Kenobi reminded Yoda in TESB that he had been "reckless" in his youth, and indeed he WAS!
The young Kenobi seen in the trailer and the rehearsal footage (or his stand-in) tends to use angular motions, both of the sabre and of his body. He leaps and frolics in a skilful but overly showy manner.
Young gifted swordsmen often seem this way -- they are able to take advantage of their youthful vigour, speed and flexibility to make up for what their style lacks in control. Kenobi is seem twirling his sabre like a cheerleader -- a useless and showy gesture -- when he and Jinn leap a chasm to confront Maul, Kenobi just HAS to flourish his jump with a summersault. Kenobi will have many close shaves in his fights -- only sheer reaction speed will save him time & time again.
Young swordsmen also have a lesson to learn -- they must learn to replace their speed with SKILL or their career ends at 30 (or even earlier). The body slows with age, and it must be the MIND that wins fights, not fancy moves.
We are lucky to have seen the OLD Kenobi in action as well. A man in his 60's (at least), "Ben" Kenobi uses a totally different style. He "fights for centre" -- a style that uses far less physical strength and motion, but is very deadly. The opponent must be careful as the old man is attuned to their every move and will rip them a new orifice with a lightning fast blow.
To watch Kenobi & Vader face-off was much like watching 70-90 year old Japanese kendo masters fight ... a battle of minds. They are playing chess -- with swords. Attitude and counter-attitude are put down until an opening appears.
Kenobi's straight style is more than capable of frustrating the larger and more effusive diagonal powerplay from Vader. Ben could hold him off all day long. Every wild move risks instant retaliation from the well-settled centre position.
HOWEVER: there are still some hints of the younger extravert in there ... old Kenobi employs a couple of twirls and spins, but its clear he isn't up to the performance levels of his youth. As the fight progresses, he gets tired, and is content to hold ground. He lacks the strength to get a clear shot at the massive Vader -- unless he can goad Vader into an unwise "big" attack (as he tries to do!)
Kenobi comes full circle. He was truly a master of his weapon -- but to the very end, he lacked the majesty, poise and technical excellence of QuiGonn Jinn.
[IMAGE OF KENOBI TWIRLING HIS LIGHTSABER]
An angry & frustrated Kenobi charges through a slow-to-open forcefield WITH of course, a characteristic displaced-agression TWIRL *sigh*
Here we see the ill-tempered Kenobi. He has stood waiting for a force-field to open. As soon as it retracts he charges through - clearly in a hurry ... BUT ... he has allowed his frustration and anger to get the better of him ... as he charges through he cannot help but peform his signiature one-handed sabre TWIRL (a behavioural trait called "displaced aggression") ... this twirl betrays his lack of self-control. It is a move that we shall see is not only useless, but downright dangerous!
[IMAGE OF LUKE KICKING DARTH VADER][IMAGE OF KENOBI KICKING DROIDS]
In Return of the Jedi we saw Luke unleash a sidekick at his father, the Lord Darth Vader. In The Phantom Menace we shall see Kenobi doing much the same thing. Here he is being extravagent as he kicks not one, but TWO droids.
[IMAGE OF KENOBI GETTNG PWNED BY DARTH MAUL]
So what happens when you try to use a single handed TWIRLY cut against a well balanced two-handed weapon weilded by a master such as Darth Maul? Answer: you get your butt kicked ... well, your FACE anyway! Maul unleashes a *proper* side kick against the frivolity of Kenobi. This is an expression of CONTEMPT on Maul's part. He has already won a pause of a second or so against Jinn (to his right) and turns his attention to Kenobi on his left. Kenobi begins his TWIRL move ... which leaves him open to be sliced in half ... Maul just cant help himself, and has to show Kenobi just how ineffective such moves really are ... he simply rocks back and KICKS him across the room like a rag doll!
