May the Force be with you: Lightsaber duelling takes over Mexico
Star Wars fans in Mexico want to turn lightsaber duelling into a real sporting discipline.
There's sword fighting, and then there's lightsaber duelling!
Men and women in Mexico are embracing the force by taking up lightsaber training.
Jedi Knight Academy offers fencing... but with lightsabers.
According to several reports, the academy's lightsaber training is done in the style of Jedi teachings.
'Star Wars' fans are no doubt flocking to the academy to fight their fellow Jedi-wannabes, but some fans are hoping it won't be just for fun.
France's fencing federation officially recognised lightsaber duelling as a competitive sport in 2019. Serge Aubailly, the French Fencing Federation's secretary general at the time, told The Guardian they hoped the sport would encourage more young people to get active.
“With young people today, it’s a real public health issue. They don’t do any sport and only exercise with their thumbs. That is why we are trying to create a bond between our discipline and modern technologies, so participating in a sport feels natural.”
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It seems French officials were on to something because some Jedi Knight Academy students admit that they signed up to get active in a fun way.
France held its first-ever lightsaber championship in 2023. The French National Lightsaber Championships took place at the Saint-Symphorien Sports Complex in Longeville-les-Metz.
Jedi Knight Academy founders also want to turn lightsaber fencing into a real sporting discipline.
Lightsaber duelling is taking over Mexico and, very soon, the world.
Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi would be proud!
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