Matukai - Force-Tradition.

(This thread is under reconstruction)

Summery
"The Matukai, who have committed themselves to physical discipline, are among the best martial artists in existence. They achieve their mastery through a Force bond that strengthens their blows and refreshes their fighting spirit."      
―The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force (Page 252).        

Introduction
"Many Force-users require some sort of focus to concentrate their power. The Matukai, a sect of Force-users spread throughout the galaxy, teach how to reach out to the Force using such a focus. What makes them unique is that their focus isn't an inanimate object―the Matukai have made their own bodies the primary focus for their abilities."

History
"The Matukai have their origins in the days of the Old Republic, many years before the rise of Darth Bane and the new Sith Order. In those days, the Jedi Order was at its peak, with a large membership roster and a reach that spanned even into the Outer Rim. The Jedi Council was much more lax with its views on Force-users and did not attempt to indoctrinate Force-sensitive children shortly after birth. Though the majority of Force-users throughout the galaxy were Jedi, some other organizations, such as the Sorcerers of Tund, were allowed their autonomy provided they did not sink into the dark side of the Force."

"The first Matukai was a Human female from the world of Karvoss II who discovered her ability to touch the Force while practicing a form of meditative martial arts. Eventually, she became a relatively strong presence in the Force and soon began teaching other Force-sensitive students. Dutifully trained, these pupils then spread out into the galaxy to teach more. While never growing beyond 50 or 60 members at a time, the Matukai could be found almost anywhere spacefaring beings might travel. One of the unique aspects of Matukai training is that it allows any being with otherwise negligible inherent strength in the Force to develop it into something formidable using their body as a focus. Through basic meditative martial arts, physical exercises, and somatic rituals, they fan the spark of the Force inside them, hoping the spark will one day become a flame."

"The Jedi Council eventually recognized the growing power of the Matukai tradition and sent representatives to the Matukai to discuss a possible affiliation. Most Matukai were uninterested. Some felt that the Jedi way of teaching the Force was both elitist and ineffectual. Others thought they could do a better job training students than the Jedi Order could. Since the Matukai generally drew from a pool of Force-users that would not qualify for Jedi training in the first place, the Jedi Council was content to let the Matukai exist as an autonomous organization, provided they steered clear of the dark side. There remained little formal contact between the groups, but hostilities did not arise either. With the passing of time, the Matukai way waxed and waned. As the Clone Wars came and went and Lord Vader began his Jedi Purge, the already scattered Matukai vanished into hiding, or, more frequently, were captured and exterminated by the Empire's Inquisitors. Much like the Jedi, though, the few remaining Matukai were able to preserve their Force tradition and pass it on to apprentices in secret. Some of these Matukai chose to join Luke Skywalker's Jedi Academy when the call went out for prospective students. Skywalker's academy had less stringent standards for admission than the old Jedi Council, and his eagerness to learn more about the Force meant he―and as a result, the academy―was more open to new ideas and training methods than the Old Republic Jedi had been."

―Star Wars: Hero's Guide (page 143 - 144).




Matukai Philosophy
"The basic philosophies of the Matukai revolve around a balance and harmony between the spiritual aspects of the Force and the physical aspects of the body. The general tenets of the Matukai include keeping the body clean and strong, purifying themselves through physical activity, focusing on the Force through exercise and ceremony, and avoiding any taint of the dark side. The Matukai also teach a sort of flexibility of spirit. This belief entails never allowing oneself to become flustered or upset; keeping oneself in a natural state of relaxation and rest to give the body the greatest channel for using the Force; and ensuring that nothing causes anguish, fear, apprehension, or other forms of stress that have negative physical side effects."

―Star Wars: Hero's Guide (page 144).

Force Tradition
"The Matukai emphasis on the body as a focus for channeling the Force has allowed many who would not otherwise be able to tap into the Force to do so consistently. Many who have mastered the way of the Matukai actively seek out others to train. While some simply prefer to focus on their own training. The Matukai have no base of operations and are spread out in groups of three to five across the galaxy. The Matukai have a signature weapon, associated with them in the same way the lightsaber is associated with the Jedi. The wan-shen is a long staff with a short, single-edged blade attached to one end. It's a long weapon, nearly as long as a primitive polearm. The weapon is wielded along the lines of a quarter-staff, and a skilled Matukai can whip his wan-shen around his body with amazing speed and agility, creating a virtual whirlwind of metal and blades. The wan-shen was chosen because it gave the Matukai an external tool to use in addition to their bodies as a focus of the Force, and gave them a means of protecting themselves at the same time."

―Star Wars: Hero's Guide (page 144).

Training
"The typical training methods of the Matukai often seem very simple when observed by the untrained masses. Though each Matukai's training differs based on the instructor's decisions, most involve the learning of a complex series of martial arts forms, slowed down to act as a form of physical meditation. Matukai trainees are frequently required to push themselves further than they normally could physically while drawing upon the Force for strength. Each lesson taught to a Matukai begins with some feat of strength or stamina but results in a lesson on the nature of the Force as well. A Matukai apprentice frequently spends hours or even days at a time holding one pose or stance in an attempt to let the Force flow into him, often in harsh weather or while under some other great physical strain. Those who complete the training and become Matukai are in good physical health thanks to both the influence of the Force and the rigorous training they undergo. Additionally, Matukai are identifiable by the distinct tattoo that covers part of the forehead and the sides of the face at the eyes. It is a symbol adopted when a Matukai completes her training."

―Star Wars: Hero's Guide (page 144 - 145).

Force Powers
"A fully trained Matukai is a master of his own body. He can feel every wound, injury, and sickness inflicted upon him. He can force his body to reject the venom of a deadly Kouhun, or pass through a village ravaged by a plague and never contract it. Matukai have excellent balance thanks to the Force and can push themselves longer and farther than most beings. The Matukai are known to use the Force in many of the same ways the Jedi do, from making incredible leaps and tumbles to dashing rapidly away and withstanding enormous amounts of pain. They are completely in control of the physical aspects of their beings and are able to manipulate their bodies in ways others find almost unnatural."

―Star Wars: Hero's Guide (page 145).

Matukai Adept Prestige Class
"Masters of the Force and controllers of their own bodies, the Matukai adepts are both formidable combatants as well as powerful Force-users. Their use of the wan-shen makes them difficult to get close to in combat, and when a lucky shot does manage to get through, the Matukai adept often can reduce the damage he takes from the attack thanks to physiology-manipulating techniques he has learned throughout the course of his training. The Matukai adepts can be found in many places throughout the galaxy, but wherever they are it is almost certain that they will quickly adapt to their surroundings."

―Star Wars: Hero's Guide (page 145).

Distinguishabilities
"What distinguished the Matukai from other organizations was the way by which they made their own bodies the primary focus of their abilities. While the Jedi traditionally meditated when they were not physically exercising, the Matukai used physical exercise as a form of meditation. In this capacity, all Matukai are masters of their own bodies."

―Jedi vs Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force (page 196).

Ranks
Matukai Adept
"Matukai adepts are masters at guiding their bodies with the Force. They are capable of astounding physical feats."
―Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords (item description).

So apprentices never have the potential to become Adepts in the first place? Doesn't that defeat the purpose?

The Matukai Apprentices are deemed "Force-insensitive, negligible, or Non-Force Sensitive" - as they only have a spark of the Force inside them, a spark too weak to be considered effective for anything. That's where the Matukai's distinguished focusing applications & training methods come in - as Matukai Apprentices are taught how to configure their bodies into channeling centers that draw off and collect the excess energy that radiates from the Force. An inward configuration in which allows the Force spark inside them to grow.

So do all Makutai originate as low-potential Force Sensitives?

Sensitivity and potential are 2 different things:

"Many of the people the Matukai recruit have little inherent strength in the Force. The fact that these pupils become masters of the Force is a testament to the effectiveness of Matukai instruction."

―Jedi Academy Training Manual 'Page 80'.

I like trains.

Omar Ali Shaheed Muhammad wrote:

Yusanis Masutai wrote:

I like trains.