YOUNGLING (BEAR CLAN)
Based: Coruscant, Jedi training facilities
Affiliation: Jedi Order
Members: Bear Clan, other clans
Leader: Yoda
Debut: Attack of the Clones
Before being trained one-on-one with a Master, Jedi students must first learn the ways of the Force as part of a clan taught by the great Master Yoda. These Jedi are known as 'Younglings', and can sometimes even outwit a Jedi Master...
Youngling clans consist of around twenty children (each being four to eight years old) who are taught basic Jedi philosophy and Form I lightsaber techniques. There can be up to ten Youngling clans operating at any time, though not all are based on Coruscant; some Younglings are taught on Jedi training centers on planets such as Kampras. When Yoda is not around to teach his Younglings, other experienced Jedi like Depa Billaba step in. It was she who took over the training of Yoda's Bear Clan during the Jedi rescue on Geonosis.
Training with normal lightsabers would not only be unwieldly but dangerous for Younglings, so they use special training lightsabers. These variations include a low-power 'safety blade' generator, which produces a much shorter blade. To practice their saber skills, Younglings face off against floating remotes during training, and sometimes wear novice helmets to mask their vision and use the Force rather than their eyes. Though they are only young, their training can sometimes be hard, especially with the good-natured but firm Yoda. |
