “He comes from a breed of Bokken Jedi, educated within the wild after the Temple fell.”
Shin asks Skoll whether or not she herself would match this description, to which Skoll explains that she was educated to be “one thing extra”. That is yet one more wrinkle to the concept of Jedi, with Skoll establishing a hierarchy – in his thoughts, a minimum of – between the Jedi educated throughout the heyday of the Order and people who have emerged within the years since Order 66.
In some methods, this gives us with a bit extra details about Skoll’s ideology. He sees the present iteration of the Jedi as in some way much less pure than those that have been educated within the Temple, which explains why he was so conflicted in regards to the thought of killing Ahsoka Tano – one of many few Temple-trained Jedi left.
Have we met different Bokken Jedi earlier than in Star Wars?
Luke Skywalker and Rey could possibly be known as Bokken Jedi as they have been educated away from the Jedi Order within the wake of Order 66.
On condition that the Authentic Trilogy of Star Wars films started after Order 66, many of the new Jedi we’ve seen within the franchise’s finest films could possibly be known as Bokken Jedi. The likes of Luke Skywalker and Rey have been by no means given formal coaching as a Padawan, which makes them Bokken Jedi.
Whereas these characters have by no means been given a proper classification earlier than, it’s clear that Baylan Skoll has an issue with them being thrown into the identical class as him and his fallen former comrades. Is that why he selected to affix the ranks of the most effective Star Wars villains?
If you wish to know much more about Ahsoka, check out our information to the Nightsisters of Dathomir and learn the way Ahsoka survived Order 66 within the saddest means doable. We’ve additionally defined why we don’t care about Thrawn as a lot as Dave Filoni.
For extra on the most effective TV collection and new films coming to the galaxy far, distant, discover out in regards to the Andor season 2 launch date, The Acolyte launch date, and the entire new Star Wars films. Elsewhere, try every little thing new on Disney Plus and stay up for extra sci-fi with our information to Avatar 3.