#the Jedi become one with the force instead of using the force to willfully prolong their lives

[onsomekindofstartrek]

I do think Palpatine may, ironically, (heh) be the most agile and competent duelist that appears in the original trilogy, although this is probably a retcon. It’s not established in the originals, but the prequels show us that he’s extremely powerful with the force, a little younger and less decrepit than he appears post-Episode III (though he is still quite old by Episode VI) and a particularly flashy and cool fighter.

I don’t think it’s a stretch to assume that, as the dark side is basically powering his body, he probably still has it, and we might have seen him do some crazy shit if he weren’t playing up his infirmity for Luke and then immediately being taken unawares by his trusted servant Vader.

I think the reason the original Star Wars trilogy has very tame and normal fencing instead of the crazy martial arts in the prequels is that everyone involved but Luke has arthritis and Luke has no one else to learn from.

Obi Wan? Old as balls

Yoda? Almost a thousand

Darth Vader? He’s 41 but he was really hard on his body in his 20’s.