Battlemaster

Upon the establishment of the academy on Coruscant, the Jedi High Council designated a Battlemaster to spearhead instruction in lightsaber combat techniques. For numerous generations, this role was held by only one individual at a time. During the eras of the Cold War and the Galactic War, the title of Battlemaster was awarded to Jedi who demonstrated extraordinary combat skills during these conflicts. In this period, Jun Seros held the position of Battlemaster within the Jedi Order, succeeding the late Kao Cen Darach. Following the resolution of the Revanite crisis, the Jedi Master known as the Hero of Tython was granted the title of Battlemaster. This system came to an end with the commencement of the New Sith Wars. Although Lord Hoth had officially risen to the rank of Battlemaster of the Jedi Order, due to the majority of Jedi being deployed to battlefronts and acquiring lightsaber skills in active combat, the lords and generals of the Army of Light began proclaiming themselves as Battlemasters, showcasing their capabilities against the warriors of the Brotherhood of Darkness. With the conclusion of the war on Ruusan, the Army was disbanded, and the battle-worn Jedi made their way back to Coruscant. While many relinquished the title to assume roles as instructors, others were dispatched to remote training facilities to oversee instruction in the Outer Rim. Some years after the Ruusan Reformations of the Galactic Republic were enacted, Master Skarch Vaunk served as the primary Battlemaster of the Jedi Order.

In the twilight years of the Republic, Master Cin Drallig directed lightsaber training at the academy, instructing accomplished swordsmen such as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. It is important to note that while only one Battlemaster existed, there were a selected few who served as lightsaber combat instructors, either leading smaller academies or working directly under the Battlemaster. One such example was the Wookiee Master Kirlocca, who imparted lightsaber techniques to students at the Almas Academy within the Cularin system, functioning as one of the appointed lightsaber instructors under the Battlemaster's authority. Other appointed lightsaber instructors who were active under the respective Battlemaster included Dooku, Sora Bulq, and Anoon Bondara. As the Clone Wars drew to a close, Drallig met his end at the hands of one of his most skilled pupils, Darth Vader, a former Knight who had succumbed to the dark side. Drallig's demise marked the end of the Battlemaster lineage, as the Order was soon thereafter dissolved.

In the wake of the subsequent Great Jedi Purge and the Galactic Civil War, Master Luke Skywalker spearheaded efforts to rebuild the Order, eventually training the inaugural class of the next generation of Jedi Knights. Given his previous involvement in lightsaber combat as a former member of the Dark Side Elite, Kam Solusar was appointed as the head of combat instruction at the Jedi Praxeum. During his tenure as the primary lightsaber instructor, Solusar educated the first Jedi Initiates by establishing the three rings of defense, which became the new Order's foundational defensive principles. Kam Solusar held this position until after the defeat of the Dark Jedi Desann, at which point the title of Battlemaster was conferred upon Master Kyle Katarn, around 13/14 ABY. Katarn, already a proficient swordsman, is renowned for introducing the three combat styles—Fast, Medium, and Strong—to the Order, each accompanied by unique Katas and maneuvers, encompassing techniques tailored for single, dual, or even double-bladed lightsaber engagements.

It is highly plausible that Anoon Bondara preceded Cin Drallig as the Jedi Battlemaster. Anoon's appearances consistently portray him as possessing unparalleled lightsaber skills, and the fact that he instructed Younglings and Padawans like Obi-Wan Kenobi and that he passed away in 32 BBY, the same year Cin Drallig assumed the role of Battlemaster, lends credence to this theory. However, it remains uncertain whether he served as the chief lightsaber instructor at the Temple and, consequently, the Battlemaster.

There is also a chance that the Echani Jedi Master Raskta Lsu held the title of Battlemaster during her time, as she had mastered all forms of lightsaber combat and was celebrated as the most exceptional duelist of her era. Sora Bulq, the co-creator of the infamous Vaapad, was recognized as a master of every known style of lightsaber combat.

His mastery of the weapon of a Jedi was such that Master Mace Windu enlisted Sora's assistance in developing Vaapad. As one of the Order's most esteemed lightsaber instructors, Sora Bulq is credited with mentoring numerous students throughout the years. Sora was an active Jedi while Cin Drallig was the leading lightsaber instructor at the Jedi Temple (before his fall to the dark side), suggesting that he was likely not the primary Battlemaster but rather one of a select few.