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Qui-Gon Jinn Respect Thread

By ShootingNova April 17, 2014 62 Comments

Respect Qui-Gon Jinn:

"A true Knight, Qui-Gon is. Forever on his own quest."

Power & Mastery

Qui-Gon is a legendary Jedi Master:

He'd said farewell to his former Padawan, Qui-Gon Jinn, now a legendary Master in his own right; he'd said farewell to his close friends on the Jedi Council, Mace Windu and the ancient Master Yoda; he'd said farewell to the Jedi Order itself.
Source: Revenge of the Sith

Qui-Gon is one of the most powerful Jedi Knights of all time:

Meet the most famous and powerful Jedi Knights of all time.
Source: Mysteries of the Jedi

Qui-Gon possesses a perfect mastery of the Force:

He was outmatched and he knew it. He did not have Qui-Gon's perfect mastery of the Force.
Source: Jedi Apprentice: The Dangerous Rescue

Mace Windu admits that Qui-Gon's mastery of the Force is sufficient to land him a seat on the Jedi Council, and Obi-Wan further opines that Qui-Gon is worthy of sitting on the Council save for his headstrong nature:

"I know that some of you have discussed Master Qui-Gon Jinn as a possible candidate. But I would counsel caution. Despite his mastery of the Force, he is headstrong and willful."
Source: Jedi Council: Acts of War 4

"Master, you could be sitting on the Council by now if you would just follow the code. You deserve to be sitting on the Council." Obi-Wan's frustration surfaced in a burst of momentary anger. His eyes sought the other's and held them. "They will not go along with you this time."
Source: The Phantom Menace

This is notable as one must be one of the most skilled Jedi in the Order to become a member of the High Council:

If you prove yourself to be among the most skilled and wise Jedi, then you may be given the highest honour — a seat on the Jedi High Council.
Source: Mysteries of the Jedi

Force Valor/Force Protection/Force Speed

Strength

Qui-Gon breaks a saberlock with Xanatos with such strength that the latter is pitched several meters and left floored:

Qui-Gon grabs a person's hand and stops it, then kicks another person into a wall:

Qui-Gon strikes hard enough to completely shatter a blade held by Crion, and cause him to step back, plummeting to his death:

Qui-Gon breaks a saberlock with an enraged Xanatos and then kicks him in the stomach:

Qui-Gon knocks out several thugs with a single strike:

The strength of Qui-Gon Jinn is sufficient enough to meet Darth Maul's strength, to the point where Maul literally feels Qui-Gon's blows shudder throughout his body:

I accelerate my pace, calling on my anger to increase my power. My footwork has never been so brilliant. I use the shifting sand as resistance. My lightness and quickness will defeat this man, with his large body, his heavy movements. But he is graceful, this Jedi. The sand doesn't seem to hamper him. He is never off balance, no matter where or how I strike. Our blows send shudders through my body. He meets my strength. Our lightsabers clash and sizzle. Dust and sand rise around us. I never lose my rhythm.
Source: Episode I Journal: Darth Maul

Qui-Gon strikes Darth Maul off a bridge:

Speed

As a Padawan, Qui-Gon reaches for his lightsaber only a fraction of a second slowly than his master, Dooku:

Dooku felt the rush of the Force as it warned him. He reached for his lightsaber. Qui-Gon was only a fraction of a second behind him.
Source: Legacy of the Jedi

Qui-Gon overleaps a lightsaber slash from Aurra Sing:

Qui-Gon blitzes Baroness Omnino:

Gallery

Qui-Gon generates large, blurring afterglows of his lightsaber as he deflects fire:

Qui-Gon dodges sudden blaster fire from four shooters and generates afterglows with his lightsaber:

Qui-Gon blitzes several thugs:

Qui-Gon moves his lightsaber in a blur as he dodges Giba's blow and disarms him before anybody can take a breath:

Qui-Gon's lightsaber was a blur of green as he expertly dodged Giba's clumsy blow, turned, and struck downward on Giba's wrist with a backward motion. The minister was disarmed and down before anyone could take a breath.
Source: Jedi Apprentice: The Mark of the Crown

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan deflect blaster fire while moving their lightsabers in an imperceptible blur:

The energy bars retracted. The guards rushed forward. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan activated their lightsabers simultaneously and leaped toward them. Blaster fire pinged around them, and they deflected it, swinging in a blur of motion faster than the eye could follow.
Source: Jedi Apprentice: The Day of Reckoning

Qui-Gon maintains pace with a Kudana as he outpaces Obi-Wan Kenobi:

The kudana rose out of the mist, the noise of their hooves like thunder. They were beautiful animals, their bronze metallic skins highly prized throughout the galaxy. Their eyes rolled in fright, and they made a high- pitched sound that was close to screaming. Obi-Wan could smell their panic, but he was more concerned about their sharp hooves and powerful legs.
The seeker droid hovered ahead, a laser beaming down toward Qui-Gon. No doubt it was sending back coordinates of their location.
"Ready, Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon shouted over the noise. "Pick a kudana and run alongside it. Use the Force to reach out and connect. Then, if you can, ride one." Obi-Wan began to run. Qui-Gon ran ahead of him, matching the animals' speed. He reached out to touch the nearest animal's flank, racing alongside it. Obi-Wan knew his Master was calling on the Force. With a gigantic leap, Qui-Gon landed on the animal's back.
Source: Jedi Apprentice: The Shattered Peace

Qui-Gon's reflexes are faster than Obi-Wan's, and he ignites his lightsaber in a blur of light:

Qui-Gon's extraordinarily fast reflexes were sharper than his Padawan's. His lightsaber activated in a blur of light. He sprang forward to slash at the whip in order to sever it.
Source: Jedi Apprentice: The Deadly Hunter

Qui-Gon can attack imperceptibly fast, as is known by his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi:

Slowly, Qui-Gon deactivated his lightsaber. Obi-Wan watched, knowing his Master could still attack in a movement faster than the eye could see.
Source: Jedi Apprentice: The Deadly Hunter

Qui-Gon moves his lightsaber faster than the eye can follow:

Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Ki-Adi-Mundi stood with their backs pressed to one another, deflecting a hail of blaster bolts the terrorists poured into the plaza. The blades of their lightsabers - comgreen, blue, and purple--moved faster than the eye could follow, blazing bright as novas as they sent the bolts caroming from the ancient stone walls and ricocheting off the sloping faces of the pyramids.
Source: Cloak of Deception

Qui-Gon runs in a blur:

In a blur of motion, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan hurried to Tiin's aid, spinning and leaping in the face of the onslaught.
Source: Cloak of Deception

Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Tiin and Ki-Adi Mundi forge a barrier out of their blades:

Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Tiin, and Ki-Adi-Mundi surged from the pyramid entrance, engaging the terrorists that had driven them back. A quarter of the way across the immense plaza, the Jedi spread out in a wedge formation, their constantly moving blades fending off blaster bolts loosed from ahead and to either side. Behind the energy barrier fashioned by the lightsabers, Yaddle, Depa, Vergere, and two of the judicials raced out to divert fire from the rear.
Source: Cloak of Deception

Durability & Stamina

Qui-Gon meets Xanatos in midair in a titanic clash which releases bone-shuddering shock waves, but Qui-Gon does not relent:

He hit Xanatos in midair. Their bodies connected like mountains of hard rock. There was no give to Xanatos' muscles, no yielding in Qui-Gon. The clash was titanic. Qui-Gon felt the shock of it move through his bones. For a moment, Xanatos gripped Qui-Gon's arm, forcing them to remain entangled.
Source: Jedi Apprentice: The Deadly Hunter

Despite being a master of Ataru, the most physically demanding of the seven lightsaber forms, he lasts for an extensive period in a sparring match against Tahl, without making mistakes:

The match was not timed. It would only end when one of them scored a blow. Exhaustion began to slow their moves, but they did not stop or make mistakes. He could hear the murmur among the spectators, wondering how long the two students could continue. He sensed more Jedi Masters arriving.
Tahl's face was a mask. She had gone deep within herself, past her exhaustion to a place of sheer will. Qui-Gon had never felt so tired. His arm muscles shook. His legs felt watery. They trembled. Still he did not stop or make a mistake.
Source: Jedi Apprentice: The Death of Hope

Qui-gon lasts for an incredibly long period against the legendarily skilled Darth Maul:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WyUpuegcPQ

Telekinesis

Qui-Gon, Plo Koon and Tholme collapse a cave:

Qui-Gon, Mace Windu, Plo Koon and three other Jedi hurl three Yinchorri:

Qui-Gon hurls Feemor:

Qui-Gon sends Feemor flying again, even as he is being disarmed by Xanatos:

Qui-Gon telekinetically calls Orykan's lightsaber to him:

He smashes a droid against a wall with the Force:

He used the Force to smash one against the wall, but it reformed and came after him again.
Source: Jedi Apprentice: The Call to Vengeance

Qui-Gon pulls Quinlan Vos and Obi-Wan Kenobi out of a river, the water of which possessed a churning property sufficient to pull the two Jedi downwards:

Qui-Gon casually incapacitates two battle droids:

He casually disables another battle droid:

Telepathy

Qui-Gon telepathically speaks to Obi-Wan:

Qui-Gon, Adi Gallia and Plo Koon form the illusion of a second ship in the mind of their pursuiter:

Gallery

Qui-Gon uses a Mind Trick to convince an officer to enjoy a soothing beverage by the pool:

Qui-Gon displays a Mind Trick to convince a thug that nothing untoward has happened and compels the thug to introduce him to Welleques later that night:

Qui-Gon uses a Mind Trick on a Hutt, which is impressive considering Hutts are resistant to typical telepathic intrusion:

It was time to pay a visit to Offworld Headquarters. Offworld did not try to beautify their Bandomeer office. The building, a black, windowless block, echoed the grim mines that surrounded it. Qui-Gon entered the center hall with its azurite-studded walls. The mineral was its only decoration. A Hutt security guard sat behind a black cube that served as a desk. His body rolled past the confines of the desk. He turned flat, dead eyes toward Qui-Gon.
"I have come to see Xanatos," Qui-Gon said.
"Move, wretch," the Hutt replied, bored. "Take your petty complaints to you immediate supervisor. There's no one here anyway. Xanatos is on an exploration trip to the northern mine quadrant."
The Hutt reached for a blaster. So much for corporate hospitality. Qui-Gon didn't move a muscle. He concentrated on the Hutt's greasy mind, pulling in energy from the Force.
"Perhaps I should wait in his private office," he said.
"You should wait in his private office." The Hutt repeated tonelessly. "Take the restricted tube to Horizontal Thirty."
"Security controls should be lifted," Qui-Gon said.
"All security controls shall be lifted.''
Source: Jedi Apprentice: The Dark Rival

Qui-Gon uses the Force to mentally incapacitate an agitated Jar Jar Binks:

"Colo claw fish!" the Gungan shrieked. "Yous Jedi do something! Where da Force now, you think?"
"Relax," Qui-Gon Jinn said softly, placing his hand on Jar Jar's twitching shoulder. The Gungan jerked and promptly fainted.
"You overdid it," Obi-Wan observed, wheeling the bongo about and jetting away through the darkness.
Source: The Phantom Menace

Qui-Gon uses a Mind Trick on Boss Nass, convincing him to provide transport to Theed:

Before Obi-Wan could continue his argument, Qui-Gon stepped forward. "Then speed us on our way," he demanded, bringing up one hand in a casual motion, passing it smoothly before the Gungan chief's eyes in a quick invocation of Jedi mind power.
Boss Nass stared at him, then nodded. "We speed yous far away."
Qui-Gon held his gaze. "We need transport to Theed."
"Okeday." Boss Nass nodded some more. "We give yous bongo. Da speedest way tada Naboo is goen through da core. Yous go now."
Qui-Gon stepped back. "Thank you for your help. We go in peace."
Source: The Phantom Menace

Talk was getting them nowhere. And if we don't reach the capital soon, the Trade Federation's droids will have taken over. Qui-Gon gestured, reaching out to touch the Gungan's mind. "Then speed us on our way," he said.
"Wesa oanna speed yousaway," the Gungan Boss said, responding readily to Qui-Gon's suggestion. "Wese give yousa una bongo. Da speedest way tooda Naboo tis goen through da core. Now go."
Source: The Phantom Menace Junior Novelization

Force Sense

Qui-Gon uses the Force to guide his motions in the darkness, where he cannot see:

He could not see, he let the Force guide him. He could feel his opponent, feel the dark tremors of his evil.
Source: Jedi Apprentice: The Dark Rival

Force Listening

Qui-Gon screens out background noise and focuses on a conversation behind him:

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were able to screen out background noise with the help of the Force, concentrating on a conversation at a table behind them.
Source: Legacy of the Jedi

Beast Control & Beast Language

Qui-Gon uses Beast Control to ride a Draigon, also utilizing Beast Language to communicate with it:

Long had Qui-Gon followed the ways of the Force. Now he felt it beckon him. Run, it commanded. Go to Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon’s heart pounded. He ran three steps and leaped from the mouth of the cave, knowing that two hundred meters below, the sharp rocks stuck up like swords. Yet he trusted the Force. He did not fall even a dozen meters. His leap carried him straight to a draigon! He hit the beast’s neck with a thud. The creature was wet and slimy. Qui-Gon almost slipped off, but clung to its scaly hide with the tips of his fingers. The sore muscles in his shoulder throbbed and burned. He managed to swing his legs up and over, so that he was riding squarely on the draigon’s back. The creature roared in terror. It had been flying up to eat the Jedi. Now it shook its neck, trying to throw him off. It shrieked again and again, then wheeled in panic and flapped its wings, dropping toward the sea. Qui-Gon clutched his precious bag of dactyl in one hand and leaned close to the draigon’s neck. Using all og the power that he could muster, he whispered to the draigon.. “Friend help me. Take me to the caves. Hurry!”
The draigons that were hunting Whiphids heard the desperate shriek of Qui-Gon’s mount. They looked up and saw the man on its back. Now the draigons rose in a flock to give chase. His mount flapped its wings and sped toward the caves. Qui-Gon wasn’t sure he could control the beast for long, for its small mind was cruel, and it was driven by ravenous hunger.
Source: Jedi Apprentice: The Rising Force

Breath Control

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan use Breath Control to prevent death from Dioxis:

In the quiet, Qui-Gon heard a faint hissing.
"Gas!" he called to Obi-Wan. He took a deep breath and held it. They would have to fight their way out quickly, or be overcome.
Source: The Phantom Menace Junior Novelization

Hibernation Trance

Qui-Gon slows down his breathing and life processes so that sensitive probe droids are unable to detect life or breathing signs:

They could slow down their breathing and their life processes so that even the sensitive probe droid couldn't pick them up.
Source: Jedi Apprentice: The Ties That Bind

Combat Skill

Qui-Gon is one of the Order's most formidable members:

A Jedi Master who was known as one of the Order's most formidable members, but his recklessness and his devotion to bizarre causes kept him from becoming a member of the Jedi Council.
Source: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia

Qui-Gon was regarded as one of the best swordsmen ever produced by the Order:

Jinn was generally regarded as one of the best pure swordsmen the Order had ever seen.
Source: The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia

Qui-Gon's fighting style is said to be only slightly less deadly than that of Mace Windu:

His fighting style is graceful and precise, albeit a bit deadlier than Qui-Gon.
Source: Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles: Prima's Official Strategy Guide

Qui-Gon, as a superior duelist to Anoon Bondara, who is regarded by many as having unmatched lightsaber prowess. Jinn has outsparred and humbled Bondara before, with some of their sparring matches being noted to be brief:

Renowned for his skill with the lightsaber, Jedi Master Anoon Bondara is regarded by many of his peers and all of his apprentices as a role model whose combat prowess is unmatched in the Jedi Order. Bondara would disagree with this assesment. During his tenure at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, he spars with superior lightsaber duelists such as Qui-Gon Jinn and Mace Windu. Although he humbles himself when compared to their skill, Bondara's prowess is nontheless considerable.
Source: Jedi Academy: Training Manual

A Twi'lek, with slender head-tails and a heavily muscled upper body, his name was Anoon Bondara, a duelist of unparalleled skill. Qui-Gon engaged him in matches at every opportunity. For a match with Bondara, no matter how brief, was more instructive than twenty contests against lesser opponents.
Source: Cloak of Deception

Qui-Gon is a better duelist than Obi-Wan Kenobi:

They had fought together before, and they knew each other's moves. Qui-Gon had trained Obi-Wan, and while the younger Jedi was not yet his equal, he believed that one day Obi-Wan would be better than he had ever been.
Source: The Phantom Menace

Qui-Gon is one of the most able swordsmen in the Jedi Order, having fought in conflicts across the galaxy in which many others would not have stood a chance. Qui-Gon's master claims that Qui-Gon was one of the best Jedi he had ever trained in over four hundred years (Qui-Gon's master was retconned to Dooku after The Phantom Menace):

Qui-Gon Jinn was one of the most able swordsmen in the Jedi order. The Jedi Master he had trained under had considered him one of the best the Master had taught in his more than four hundred years in the order. Qui-Gon had fought in conflicts all across the galaxy in the span of his life and against odds so great that many others would not have stood a chance.
Source: The Phantom Menace

Like his master, Count Dooku, Qui-Gon has mastered various classical fighting techniques and untraditional combat forms from across the galaxy:

Qui-Gon Jinn's lightsaber may not be as ornate as that of his mentor, Count Dooku, but true to his rebellious ways, he used it to master the same classical fighting techniques as well as untraditional combat forms from across the galaxy.
Source: Lightsabers: A Guide to the Weapons of the Force

Qui-Gon wins all his matches on Exhibition Day, ultimately defeating Tahl:

It was called Exhibition Day, and they had performed exercises while the Jedi Masters watched. Force exercises, balance, endurance, climbing, jumping, swimming. Sometimes they split into teams of two or four. It was play, but it was also serious.
The last exercise was a series of training lightsaber matches. Some were done blindfolded. Some pitted one student against two attackers. Qui-Gon won all his matches. It came down to him and Clee Rhara and Tahl. Then Tahl beat Clee Rhara.
"Guess that leaves us," she whispered as she bowed to him at the start of the final match. "Don't worry. I'll go easy on you." They had been matched many times before. He knew how fast she was. She knew how strong he was. Knowing each other's strengths made the match more interesting. Qui-Gon found fighting Tahl to be both exhausting and exhilarating. It brought out his best skills.
They whirled around the space, using every inch of wall and floor. All the Jedi students admired Tahl's gymnastic abilities. She could run up a wall, twist, and come at you with a sweeping backhand twist that left you dizzy. Tahl fought hard. Qui-Gon admired how just when he thought she was tiring, she would find fresh strength. He could not match her agility, but he was able to surprise her with strategy. He saw her eyes flash with astonishment and her teeth grit in determination as she parried his blows and came at him with a series of twists and reversals.
The match was not timed. It would only end when one of them scored a blow. Exhaustion began to slow their moves, but they did not stop or make mistakes. He could hear the murmur among the spectators, wondering how long the two students could continue. He sensed more Jedi Masters arriving.
Tahl's face was a mask. She had gone deep within herself, past her exhaustion to a place of sheer will. Qui-Gon had never felt so tired. His arm muscles shook. His legs felt watery. They trembled. Still he did not stop or make a mistake.
Then Tahl's foot slipped. Just a fraction, but it was enough. The floor was wet with their sweat. She left herself vulnerable for one split second, and he moved forward, kicking out with one foot and driving the lightsaber from her grasp. At the same time he brought his own lightsaber close to her. He did not touch her with it. He was not willing to give her even the slightest sting from the training saber.
"Match to Qui-Gon," one of the Jedi Masters spoke. Qui-Gon and Tahl bowed to each other. Then they collapsed together on a bench nearby. "A good match," he said, panting.
"It would have been better if I'd won." He shook his head.
Source: Jedi Apprentice: The Death of Hope

Qui-Gon holds the advantage against his former apprentice Xanatos, noticing the latter's weak footwork and exploiting it to drive Xanatos to desperation:

Qui-Gon ducked as a viewscreen followed, smashing as it hit the wall behind his head. He sprang forward, descending on Xanatos with a lightning-fast series of lunges.
"Your age is slowing you down, Qui-Gon," Xanatos panted. "Five years ago you would have dispatched me inside the security chamber. Now I am faster than you."
"No," Qui-Gon said as their lightsabers clashed. "You just talk more."
He circled Xanatos, looking for an opening. Xanatos kept moving, keeping the Council chairs between them. Using the Force, Xanatos caused one to slide away and smash against the wall. Then he pounced. Their battle assumed a new ferocity. Again and again their lightsabers tangled as each tried to gain the advantage.
"Your footwork betrays you," Qui-Gon answered, pressing his advantage with a slashing blow. "You don't realize how you let me know your next move. Notice how your body is leaning just slightly. You're placing more weight on the ball of your left foot. You're going to move left." Xanatos shifted his balance, and Qui-Gon, already anticipating his reaction, drove forward. Xanatos nearly dropped his lightsaber as he slammed against the wall.
Ready to push his advantage, Qui-Gon leaped after him. But Xanatos switched hands again, parrying Qui-Gon's blow as he leaped across the room. He landed on a table close to the window. Gripping his lightsaber, he cut a hole in the window that overlooked the tall towers of Coruscant.
The window peeled back. Keeping his eyes on Qui-Gon, Xanatos smiled.
"You will never defeat me, Qui-Gon Jinn. That is your curse."
Still Qui-Gon adapted his style to fit the area. He used short jabs, sometimes falling on one knee to come at Xanatos from below. He felt the Force swirl around him, strong and sure, aiding his instincts, telling him where Xanatos would move next and how. He blocked each blow and came back stronger. He sensed that Xanatos was on the edge of desperation, though his former apprentice would never let him see it.
"Haven't you forgotten something, Qui-Gon?" Xanatos called to him over the screaming wind.
"The last part of that takeover equation. Devastation."
"You must be tiring, Xanatos," Qui-Gon said. "That's when you begin your taunts." He gritted his teeth as he slammed a blow toward Xanatos' shoulder. Qui-Gon hesitated, his lightsaber held in attack position. He knew he could defeat Xanatos. But how long would it take? In that split second, Xanatos glanced below. An air taxi flew twenty meters underneath the ledge. Qui-Gon sprang forward, but Xanatos stepped off the ledge. He landed on the air taxi. Qui-Gon saw the surprised driver's look of panic as Xanatos calmly lifted him out of the seat and pushed him out into midair.
Qui-Gon had less than a second to decide. He could make the jump. He could land on the taxi. He could grapple with Xanatos. He could end this once and for all.
Source: Jedi Apprentice: The Captive Temple

After running from Mos Eisley to his ship, Qui-Gon is ambushed by a slightly injured Darth Maul, leaving the two to duel ferociously in the desert. Maul recalls musing that the Force favored his opponent because Qui-Gon was able to match Maul's attacks and tell Anakin to run to the ship, whereas Maul had forgotten about him. Maul also muses that he had never been as committed to a challenge before (barring his fight with Sidious), and then goes on to muse Qui-Gon does not appear to be hampered by the sand and maintains his balance regardless of where or how Maul attacks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMylmOlot4g

Regardless, Qui-Gon had quieted his mind and brought his imposing might to bear against Maul’s agility. He had matched Maul’s furious strokes with a disciplined intensity all his own. In the midst of their no-quarter contest the Jedi had even managed to order the slave boy to flee for the safety of the waiting ship, where Maul had nearly forgotten all about him.
The Force favors this Jedi! Maul recalled thinking.
After all the droids, assassins, gangsters, and soldiers he had vanquished, finally a worthy opponent. Not since he had fought and been defeated by his own Master, Darth Sidious, had Maul been so committed to a challenge.
Source: End Game

But he is graceful, this Jedi. The sand doesn't see to hamper him. He is never off balance, no matter where or how I strike.
Source: Episode I Journal: Darth Maul

Maul is surprised by Qui-Gon's ability to repel his surprise attack:

The Jedi meets my first blow, blocking it. He has expected my flying maneuver.
If an opponent can read you, the fight is over. I don't like that the Jedi was perfectly prepared for my first blow. Within seconds, I throw away my usual combinations and strategies. This Jedi seems to know how I will move before I do.
Source: Episode I Journal: Darth Maul

Qui-Gon’s shrewd readiness had almost taken Maul off his guard.
Source: End Game

Maul and Qui-Gon duel evenly for most of the fight, driving each other back and forth. By the duel's conclusion, the fight has only begun to tip in Maul's favor, and only due to Qui-Gon's flagging stamina, suggesting that his combat skill was a match for Maul's:

"There," the Jedi breathed, pointing. They could see Qui-Gon Jinn now, engaged in battle with the dark-garbed, demonic figure. The combatants surged back and forth across the flats, lightsabers flashing brightly with each blow struck, sand and grit swirling in all directions.
Source: The Phantom Menace

He had matched Maul’s furious strokes with a disciplined intensity all his own.
Source: End Game

Then, just when Qui-Gon’s stamina was beginning to flag and the fight was tipping in Maul’s favor, the incomprehensible had occurred: Qui-Gon had fled.
Source: End Game

Solely by redirecting blaster fire with their lightsabers, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan destroy more droids than the entirety of Queen Amidala's forces:

Battle droids and tanks headed for the far side of the plaza, leaving the door to the main hangar clear. Amidala and her forces ran into the hangar and began firing at the battle droids inside. True to their orders, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon did not attack the droids directly. They used their lightsabers only to deflect laser bolts that were aimed at Queen Amidala. But, Amidala noticed, every shot they deflected bounced back and hit a battle droid. The two Jedi were destroying more droids than all the rest of her people put together.
Source: The Phantom Menace Junior Novelization

With Obi-Wan's assistance, and later by himself, Qui-Gon holds his own against Darth Maul for a considerable amount of time. Again, it is said that Qui-Gon lost due to being unable to match Maul physically, suggesting that his skill matches Maul's: