‘Star Wars’ Padawans: They’re Not Quite Ready For the Rank of Jedi Knight
Before completing their trials and reaching the rank of “Jedi Knight,” Force-sensitive apprentices are known as Padawans.
Padawans are usually given training, care, and less responsibility than their Jedi Masters…. Unless it’s during the Clone Wars. Then all bets are off and these children are seeing war. Just maybe becoming a Jedi isn’t all it’s cracked up to be after all.
What is a Padawan?
Also known as ‘Padawan Learners,’ ‘Padawan Apprentices,’ ‘Jedi Apprentices,’ or simply ‘Apprentices.’ Padawans are Jedi in training. This training designation is given to young Jedi who have gone through the basics in group Youngling classes and are ready to get one on one training with a full Jedi Knight.
Traditionally, Padawans are chosen specifically by a Jedi Knight or Master. This would allow the older Jedi to work specifically with children who they felt would get the most of their lessons. For example, a Jedi may choose their Padawan for their exceptional lightsaber skills or their analytical mind. If it’s a Jedi Master with an interest in or gift for healing, they may look for an apprentice with similar gifts to nurture.
Training Padawans was considered one of the duties and responsibilities of every Jedi Knight. Everyone had a stake in raising the next generation and passing on their hard earned wisdom. This meant taking their apprentice on missions and giving the learner first hand experience in their master’s style of force use, diplomacy, battle, etc… Unfortunately, this also meant that Jedi who were not cut out to be teachers would be very directly and individually responsible for a most Padawan’s education in the Force.
“Patience you must have, my young Padawan.”
– Master Yoda
Padawans in the Old Republic vs. the Clone Wars
During the Clone Wars a few things began to change for Jedis and Padawans alike. The Jedi High Council began to assign Padawans to their Jedi trainer. And while it had previously been common for Padawans to be placed in outposts along the Outer Rim territories with their Master for much of their training, during the Clone Wars Padawans were quickly trained in combat, battle, and army leadership skills and expected to go on missions and into battle along with their Master and clone squadrons. This meant that many Padawans held the rank of Jedi Commander and were in charge of a force of clone troopers. Even while the Padawans were still teenagers and were far outranked in field experience and combat by the clones they were commanding.
Years after Order 66 and the fall of the Jedi Order, some of the remaining Jedi attempted to rebuild the order and take on their own Padawans. For example, Ahsoka Tano took on Sabine Wren as her Padawan and attempted to train her in the ways of the Force for a little while. Luke Skywalker tried to rebuild the Jedi Order and take on a small class of apprentices, but his nephew, Ben Solo, killed all of his other Padawans.
Jedi Training and Ranks
In the time of the Jedi Order, Force sensitive children were found and brought to the Jedi Temple at a very young age to begin their training. Older children with memories of their home and families were often considered too old because of the emotional bonds they had already formed. These children are trained mostly in group and classroom settings and often by Master Yoda as Jedi Younglings.
Once they were old enough to begin training with a Jedi Master, they would either be chosen by their Master or have one assigned to them by the Jedi Council. The age where a youngling would be promoted to a Padawan would change individual to individual, but this was usually in their teen to young-adult years. From there, Padawans would receive one-on-one training and instruction from their specific Jedi Master.
This training was deemed complete when the Padawan could pas the Jedi Trials and prove themself worthy of the title of Jedi Knight. Knights that further proved themselves were awarded the rank of Jedi Master.
How is a Padawan Different From an Apprentice?
Within the Jedi Order, it’s not. Padawans are often referred to as apprentices. And when compared to many other vocations that utilize apprentices as a learning workforce, Padawans fit into this definition reasonably well and are simply how the Jedi refer to their specific apprentices. Does this mean you can call yourself a Padawan if you’re an electrical apprentice? Sure, why not. Please tell me how everyone else on the jobsite responds, though.
Why Do Padawans Have Braids?
The Padawan braid is meant to distinguish the apprentices within the Jedi Order. For species that grew hair on their heads such as humans, the braid is literally a long, thin ponytail of braided hair worn over their right shoulder. For species that don’t grow hair on their heads, alternatives such as silka beads were worn. This can be seen with Ahsoka Tano.
When a Padawan passed their trials and was declared a Jedi Knight, the braid was cut off. Similarly, if a Padawan was expelled from or quit the Jedi Order, the braid would also be ripped off of cut.
Why Didn’t Luke Have a Padawan Braid?
For the same reason homeschooled kids don’t tend to get on a school bus. Luke didn’t train as an apprentice with one specific master. He also never had a youngling stage. Instead he trained with a couple of mostly-retired masters to get whatever bits of training he could and then worked on strengthening his connection to the force and abilities on his own in battle.
What is a Sith Padawan Called?
Sith don’t really have a specific name for their trainees, so Sith apprentices are simply referred to as With apprentices. It’s not an interesting or dramatic answer from a group known for being interesting and dramatic, but it’s the one we’ve got.
May the force be with you, adventurers!
