Lightsabre duelling joins ranks of competitive sports
FRANCE’S fencing federation has officially recognised lightsabre duelling as a competitive sport, granting the famed weapon from the Star Wars saga the same status as the foil, epee and sabre.
The Led-lit, rigid polycarbonate lightsabre replicas look and even sound remarkably like the silver screen blades that Yoda and other characters wield in George Lucas’s blockbuster movies.
The more expensive sabres are equipped with a chip in their hilt that emits a throaty electric rumble.
Duellists slash, feint and stab in organised three-minute bouts.
The physicality of lightsabre combat is part of the reason why the French Fencing Federation threw its support behind the sport and is now equipping fencing clubs with lightsabres and training would-be lightsabre instructors.
Like virtuous Jedi knights, the French federation sees itself as combating a Dark Side: The sedentary habits of 21st-century life that are affecting the health of evergrowing numbers of adults and children.
“With young people today, it’s a real public health issue. They don’t do any sport and only exercise with their thumbs,” said Serge Aubailly, the federation secretary general.
“It’s becoming difficult to [persuade them to] do a sport that has no connection with getting out of the sofa and playing with one’s thumbs. That is why we are trying to create a bond between our discipline and modern technologies, so participating in a sport feels natural.”
In the past, the likes of Zorro, Robin Hood and The Three Musketeers helped lure new practitioners to fencing.
Now, joining and even supplanting them are Luke Skywalker, Obi-wan Kenobi and Darth Vader.
“Cape and sword movies have always had a big impact on our federation and its growth,” Mr Aubailly said. “Lightsabre films have the same impact. Young people want to give it a try.”
And the young at heart. Police officer Philippe Bondi, 49, practised fencing for 20 years before switching to lightsabre. When a club started offering classes in Metz, in eastern France, Mr Bondi said he was drawn by the prospect of living out the love he has had for Star Wars since he saw the first film aged seven, in 1977.
He said: “I had to be on the good side, given that my job is upholding the law.”