What was the most active thing you did today? Did you manage to fit in a nice workout before or after work? Did your commute count as your "activity" for the day? Or would you perhaps describe your general level of physical exertion as more "Netflix and chill"? Did you train to be a Jedi master? No? Well, Daisy Ridley did… proving once again that not only is she gorgeous and talented and hilarious and empowering but also that she'll always be better at everything than you. It's like this video of Daisy Ridley training for Star Wars exists solely to make us all feel bad about ourselves. Thanks, Daisy!
Seriously though, how badass is she, on a scale of 1-10? The aforementioned video shows the Star Wars actress practicing the Chinese martial art of wushu with Liang Yang, AKA the man behind the mask of Stormtrooper FN-2199. (You may recall him as the one who memorably shouted "Traitor!" at Finn before dueling with him during the battle on Takodana.) We already knew that Rey was good with a staff; but by the looks of things she'll be just as proficient with a lightsaber when Yang is done with her.
In fact, Ridley is so badass that it makes me question her stance on this whole "Jedi" thing. Earlier this month, Ridley gave an interview at the MTV Movie Awards and when she was asked about her character's future as a Jedi apprentice, she replied, "I don’t know if I am a Jedi… I don’t think I am." This answer probably came as a shock to many people who thrilled at seeing Rey quickly master the Force in last December's The Force Awakens. But Ridley went on to explain that just being able to use the Force doesn't necessarily make you a Jedi.
"We’ve had this debate as to whether Leia is [a Jedi] because she uses her Force powers,” Ridley said. “Just because she’s not like, 'Oh I’m going on an adventure!' like Luke doesn’t make her any less Forceful." In the hair-splitting realm of semantics, she's technically correct. A Jedi is someone who has been trained by a pre-existing member of the Jedi Order; Rey hasn't done that yet, so Ridley's not wrong when she says Rey's not a Jedi just because she can use the Force.
But watching this video, it's hard for the argument that Rey isn't a Jedi to stand up. Just look at her! If that's not a Jedi-in-training, then I don't know what is. Hopefully Luke Skywalker will be able to give her the guidance she needs in Episode VIII to become the kickass — and proper — Jedi warrior we all know Rey is destined to be.
Image: Giphy
