[QUOTE=Lucas;1213437]We should sith storm their temple.[/QUOTE]
No can do. There are only ever 2 sith at a time. Master/student.
Kind of hard to storm anything with2 guys no matter how powerful they can shoot the electric boo boos out their hands.
slightly OT
There are more images if you follow the link.
Martial Arts Lightsaber Paintings Slice Through the Dark
BY JAKOB SCHILLER08.07.136:30 AM
In his new Light Painting KATA series, Patrick Rochon makes fluid designs by moving around in a martial arts-inspired dance while holding custom lightsaber flashlights.
“The process is definitely a performance,” says Rochon, who lives in Montreal. “The movement I use is a way for me to express my feelings. I was like, here is my energy translated into an art form.”
Kata is in the title because it’s a Japanese word that refers to the kind of repetitive training or choreography that happens in martial arts.
All the photos are made in a completely dark room. Rochon says he moves, often to music, until he thinks he’s finished. Each exposure is between one and five minutes, and he usually has to do several takes before he’s satisfied. Occasionally, he only needs one.
“Sometimes I get into a different state of mind, and before I look at the camera, I know it’s going to be good,” he says.
[QUOTE=David Jamieson;1213853]No can do. There are only ever 2 sith at a time. Master/student.
Kind of hard to storm anything with2 guys no matter how powerful they can shoot the electric boo boos out their hands.[/QUOTE]
Actually, there are periods during which Sith armies number in the tens of thousands. Count Dooku himself only agreed to join Sidious because he was promised he would be allowed to create his own standing Sith army to police the galaxy, as he felt the Jedi had become incompetent.
DJ MK, this is the nerdiest debate on the forum…
Meanwhile, check this out: Best Fencing Event Teaser Ever ! Fencing World Championships 2013 - Budapest
Lightsabers are TSA friendly
This is dated. I read it in one of those weird news 2013 in review articles. I’m delighted to know that TSA makes allowances for lightsabers. 
Chewbacca’s lightsaber triumphs over TSA
By Katia Hetter, CNN
updated 11:06 AM EDT, Tue June 11, 2013
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Chewbacca actor's lightsaber-themed cane received extra TSA inspection
The TSA check took less than five minutes, the agency says
The TSA allows toy lightsabers in carry-on and checked baggage, a spokesperson says
(CNN) – May the force be with you, even in the airport.
We all know that’s not always the case, especially when we’re carrying something that raises concerns from the Transportation Security Administration.
The 7-foot-2-inch tall actor Peter Mayhew, best known for playing Chewbacca in the Star Wars movies, ran into a security line delay last week when he was stopped for his lightsaber inspired cane.
Mayhew, 69, was heading home from Denver Comic Con when his movie-inspired cane provoked a second look by TSA agents. Mayhew travels regularly to different conventions, meeting fans and tweeting photos. Next stop is London’s Film and Comic Con in July.
Mayhew quickly took to his Twitter account to protest the inspection of his cane, and credits Twitter for its speedy release. He’s seen in a Twitter photo sitting in a wheelchair, which he says he’s also using because of a bum knee.
One Chewie tweet: “Magic words to TSA are not ‘please’ or ‘thank you’.. It’s ‘Twitter’.. cane released to go home.”
The cane was not detained, says the TSA, which e-mailed CNN.com this statement: “Because of the unusual weight of the passenger’s cane, a security officer alerted a supervisor. Less than five minutes later, the passenger and cane were cleared to travel.”
Peter Mayhew at Arclight Cinema on May 19, 2010, in Los Angeles.
A check of the TSA’s “prohibited items” list revealed this information about lightsabers:
“Sadly, the technology doesn’t currently exist to create a real light saber. However, you can pack a toy light saber in your carry-on or checked bag. May the force be with you.” (The TSA spells it “light saber.”)
“Even if an item is generally permitted, it may be subject to additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint if it triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or poses other security concerns. The final decision rests with TSA on whether to allow any items on the plane.”
“Star Wars” fans had a field day on Twitter.
"@TheWookieeRoars @TSA Just learned Star Wars lesson #1: ‘Let the Wookie Win,’ " wrote astronomer Ray Sanders.
Wrote @milapajamas: “Peter Mayhew @TheWookieeRoars was stopped by TSA cause he had a lightsaber. I guess it is a weapon after all, which means Star Wars is real.”
Sometimes a cane is clearly more than a cane. It’s an icon, a symbol of a movie that’s a cultural touchstone. And sometimes, it’s a storage unit for a knife. The TSA blog reports that a passenger at Washington Dulles Airport was surprised when TSA agents found her cane concealed a knife. She had recently bought it at an antique store.
[QUOTE=MasterKiller;1243532]Actually, there are periods during which Sith armies number in the tens of thousands. Count Dooku himself only agreed to join Sidious because he was promised he would be allowed to create his own standing Sith army to police the galaxy, as he felt the Jedi had become incompetent.[/QUOTE]
How could not respond with this Old Republic video of the Sith storming the Jedi Temple?
How do you say ‘jedi’ in Italian?
Italian Jedi Get All The Best Lightsaber Schools
Adam Gauntlett | 4 February 2014 11:51 am
Ever wanted to be a Jedi? Do you live in Milan, Rome, Turin, Genoa, Varese, Pesaro or Vercelli?
Yes, Lightsaber School is a real thing, but if you want to be part of it then I hope you live in Italy. Gaze upon the shiny that is LudoSport, an Italian school for aspiring Jedi Knights. The fighting style’s a mix of medieval, Kendo and film-based techniques, and the sabers are as real as the students can manage without actually making something that could sever limbs.
“It helps distract me after a hard day’s work,” says student Valeria Ricciardi, “and also keeps me fit!” The sabers aren’t cheap, at about 200 Euro ($270) a shot, but thankfully the only other gear you need is a sweatsuit, indoor sneakers and protective gloves. There’s no choreography involved; the whole point is to create a working fighting technique, and if you’re wondering what that looks like, take a gander at the Shadow Team.
The school’s already got seven branches, including its head office in Milan, with more on the way.
Official site for LudoSport
Slightly OT
Jedi Prisoner Accuses HMP Bosses Of Bigotry As They Refuse To Recognise His Faith
Huffington Post UK | By Sara C Nelson Posted: 16/04/2014 11:13 BST | Updated: 16/04/2014 12:59 BST
Prison bosses have being accused of “religious bigotry” after refusing to recognise an inmate’s faith as Jedi.
“I recently put in an application asking that I be allowed to practise my religion freely – I am a Jedi.
Yoda was one of the most renowned and powerful Jedi Masters in the Star Wars films
“The written reply said: ‘…whilst Jedi is a recognised religion according to the UK census, it is not recognised by the National Offender Management Service and we cannot change your religious record because of this’.”
The Jedi prisoner, who is serving time at HMP Isis in Thamesmead, adds: “This is an example of the kind of intolerance and religious bigotry faced by members of our faith on a daily basis, both within the prison service and without.
“Jedis have been portrayed very negatively in the media since the tragic battle of Yavin IV, when Luke Skywalker and a group of left-wing militants targeted the Death Star in a terrorist attack, killing thousands of civilian personnel.
“Please withhold my name in the paper as I fear retaliation from the Dark Side. May the force be with you.”
The Star Wars-inspired religion is still the most selected “alternative” faith in the census, and is practised by 0.31per cent of all people in England and Wales.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: “The National Offender Management Service does not recognise Jedi as an official religion.”
‘fear retaliation from the Dark Side.’ priceless.
Emilio brings it home
One more thing for me to chide Emilio on…
May the (Wushu) Force be with you!
For many years, Wushu has been the martial art of choice for Hollywood’s top fight choreographers, been featured in many productions such as “THE MATRIX” and “STAR WARS” . In fact, Scottish actor Ray Park, best known for playing Sith Apprentice Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I, was an accomplished international Wushu athlete himself.
Recently, Coach Emilio Alpanseque has been invited as a guest instructor to the Golden Gate Knights, a San Francisco Bay Area group that offers instruction in lightsaber choreography, to focus on teaching a special set of techniques derived from Wushu to enhance their current repertoire.
For more information about the group, please visit http://goldengateknights.com/
Coach Emilio having fun with the folks at the Golden Gate Knights
With Golden Gate Knights co-founder Alain Bloch
May the Force be with you!
I imagine this thread will heat up this year…
…what with the Force Awakens on the horizon.
There’s a vid if you follow the link below.
Martial arts dojo offers light saber classes for Star Wars fans
10:33 PM, Apr 6, 2015
10:33 PM, Apr 6, 2015
If preparing for a intergalatic war you are, then you might want to check out this martial arts dojo.
Beavens Martial Arts in Claremore offers classes on how to fight with weapons of the future: light sabers.
Master Beaven said he discovered the trend, which is growing in popularity in Italy, and decided to adopt his own version and teach it at his dojo.
“Jedis are martial artists. So who better to teach Jedi training then a martial artist?”
One Jedi apprentice, Jared Strain, has been taking the class for the past four months and loves it.
“Oh it’s been a whole lot of fun so far especially with the sparring. I’ve really enjoyed it,” said Strain, who is well on his way to schooling Jedi’s such as Obi Wan.
While the path to becoming a Jedi seems fun, it’s also a very difficult road to take. Those embarking on the journey seeking the power of the Force must be in peak physical condition and have strong mental focus if they are to succeed at eradicating dark forces with their skills.
The program does teach actual martial art disciplines, both trainers and apprentices appreciate the positive environment and fun that comes with it.
“I just like lighting the light sabers up and enjoying having fun. It’s a relaxed environment. I bring my family in and they also do it so it’s a good time,” said Chip Sheppard, Jedi.
Darksiders beware: With all these soon to be Jedi in training you might think twice before messing around in Claremore.
The course last about nine weeks and cost about $70 a month.
Singapore’s The Force Academy
[QUOTE=GeneChing;1282688]…what with the Force Awakens on the horizon.
[/QUOTE]
I got a bad feeling about this… 
Singapores Jedi Academy: Real World Sword Fighting Skills With Lightsabers Because Yes
by Jessica Lachenal ( ) Monday, August 31st 2015 at 3:54 pm
If youve ever found yourself needing stunt fight training with a little bit of flair, you can get yourself down to Singapores very own The Force Academy, a sword fighting academy focused on teaching real-life combat techniques with lightsabers. Yeah. You can see for yourself in the video of one of their dueling sessions that theyre quite fun and that they move pretty darn quickly. No, nobody loses any limbs or anything (that might be for the advanced class), but judging by everybodys faces, it looks pretty fun.
The Force Academy follows on the heels of other lightsaber/sword fighting combat classes, including one in San Francisco, the Golden Gate Knights. While these classes have drawn the judgement and ire of a lot of people, its nice to see folks defying the sedentary nerd stereotype by indulging themselves in some exciting training.
Heres the million dollar question: if one of these was near you, would you sign up? If so, what would your saber color be? Because mines totally purple.
Back off, Windu.
Pool noodles? Srsly? Couldn’t get real toy light sabers?
I was going to run a story on our ezine on our local Jedi Academy for The Force Awakens. I even had one of our writers look into it. But with the overwhelming media blitz, it wasn’t even worth coat-tailing upon, like shining a light saber at a sun. So I went to Spain instead.
Martial arts studio trains future Jedi at winter camp
Integrity Martial Arts in Moore co-owners Kevin Listen, left, and Bridgette Crocker show off their lightsaber skills at the dojos Jedi Martial Arts Winter Break Camp.
Posted: Saturday, January 2, 2016 7:15 am
By Sidney Lee Community News Content
Posted on Jan 2, 2016by Randy Mitchell
MOORE The Force is strong with Integrity Martial Arts in Moore.
A three-day Jedi-themed day camp kept children entertained and productive during winter break this week.
Children played a variety of Star Wars themed games and participated in some basic self-defense training during the camp. They also learned how to use a lightsaber.
Dont worry, no hands were lost during the camp as the lightsabers were made of pool noodles and different colors of tape for the handle.
While the sabers might not be exactly like those in the popular films, the training is based on curriculum for weapons training at Integrity Martial Arts.
Its a lot easier for kids to grasp when theyre holding a lightsaber than an escrima stick, said Kevin Listen, one of Integrity Martial Arts co-owners. Its something safe so they can have fun with it.
Listen ended the second day of camp with students dueling each other with their lightsabers. Each bout was ended when a student managed to score a hit on their fellow camper.
Bridgette Crocker, one of the other co-owners of the school, said they see weapons as an extension of the body so students of the dojo do not begin weapons training until they have mastered a certain level of control of the rest of their body.
This was reflected in the camp as well.
Even though the children were only using modified pool noodles, they spent the first day learning basic blocks and strikes without a saber. On the second day, they began using their sabers and on the third day they learned how to block blaster fire, or Nerf gun bullets, using their sabers.
This classic Jedi ability is often seen in the Star Wars universe.
All of the campers enjoyed the lightsaber training, but Listen said they seemed to enjoy the different games as well.
One of the games was called Sith Raid. The variation on Red Rover makes students sneak across the room and try to avoid the siths in the middle.
Crocker said they also had a Jedi obstacle course and had different training exercises like Yoda led Luke through in the original trilogy, with army crawling and side kicks.
The camp also had an hour of self-defense training that follows their schools curriculum so those who are students get points toward their goals.
Crocker said they hope to do other camps in the future and plan to do a summer camp again this year.
Lee writes for The Moore American.
And then there’s this…
Lightsaber Weapons Competition, USA Winter Internationals, January 30, 2016, Westgate Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV. http://usainternationals.com
This is way up there in the ‘Why didn’t I think of that for our competition?’ column…
Slightly OT
If they used traditional metal lightsabers instead of those plastic wushu lightsaber toys, they’d get a better workout. :rolleyes:
This made the New Yorker no less… :eek:
JANUARY 11, 2016 ISSUE
Sabers Up
BY CORA FRAZIER
At New York Sports Clubs Chelsea branch one recent Tuesday, employees were rushing to remove toy lightsabers from their plastic packaging. Amira Lamb, an exercise instructor, took her place in a brightly lit mirrored studio and explained that instead of her usual cardio-kickboxing class she would be leading a Star Wars workout, which shed designed at the behest of Disney and Lucasfilm. Lamb, who is petite and has dark eyes, had her crinkly hair pulled back with two clips. She has a devoted following and is beloved by her mostly female students for her distinctive playlists and her efficient full-body approach.
Many regulars seemed confused about the new workout, which was called Awaken Your Inner Force. One young woman said that she wasnt really a Star Wars fan.
Its still cardio, Lamb explained. (She had designed a movie-themed workout before, in 2012, for Disneys animated film Brave.)
Lamb made sure the twenty or so exercisers had the right equipment: one yoga mat; two Frisbee-shaped gliding disks, for sliding along the floor (these, she said, were a nod to the ice planet); one toy lightsaber. A latecomer with a tattoo on his calf ran in. I need a sword! he cried.
An electronic dance remix of the Star Wars theme started. Imitating Lamb, the class began with wide-legged plié squats, lightsabers held aloft. When they pulled the lightsabers down in front of their faces, the toys unexpectedly lit up and emitted tinkly battle sounds. Oh! Lamb said. Smiles spread around the room, in recognition of the universal truth that its really fun to wave around a long stick.
The names of the rapid cardio sets, each lasting about sixty or ninety seconds, were written on the mirror in blue and red marker. They included Light*saber Leaps, Skywalker Press, Jedi Jacks, Padawan Pushups, and Help Me, Obi-Wan! A few were variations of Lambs usual exercises. (The Chewbacca Chop, in a non-Star Wars context, is the Wood Chop.)
Im still kind of new to this whole Star Wars thing, Lamb admitted. I watched all the movies within, like, a week. She had not yet seen the new film when she designed the workout, but ran to the theatre as soon as it came out, she said. I changed some of the names of the exercises after I saw it.
Lisa Hufcut, the director of P.R. for the company that owns N.Y.S.C., said that the partnership is ideal, because Disney is looking for a way to incorporate their brand into the fitness demographic. She added, Were seeing people come in who may not be regular exercisers, but who love Star Wars.
In the studio, Lamb led the group into Lunge Like Luke. The exercisers assumed the lunge position, lightsabers held high, then brought their back knees forward while lowering their sabers, and reassumed the lunge, lightsabers lifted, as fast as they could. Between exercises, the class did plié squats, guided by breathing. I think of the Force like Chi, Lamb told them.
The music transitioned into a remix of Starships, by Nicki Minaj. The group dropped the lightsabers on the floor and jump-squatted over them to perform Lightsaber Leaps. For the Skywalker Press, the participants assumed a downward-dog position, moved into a plank, brought the left leg forward, returned to a downward dog, and then repeated the sequence with the right leg.
Lightsabers clattered against each other, and one knocked over a water bottle. Even the regulars had trouble keeping up with Lamb. The playlist was punctuated by sound bites from the Star Wars movies, such as R2D2 beeping and Leia calling out, Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi! The class divided into two groups and faced off, in an approximation of the dark and light sides of the Force. Lamb said, At some point, switching to the dark side is allowed!
By Saber Push/Combat Burpees, many in the class were breathing heavily. The exercise involved jumping with both arms in the air, rolling along the floor, then standing and jumping again. To motivate the huffing stragglers, Lamb said, If you feel like youre dying, just think about the breath. The breath is the Force.
The class ended with a cooldown move called Yoda Flow, which Lamb said was inspired by Tai Chi. Afterward, a regular named Katherine Huala pronounced the new workout much harder than the usual cardio kickboxing. She is a Star Wars fan, but doesnt love the more recent prequels. Too much C.G.I., she said.
This Star Wars themed workout has very little to do with Star Wars
In News by Jordan Freiman / January 9, 2016
The marketing behemoth we know as the Star Wars franchise (now somehow even larger after being acquired by Disney) will not rest until every conceivable aspect of your life has some sort of official Star WarsTM variant, and not even exercise classes are safe.
Since December, a New York Sports Club location in Chelsea has been offering a class called Awaken Your Inner Force which is, in the loosest sense of the term, Star Wars themed. This isnt the work of some random instructor. This was apparently specifically requested by Lucasfilm the idea presumably being that maybe they could squeeze out a few more dollars by subliminally weaving the idea of Star Wars into the brains of people who enjoy exercise but were maybe somehow on the fence about the concept of a new movie from one of the most successful film franchises of all time. The NYSC, on the other hand, figured maybe they could rope in a few Star Wars fans who were similarly on the fence about the concept of exercise.
The program was designed by Amira Lamb, who is the woman on the right of the photo up there. All of this is fine and harmless, the only issue is none of these exercises really have anything to do with Star Wars. Check out these descriptions provided by The New Yorker:
In the studio, Lamb led the group into Lunge Like Luke. The exercisers assumed the lunge position, lightsabers held high, then brought their back knees forward while lowering their sabers, and reassumed the lunge, lightsabers lifted, as fast as they could. Between exercises, the class did plié squats, guided by breathing.
I dont ever recall Luke doing anything that looked remotely like that description other than holding a lightsaber.
The group dropped the lightsabers on the floor and jump-squatted over them to perform Lightsaber Leaps.
OK, see, again, this is just exercising in the vicinity of a lightsaber.
For the Skywalker Press, the participants assumed a downward-dog position, moved into a plank, brought the left leg forward, returned to a downward dog, and then repeated the sequence with the right leg.
Now we seem to have abandoned all pretense of this having anything to do with Star Wars.
Both this article and one in Mens Fitness assure the reader that regardless of its association with Star Wars, its a pretty intense workout. Thats great, but dont you think a Star Wars workout should have a little more to do with the movies than just occasionally you hold a toy lightsaber? I sure do. Since I feel so strongly about this, Ive taken the liberty of concocting my own Star Wars routine. Check it out! (Ed. note: the creator of this routine has not exercised in nine years and has no idea what hes talking about).
-
Empire Back Strikes
Despite its name, this exercise has nothing to do with hitting or your back. It just sounded vaguely fitnessy. In any case, find a weird cross-shaped pole and hold yourself up on it. First using just one hand, and then eventually transition into an upside-down hanging position hanging on only by the back of your knees. Try not to pass out or fall. -
Yoda Runs
Find a baby, strap it to your back, and go on a jog through a very dense forest. If available, swing from as many jungle vines as possible. Try a running front flip every now and then. -
Vader Choke Lifts
Try lifting a fully grown adult male up over your head using only one arm and grabbing by the neck. -
Chewbacca Pulls
Play a game of Risk. Lose. Rip your opponents arms out of their sockets. -
Solo Sprints
Grab a gun and start chasing people. Scream at the top of your lungs the entire time. If the people youre chasing turn around and start chasing you, thats perfectly fine. Just run away from them. Never stop screaming.
Still trending
MartialArtsMart.com should have added hooded Jedi cloaks. We’ve already got the basic robe.
Lightsaber Academy melds ‘Star Wars,’ martial arts
By RYAN TRARES rtrares@dailyjournal.net
Daily Journal staff writer
First Posted: January 15, 2016 - 7:45 pm
Last Updated: January 15, 2016 - 7:48 pm
The red glowing sword came slashing in from the left, a diagonal blow aimed at my torso.
Using the training I had received, my own blue sword came up to meet it crosswise. Attack blocked.
“Good,” said lightsaber instructor Brian Hartz, before making his second attack horizontally across my right side. Alas, my Jedi skills couldn’t defend quick enough. I was done for.
Thankfully, this was only practice.
Inside the spacious practice area of the Indy Lightsaber Academy, trainers have melded the fantastical world of the “Star Wars” universe with authentic sword-based martial arts.
Participants learn to attack and block from varying angles and situations. Led by southside resident Michael Tucker, students employ fighting concepts that are hundreds of years old, all while using a weapon inspired by what Luke Skywalker used.
“Even if you don’t like ‘Star Wars,’ who doesn’t like a sword?” Tucker said. “The biggest thing is, in my heart, I’ve always loved swords. I’ve always loved the idea of a knight. If you think of one weapon that encapsulates human history, it’s the sword. The lightsaber is essentially a futuristic sword.”
At the academy’s first class since the release of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” close to 50 Jedis-in-training worked on their attacks and parries. Men and women, older adults and young children all gathered waiting for their first lesson.
Tucker and his team were profiled in GQ magazine in December, and the result has been a massive spike in people wanting to learn to use lightsabers.
Acting out dreams
Some had been to class before and had their own flashy models to practice with. They lit up in shades of red, yellow, green and blue, with some making the signature “whoosh” like in the movies.
Other people used the more basic weaponry provided by Tucker and his staff — wooden training swords for adults, padded versions for children.
The Force was strong among participants.
“You spend so much time growing up watching lightsaber fights, thinking that is so cool,” said Taylor Cox, a student and Indianapolis resident. “Now, you can actually do it.”
Cox, an actor from Indianapolis, found out about the class from Hartz. When he checked it out, he loved the depth of instruction that ran parallel to his fandom of the “Star Wars” universe.
“I like how it takes something that’s super-fantastical, something you see on the screen and read about, then takes a practical application to it,” Cox said. “Everything is based on real martial arts and a real application of the fantasy aspects that you see.”
The academy was born in late 2014, when co-founder Doug Trefun posted on Craigslist his idea to start a lightsaber academy. He was a huge fan of “Star Wars,” as well as a certified exercise physiologist and health coach.
But he needed an expert in stage combat to help lead the training. Tucker, who has extensive training in sword-based martial arts and stage fighting, contacted him about the idea.
“I was confident it would go over pretty well. But I never thought we’d be where we’ve gotten today,” Trefun said.
‘A cool alternative’
By early 2015, they had a small group of devotees and started attending events such as Indy Comic Con to garner attention. With enough people, they moved to a small training space in Irvington.
In less than a year, the academy has grown large enough to move to bigger locations. The group’s new home is the Circle City Industrial Complex, a massive open area with room for dozens of people swinging lightsabers.
The instruction is good-natured but serious. Tucker and his team demonstrate each move before asking students to do it themselves. They go person to person, making sure each one’s form and stance are correct.
Tucker assembled a program borrowing from martial arts around the world, distilling them into seven forms, Tucker said.
All participants in the academy start with what is called Form 1, Tucker said.
Based on the ancient art of Shii-Cho, it helps teach control of the body and blade. The twin components of a powerful attack and a stable defense help lay the foundation for other more complicated fighting forms.
“It’s a cool alternative to going to the gym,” Trefun said. “It takes a few classes to do it right, but you can get a good workout especially when sparring.”
Participants who stay in the academy long enough move their way up though three levels of initiate status, eventually becoming a padawan — signifying they have the fundamentals and are ready for more complex lessons.
At the highest rank and mastery of the concepts, students become Jedi masters.
‘Can’t lose control’
The idea is to create an atmosphere of amusement and learning, and the people who come to classes are obviously amped up to start slashing away.
But the academy trainers are serious about safety. Everyone has to sign a waiver to take part. They take great care to make sure people aren’t wildly swinging their lightsabers, have everyone stretch before the classes and work individually with each student.
“I know this is fun, I know this is goofy, I know this is something you don’t do every day,” Tucker said. “But you can’t lose control.”
For many of the participants, the academy is a chance to live out their science-fiction dreams.
Indianapolis residents Diana Cox and Kobi “Kobi-wan” Walden found out about the class on Facebook. The two are huge “Star Wars” fans and were among the many who packed theaters on opening night for the new film.
With the chance to do something so closely related to their fandom, they couldn’t wait for new classes to start up.
“We want to be Jedis,” Waldron said.
The pair got their friends Jadrian Berry and Kasey Schwartz to join them.
“When my sister and I were kids, we wore out VHS tapes of ‘Star Wars,’” said Schwartz, also an Indianapolis resident. “It’s always been something that I’ve loved.”
Katie Angel has worked with Tucker, Trefun and the other members of the academy through events with her performance group, Angel Burlesque.
For the fun of it
Watching them work with lightsabers, she wanted to try it herself. Her husband purchased a five-class pass for Christmas.
“I’m tired of sitting and watching cool things. I wanted to stand and do,” she said.
With the growth, the academy has tried to become entrenched in the central Indiana community. They staff currently is sponsoring a food drive, with every participant who brings five cans of food getting to take a class for free.
The group has also worked with Indianapolis Public Schools to offer scholarships to its students, giving them an after-school extracurricular at a steep discount.
“Our biggest thing now is using all of the momentum we have with the release of the new ‘Star Wars’ movie,” Trefun said. “We’re using that popularity to springboard into other things.”
Throughout my first full class, my form was … poor. A Sith lord would make short work of me.
But making cross-body blows with a glowing sword was still exhilarating. With each new move gained, it was easy to get lost in a potential science fiction fantasy.
And that’s the whole point, Tucker said.
“It’s not just for ‘Star Wars’ fans, but for swordplay fans, fitness fans, people who want to do something unique,” he said. “It’s supposed to be fun.”
Slightly OT
Not quite a Jedi Academy, but it looks like you can get lightsaber lessons on board…
Star Wars Day at Sea aboard Disney Cruise Line
Register Profile
One Epic Day, 8 Select Sailings
Whether you’re a Jedi-in-training or the Jedi Master of the family, you’re in for an out-of-galaxy experience when you sail on the Disney Fantasy in early 2016!
Occurring one day during each of eight Disney Fantasy sailings, Star Wars Day at Sea will transport you to a galaxy far, far away — in the Western Caribbean. Departing from Port Canaveral, the seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary includes Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands and Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay.
Star Wars Day at Sea marks the first official appearance of the heroes and villains of Star Wars aboard the Disney ships. The Event features a full day of Star Wars celebrations for the whole family, including:
Force-filled Fun for Everyone
Darth Vader, Chewbacca, Boba Fett, Stormtroopers and other characters from across the Star Wars galaxy will be onboard for scheduled meet and greets, as well as roaming on deck and elsewhere around the ship. You’re also are encouraged to dress up in your own stellar costumes!
A shipboard version of the popular Jedi Training Academy experience invites young Jedi hopefuls — known as “Padawans” — to learn lightsaber moves from a Jedi Master. They can then use the Force and face off in a final test against the evil Darth Vader.
Kids and families enjoy friendly competition during Star Wars trivia games, covering fun facts from the film and television sagas.
For Younglings, Star Wars-themed arts and crafts, games and activities will be offered throughout the day in Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab youth clubs.
In the evening, adults entering the night club will feel like they stepped into the Mos Eisley cantina scene. Characters and cantina music set the mood as Star Wars-themed specialty ****tails are served.
Film Screenings and Celebrities
You can watch the first six Star Wars films and follow Darth Vader, Obi Wan Kenobi, Luke and Leia along their epic journey.
Also showing will be episodes of the new Disney XD animated series, Star Wars Rebels.
On each of the special sailings, celebrities and insiders from the Star Wars galaxy will share their experiences, meet fans and sign autographs.
Star Wars Deck Party and Fireworks
There’s intergalactic fun when the Star Wars deck party blasts off to an exciting evening filled with music, dancing and games.
Star Wars characters converge on the deck stage for a celebration of the Star Wars saga in a show featuring special effects and Guest participation.
The deck party culminates in a spectacular display of themed pyrotechnics, lighting, sound effects, lasers and Star Wars music.
Sail Dates:
Star Wars Day at Sea will be available only aboard the Disney Fantasy on select Western Caribbean sailings, January through April in 2016. Star Wars Day at Sea is available on:
January 9
January 23
February 6
February 20
March 5
March 19
April 2
April 16
The Star Wars Day at Sea is scheduled to be the ‘At Sea’ day following Grand Cayman.
Jedis everywhere
There are even nerf swords being marketed by a major martial arts distributor now that are lightsaber-like (careful not to tread on any royalty-demanding copyrights). :rolleyes:
The force awakens in Springfield martial arts class
By GREGORY J. HOLMAN - Associated Press - Friday, March 11, 2016
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) - In “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” Luke Skywalker gave up on training new Jedi knights, but closer to home, Theron Sturgess is just getting started.
Sturgess told the Springfield News-Leader (http://sgfnow.co/1RBv6pd ) that he’s taught martial arts like jiu-jitsu and kenpo for 30 years, but his effort to teach Star Wars-style martial arts, Springfield Jedi Arts Academy, is “brand-spanking new.”
Academy sessions - including free monthly events for kids and families and paid sessions - are held at Dynamic Edge Martial Arts, where Sturgess is lead instructor.
The academy blends fitness, Star Wars movements like lightsaber fencing, with philosophy and meditation.
“It’s kind of growing faster than I’d even hoped for,” Sturgess said. About 80 people came to one of his first free events, he said. He’s taught kids as young as 5 or 6 years old up to adults in their 60s.
And despite old stereotypes of Star Wars fandom, the academy is not a boys’ club: Sturgess guesses about 40 percent of the latest round of attendees were girls and women.
He also does private lessons in Star Wars-style martial arts, with coaching much like that of a personal trainer at a gym, he said.
Friday afternoon, Sturgess coached Springfield resident Jamie Diamond in a private lesson. Diamond said she’d practiced a variety of martial arts before, but this was her first encounter with lightsaber basics and the three basic pillars of Jedi studies (which are, per Sturgess, the Force, knowledge and self-discipline).
There are also group “intensive” lessons. A two-hour Feb. 28 event, “Academy Force Focus Intensive,” cost $25 and included meditation, exercise, stretching, fundamental stances, strikes and blocks, fight choreography, stage combat punching and Jedi combat rolling.
If it sounds intense, Sturgess keeps it light during lessons. “What’s the biggest room in the world?” he asked Diamond during her session. “Room for improvement!”
He said his Jedi academy is really about connecting people with fitness and mindfulness.
“(Lightsaber training) is not quite as hard-core as some of the Olympic fencing, or the Japanese sport of kendo,” he said.
“This is for people nervous about trying actual martial arts or jumping into a fitness routine,” Sturgess said. “I like to say, they go from playing the video games to living the video games.”
Some of Sturgess’ students are using Jedi martial arts to work through obesity issues, he said, finding it a “legitimate form of exercise.”
Along with exercise and meditation, Sturgess said the “third tier” of Springfield Jedi Arts Academy is “community.” Participants have helped raise funds for National Public Radio and other causes, he said.
He hopes to develop a group of “core members” who will demonstrate and even teach Jedi arts. He’d like to put on tournaments.
“My personal time is limited,” he said. “But I hope to train the 10 Jedi that will train the hundred, and who knows, maybe the hundred that will train the thousand.”
The next hour-long Springfield Jedi Arts Academy free event is March 19; potential attendees need a doctor’s approval for physical training.
Light Saber Team
I crossed paths with the Light Saber Team at Silicon Valley Comic Con. I confess that I had to struggle to conceal a smirk when they described their light sabers as ‘combat ready’.
Saw a lot of cool light sabers tho…
boeder - Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time. An elegant medium for a more civilized age.
Yet another…
‘Star Wars’ themed martial arts class is perfect for young Jedis
BY DAVINA MERCHANT
1 day ago
Working out would probably be more fun if we could do it with lightsabers.
One martial arts instructor is now teaching kids how to be at one with the Force. Using a lightsaber to combine traditional sword techniques with the twirls and turns you see in the movie series, kids can now get into martial arts and become a Jedi, too.
The kids can also design their own costumes, allowing them to get the full experience from a Star Wars-inspired martial arts class.
I’ve heard the powers that be at Star Wars are now endeavoring to shut this sort of stuff down. 