(Mexico) No, it’s not a distant galaxy, but a park in the south of Mexico City, where around twenty people at nightfall practice fencing with lightsabers inspired by “Star Wars.”
They are members of the “Jedi Knight Academy”, which offers fights “with lightsabers in the style of the teachings of the Jedi”, the order of master warriors of the saga launched by George Lucas in 1977.
It is a “fun” sport that is practiced “in a safe and fun way,” Mauricio Rodríguez, an 18-year-old student, told AFP.
Many have entered the Academy out of a passion for science fiction and the world of Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker.
When he grasps a saber with a blue, green or red energy blade, Víctor Aceves feels the strength of a guardian of justice and peace to fight against the dark side of the Force.
“When I practice with a lightsaber, I feel like a ‘Jedi,’ but it’s also important as a sport,” says the 24-year-old engineering student. “Swords themselves attract attention, but doing it with a light saber gives it a fantastic dimension.”
“I came here because I had to exercise somehow,” says Marisol Rodríguez, 33. “You feel like you’re part of a family, you feel safe.”
The Academy’s ranks follow the series’ hierarchy: beginners are “Padawans” (apprentices), who aspire to the title of knights, grand knights, and Jedi masters.
The Academy, which has spread to several states in Mexico, is announcing for Sunday, July 21, “a national tournament of lightsaber duels,” open “to all enthusiasts, from Padawans to Jedi masters.”
Quoted by the Mexican press, one of the founders of the Academy, Ulises Vázquez, says he wants to transform the practice into a real sporting discipline with the approval of the National Sports Commission (Conade).
He cites the example of France: “The lightsaber has been a discipline recognized by the French Fencing Federation since April 2018,” the Federation’s website indicates. “As such, the Federation organizes a French championship every year and structures its practice offering throughout France.”