They seem to come straight from the Galactic Republic. That evening, in a gymnasium in the east of Paris, they are about thirty to come after their day of study or work to train with the lightsaber. In the room, the colors of the blades sparkle and collide. Blue, red, green, yellow. The practitioners of the Sport Saber League club, confirmed jedis or young padawans, first come to have a good time. All are fans of Star Wars, the saga at the origin of the discipline. Some discover the basics. Others are trying to perfect their technique a few days before the 5th edition of the French Lightsaber Open which will be held this Friday July 8 and Saturday July 9 at the Charléty stadium in Paris, temple of athletes.
They are, no doubt. Because the lightsaber is a sport in its own right. Obi-Wan Kenobi, what is their only hope? Arms, concentration, strategy. What was first a hobby was recognized in 2019 by the French Fencing Federation (FFE), which claims 2,000 followers in France.
200 clubs would exist on the territory even if they are not all affiliated to the FFE – the Sport Saber League is not – and that they do not yet share common rules. “The recognition of the State makes it possible to supervise and develop the discipline”explains Olivier Hanicotte, deputy national technical director at the FFE, who insists on safety in clubs. “The blade is made of polycarbonate, a hard plastic used for CRS shields, so it can hurt a lot and break an arm.”
The Lightsaber Open is not recognized by the authorities, no champion title will be officially awarded on July 9 at the end of the matches. But the objective is elsewhere: to bring together 70 competitors from 10 different countries, to surpass themselves from round to round and to introduce a culture and a very impressive game. Sébastien Bérard, 36, an engineer by profession is the defending champion, member of the Sport Saber League.
“Is it stressful to put your title in play? Necessarily a little bit”, he confides to Franceinfo. “Unlike other sports where there can be rivalries, whether you win or lose, you’re always happy for the buddy who’s going to win. We’re big kids who play with lightsabers so if we start taking ourselves seriously, it’s not going to do it.”