Eight reasons to train in Lightsaber Combat (even if you don’t agree it’s a real martial art)

This article is brought to you live from the Martial Arts Studies Research Network 2016 conference, taking place at Cardiff University from 19-21 July 2016 . . .

 

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Megan and her lightsaber

One of my female martial arts blogger friends, Megan, has been training in Lightsaber Combat for the last few months. It looks like they have a lot of fun [1] – but until now I didn’t really get it.

After all it’s not actually a real martial art! (Although some would disagree) [2].

Why on earth would anyone spend their precious time on something like this, instead of doing proper training . . . ?

But having attended a lecture on this topic yesterday by Dr Ben Judkins (of Kung Fu Tea fame) [3], a few things have fallen into place. Here are the key points he made, which suddenly put this seemingly bizarre art into a very interesting light . . .

 

 

1. It’s fun and inclusive

Ben trains in a large dojo which offers several martial arts, plus Lightsaber Combat. All the classes are diverse and friendly, but Ben says:

One of the most notable things about the lightsaber class is the number of family relationships it seems to accommodate. In the class we have multiple sets of couples, adult siblings, parents and children, all working together with a surprising degree of harmony. I have actually never seen anything quite like it [4].

In fact, Megan trains alongside her two brothers, which is interesting in the light of what Ben is saying.

 

2. It’s free of politics

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Dr Ben Judkins

Ben explained that being free of the strict hierarchy and formality of a traditional dojo is refreshingly pleasant. He describes his Lightsaber class as: a release from the politics of traditional martial arts . . . the sense of community is outstanding.

Ben’s teacher takes on the persona of Darth Nihilus for the Lightsaber classes (complete with costume!)

Martial arts teachers are typically concerned with issues of lineage, integrity and purity. Ben has observed “Darth Nihilus” teaching Wing Chun, and says that in that setting, his teacher is so serious. But he casts this gravity aside in the Lightsaber lessons – and is always happy to collaborate with other LS groups and styles. After all, this very new art has no provenance to sully or disrupt.

 

3. It’s culturally neutral

The traditional martial arts have often been co-opted into promoting and transmitting the culture and values of their country of origin. Or even used to express the nationalism of a foreign culture, such as the case of Karate and Japan.

However, Lightsaber Combat doesn’t “belong” to any country – not even the USA where the Star Wars movies originated. It’s been picked up with enthusiasm all around the world.

The values it promotes are “universal” and culturally neutral, being grounded more in generic human psychology than any nationality. These values therefore appeal across a range of cultures.

 

4. It’s a great way to draw in new students to the martial arts

Ben said that running the Lightsaber class is quite time-consuming and hard work for his teacher. However, it’s also a fantastic way to draw new students in to the club – which is a challenge for many dojos nowadays.

People of all ages and backgrounds come in to play Lightsaber, who would never have dreamed of doing any traditional martial art. There’s plenty of flexibility to market Lightsaber classes creatively, as a fun, quirky and sociable fitness activity.

And once inside the class, there are opportunities for students to gain exposure to the “real” martial arts – and perhaps in time move towards training in them . . .

 

5. It offers opportunities for “martial play

Mark
Mark – one of Megan’s brothers

Because it lacks politics, formality and allegiance to any tradition, there’s a profound sense of freedom, open-mindedness and exploration in Lightsaber practice. Ben explained that a lot of the students are experienced martial artists, who enjoy playing around with classmates from other styles, and experimenting with “what works”.

As Ben says, this is not something we tend to be allowed to do in “normal” (that was his word!) martial arts classes.

 

6. It’s a chance to explore your dark side

Ben said:

It’s really interesting, because normally people always want to identify with the good guys. I’ve never heard anyone say: oh I really want to be like the people who burned down the Shaolin Temple because they definitely won that time! Normally it just makes no sense to want to be the bad ones.

But in Lightsaber Combat, we mix up everything – all the symbols can be reversed. In Star Wars, the Darths are the bad guys – the masters of a dark philosophy responsible for various deaths. They’ve become less than human; and can’t access the healing, life-sustaining power of the Force.

But some students choose to be Darths – including my teacher. Because it’s fine to play at being socially dysfunctional – or even a monster – in Lightsaber training.

Others prefer to model themselves on the Jedi. Still others create “grey Jedi” roles, where they mix and match from each group, to reflect their own philosophy. Or they even bring in characters from outside Star Wars.

NB: Ben adds that about half the students don’t take on any roles; being uninterested in Star Wars, and seeing the training as no more than a chance to stay in shape with like-minded friends!

 

7. It offers a modern take on spirituality
Ben has written on this subject recently: [5]

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David – Megan’s other brother

In the current era many individuals turn to the traditional (usually Asian) martial arts precisely because they see in them a font of ancient wisdom [LaRochelle 2013: 46-47]

[…] Much of the commercial success of the traditional martial arts appears to be rooted in a near mystical faith in their ability to promote balanced development in both children and adolescents. One wonders how much of this belief (in the West) we can attribute to Luke Skywalker’s very public journey to adulthood, aided by the dual disciplines of the Force and the lightsaber training, during the 1970s and 1980s?

[…] My own ethnographic research conducted with a lightsaber combat group in a mid-sized city in the North East United States has revealed a surprising degree of dedication on the part of many of the students. The oft-repeated mantra that it is all ‘just for fun’ notwithstanding, it is clear that many students are approaching lightsaber combat as a key organizing symbol in their lives.

[…] The weapons may be fictional, but the feelings that are invoked through practice are authentic and profound. Nor are the sorts of mentoring relationships that students seek from their instructor any different from what one might find in a traditional martial arts institution.

[…] The Jedi and Sith are readymade symbols ripe for spiritual or psychological appropriation.”

 


8. It offers a modern pathway to psychological growth

This was the point at the heart of Ben’s lecture.

imageBen explained that traditional rites of passage have always played a critical role, both for the individual and for society as a whole. Their deep power lies in casting the individual into a mysterious in-between (liminal) space for a time, as we leave the old role behind and reemerge in our new role.

The sociologist Victor Turner saw this liminal period as a dark, ambiguous space where we can experience and explore chaos and paradox:

Hence, in many societies the liminal initiands are often considered to be dark, invisible, like a planet in eclipse or the moon between phases; they are stripped of names and clothing, smeared with the common earth, rendered indistin- guishable from animals. They are also associated with life and death, male and female, food and excrement, simultaneously, since they are at once dying from or dead to their former status and life, and being born and growing into new ones [6].

The psychological benefits of experiencing periods of liminality are immense. Sadly, they are often watered down in modern society. For example, many traditional rituals are seen as optional nowadays, which dilutes their power.

However, Turner also saw something new emerging in society. He called it the “Liminoid”, as in something which looks like the liminal – but isn’t the same. The liminoid is a kind of light-touch liminal experience. It’s not as powerful as the liminal, but it’s a lot easier to access, and less demanding. The liminoid is also a lot more focused on the individual’s own personal experience, and not really concerned with their role in society.

Ben explained that we can access liminal experiences in a traditional dojo. An obvious example is a grading, which can be an intense, demanding and profoundly meaningful experience, marking our transition from one position in the hierarchy to another.

But in Lightsaber Combat, he argues that we can enjoy a constant, powerful stream of fun, exciting liminoid experiences – as a low-intensity pathway to personal growth. We can play around with social values and hierarchy; and enjoy exploring different roles and mindsets.

Ben describes this as People who are not marginal, choosing to play at the margins.

His teacher always says: Remember, this is all just for fun. But the same teacher would never say that in his Wing Chun class . . .

 

 

So there you have it; eight fascinating benefits which Lightsaber Combat potentially offers. Personally I won’t be deserting my beloved, strict, hierarchical dojo for a Lightsaber class any time soon.

But Ben’s talk definitely got me thinking, and I would certainly be a lot slower to dismiss the overall value of this training now . . .

 


References:

[1] Megan Farquharson (A Martial Artist). (2016). Lightsaber Training! May the Fourth Be With You (Blog post).

[2]  Dr Ben Judkins. (2016). The Seven Forms of Lightsaber Combat: Hyper-reality and the Invention of the Martial Arts. Martial Arts Studies 2, 6-22.

[3] Dr Ben Judkins. (2016). “Liminoid Longings and Liminal Belonging: Hyper-reality, History and the Search for Meaning in the Modern Martial Arts”. (Keynote presentation at the Martial Arts Studies Research Network 2016 conference).

[4] Dr Ben Judkins. (2016). A View from the Mats (Blog post). 

[5] The Seven Forms of Lightsaber Combat: Hyper- reality and the Invention of the Martial Arts. Pages 16-17.

[6] Victor Turner. (1974). Liminal to liminoid, in play, flow, and ritual: an essay in comparative symbology. Pages 58-9.

 

Ben has also written an interesting blog article giving a more detailed description of his school, and Darth Nihilus’s teaching: Feeling the Rhythm in Lion Dancing, the Wooden Dummy and Lightsaber Combat

12 Responses

  1. Joelle White

    Very cool! Ever since I took Fencing in college, I’ve always wondered about light saber. There’s a “point” to the light saber, and sure you can run someone through with it, but there’s where the similarity to a fencing foil ends. With a lightsaber, there is no edge – every single “surface” is deadly, so that would allow for a huge variety of attacks. And on a practical level, wounds inflicted by a light saber are instantly cauterized, so you don’t get blood on your nice, white gi. Wait, did I say nice, white gi? Yep, take a look at what Luke Skywalker was wearing the first time he picked up a light saber. LOL!!! I’m glad to know there’s more reasons beyond all this to study light saber 😉

    • Kai Morgan

      Hi Joelle, yes Ben made the same point as you in his talk. E.g. he said that a small movement, touching your opponent with what would normally be the back of the blade, would mean nothing with a normal sword. But in this case, you need to think it through (as you say) and think how the impact of everything would be different. Personally that put me off, as I think it would just confuse any understanding I already have of a “real” sword; but I can definitely see that the cognitive challenge and “puzzle” element of all this would appeal to other people!

  2. Daniel Paczok

    I’ve been studying lightsaber for almost a year now. At first I had written it off but as we got into it I realized that since it isn’t a style specific weapon there is a lot of freedom. My instructor primarily teaches Korean martial arts amd some FMA but the lightsaber can be a Korean sword or a Filipino sword. I’ve heard of other groups that use them as Chinese, Japanese, and European swords too.
    My traditional training is extremely important to me but I definitely think there is something to be learned from lightsaber.

    • Kai Morgan

      Thanks Daniel that’s a really interesting and helpful perspective, as obviously I can only judge from one side (traditional). What I’ve learned this week, firstly from Ben’s talk, and then from you and others feeding back on this article, has been quite an eye-opener to say the least 🙂

  3. Frank

    Just another form of LARPING – but then a lot of martial arts already is anyway. People will always gravitate more towards fantasy than to reality

  4. Larry McDonnell

    Awesome article Kai. I really enjoyed it. I am hoping to get these guys to come over to my area and do a weekend seminar. Now that I have read this I am more eager to get them to Charleston, WV.

    • Kai Morgan

      sounds like that will be fun Larry – wish you did not live so far away or I would invite myself along too 😉

  5. Megan Farquharson

    Thanks for including me in your article! It sounds like the lecture was amazing – I wish I had been able to go! I’m looking forward to reading through all of the resources you have listed 🙂

  6. Olivia Williams

    Hello,

    My name is Olivia Williams, and I am a graduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Department of Chemistry. My research relies heavily on laser spectroscopy, and as a result I give a lecture each year on laser laboratory safety. In order to keep students engaged, I like to pepper my presentation with interesting images, such as one of you or your brothers wielding a light saber. My colleagues and I would like to publish my presentation, including your image, as supplementary information for an article detailing our safety curriculum in the Journal of Chemical Education. The image would be properly attributed to you and your blog however you see fit. Would you be willing to grant me permission to use a copy of this image in the presentation? If you’d like me to provide more information before you make your decision, I will gladly do so.

    Thanks,

    Olivia

    • Kai Morgan

      Dear Olivia

      Thank you for stopping by, and I’m glad you enjoyed the article 🙂

      Thank you also for your courtesy in asking if it’s ok to use these photos. They’re not actually my photos however; and the lady in the picture isn’t me. It’s another martial arts blogger – Megan Farquharson (A Martial Artist). Megan kindly gave me permission to use these photos of her and her brothers.

      I was going to give you a link to Megan’s blog so you could contact her; but I just checked and it appears to be down at present. I’ll therefore email her, and ask her on your behalf.

      Best wishes

      Kai x

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