The Force Powers of Yoda - Jedi Master

Those familiar with the Star Wars Saga will certainly recognise the powerful Jedi Master Yoda. In the original trilogy, Yoda's character was mainly that of a teacher, and it is not until the prequel movies that we see some of his abilities with the lightsaber. Long recognised as one of the most powerful Jedi in the universe, here is a brief summary of Yoda's life and Force abilities.

George Lucas does not provide much detail of Yoda's early life. He is a male of an unknown (and un-named) species, born in the year 896BBY, on a remote, and also un-named planet.

NOTE: BBY stands for Before the Battle of Yavin - the year the Death Star was destroyed, leading to the eventual overthrow of the Empire. Due to the significance of this event, the Republic established this date as Year 0 when it set the new post-Empire calendar.

Standing at barely 26 inches tall, it is not even known if Yoda is of average height for his species. What we do known is that early in his life, he left his remote home planet for the core worlds when his ship was struck by an asteroid and disabled, barely managing to reach an un-named swampy planet (not Dagobah). It is on this planet that he encounters the Jedi Master N'Kata Del Gormo, who recognises that Yoda is extremely Force sensitive and trains him. It is here that Yoda becomes a Jedi Master in the year 796 BBY. Over the next 600 years, Yoda trains countless younglings as head of the Jedi Training Academy, and continues to add to his own skills as a Jedi Master. Soon recognised as one of the greatest Jedi Masters, Yoda has the following Force abilities.

Swordmaster - Title given only to those who have mastered all techniques in lightsaber combat. Yoda prefers the Form IV Technique which employs a variety of whirling and acrobatic movements.

The Force - Generally considered to be the Jedi Orders greatest Master of the Force, including his extremely powerful, and precise, telekinetic abilities, including:

Force Push: Ability to throw objects/people away

Force Pull: Ability to pull objects towards himself

Force Whirlwind: Advanced Force Push that lifts, spins and immobilizes opponents

Force Repulse/Force Throw: More powerful Force Push, used to fling objects at high velocity away from the user

Force Wave: Most powerful form of the Force Push, creates a wave of pure Force energy that pushes anything in its path away from the source (Yoda)

Force Valor: Used to focus abilities, increase resolve, and increase ones capacity to move faster and strike harder. used by Yoda to overcome limitations of old age

Force Lightning: Yoda had the ability to deflect and dissipate Force Lightning with his bare hands.

Battle Meditation - Ability to simultaneously lift the spirits of his allies while disheartening the resolve of his opponents. Enhanced by Yoda's reputation as a warrior, he was known to win battles by his presence on the battlefield.

At the core of Yoda's abilities was his skill as a teacher. As Grand Master of the Jedi Order, he had a hand in training nearly all Jedi. He also teaches young Luke Skywalker, who after the Jedi are nearly exterminated by Darth Vader, goes on to found the New Jedi Order.