Experience: I am the best lightsaber fighter in Europe

"The good thing about running is that you can go whenever you want but that also means you can put it off all the time. I wanted a sport that had more structure. I considered options like the canne de combat, a martial art in which people fight each other with a wooden cane. But then I listened to a podcast that mentioned plans to create a fighting sport using lightsabers. I thought: I'm a geek. I like Star Wars. I've done fencing. Let's try it."

"In 2019, the French Fencing Federation registered lightsaber duelling as an official sport, so now there are lightsaber clubs in most big cities. Our Paris club has about 150 members. Most people know Star Wars and have seen the movies, but are not necessarily hardcore fans. They're more attracted by the fact that it's fun. I mean, we are fighting with lightsabers; we cannot take ourselves too seriously."

"For combat sports, like boxing, you need strength to win. But in our sport, you are only meant to touch, not overpower, your opponent. It's more a precision sport. It's mixed gender and there isn't a masculinity or aggression to it. Also, aggression is not a good strategy. You need to defend yourself before being able to attack. When you duel, you lose points when you are touched with your opponent's lightsaber. It's very strategic."

"Some people like to show off a bit, wear elaborate colourful masks and clothes, and spin their lightsabers like they do in the movies. Though, in reality, if you fight theatrically like that you will lose. If you turn your back to your opponent, you will take a strike. Unfortunately, we don't have the force like in the films."

Lightsaber duelling began as a shift from fencing and marathon running toward a more structured sport. Interest grew after hearing about plans for a lightsaber fighting discipline, leading to continued participation for about a decade. Official recognition in France helped spread clubs across major cities, including a Paris club with around 150 members. Many participants are drawn by fun and accessibility rather than deep fandom. The sport emphasizes touching rather than overpowering, making it a precision activity. It is mixed gender and avoids masculinity or aggression, requiring defense before attack. Points are lost when touched, and strategy matters. Some participants add theatrical flair, but realistic performance punishes unsafe movements like turning away.

Read at www.theguardian.com