France has hosted its first lightsaber championships.

[drop bear]

 

[Gyakuto]

I’d love to see a Kendoka enter that competition!

 

[dunc]

Love the dude in the background at 1.15

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf]

I’d love to see a Kendoka enter that competition!

In Long Island, the local lightsaber 'guild' actively admonished good technique, specifically for being too effective. Most people with prior weapons training ended up leaving.

I'd bet that's not the case somewhere having a 'championship', and most of the participants have some form of prior kendo/fencing/hema/fma training.

 

[Gyakuto]

In Long Island, the local lightsaber 'guild' actively admonished good technique, specifically for being too effective. Most people with prior weapons training ended up leaving.

Well, it’s not serious…it’s for children and the child-like.

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf]

Well, it’s not serious…it’s for children and the child-like.

That doesn't mean it can't also be serious. Could be a legitimate way for practitioners to experiment with a different weight and practice in a more 'fun' way. And even ignoring that, I'm just not a fan of actively teaching wrong technique.

 

[Steve]

It’s like ninjutsu, and nothing wrong with that at all. Have fun, get some expertise, sweat a little and find your tribe. Doesn’t need to be serious to be beneficial.

 

[Gyakuto]

It’s like ninjutsu, and nothing wrong with that at all. Have fun, get some expertise, sweat a little and find your tribe. Doesn’t need to be serious to be beneficial.

Beneficial in it’s broadest sense

 

[Steve]

Beneficial in it’s broadest sense

Kind of. I mean, unless you are making a living doing the activity or in some way relying on the skills you're acquiring, the activity itself is incidental.

 

[Anarax]

In Long Island, the local lightsaber 'guild' actively admonished good technique, specifically for being too effective. Most people with prior weapons training ended up leaving.

I'd bet that's not the case somewhere having a 'championship', and most of the participants have some form of prior kendo/fencing/hema/fma training.

I've always liked the "weapon experts" that have the "you attacked me wrong" energy. A championship/tournament is a sobering reminder of what others from other systems can do.

 

[Xue Sheng]

sérieusement (French for 'Seriously')

 

[Xue Sheng]

I’d love to see a Kendoka enter that competition!

Or just about any serious HEMA practitioner

 

[Steve]

If google is to be believed, lightsaber dueling has been recognized by the French Fencing Federation. (A new sport: France OKs competitive lightsaber)

The rules for the championship are below. Seems pretty straightforward to me, but could cause some trouble for folks who aren't interested in the sweeping movements generally associated with light sabers:

The FFE official rules for lightsaber dueling:

• Duels take place in a circle outlined by tape on the floor.
• Participants can win the match by scoring 15 points. If no one has scored 15 points after three minutes of combat, then the match ends and the participant with the higher score is declared the winner.
• The point system is as follows:
• Strike to the head – 5 points
• Strike to the body – 5 points
• Strike to the arm – 3 points
• Strike to the leg – 3 points
• Strike to the hand – 1 point
• Strikes are valid only if the lightsaber motion begins with the tip behind the striker’s body. This rule is intended to force participants to emulate the broad, sweeping blade movements that we have all come to associate with Star Wars lightsaber combat.

I mean, if this was around in the early 80s, you bet your *** I'd sign up.