Anyone who loves Star Wars knows how important the relationship between a Jedi Master and their apprentice is. We’ve seen it with Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon Jinn, and later, with Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker. That bond between teacher and student shapes the entire Jedi Order.
But here’s something you might not have noticed—Yoda wasn’t supposed to train Dooku, or any Padawan for that matter. Jedi tradition didn’t allow Grand Masters to take on apprentices personally. But because it was Dooku, Yoda broke the rule and trained him anyway. And yes, this is canon.
Yoda Wasn’t Supposed to Train Any Padawan as His Own Apprentice
A Jedi Grand Master, or any Jedi Master holding a seat on the Jedi Council, was not allowed to take on a Padawan as a personal apprentice. Their responsibilities to the Order, including governance and high-level decision-making, took precedence over training individual students.
We can see proof of this rule in the Star Wars canon novel, Master & Apprentice, by Claudia Gray. When Qui-Gon Jinn was offered a seat on the Jedi Council, he immediately realized what that meant for his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi’s master. The book provides his reaction:
“Before he could think more on it, Mace said, ‘In some ways, this invitation comes at an opportune time. This change could, potentially, resolve other problems.’ Only then did it hit Qui-Gon: If he took a seat on the Council, then Obi-Wan would be transferred to another Master.”
This passage makes it clear that Jedi Council members were not permitted to train Padawans directly. Once a Jedi Master joined the Council, their duties shifted entirely to leadership, meaning their current apprentices would be reassigned.
This rule applies to Yoda as well. Not only was he a member of the Jedi Council, but he also held the highest position as Grand Master. His focus was meant to remain on overseeing the Order, guiding Jedi doctrine, and making critical decisions. Training a Padawan would have been an exception to this structure—yet he made one for Dooku.
So, Why Did Yoda Break the Rule to Train Dooku?
If Jedi Council members weren’t supposed to train Padawans, then why did Yoda take Dooku as his apprentice? The reason is Dooku’s exceptional talent and the Jedi Order’s concern about his future.
Dooku was the top Padawan of his time. This is confirmed in Star Wars: Yoda #4, where Yoda observes Dooku leading a lightsaber training session for the Jedi Initiates. While they were on their way to the training, Yoda told Dooku, “Perhaps the best Padawan of your generation, you were.”
Then, we get a clear moment when Yoda finally accepts Dooku as his apprentice. In the canon novel Dooku: Jedi Lost, this takes place around 86 BBY, when Dooku finishes his time as a Jedi Initiate and is ready to become a Padawan. However, Dooku doesn’t initially hope to train under Yoda—he wants to become the apprentice of Jedi Master Lene Kostana.
To impress Kostana, Dooku decides to showcase his skills during the Padawan Tournament. His opponent is none other than his best friend, Sifo-Dyas, another one of the most gifted Padawans of their time. The duel between them is intense—two of the best young Jedi clashing, with the winner proving themselves as the strongest. Determined to win, Dooku fights Sifo-Dyas with one hand behind his back, even blindfolding himself, and still emerges victorious.
But his victory doesn’t go as planned. Despite his impressive display, Master Kostana chooses Sifo-Dyas as her apprentice, leaving Dooku disappointed. Yoda, at this point, still doesn’t immediately take Dooku under his wing, which frustrates the young Jedi even more.
Yoda didn’t immediately step in to take him as an apprentice either, which only made things worse. Feeling overlooked, Dooku became desperate to prove his worth. He pushed himself harder, demonstrating his lightsaber skills and attempting powerful Force techniques in front of Yoda. In one bold attempt, he tried to lift The Great Tree, a sacred, Force-sensitive tree that Yoda deeply valued.
But despite all his efforts, Dooku couldn’t move it. Yet, instead of ignoring him this time, Yoda finally acknowledged his potential. That was the moment Yoda made his decision, telling Dooku, “Ready, are you, my Padawan? Ready to learn what you do not know?“