Why Yoda Flipping Doesn’t Contradict “Size Doesn’t Matter”

I don't see it as a contradiction, but I think it's a great missed opportunity. I would have loved to see Yoda using the wisdom side of the force rather than the combat side of the force.

Let Mace be the warrior guy and make Yoda more of a Br'er Rabbit figure, becoming great not by physical strength but by intellect. When we first meet him, he tricks Luke into thinking he's a fool in order to learn Luke's true nature. We should have seen more of this cunning in the prequels rather than just CGI action scenes.

The idea that Yoda just another great fighter feels a bit lazy and rushed, like the easy way out.

 

It was out of character and a missed opportunity.

It would have been awesome to see '...for knowledge and defense, never for attack.' in action.

Just as 'impressive' as the jumping would have been if it's impossible to strike Yoda as he simply parries everything with ease. But he will not strike you back (no pun intended)

 

I don't have too big of a problem with it. There was a Super Carlin Brothers video that I watched that went over how they speculate that the reason Yoda walks with a cane instead of running and flipping all crazy like is because they believe that the Jedi only use the Force when necessary. Like a self-restraint sort of thing. This is why Anakin was saying "Obi-Wan would be very grumpy" to Padme when he used the Force to woo her over with his fruit-floating skills.

Though, as @redwinger pointed out, it was a missed oppurtunity to do something unique instead of another lightsaber duel. They could've done more with the Force contest thing they had going on before dueling.

 

This is strictly a hypothetical, but imagine if Yoda used pacifism in this battle instead of a warrior attack. Never really attacking, but defending himself and yet gaining ground on Palpatine through knowledge. Same result, but without Yoda the warrior and with Yoda the wise.

How would that make people feel about Luke's final scene with Ren in TLJ?
If he was emulating the pacifism of his teacher?

 

The notion that it contradicted the "Size matters not" lesson seems to have been popularized by Plinkett's Episode 2 review. Maybe I am wrong, but that's the only time I've heard that talking point before this thread.

Whether or not it contradicts Yoda's lesson in Ep5 is irrelevant. We can debate it all day, but Yoda contradicts himself quite a bit in the prequels as opposed to the originals. That makes his character even better. The Yoda in the PT is wise but still is wrong about many things. The Yoda in the OT is a changed man and has different outlooks after his failures

 

#Yodalivesmatter