Hanna Ding (Jedi Renaissance)

Hanna Ding was a female Arkanian Jedi Knight serving the Jedi Order throughout the early Golden Age of the Jedi. A fierce fighter, Ding specialized in lightsaber combat and served the Order as an instructor on at the Jedi Grand Academy on Ossus.

Early life
A Force-sensitive female Arkanian, Hanna Ding was a member of the Jedi Order, living at the Coruscant Jedi Temple and training in the ways of the Force. At the academy there, Ding was graceful and particularly fond of lightsaber combat as opposed to grappling, but her methods were predictable. After she graduated from the academy, Ding became eligible to become a Padawan to a Jedi Master.

When the Clone Wars erupted between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, Ding was stationed at the Temple, and preferred to use a green-bladed training lightsaber. Throughout the war, Ding secretly feared that one day she would die outside the Temple's walls on the battlefield. In 19 BBY, Ding participated in the Temple Apprentice Tournament, administrated by Jedi Master Ilena Xan. Ding was openly critical of fellow Padawan Tallisibeth Enwandung-Esterhazy, claiming that she was using unorthodox trickery and was manipulating the rules. In the second round of the Tournament, Ding was pitted against Enwandung-Esterhazy, fighting in the dark. Ding refused to give into her frustration when her opponent repeatedly attempted to deceive her, and ended up being kicked in the chest. Still, Ding managed to gain the upper hand, and believed she had her opponent beaten. At that moment, Enwandung-Esterhazy grabbed her lightsaber blade, which was set at a low setting, and managed to get Ding in a strangle hold, forcing the Arkanian to surrender. Ding was then eliminated from the competition.

Powers and abilities
Hanna Ding received her initial training at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, ensuring that she possessed a standard understanding of the Force, and its applications. During her apprenticeship she underwent several missions with her master which tested her abilities and drew her attention to areas of study which she desired to pursue during her career. Ding was also proficient with a lightsaber, having crafted one herself and imbuing it with a green crystal discovered in the caves of Ilum. During her Great Journey on Tython she completed her training at each of the nine Great Temples, finding the study of the Balance quite remedial at Akar Kesh while refining her lightsaber technique at Stav Kesh. Developing her skills as a Guardian, Ding accomplished many great deeds during her career, refining several techniques long since forgotten by the Order and only recently recovered from lost tomes and forgotten archives.